Loosehead Prop going forward

[Morf]

See: if only refs could see McCaw coming in from the side/off his feet/etc

Not straight in the scrum is far easier to see than in from the side, and once you've seen it once there's only one place you need to check each time.

Yet it still isn't being reffed. Point still applies. His scrummaging isn't illegal til it's penalised.

[ronk]

Healy is a freak, its not fair to set that level of expectation at any player who isnt a freak. Its like dismissing someone for being a step down from BOD. Everyone is gonna fail that test.

Byrne and Dooley are good players with the potential to be Kilcoyne good, or maybe a bit better.

Leinster did have a freak loosened. We moved him to tighthead and it worked out really well.

I don’t quite get the ‘Kilcoyne good’ reference - He’s good around the field ok ( given space) but he’s a really bad ( and always illegal) scrummager

It’s just a lower but still high bar.

[mildlyinterested]

Hopefully Dooley can return to form over the next few weeks.. and Milne can use this time to further develop.

Hopefully no more injuries too.

as far as I know irish u20 Marcus Hanan is still around the academy setup.

Along with the following underage looseheads:

Hugo O'Malley(Blackrock/UCD)
Lemi Tasisi(Enniscorthy RFC/Lansdowne)
Jack Boyle(Michaels/UCD)
Aaron Rowan(Athy RFC-Blackrock/DUFC)

[mildlyinterested]

decent article on Ed Byrne's journey back from injury: https://www.the42.ie/ed-byrne-injury-re ... 5-Oct2020/

[mildlyinterested]

Marcus Hanan involved with the leinster 7's confirms that he is still around the sub-academy as a u21. Along with Jack Boyle.

[mildlyinterested]

Jack Boyle at 7's

[alanair]

I thought M Milne did well today - struggled a little at scrums , but he was up against 30 year old Islander...
This will improve - and his work in the loose was really good.

[Ruckedtobits]

I thought M Milne did well today - struggled a little at scrums , but he was up against 30 year old Islander...
This will improve - and his work in the loose was really good.

And that will generally be the summary of all his match reports until his scrum work improves. He has always been a good carrier, his tackling & mauling have improved, but he is still vulnerable at scrum time. There's a decent number of experienced THPs in the Pro14 and even more across Europe. Finding, or developing, a high quality scrummaging LHP has been a work-on for Leo and his coaches for two seasons since Jack went north.

Dooley is better at scrum time but looks like he's lost some of his appetite for the game. He's never been a front of the stage player but he has always reminded me of one of his predecessors, Heinke van der Merwe. Dooley can still fill the Healy shoes for Leinster but in his own way.

[wixfjord]

He's a 21 year old prop making his starting debut, of course he's going to be vulnerable at scrum time!

[mildlyinterested]

Cian Healy(33/Belvedere/Clontarf) - 6'1, 117kg. Contract ends in 2021.
Ed Byrne(28/Clongowes/UCD) - 5'11, 111kg. Signed new contract in 2020.
Peter Dooley(26/Birr RFC/Lansdowne) - 6'0, 116kg. Signed new contract in 2020.
Michael Milne(22/Birr RFC-Roscrea/UCD) - 5'11, 114kg. Academy Yr 2.
Marcus Hanan(21/Clane RFC/Old Belvedere) - 6'0, 106kg. Academy Yr 1.
--
Jack Boyle(18/St. Michaels/UCD)
Aaron Rowan(18/Athy RFC-Blackrock/DUFC)
Hugo O'Malley(19/Blackrock/UCD)

Boyle is almost certain to join the academy this summer and i'd expect Milne to join the senior squad.

* ages as of start of next season

[OneLungDavy]

Cian Healy(33) - 6'1, 117kg. Contract ends in 2021.
Ed Byrne(28) - 5'11, 111kg. Signed new contract in 2020.
Peter Dooley(26) - 6'0, 116kg. Signed new contract in 2020.
Michael Milne(21) - 5'11, 114kg. Academy Yr 3.
Marcus Hanan(20) - 6'0, 106kg. Academy Yr 1.
--
Jack Boyle(18)

What height is Boyle? He looks tall for a prop.

[mildlyinterested]

Cian Healy(33) - 6'1, 117kg. Contract ends in 2021.
Ed Byrne(28) - 5'11, 111kg. Signed new contract in 2020.
Peter Dooley(26) - 6'0, 116kg. Signed new contract in 2020.
Michael Milne(21) - 5'11, 114kg. Academy Yr 3.
Marcus Hanan(20) - 6'0, 106kg. Academy Yr 1.
--
Jack Boyle(18)

What height is Boyle? He looks tall for a prop.

over 6ft anyway... he is a late developer physically so it will be interesting to see where he is when he is 20/21, still only 18 here:

[mildlyinterested]

Andy Farrell talking about moving Porter to loose during 6 nations

However, Farrell has hinted that Porter may be looked at on the loosehead side again at some stage.

“There are all sorts of different scenarios that can unfold regarding the front row,” said Farrell yesterday.

“We’ve talked openly for some time about Andrew Porter but, at the same time, making sure that we are fair and proper to him, so he’s crystal clear whether he’s going tighthead or loosehead.

“Obviously there’s an option now, if Tadhg does come back through, that we can reassess that.

“Obviously Tadhg is going to take a little bit of time to get his feet back under the table so we’re trying to leave it open enough to mix things up a little bit along the way.”

[D4surfer]

Both Marcus Hanan and Jack Boyle were pictured at training this week.

[mildlyinterested]

Both Marcus Hanan and Jack Boyle were pictured at training this week.

I saw Hanan, didn't see Boyle.

Boyle did very well in the scrum against 6 nations squad member Tom O'Toole.

[D4surfer]

Both Marcus Hanan and Jack Boyle were pictured at training this week.

I saw Hanan, didn't see Boyle.

Boyle did very well in the scrum against 6 nations squad member Tom O'Toole.

I think that's him in picture 36 on Sportsfile.

[mildlyinterested]

Both Marcus Hanan and Jack Boyle were pictured at training this week.

I saw Hanan, didn't see Boyle.

Boyle did very well in the scrum against 6 nations squad member Tom O'Toole.

I think that's him in picture 36 on Sportsfile.

this?

https://www.sportsfile.com/id/1976797/

That's Ryan Baird and Sean O'Brien.

[D4surfer]

I saw Hanan, didn't see Boyle.

Boyle did very well in the scrum against 6 nations squad member Tom O'Toole.

I think that's him in picture 36 on Sportsfile.

this?

https://www.sportsfile.com/id/1976797/

That's Ryan Baird and Sean O'Brien.

You’re right. I missed the strapping on his thighs. Boyle and O’Brien do look similar though.

[Laighin Break]

Andy Farrell talking about moving Porter to loose during 6 nations

However, Farrell has hinted that Porter may be looked at on the loosehead side again at some stage.

“There are all sorts of different scenarios that can unfold regarding the front row,” said Farrell yesterday.

“We’ve talked openly for some time about Andrew Porter but, at the same time, making sure that we are fair and proper to him, so he’s crystal clear whether he’s going tighthead or loosehead.

“Obviously there’s an option now, if Tadhg does come back through, that we can reassess that.

“Obviously Tadhg is going to take a little bit of time to get his feet back under the table so we’re trying to leave it open enough to mix things up a little bit along the way.”

Sounds quite contradictory - want to be fair to him so he knows which he is, but we'll keep speculating and talking about how he could play either

[mildlyinterested]

interested to see Hanan tonight, great for another club player to come through setup.