Any word on the Academy?

[rumncoke]

Also watched the Ulster final very evenly matched sides but to honest neither side looked to be as well drilled as Blackrock

N B I.am not claiming that Blackrock forwards are better players rather that they have been better drilled in playing an error free possession game based on being bigger and more mature than the opposition ie their control of possession
Collectively as a pack is better

[rumncoke]

Thus when it comes to underage selections the it’s the fact that they have been drilled to a high standard at school counts rather than individual skill levels

The u20s inside the opposition 22 that approach to control of possession is not the product of a training camp its something that is there prior to the camp

[Jetstream]

Congrats to Cooney’s alma mater.

Nobody seems to have mentioned the Ulster final yet which was a good contest.

I thought there were a few good displays. Kenny, Ward and Boyd were the three that stood out. The No 10 Eagleson had a sound game although he needs to work on his kicking game.

[rumncoke]

Every schools cup final will expose a couple of players of promise but the fact remains most of those 30 players on the pitch will never become professional and many may have played their last game of rugby the same is true of the Leinster schools Cup final .Given the fact that leinster churn out about 45 players every of a similiar standard to become a leinster player requires dedication and luck ie an appropriate vacancy occurs in the squad.

And what is true of leinster is equally true in Ulster except the current approach to underage rugby selection at representative which puts results above nurture -- inhibits the possible desire in players outside Leinster who see no possibility of a future in the game due to the bias towards Leinster school players this is especially true in Ulster but to a lesser extent Munster and Connaught and lets also not forget that the IRFU were also guilty of victimising two of the best players in Ulster --- what encouragement does that provide to rugby players in Ulster --- in a word none -- repeat it none

[kingofthehill]

Congrats to Cooney’s alma mater.

Nobody seems to have mentioned the Ulster final yet which was a good contest.

I thought there were a few good displays. Kenny, Ward and Boyd were the three that stood out. The No 10 Eagleson had a sound game although he needs to work on his kicking game.

All 3 will play for ulster. Mcfarlane and possibly Josh stevens as well.

I’m excited to see how far Ward goes.


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[justinr73]

Ward was the 8, right? Took some stopping, that’s for certain sure.

Unfortunately for Campbell, Kenny didn’t see quite as much ball as he did in the semi when I felt he totally eclipsed his opposite number (tbf to Mcfarlane, he probably had ‘one of those games’ when nothing falls right).

[Tap+Go]

Also watched the Ulster final very evenly matched sides but to honest neither side looked to be as well drilled as Blackrock

N B I.am not claiming that Blackrock forwards are better players rather that they have been better drilled in playing an error free possession game based on being bigger and more mature than the opposition ie their control of possession
Collectively as a pack is better

Also watched both Ulster & Leinster finals and to me what stood out was the sheer speed of the Leinster final & the amount of phases both sides in that game were able to go through retaining possession without a knock on / handling error or needing to kick the ball away. Very impressive in their speed, fitness & skillset. While the Ulster final was a good tight match between closely matched teams I thought it was noticeably slower & both teams would struggle to match the skillset of the Leinster teams.

[kingofthehill]

Ward was the 8, right? Took some stopping, that’s for certain sure.

Unfortunately for Campbell, Kenny didn’t see quite as much ball as he did in the semi when I felt he totally eclipsed his opposite number (tbf to Mcfarlane, he probably had ‘one of those games’ when nothing falls right).

Mcfarlane had a very serious injury in December and I was surprised to see him involved at all.

Kenny was quiet in the final but he is a very good player.

Ward was the 8. Ball carrying ability is superb, his ball transition when carrying is top notch (watch it in the lead up to Boyd’s winning score)


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[kingofthehill]

Also watched the Ulster final very evenly matched sides but to honest neither side looked to be as well drilled as Blackrock

N B I.am not claiming that Blackrock forwards are better players rather that they have been better drilled in playing an error free possession game based on being bigger and more mature than the opposition ie their control of possession
Collectively as a pack is better

Also watched both Ulster & Leinster finals and to me what stood out was the sheer speed of the Leinster final & the amount of phases both sides in that game were able to go through retaining possession without a knock on / handling area or needing to kick the ball away. Very impressive in their speed, fitness & skillset. While the Ulster final was a good tight match between closely matched teams I thought it was noticeably slower & both teams would struggle to match the skillset of the Leinster teams.

Couldn’t argue with a word of that.

Thought the ulster schools final was of much lesser standard skills wise (weather didn’t help tbf)


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[Big-al]

Given the strength of the ulster u18 vs Leinster u18 schools side then that shouldn’t be surprising. Ulster struggled to score points, never mind win a game!!

Hopefully the next batch will bring a more positive fortune for team.

[Jetstream]

Ward was the 8, right? Took some stopping, that’s for certain sure.

Unfortunately for Campbell, Kenny didn’t see quite as much ball as he did in the semi when I felt he totally eclipsed his opposite number (tbf to Mcfarlane, he probably had ‘one of those games’ when nothing falls right).

Mcfarlane had a very serious injury in December and I was surprised to see him involved at all.

Kenny was quiet in the final but he is a very good player.

Ward was the 8. Ball carrying ability is superb, his ball transition when carrying is top notch (watch it in the lead up to Boyd’s winning score)


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Do you know if Eagleson is related to former branch President, Joe Eagleson?

[kingofthehill]

Ward was the 8, right? Took some stopping, that’s for certain sure.

Unfortunately for Campbell, Kenny didn’t see quite as much ball as he did in the semi when I felt he totally eclipsed his opposite number (tbf to Mcfarlane, he probably had ‘one of those games’ when nothing falls right).

Mcfarlane had a very serious injury in December and I was surprised to see him involved at all.

Kenny was quiet in the final but he is a very good player.

Ward was the 8. Ball carrying ability is superb, his ball transition when carrying is top notch (watch it in the lead up to Boyd’s winning score)


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Do you know if Eagleson is related to former branch President, Joe Eagleson?

Yes he is.


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[Bewlay Bros]

IRELAND U19 v Japan U19, Lakelands, Wednesday 22nd March, 2023, KO:2.40pm
15. David Colbert (Leinster/Dublin University FC)
14. Stephen Kiely (Munster/Old Crescent RFC)
13. Charlie Sheridan (Leinster/Naas RFC)
12. Tom Larke (Leinster/St. Columbas College/Old Wesley RFC)
11. Oisin Pepper (Munster/St. Munchin’s College)
10. Jack Murphy (Leinster/Presentation College Bray) vice captain
9. Jake O’Riordan (Munster/St. Munchin’s College)

1. Ben Howard (Leinster/St Michael’s College)
2. Stephen Smyth (Leinster/Kilkenny College) captain
3. Adam Deay (Leinster/Lansdowne FC)
4. James O’Loughlin (Leinster/Naas RFC)
5. James McKillop (Ulster/Foyle College)
6. Mark Lee (Ulster/Rainey Old Boys RFC)
7. Josh Stevens (Ulster/Methodist College)
8. Richard Whelan (Leinster/Cistercian College Roscrea)

Replacements
16. Zac Solomon (Ulster/Belfast Harlequins RFC)
17. Sean Hopkins (Connacht/St Muredach’s College/Ballina RFC)
18. Theo Bishop (IQ Rugby/Hartpury College)
19. Luke O’Connor (Leinster/Lansdowne FC)
20. Jacob Sheahan (Munster/UCC RFC)
21. Tadhg Brophy (Leinster/Newbridge College)
22. Sean Naughton (Leinster/Kilkenny College)
23. Ben McFarlane (Ulster/Methodist College)
24. Ethan Graham (Ulster/Ballynahinch RFC)

2 separate teams running in each game.

None of the schools cup finals boys included from Leinster, Munster or ulster.

Arguably a stronger squad in the 2nd match.


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You’d hope so, because this team lost 22-19

[Bayern]

IRELAND U19 v Japan U19, Lakelands, Sunday 26th March, 2023, KO: 6.00pm
15. Hugo McLaughlin (Leinster/Gonzaga College)
14. Lucas Kenny (Uster/Campbell College)
13. Sam Berman (Leinster/Dublin University FC)
12. Luke Kritzinger (Leinster/Blackrock College)
11. Jules Fenelon (Leinster/St Michael’s College)
10. Sean Naughton (Leinster/Kilkenny College)
9. Oliver Coffey (Leinster/Blackrock College)

1. Jacob Boyd (Ulster/RBAI)
2. Zac Solomon (Ulster/Belfast Harlequins RFC)
3. Adam Deay (Leinster/Lansdowne FC)
4. James O’Loughlin (Leinster/Naas RFC)
5. Joe Hopes (Ulster/Queens RFC)
6. James McKillop (Ulster/Foyle College)
7. Jacob Sheahan (Munster/UCC RFC)
8. Bryn Ward (Ulster/RBAI)

Replacements

16. Stephen Smyth (Leinster/Kilkenny College)
17. Tom O’Riordan (Leinster/Blackrock College)
18. Flynn Longstaff (Ulster/Campbell College)
19. Michael Colreavy (Leinster/Blackrock College)
20. Tom Brigg (Leinster/Blackrock College)
21. Tadhg Brophy (Leinster/Newbridge College)
22. Jack Murphy (Leinster/Presentation College Bray)
23. Wilhelm de Klerk (Leinster/St Michael’s College)
24. Sean Condon (Munster/UCC)
25. Ben O’Connor (Munster/Presentation College Cork)

[Tap+Go]

6 Ulster forwards involved in this second squad & when you add in Lee & Stevens from the first squad will mean that the full starting pack from last years interpros will have featured across the games.

Bodes well but the cupboard is really bare in other areas at underage for Ulster - especially 10.