The Henderson Conundrum....

[Russ]

I'm happy to compare Henderson to Itoje and realise Hendo needs to kick on

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[BaggyTrousers]

Of course the big issue with Hendy is that he is actually about a five & a half, to lean to be a powerhouse second row, more suited to six but square pegs must be bashed into round holes. What he will be is effective but perhaps just not brilliant as a second row. Extremely valuable though.

Just one man's opinion.

[jean valjean]

Id like to see him taking the ball at a bit more pace and using his power to get on the outside shoulder a bit more. Too often he tries to pirouette out of tackles that good defences are reading. Of course having 7 colleagues that provide fromt foot ball helps and i expect to see him thrive when he gets back into a Marcell powered pack.

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[Bangors]

It seems to me that Hendo has always been considered a 2nd row by the National coaches
However, due to the shortcomings at UR, he has been played in the back row.
Ulster, having been allowed to sign a 2nd SA back row, will from now on be expected to play him at lock

[Dave]

To many spectators look at a young player and read far to much into his potential . The fact is there really is not a potential to grow . What players gain is experience when to use their skills and assets and how to maximise there impact .

Henderson has been played as a 6 when I expect most of his experience at school was second row and thus instead of using the experience he had he has had to acquire the experience of playing 6 and to honest Henderson is not a breakdown ball winner or slower nor does he clear rucks in the manner of Ferris.

Thus in my opinion Henderson is being played out of position due to the availability of second rows and the lack of backrow ball carriers.

And I'm not that sure that Itoje is a 6 for exactly the same reasons but he again is being played that position because of existance of second row alternatives and the English style of rugby ( BIG PACK - Backs kick and chase and only start to pass the ball inside the opposition 22 )weight is the name of the game in the pack not speed .

He played no 8 at school. Plus he's 25, school was 7 years ago.

[rorybestsbigbaldnoggin]

To many spectators look at a young player and read far to much into his potential . The fact is there really is not a potential to grow . What players gain is experience when to use their skills and assets and how to maximise there impact .

Henderson has been played as a 6 when I expect most of his experience at school was second row and thus instead of using the experience he had he has had to acquire the experience of playing 6 and to honest Henderson is not a breakdown ball winner or slower nor does he clear rucks in the manner of Ferris.

Thus in my opinion Henderson is being played out of position due to the availability of second rows and the lack of backrow ball carriers.

And I'm not that sure that Itoje is a 6 for exactly the same reasons but he again is being played that position because of existance of second row alternatives and the English style of rugby ( BIG PACK - Backs kick and chase and only start to pass the ball inside the opposition 22 )weight is the name of the game in the pack not speed .

He played no 8 at school. Plus he's 25, school was 7 years ago.

You realise you're conversing with a man who still bases all of his knowledge of space on a rugby field on that one time in the Jurassic Age when him and his mates successfully executed a 7-on-3 with a (dry) brick on the then-untarmacked Antrim Road (the "3" being a wheelie bin, a tumbleweed and a dog dryhumping the bin with all it fecking had) . . . Time is if no concern to this man . . .

[rumncoke]

Let's say Henderson started playing at 11 and was playing rugby at school for 7 years this his earlier school experience is same as his post game experience .

The point was if you change positions prior experience may not be relevant .

I can see Henderson being played as an 8 at school unfortunately professional 8 s tend to heavier than Henderson being used to anchor the set piece .

And while many may see little difference between back row positions there are differences which are important and help the back row to function as a unit rather than as individuals


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[Dave]

Let's say Henderson started playing at 11 and was playing rugby at school for 7 years this his earlier school experience is same as his post game experience .

The point was if you change positions prior experience may not be relevant .

I can see Henderson being played as an 8 at school unfortunately professional 8 s tend to heavier than Henderson being used to anchor the set piece .

And while many may see little difference between back row positions there are differences which are important and help the back row to function as a unit rather than as individuals


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Playing at school level is hardly comparable to professional level.

[Russ]

To many spectators look at a young player and read far to much into his potential . The fact is there really is not a potential to grow . What players gain is experience when to use their skills and assets and how to maximise there impact .

Henderson has been played as a 6 when I expect most of his experience at school was second row and thus instead of using the experience he had he has had to acquire the experience of playing 6 and to honest Henderson is not a breakdown ball winner or slower nor does he clear rucks in the manner of Ferris.

Thus in my opinion Henderson is being played out of position due to the availability of second rows and the lack of backrow ball carriers.

And I'm not that sure that Itoje is a 6 for exactly the same reasons but he again is being played that position because of existance of second row alternatives and the English style of rugby ( BIG PACK - Backs kick and chase and only start to pass the ball inside the opposition 22 )weight is the name of the game in the pack not speed .

He played no 8 at school. Plus he's 25, school was 7 years ago.

You realise you're conversing with a man who still bases all of his knowledge of space on a rugby field on that one time in the Jurassic Age when him and his mates successfully executed a 7-on-3 with a (dry) brick on the then-untarmacked Antrim Road (the "3" being a wheelie bin, a tumbleweed and a dog dryhumping the bin with all it fecking had) . . . Time is if no concern to this man . . .

I've just spat water all over my work laptop. It's fecked

5 Guffaws!

Guffaw
Guffaw
Guffaw
Guffaw
Guffaw

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[Russ]

Let's say Henderson started playing at 11 and was playing rugby at school for 7 years this his earlier school experience is same as his post game experience .

The point was if you change positions prior experience may not be relevant .

I can see Henderson being played as an 8 at school unfortunately professional 8 s tend to heavier than Henderson being used to anchor the set piece .

And while many may see little difference between back row positions there are differences which are important and help the back row to function as a unit rather than as individuals


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Playing at school level is hardly comparable to professional level.

Tell that to Blow In

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[Snipe Watson]

Look chaps, this is simple. Ireland is well stocked with back row operators none of whom can play in the second row except for Hendy. Therefore in the interests of getting the best athletes on the field, Hendy plays second row.

[Russ]

Look chaps, this is simple. Ireland is well stocked with back row operators none of whom can play in the second row except for Hendy. Therefore in the interests of getting the best athletes on the field, Hendy plays second row.

Maybe Devon will throw some lineouts to him

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[BaggyTrousers]

Look chaps, this is simple. Ireland is well stocked with back row operators none of whom can play in the second row except for Hendy. Therefore in the interests of getting the best athletes on the field, Hendy plays second row.

True fact that, and so simply put. Mind you I still think of him as a bit scrawny for a 2nd row.

Ireland are in a bad way for second rows, Next season could start the Treaders for Ireland campaign on Bakebook.

See Snipe, you can occasionally be more use than a blind man's eye sockets.

[Snipe Watson]

Look chaps, this is simple. Ireland is well stocked with back row operators none of whom can play in the second row except for Hendy. Therefore in the interests of getting the best athletes on the field, Hendy plays second row.

True fact that, and so simply put. Mind you I still think of him as a bit scrawny for a 2nd row.

Ireland are in a bad way for second rows, Next season could start the Treaders for Ireland campaign on Bakebook.

See Snipe, you can occasionally be more use than a blind man's eye sockets.

gwan away outerit you'll goat. I'm a font of wisdom and you know it.

[shamalicious]

I'd say the only way Nucifecker allowed us to get another SA back rower was because it was on the condition that Hendo would play in the second row.