Ospreys away, Sunday, Nov 8th 3pm

[Gearzbox2]

Yep harsh to call that pack performance 'a bit ragged'.

They picked a big 1-8 to go after us and between mins 20-60 we completely overwhelmed them. Our back row had theirs on toast.

I’m speaking “ragged” in terms of ball control (plenty of knock ons) , maul D (conceded penalty try) and scrum (was messy throughout)
Think that can be summed up as ragged but they did do things well too....it wasn’t all bad

[Cianostays]

2 weeks in a row now for Ruddock (and much deserved). Mad how he's so overlooked by Irish management

In the games so far this season Ruddock looks like he is playing in age grade match’s and he is about 5 years older than the rest of the players on the pitch. He looks in unbelievable shape and cardio wise he is still going as strong at the end as at the start.

Ruddock has been a significant step above any of the opposition this season.

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[Keith]

2 weeks in a row now for Ruddock (and much deserved). Mad how he's so overlooked by Irish management

In the games so far this season Ruddock looks like he is playing in age grade match’s and he is about 5 years older than the rest of the players on the pitch. He looks in unbelievable shape and cardio wise he is still going as strong at the end as at the start.

Ruddock has been a significant step above any of the opposition this season.

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He's on another level every time he takes the field in these games. Unfortunately he has been unlucky with the timing of his injuries in terms of getting into the Ireland squads.

[Blueberry]

Ruddock is in spectacular form.

Should be starting at 8 for Ireland. No debate in my eyes.

I know we were a bit ragged in places but incredibly impressive fitness with the quick turnaround. Ospreys dead on their feet.

We trundle ever onwards. 25 from 25 points.

[Blueberry]

Can anyone explain why Dave Kearney looked so disappointes to have scored that try? His reaction was very odd.

Because somewhere in the world a Munster fan is writing off his performance and calling him Average Dave.......

[munster#1]

Ruddock is in spectacular form.

Should be starting at 8 for Ireland. No debate in my eyes.

I know we were a bit ragged in places but incredibly impressive fitness with the quick turnaround. Ospreys dead on their feet.

We trundle ever onwards. 25 from 25 points.

Congratulations on yet another win.

Interesting claim about Ruddock. It’s not long ago that Heaslip was claiming that Dorris was the best 8 in the country, and many feel that Conan is.

Ruddock is a player who had so much potential early on, but unfortunately he never seemed to reach his full potential, so would be great to see him doing it at this stage of his career.

With Ruddock being the best 8 in Ireland, would you envisage Doris making a permanent move to blindside, and Conan being relegated to the bench?

To me the pecking order would be different, but all are great options to have, especially when you throw Deegan into the mix.

[carlow man]

How successive Irish Coaches have not recognised the effectiveness of Rhys Ruddock against Welsh teams is a mystery to me. For years past, and certainly again in this season, Rhys raises his game and lifts his team mates, particularly against the Welsh. Whatever differential the South Africans considered existed to define the Irish as soft and the Welsh as hard certainly doesn't apply to Ruddock. Scrupulously clean but hard as nails he epitomises what an Irish pack always needs against Wales.

It would be a real recognition of his current form if Farrell summoned Ruddock, even at this relatively late stage in the Autumn. But it would be deserved.

The leinster coaching staff ignored Rhys since rugby resumed. He wasn't even involved in the match day squads eveb though he was doing the extras before the games. They obviously preferred doris instead of Rhys. That was a mistake. Moving forward I would have doris at 8 and Rhys at 6. One of leavy, Josh or will at 7.

[carlow man]

Ruddock is in spectacular form.

Should be starting at 8 for Ireland. No debate in my eyes.

I know we were a bit ragged in places but incredibly impressive fitness with the quick turnaround. Ospreys dead on their feet.

We trundle ever onwards. 25 from 25 points.

Agree completely re ruddock. Unfortunately he doesn't have a good enough 'angry face' like pom. Nor does he steal one lineout a game but doesn't carry any ball, make any tackles or make any metres. Rhys needs to do those things and as soon as he does he will be given an IRFU contract. Simples.

[carlow man]

Ruddock is in spectacular form.

Should be starting at 8 for Ireland. No debate in my eyes.

I know we were a bit ragged in places but incredibly impressive fitness with the quick turnaround. Ospreys dead on their feet.

We trundle ever onwards. 25 from 25 points.

Agree completely re ruddock. Unfortunately he doesn't have a good enough 'angry face' like pom. Nor does he steal one lineout a game but doesn't carry any ball, make any tackles or make any metres. Rhys needs to do those things and as soon as he does he will be given an IRFU contract. Simples.

Agree completely re ruddock. Unfortunately he doesn't have a good enough 'angry face' like pom. Nor does he steal one lineout a game but doesn't carry any ball, make any tackles or make any metres. Rhys needs to do those things and as soon as he does he will be given an IRFU contract. Simples.

[Keith]

Ruddock is in spectacular form.

Should be starting at 8 for Ireland. No debate in my eyes.

I know we were a bit ragged in places but incredibly impressive fitness with the quick turnaround. Ospreys dead on their feet.

We trundle ever onwards. 25 from 25 points.

Agree completely re ruddock. Unfortunately he doesn't have a good enough 'angry face' like pom. Nor does he steal one lineout a game but doesn't carry any ball, make any tackles or make any metres. Rhys needs to do those things and as soon as he does he will be given an IRFU contract. Simples.

Hopefully POM will take his much deserved contract abroad, so that the IRFU aren't compelled to include him in matchdays 23's. The fact he is on a central contract is the only reason why I can see he is still getting picked. Either that or his "leadership".

[Laighin Break]

As things currently stand, I'd go with Rhys back to 6 when the internationals return, and between Doris and Conan for the 8 jersey.

[backrower8]

Our back row are really performing as individuals and as a unit. All unsung relative to their more illustrious peers.

A fair bit has rightly been said about Josh M & Rhys but less about Penny who has a serious engine, power, positioning and footballing abilities. Still only 20 and handling himself very well. Huge tackle count today.

Lydiate was holding him illegally after the ball had left the scrum and brought it to the referee’s attention, he could see what was going on, each time.

The time lost to scrums and the line-out maul laws are a scourge on the sport, which is already hard to watch these days. And who told Ospreys playing disco music to an empty stadium at every stoppage was a good idea?

[mildlyinterested]

Penny's 21 since September.

[Blueberry]

Penny had a good game too and cooking nicely !!

VDF, Penny, Leavy, Conan, Ruddock, Doris, Connors, Murphy, Deegan.....

9 high quality back rows. We are very lucky.

Right now though Ruddock is tearing up trees and if Farrell can't see that well it is his loss.

[ronk]

Faz is trying to work Doris, Connors and possibly Baird into the Irish backrow and Stander is in great form too. He has a selection headache with easing POM out a little for younger players. Pulling guys out of games and into training camp, then parachuting in the guys who played well in those games is a recipe for bad squad morale.

Ruddock has a knock early in the season and it worked against him in terms of setting himself up.

If Ruddock keeps going he may force his way into the 6N squad.

[backrower8]

Penny's 21 since September.

So he’s 3 months older (to the day) than Ultimate Rugby says he is, I take it all back then.

[joooooe]

Moving forward I would have doris at 8 and Rhys at 6. One of leavy, Josh or will at 7.

That has a very nice horses-for-courses feel to it. I would add Conan as an option at 8 depending on the opposition; it's easy to forget just how high his ceiling is.

Given the quantity of quality backrow players, and the fact that few of them are specialists (Penny is probably the only one who can't play at least 2 of the backrow positions) there has been a lot of talk about players moving to other provinces. Rank them however you like, but you can take Rhys...from my cold, dead hands.

[ronk]

Good game from Molony. Won a lot of collisions.

[the spoofer]

I thought that Ruddock, Murphy and Molony won the game for us. The three of them were absolute monsters and smashed the spirit out of the O's. Penny was really good and I'd be very sorry to see him go from Leinster. H Byrne had a tough day and will have more but he needs better service from his 9.

One of Sheehans overthrows looked on the money with the lift less than perfect, the other was just a little too much loft which was surprising as he has a flatter throw than most.

[Flash Gordon]

Ruddock is in spectacular form.

Should be starting at 8 for Ireland. No debate in my eyes.

I know we were a bit ragged in places but incredibly impressive fitness with the quick turnaround. Ospreys dead on their feet.

We trundle ever onwards. 25 from 25 points.

Congratulations on yet another win.

Interesting claim about Ruddock. It’s not long ago that Heaslip was claiming that Dorris was the best 8 in the country, and many feel that Conan is.

Ruddock is a player who had so much potential early on, but unfortunately he never seemed to reach his full potential, so would be great to see him doing it at this stage of his career.

With Ruddock being the best 8 in Ireland, would you envisage Doris making a permanent move to blindside, and Conan being relegated to the bench?

To me the pecking order would be different, but all are great options to have, especially when you throw Deegan into the mix.

I wouldn't even know where to start with the pecking order. We have a bit of a production line at Leinster, you have POM and CJ at Munster, Jordi at Ulster. The "when they're all fit" discussion is hypothetical really as given the importance and the attritional nature of the position you pretty much need 2 international class back rows.