Ireland u20 2021

[cormac]

Excellent performance from the Irish - lots of standout performances. Obviously the (100% correct) red card had an effect on matters, but Ireland were just better in almost every area. Lasisi and Illo had their opposite numbers on toast, Kendellan was man of the match and Jamie Osbourne and Shane Jennings look like the real deal

Much better second half performance. Thought the backs looked better when the subs came on. Understandable in this season, above all others, that there was a fair bit of rust about the first half performance.

[FLIP]

Excellent performance from the Irish - lots of standout performances. Obviously the (100% correct) red card had an effect on matters, but Ireland were just better in almost every area. Lasisi and Illo had their opposite numbers on toast, Kendellan was man of the match and Jamie Osbourne and Shane Jennings look like the real deal

Lasisi and Illo have a great build for lads that young, and had the scrum skills at this level. Hope they can kick on for Leinster in a few years.

[cormac]

Thought Cosgrave did well when he came on. Nothing particularly flash but was able to straighten the line, draw his man and make the pass. Created opportunities for those outside him.

[dropkick]

Thought Cosgrave did well when he came on. Nothing particularly flash but was able to straighten the line, draw his man and make the pass. Created opportunities for those outside him.

Yup the attack looked smoother with him on.


Osborne and Jennings were the pick of the backs. Forde looks a talent too. Moxham put in some nice defensive hits. Some very good athletes in that backline.


The defence was very good.


It was a disjointed performance as expected after the long layoff. The Scots were in a similar position so hard to gauge the match with them being down a man. They dominated most of the first half and knew they had a size advantage in the second row. Ireland struggled in that half to get going but looked much more dangerous when in possession than the Scots were. Both ireland front rows were on top in the scrum.


Humphreys had a mare and Corkery steadied things. Many players made little errors which is understandable. There was some great skill on show but the attack broke down often from them making little mistakes due to lack of cohesion. Little pop passes were dropped or not expected, players getting in each others way etc. There was also white line fever at times. They should have put up a bigger score but at least they were creating chances.


I thought jennings' disallowed try should have stood as it looked 50/50 at worse and he should have been given the benefit of the doubt. Not to mention he was pushed.


Kendellen deserved motm. Huge workrate, turnovers, carries and 3 or 4 nice offloads.


It was a good game for them. They will have work ons but confidence will be high. Wales up next.

[Ruckedtobits]

Enjoyed a lot about that performance yesterday and thought that the progression from first to second half was very promising for the future in this Tournament.

Nerves were in evident early on and Ben Moxham will not have the first half in his highlights reel. However, he really grew into the game and looked worth his place. Osborne on the other hand looked really assured early on but as he became more involved in broken play later in the game, some mistakes entered his game as he tried some passes and moves his team-mates didn't read.

The scrum looked technically good from the start and didn't change noticeably when the substitutes arrived. Boyle is well heralded on these pages but de Butleir and Donnelly also contributed well from their arrival.

However, the maul is a work in progress. Body positions from all the front five which started were too high and their binding on each other was not cohesive enough. They can certainly improve in this facet of the game and will need to.

The line-out was also less than impressive initially but most of this was down to early nerves. The targeted jumpers are not going to dominate against French and English packs so they need to develop some cute strategies to vary where they get ball - a couple of reduced-numbers line-outs with the ball moving between catch and drive phases will sort this out.

Finally, the clean outs at breakdowns can be improved for consistency, but when working it was impressive and should become a real strength.

The backline improved with the arrival of Corkery. Humphries didn't inspire confidence initially but improved. However, Corkery straightened the line from arrival and certainly created better opportunities for two very impressive centres from Connacht (Jennings & Forde) and Osborne running from full-back.

McKee at scrum-half looks the tallest top class scrum half since Murray and his wristy passing looks like a real strength with pace and accuracy. However, as with many tall scrum halves, his box kicking is vulnerable to the block down and he needs to work (as Murray did) on angling his body better to protect against blocks.

Finally, all of the wingers looked to have real potential with size and pace. Each of them should realise that as they graduate to higher levels, they must hit the accelerator much more quickly. Acceleration is the key for top level rugby, much more than wound-up pace.

Already looking forward to the next games. France, England and Wales are all decent teams but Murphy and his fellow coaches, Leamy and Tucker in particular, have lots of good material to work with.

[riocard911]

Excellent performance from the Irish - lots of standout performances. Obviously the (100% correct) red card had an effect on matters, but Ireland were just better in almost every area. Lasisi and Illo had their opposite numbers on toast, Kendellan was man of the match and Jamie Osbourne and Shane Jennings look like the real deal

Agree with all of that. Was my first time seeing Jack Boyle in action and I gotta say I was mightily impressed. Along with the skills the dude's got attitude in spades!!!

[hugonaut]

Excellent performance from the Irish - lots of standout performances. Obviously the (100% correct) red card had an effect on matters, but Ireland were just better in almost every area. Lasisi and Illo had their opposite numbers on toast, Kendellan was man of the match and Jamie Osbourne and Shane Jennings look like the real deal

Agree with all of that. Was my first time seeing Jack Boyle in action and I gotta say I was mightily impressed. Along with the skills the dude's got attitude in spades!!!

Jack Boyle is very much a 'can't miss' prospect.

He reminds me of Dan Leavy - I remember reading a good few gushing articles about Leavy when he was playing in the Senior Cup, and then I sat down with my brother to watch him play in the final, ready to take the p*ss ... and he was absolutely f*cking amazing! Boyle is the same. Quite a bit of early praise, totally delivers on the pitch.

[ronk]

Excellent performance from the Irish - lots of standout performances. Obviously the (100% correct) red card had an effect on matters, but Ireland were just better in almost every area. Lasisi and Illo had their opposite numbers on toast, Kendellan was man of the match and Jamie Osbourne and Shane Jennings look like the real deal

Agree with all of that. Was my first time seeing Jack Boyle in action and I gotta say I was mightily impressed. Along with the skills the dude's got attitude in spades!!!

Jack Boyle is very much a 'can't miss' prospect.

He reminds me of Dan Leavy - I remember reading a good few gushing articles about Leavy when he was playing in the Senior Cup, and then I sat down with my brother to watch him play in the final, ready to take the p*ss ... and he was absolutely f*cking amazing! Boyle is the same. Quite a bit of early praise, totally delivers on the pitch.

I haven't seen the match yet, but if there's one position in Ireland where we need a star coming through for long and medium term it's loosehead. If there's another then it's a toss up between a specialist 6 (4 very good 8s mitigates this a huge amount) or another loosehead.

[hugonaut]

Agree with all of that. Was my first time seeing Jack Boyle in action and I gotta say I was mightily impressed. Along with the skills the dude's got attitude in spades!!!

Jack Boyle is very much a 'can't miss' prospect.

He reminds me of Dan Leavy - I remember reading a good few gushing articles about Leavy when he was playing in the Senior Cup, and then I sat down with my brother to watch him play in the final, ready to take the p*ss ... and he was absolutely f*cking amazing! Boyle is the same. Quite a bit of early praise, totally delivers on the pitch.

I haven't seen the match yet, but if there's one position in Ireland where we need a star coming through for long and medium term it's loosehead. If there's another then it's a toss up between a specialist 6 (4 very good 8s mitigates this a huge amount) or another loosehead.

When you look at the Esportif rugby salaries graphic, LH is a bottom-five position in all three European leagues and TH is a top-five position [source: https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rug ... s-19535680 ]. LH seems to have become an under-regarded position in the last six or seven years.

[Oldschool]

Agree with all of that. Was my first time seeing Jack Boyle in action and I gotta say I was mightily impressed. Along with the skills the dude's got attitude in spades!!!

Jack Boyle is very much a 'can't miss' prospect.

He reminds me of Dan Leavy - I remember reading a good few gushing articles about Leavy when he was playing in the Senior Cup, and then I sat down with my brother to watch him play in the final, ready to take the p*ss ... and he was absolutely f*cking amazing! Boyle is the same. Quite a bit of early praise, totally delivers on the pitch.

I haven't seen the match yet, but if there's one position in Ireland where we need a star coming through for long and medium term it's loosehead. If there's another then it's a toss up between a specialist 6 (4 very good 8s mitigates this a huge amount) or another loosehead.

Scrum Half surely?

[mildlyinterested]

Considering Cian Healy, who is comfortably leinster and irelands best ever loosehead, is near retirement, it's remarkable that someone like Boyle is coming through now...

[Ruckedtobits]

Considering Cian Healy, who is comfortably leinster and irelands best ever loosehead, is near retirement, it's remarkable that someone like Boyle is coming through now...

The quite word in Belfast is that Jack is working hard and smart and would love to make a comeback to his natural position.

[ronk]

Jack Boyle is very much a 'can't miss' prospect.

He reminds me of Dan Leavy - I remember reading a good few gushing articles about Leavy when he was playing in the Senior Cup, and then I sat down with my brother to watch him play in the final, ready to take the p*ss ... and he was absolutely f*cking amazing! Boyle is the same. Quite a bit of early praise, totally delivers on the pitch.

I haven't seen the match yet, but if there's one position in Ireland where we need a star coming through for long and medium term it's loosehead. If there's another then it's a toss up between a specialist 6 (4 very good 8s mitigates this a huge amount) or another loosehead.

Scrum Half surely?

We appear to have more time at scrum half with Murray (made the Lions for e.g., Healy didn’t). We have a solid panel of scrum halves with experience and a good age profile. We already have Casey in situ as the future star getting accelerated development (I know he’s far from guaranteed).

At 6 we also have a situation where POM is ageing and moving towards 7. Stander is gone. Ruddock is only a year younger than POM; Baird, Beirne and Henderson are locks. But there are so many good other back rows around we can manage without a 6 for a few years.

[mildlyinterested]

Considering Cian Healy, who is comfortably leinster and irelands best ever loosehead, is near retirement, it's remarkable that someone like Boyle is coming through now...

The quite word in Belfast is that Jack is working hard and smart and would love to make a comeback to his natural position.

his natural position being?

[mildlyinterested]

review of leinster prospects performances:

1. Temi Lasisi(19) - very impressive debut as an underage international, very strong in the scrum.. is earning himself an academy place, will it be with Leinster? I hope so but given there are two looseheads in the academy already might leinster be full?
2. Ronan Loughnane(20) - was decent in most aspects, a little light at the moment but looks to have a good frame to mature into. will that be at leinster? I'd imagine it's unlikely.
3. Sam Illo(20) - was worried about him in the scrum but that looked massively unfounded, will be interesting to see how he goes the rest of the way but looks certain for an academy place you'd think.
4. Mark Morrisey(19) - good nuts and bolts performance, will need to fill out and hopefully grow in his u20 season in order to push for an academy palce with leinster.
6. Alex Soroka(20) - irelands biggest forward by a long way, been carrying a shoulder injury in 2021 and went off early in 2nd half with it, I expect he will have surgery on it after the 6 nations.. Is his future at lock or 6 for Leinster?
11. Josh O'Connor(20) - a powerful looking winger, did well enough with limited ball. Will watch with interest how he goes in the remaining games, but looks worth an academy place to me.
15. Jamie Osborne(19) - a standout at 15, already in the academy it's just a matter of settling on a position long term and allowing him to develop.
17. Jack Boyle(18) - made a big impact off the bench, an excellent prospect it's just a matter of giving him time to develop physically.
21. Will Reilly(20) - had a good impact off the bench, will watch with interest how he goes in the remaining games. heard he might have a connacht academy contract.
22. Tim Corkery(19) - was an improvement on JHumph, didn't do anything spectacularly, hard to know what to make of him. Will watch with interest how he goes in the remaining games.
23. Chris Cosgrave(19) - came on at fullback, looked to the be the slightest back on display for ireland.. had some classy moments in attack and at least one try saving tackle.

[Ruckedtobits]

Considering Cian Healy, who is comfortably leinster and irelands best ever loosehead, is near retirement, it's remarkable that someone like Boyle is coming through now...

The quite word in Belfast is that Jack is working hard and smart and would love to make a comeback to his natural position.

his natural position being?

No 2 LHP in national pecking order. A long journey but not by any means impossible if he can complete a full rehab followed by a full pre-season. Like any sportsman who has been up the mountain, he understands you must give it your best shot to regain the summit before the clock ticks you out.

[mildlyinterested]

The quite word in Belfast is that Jack is working hard and smart and would love to make a comeback to his natural position.

his natural position being?

No 2 LHP in national pecking order. A long journey but not by any means impossible if he can complete a full rehab followed by a full pre-season. Like any sportsman who has been up the mountain, he understands you must give it your best shot to regain the summit before the clock ticks you out.

Ah right I thought you were suggesting he would love to return to leinster.

[the spoofer]

review of leinster prospects performances:

1. Temi Lasisi(19) - very impressive debut as an underage international, very strong in the scrum.. is earning himself an academy place, will it be with Leinster? I hope so but given there are two looseheads in the academy already might leinster be full?
2. Ronan Loughnane(20) - was decent in most aspects, a little light at the moment but looks to have a good frame to mature into. will that be at leinster? I'd imagine it's unlikely.
3. Sam Illo(20) - was worried about him in the scrum but that looked massively unfounded, will be interesting to see how he goes the rest of the way but looks certain for an academy place you'd think.
4. Mark Morrisey(19) - good nuts and bolts performance, will need to fill out and hopefully grow in his u20 season in order to push for an academy palce with leinster.
6. Alex Soroka(20) - irelands biggest forward by a long way, been carrying a shoulder injury in 2021 and went off early in 2nd half with it, I expect he will have surgery on it after the 6 nations.. Is his future at lock or 6 for Leinster?
11. Josh O'Connor(20) - a powerful looking winger, did well enough with limited ball. Will watch with interest how he goes in the remaining games, but looks worth an academy place to me.
15. Jamie Osborne(19) - a standout at 15, already in the academy it's just a matter of settling on a position long term and allowing him to develop.
17. Jack Boyle(18) - made a big impact off the bench, an excellent prospect it's just a matter of giving him time to develop physically.
21. Will Reilly(20) - had a good impact off the bench, will watch with interest how he goes in the remaining games. heard he might have a connacht academy contract.
22. Tim Corkery(19) - was an improvement on JHumph, didn't do anything spectacularly, hard to know what to make of him. Will watch with interest how he goes in the remaining games.
23. Chris Cosgrave(19) - came on at fullback, looked to the be the slightest back on display for ireland.. had some classy moments in attack and at least one try saving tackle.

I was hugely impressed by Lasisi. He obviously has huge strength but he looked good technically in the scrums we saw from his side. Only propping a couple of years.

[hugonaut]

review of leinster prospects performances:

1. Temi Lasisi(19) - very impressive debut as an underage international, very strong in the scrum.. is earning himself an academy place, will it be with Leinster? I hope so but given there are two looseheads in the academy already might leinster be full?

I was hugely impressed by Lasisi. He obviously has huge strength but he looked good technically in the scrums we saw from his side. Only propping a couple of years.

I read the other day that he had played most of his youths rugby at No8, a la Peter Dooley. If that's the case he has transitioned position extremely well.

Given that he, like the rest of his team-mates, has played f*ck-all rugby in the last 15 months, that he moved to a completely different positional unit, and that Enniscorthy RFC, while a fine, long-standing club, is not a hothouse facility when it comes to producing pro players, you'd have to think that there's a lot of potential for further growth there.

[mildlyinterested]

review of leinster prospects performances:

1. Temi Lasisi(19) - very impressive debut as an underage international, very strong in the scrum.. is earning himself an academy place, will it be with Leinster? I hope so but given there are two looseheads in the academy already might leinster be full?

I was hugely impressed by Lasisi. He obviously has huge strength but he looked good technically in the scrums we saw from his side. Only propping a couple of years.

I read the other day that he had played most of his youths rugby at No8, a la Peter Dooley. If that's the case he has transitioned position extremely well.

Given that he, like the rest of his team-mates, has played f*ck-all rugby in the last 15 months, that he moved to a completely different positional unit, and that Enniscorthy RFC, while a fine, long-standing club, is not a hothouse facility when it comes to producing pro players, you'd have to think that there's a lot of potential for further growth there.

He started playing loosehead for Leinster u18 in 2018.

He has a younger brother who is following the same path.