19/20 Season Preview: Fullback

[mildlyinterested]

Rob Kearney(33) - Signed 1 year central contract in 2019.
Dave Kearney(30) - Signed contract in 2019
Barry Daly(26) - Signed contract in 2017
Cian Kelleher(25) - Signed contract in 2019
Hugo Keenan(23) - Signed contract in 2019
Jimmy O'Brien(22) - Signed contract in 2019
Jordan Larmour(22) - Signed contract in 2018
Ciaran Frawley(21) - Signed contract in 2019
Jack Kelly(21) - on temp WC contract
Michael Silvester(21) - Academy Yr 2
Aaron O'Sullivan(19) - Academy Yr 2

Rob Kearney signed a late extension with the IRFU to return to leinster after the world cup, he remains 1st choice for leinster in big games, how long that will continue? We shall wait and see. Dave Kearney and Barry Daly played some minutes at fullback last season and are options there, it will be interesting to see if ether focuses on fullback early in the season. Cian Kelleher left leinster as a potential successor to Rob Kearney at fullback but spent his connacht career on the wing, he returns now to leinster will his focus return to playing 15? Hugo Keenan and Jimmy O'Brien both played 15 last season with O'Brien moving there late in the season and impressing, Keenan enters the season injured so how much opportunity he will get at the position is unclear. Jordan Larmour is the presumed long term replacement at 15 for Kearney, deputizing there last season he showed some of what he will offer at the position, can he overtake Kearney after the world cup? Ciaran Frawley is also an option at 15 but it looks unlikely to happen given the need for him at the outhalf position. Jack Kelly captained Leinster A last season from fullback but his leinster future is unclear at the moment if he were to return to the setup he faces an uphill battle for gametime. Michael Silvester and Aaron O'Sullivan are both capable of playing fullback but are expected to focus on 7's for the upcoming season.

[arsebiscuits1]

One way or the other we need to have a viable first choice 15 who isn't Rob by the end of the season.

Rob is still very much first choice and very much on merit but the succession plan must push on more than it has.

Last season we saw Larmour as the clear number 2 which still might be the plan. He's gifted so I'm sure he'll thrive.

I really like the look of JOB as an option there.

Depending on how Harry Byrne gets on at 10 Frawley might be wise to get more experience at 15. I think Harry will offer more Frawley at 10 but as is often the case, it might not work out at the highest level

[mildlyinterested]

One way or the other we need to have a viable first choice 15 who isn't Rob by the end of the season.

Rob is still very much first choice and very much on merit but the succession plan must push on more than it has.

Last season we saw Larmour as the clear number 2 which still might be the plan. He's gifted so I'm sure he'll thrive.

I really like the look of JOB as an option there.

Depending on how Harry Byrne gets on at 10 Frawley might be wise to get more experience at 15. I think Harry will offer more Frawley at 10 but as is often the case, it might not work out at the highest level

I don't think Frawley will be giving up easily on 10.. if Byrne starts to out perform him I would like to see them both on the field at some stage.

Also a fan of O'Brien at 15 experiment, hope to see more of it.

[Oldschool]

Rob Kearney(33) - Signed 1 year central contract in 2019.
Dave Kearney(30) - Signed contract in 2019
Barry Daly(26) - Signed contract in 2017
Cian Kelleher(25) - Signed contract in 2019
Hugo Keenan(23) - Signed contract in 2019
Jimmy O'Brien(22) - Signed contract in 2019
Jordan Larmour(22) - Signed contract in 2018
Ciaran Frawley(21) - Signed contract in 2019
Jack Kelly(21) - on temp WC contract
Michael Silvester(21) - Academy Yr 2
Aaron O'Sullivan(19) - Academy Yr 2

Rob Kearney signed a late extension with the IRFU to return to leinster after the world cup, he remains 1st choice for leinster in big games, how long that will continue? We shall wait and see. Dave Kearney and Barry Daly played some minutes at fullback last season and are options there, it will be interesting to see if ether focuses on fullback early in the season. Cian Kelleher left leinster as a potential successor to Rob Kearney at fullback but spent his connacht career on the wing, he returns now to leinster will his focus return to playing 15? Hugo Keenan and Jimmy O'Brien both played 15 last season with O'Brien moving there late in the season and impressing, Keenan enters the season injured so how much opportunity he will get at the position is unclear. Jordan Larmour is the presumed long term replacement at 15 for Kearney, deputizing there last season he showed some of what he will offer at the position, can he overtake Kearney after the world cup? Ciaran Frawley is also an option at 15 but it looks unlikely to happen given the need for him at the outhalf position. Jack Kelly captained Leinster A last season from fullback but his leinster future is unclear at the moment if he were to return to the setup he faces an uphill battle for gametime. Michael Silvester and Aaron O'Sullivan are both capable of playing fullback but are expected to focus on 7's for the upcoming season.

Interesting as always.
So guys what skills are we looking for the FB of future FB.
Good aerial skills, good positional sense, get those two right and we're off to a flyer.
Of the players mentioned above, who is closest to having those necessary skills (basics IMHO)
And just as important who is furthest from having those skills.
Just to get the ball rolling.
Parking Larmour for the moment.
Of the younger players Keenan, to me seems the most likely.
At the other end Silvester would worry me if he played 15.

[leinsterforever]

Jack Kelly playing World Series 7s would be interesting to see. He could then come back into the squad when Kearney finishes up.

[Ruckedtobits]

Ciaran Frawley would be my preferred option at 15. A potential second 10 and a counter attacker with really good catching skills and a sound tackler (needs some improvement on left shoulder). It may not happen, as pointed out above, because of game time at 10. But given that he is probably 3rd choice in this position, it's worth giving him a go at 15. We did it with Joey.

[Dave Cahill]

We should be looking for a Tier 1 NIQ/E import to play fullback post-Rob unless one of the younger guys demonstrates pretty much immediately that they're at that level. We already wasted two years developing an Irish player for the position only to have him completely and utterly of his own volition under no external pressure whatsoever good doggie heres a biscuit move elsewhere. Why should we throw good time and money after bad.

[ronk]

Lowe should be part of the discussion.

He's played there in the past, he has a big left boot and he can run. There's also no specialist left winger creating a case to move him so you get your best players on the pitch.

Conversely, he also is by far our best player at holding width and finishing wide over the last 10 years.