Clarksons lack of power/size is notable compared to those two.
And it was apparent against that gargantuan No 17 for Cardiff. Clarkson held up 1/2 tries in his 22 mins on pitch. Hanan at LHP was far more effective in scrum.
Both Clarkson and Hanan were terrible in the scrum. Neither are anywhere near being frontline props on the basis that the can’t scrimmage
Not for the 1st time the scrum looks weak.
At this stage its to be expected that leinsters props will struggle there.
I think that's unfair. It was a fairly close scrummaging contest against a bigger and more experienced tight 5.
On 72 minutes they had a 5m scrum and they went full on after us and got absolutely nowhere.
We locked it out, they kept it in and went for a 2nd shove, ref called use it, they went again and it collapsed for a reset (probably by them to get a new hit).
They had a few more goes and there were a few more resets, but they never got a shove on, didn't have a launch play and we weren't in trouble with the ref.
Eventually they were forced to play it and got scragged under pressure. We then secured our own ball and got a platform for an exit.
There were 4 22 year old out of 6 front rows and they held up well to being the obvious target in a prime position.
I'm obviously not saying they're as good as our best players but I think there's a lot of pessimism. They're doing well around the park. One moment that stood out for me (about 62 1/2 minutes) was Clarkson making a good read to come off the screen runners and chase down the pullback option, catching Evans for a loss.
Hannan is our 5th choice loosehead and he's in the academy, he was making his first appearance of the season. Given that, I think he'll fairly happy with himself right about now.
ronk wrote: ↑January 29th, 2023, 1:49 am
I think that's unfair. It was a fairly close scrummaging contest against a bigger and more experienced tight 5.
On 72 minutes they had a 5m scrum and they went full on after us and got absolutely nowhere.
We locked it out, they kept it in and went for a 2nd shove, ref called use it, they went again and it collapsed for a reset (probably by them to get a new hit).
They had a few more goes and there were a few more resets, but they never got a shove on, didn't have a launch play and we weren't in trouble with the ref.
Eventually they were forced to play it and got scragged under pressure. We then secured our own ball and got a platform for an exit.
There were 4 22 year old out of 6 front rows and they held up well to being the obvious target in a prime position.
I'm obviously not saying they're as good as our best players but I think there's a lot of pessimism. They're doing well around the park. One moment that stood out for me (about 62 1/2 minutes) was Clarkson making a good read to come off the screen runners and chase down the pullback option, catching Evans for a loss.
Hannan is our 5th choice loosehead and he's in the academy, he was making his first appearance of the season. Given that, I think he'll fairly happy with himself right about now.
Yeah I thought that was hugely impressive. After getting minced in the previous two scrums they we’re staring down the barrel when Cardiff went for the scrum at a penalty on our line. I think everyone thought a try was inevitable. So for them to turn that road was huge for those guys.
ronk wrote: ↑January 29th, 2023, 1:49 am
I think that's unfair. It was a fairly close scrummaging contest against a bigger and more experienced tight 5.
On 72 minutes they had a 5m scrum and they went full on after us and got absolutely nowhere.
We locked it out, they kept it in and went for a 2nd shove, ref called use it, they went again and it collapsed for a reset (probably by them to get a new hit).
They had a few more goes and there were a few more resets, but they never got a shove on, didn't have a launch play and we weren't in trouble with the ref.
Eventually they were forced to play it and got scragged under pressure. We then secured our own ball and got a platform for an exit.
There were 4 22 year old out of 6 front rows and they held up well to being the obvious target in a prime position.
I'm obviously not saying they're as good as our best players but I think there's a lot of pessimism. They're doing well around the park. One moment that stood out for me (about 62 1/2 minutes) was Clarkson making a good read to come off the screen runners and chase down the pullback option, catching Evans for a loss.
Hannan is our 5th choice loosehead and he's in the academy, he was making his first appearance of the season. Given that, I think he'll fairly happy with himself right about now.
Yeah I thought that was hugely impressive. After getting minced in the previous two scrums they we’re staring down the barrel when Cardiff went for the scrum at a penalty on our line. I think everyone thought a try was inevitable. So for them to turn that road was huge for those guys.
ronk wrote: ↑January 29th, 2023, 1:49 am
I think that's unfair. It was a fairly close scrummaging contest against a bigger and more experienced tight 5.
On 72 minutes they had a 5m scrum and they went full on after us and got absolutely nowhere.
We locked it out, they kept it in and went for a 2nd shove, ref called use it, they went again and it collapsed for a reset (probably by them to get a new hit).
They had a few more goes and there were a few more resets, but they never got a shove on, didn't have a launch play and we weren't in trouble with the ref.
Eventually they were forced to play it and got scragged under pressure. We then secured our own ball and got a platform for an exit.
There were 4 22 year old out of 6 front rows and they held up well to being the obvious target in a prime position.
I'm obviously not saying they're as good as our best players but I think there's a lot of pessimism. They're doing well around the park. One moment that stood out for me (about 62 1/2 minutes) was Clarkson making a good read to come off the screen runners and chase down the pullback option, catching Evans for a loss.
Hannan is our 5th choice loosehead and he's in the academy, he was making his first appearance of the season. Given that, I think he'll fairly happy with himself right about now.
Yeah I thought that was hugely impressive. After getting minced in the previous two scrums they we’re staring down the barrel when Cardiff went for the scrum at a penalty on our line. I think everyone thought a try was inevitable. So for them to turn that around was huge for those guys.
mildlyinterested wrote: ↑January 29th, 2023, 3:06 pm
Alan Spicer is gigantic.
He certainly is, but it worries me that all people ever say about him is 'hes' enormous' (similar things said when Bobby Sheenhan is mentioned). But what I want to know is , 'are they any good'?
So MI, you have your ear to the ground closer then most, so I'm asking........?
he's very effective at schools level, he will need to improve as all do when moving up the levels, but I'd expect he will be involved with the irish 20s next season as a u19. So yeah he is good, how good will he be? TBD.
mildlyinterested wrote: ↑January 29th, 2023, 3:16 pm
he's very effective at schools level, he will need to improve as all do when moving up the levels, but I'd expect he will be involved with the irish 20s next season as a u19. So yeah he is good, how good will he be? TBD.
He’s been training in the sub academy every week since he was 16. Leinster are doing everything they can to develop him into a pro player. He will improve a lot once he leaves school as he’ll be in a great environment training with good players and coaches. He’s the biggest player we’ve ever had in our system so Leinster won’t let this go to waste and will do everything they can to develop him into a top pro player as they are doing at the moment.
mildlyinterested wrote: ↑January 29th, 2023, 3:16 pm
he's very effective at schools level, he will need to improve as all do when moving up the levels, but I'd expect he will be involved with the irish 20s next season as a u19. So yeah he is good, how good will he be? TBD.
He’s been training in the sub academy every week since he was 16. Leinster are doing everything they can to develop him into a pro player. He will improve a lot once he leaves school as he’ll be in a great environment training with good players and coaches. He’s the biggest player we’ve ever had in our system so Leinster won’t let this go to waste and will do everything they can to develop him into a top pro player as they are doing at the moment.
LH Prop
Marcus Hanan (22/Clane RFC/Terenure) - bench for Leinster.
Jack Boyle (20/St. Michaels/UCD) - started at 1 for UCD, 1 try.
--
George Hadden(U20/Gorey/Clontarf) - Irish 20s camp.
George Morris(U20/Gonzaga/Lansdowne) - Irish 20s camp.
TH Prop
Temi Lasisi (21/Enniscorthy RFC/Lansdowne) - started at 3 for Lansdowne, 1 try.
Rory McGuire (20/Blackrock College/UCD) - started at 3 for UCD.
--
Paddy McCarthy(U20/Blackrock/DUFC) - Irish 20s camp.
Ronan Foxe(U20/Tullamore RFC/Old Belvedere) - Irish 20s camp.
Adam Daey(U19/Tullow RFC/Lansdowne) - injured.
Hooker
John McKee (22/Campbell/Terenure) - started at 2 for Leinster.
Lee Barron (21/St. Michaels/DUFC) - started at 2 for Trinity.
--
Gus McCarthy(U20/Blackrock/UCD) - Irish 20s camp.
Matt Victory(U20/St. Michaels/DUFC) - injured.
Lock-Blindside
Alex Soroka (21/Belvedere/Clontarf) - injured.
Diarmuid Mangan (U20/Newbridge/UCD) - Irish 20s camp.
--
Conor O'Tighnernaigh(U20/St. Michaels/UCD) - Irish 20s camp.
Max Dunne(U20/St. Michaels/DUFC) - injured
James Doyle(U20/Enniscorthy RFC/Lansdowne) - bench for Lansdowne.
Luke O'Connor(U19/Wexford RFC/Lansdowne)
Backrow
Sean O'Brien (22/Blackrock/UCD) - injured.
James Culhane (20/Blackrock/UCD) - bench for Leinster.
--
Liam Molony(U20/Blackrock/DUFC) - injured
Josh O'Hare(U20/Dundalk RFC/Old Wesley) - bench for Old Wesley.
Outhalf
Charlie Tector (20/Kilkenny/Lansdowne) - bench for Leinster.
Sam Prendergast(U20/Newbridge/Lansdowne) - Irish 20s camp.
--
Matthew Lynch(U20/Terenure/DUFC) - Irish 20s camp.
Centre
Ben Brownlee (20/Blackrock/UCD) - started at 12 for Leinster.
--
Hugh Cooney(U20/Blackrock/Clontarf) - Irish 20s camp.
Sam Berman(U19/St. Michaels/DUFC) - Irish 20s camp.
Charlie Sheridan(U19/Naas RFC/Naas) - started at 13 for Naas, 4 tries.
Back Three
Rob Russell (23/St. Michaels/DUFC) - injured
Andrew Smith (22/St. Michaels/Clontarf) - irish 7's
Max O'Reilly (22/St. Gerards/DUFC) - started at 14 for Leinster, 1 try.
Chris Cosgrave (21/St. Michaels/UCD) - started at 15 for Leinster.
Aitzol King (20/Balbriggan RFC-CUS/Clontarf) - bench for Leinster.
--
Andrew Osborne(U20/Naas/Naas) - injured
Henry McErlean(U20/St. Michaels/Terenure) - Irish 20s camp.
James Nicholson(U20/St. Michaels/UCD) - Irish 20s camp.
Noah Sheridan(U20/Wicklow RFC/Clontarf) - Irish 20s camp.
Reuben Moloney(U19/Blackrock/UCD) - injured
Davy Colbert(U19/Gonzaga/DUFC)
Paidi Farrell who was selected for the clubs u18 Irish squad in the Autumn has been placed in the Schools U18 Squad for the Spring. Is this common practice? He goes to St Mary's Edenderry who don't play much rugby.
Ray Donovan wrote: ↑January 31st, 2023, 12:53 pm
Paidi Farrell who was selected for the clubs u18 Irish squad in the Autumn has been placed in the Schools U18 Squad for the Spring. Is this common practice? He goes to St Mary's Edenderry who don't play much rugby.
Ray Donovan wrote: ↑January 31st, 2023, 12:53 pm
Paidi Farrell who was selected for the clubs u18 Irish squad in the Autumn has been placed in the Schools U18 Squad for the Spring. Is this common practice? He goes to St Mary's Edenderry who don't play much rugby.
Ray Donovan wrote: ↑January 31st, 2023, 12:53 pm
Paidi Farrell who was selected for the clubs u18 Irish squad in the Autumn has been placed in the Schools U18 Squad for the Spring. Is this common practice? He goes to St Mary's Edenderry who don't play much rugby.
Not common but does happen.
Cheers. What would the rationale be?
club player is very highly rated and they want to see how he performs in u18 6 nations alongside schools players and against higher quality opponents.
u18 schools side is basically an u18 A side, club & schools side an u18 B side and club side an U18 C side.
Farrell not the only club player in u18 schools side, Mahon Ronan there too.
mildlyinterested wrote: ↑January 29th, 2023, 7:57 pm
17 year old Alan Spicer
Isn't there another Belvo second-row who's almost as big as Spicer - 6'9" and 6'10" respectively, I heard? Any news on him?
"This is breathless stuff.....it's on again. Contepomi out to Hickie,D'Arcy,Hickie.......................HICKIE FOR THE CORNER! THAT IS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hanan could be given a dev deal owing the to RWC next season and we're likely without Porter and Healy. Unless Leinster think they could be ok with Byrne, Milne and Boyle.
The selection of Culhane and the fact he is at this level does not look like good news for SOB getting retained.
Smith looked to be an excellent option but that off day against Chile really might have hurt him. He looks to be very focused on sevens and Cosgrave and Russell seem to be better prospects.
O'Reilly is in a similar boat. He's spent the majority of this season injured. I'm not sure he has the top end athleticism to make the cut. Possibly in a similar situation to Smith in that Cosgrave and Russell seem to be better rated prospects.
Having said all that we're not exactly awash with back 3 options at present. Especially if Kearney moves on. But I can see DK being given a year contract if he'll take it.
I don't see anyone else graduating early. Russell possibly in the conversation with an impressive (if a little flattering) strike rate this year. I don't see any real merit on bumping him to a dev deal unless one of the other provinces come sniffing. And I'm not sure why they would.
