One would hope so.
New Scrum Half?
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Re: New Scrum Half?
Didn’t think he was as old as 34. He’s gone from covering at Munster when their 9 is on international duty to covering 9 at Ulster while their 9 is on international duty.
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Re: New Scrum Half?
Obviously holding back local talent at 9 is no longer an issue for the IRFU.
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Re: New Scrum Half?
Unfortunately there is no local talent to hold back.Cockatrice wrote: ↑Tue Feb 25, 2020 6:42 pm Obviously holding back local talent at 9 is no longer an issue for the IRFU.
Stewart and Finlay are not up to it at that level.
Doak is a year or two off but will benefit massively from Alby.
Personally I think it’s great business.
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Re: New Scrum Half?
Am i missing something Re. Lewis Finlay?
He has been very very good for Ireland U20s
He has been very very good for Ireland U20s
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Re: New Scrum Half?
He’s a decent AIL player.launish116 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 25, 2020 8:24 pm Am i missing something Re. Lewis Finlay?
He has been very very good for Ireland U20s
As I have said many times before they made a mistake when they choose Stewart over O’Donnell.
Finlay was at Hinch last year and couldn’t get near the 1s because ROD was there. Hence why he left to go to Malone.
They will now throw all the eggs in Doak’s basket but to be fair, he’s a cracker!
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Re: New Scrum Half?
Pienaar offered to stay as understudy to Cooney plus a paycut. Nucifora said no. He would block the talent coming through. Ireland had some form so therefore Nucifora was heralded a genius by vacuous D4 twunts...
Three years later a 27 year old wee dave still cannot execute basic scrum half play. Nucifora has now admitted he was WRONG. His plan was a disaster. Ireland are a mess. He should resign.
Re: New Scrum Half?
Doak will be 3rd choice
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Re: New Scrum Half?
There is a vast chasm between U20 standard of play and the professional game.launish116 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 25, 2020 8:24 pm Am i missing something Re. Lewis Finlay?
He has been very very good for Ireland U20s
Re: New Scrum Half?
I think this is a great move.
Bringing in a quality player who knows the score in terms of what his role is and has shown he can do it well from his time at Munster.
Need to remember that until now Cooney has not been an Ireland regular subject to IRFU player management rules throughout the season so we have seen a lot more of him than we are likely to going forward. The need for a quality back up 9 is paramount. Also Doak or another young'un as 3rd choice will get their share of chances next season - initially off the bench replacing matthewson and then if they go well maybe a few starts.
As for the current lot, if Shanners couldn't displace Marshall towards the end of his career and Stewart cant displace Shanners then you would have to seriously doubt whether either would be good enough.
Bringing in a quality player who knows the score in terms of what his role is and has shown he can do it well from his time at Munster.
Need to remember that until now Cooney has not been an Ireland regular subject to IRFU player management rules throughout the season so we have seen a lot more of him than we are likely to going forward. The need for a quality back up 9 is paramount. Also Doak or another young'un as 3rd choice will get their share of chances next season - initially off the bench replacing matthewson and then if they go well maybe a few starts.
As for the current lot, if Shanners couldn't displace Marshall towards the end of his career and Stewart cant displace Shanners then you would have to seriously doubt whether either would be good enough.
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Re: New Scrum Half?
Though in Shanahan and Stewart we have players who didn't even deliver at that level.Snipe Watson wrote: ↑Wed Feb 26, 2020 12:14 amThere is a vast chasm between U20 standard of play and the professional game.launish116 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 25, 2020 8:24 pm Am i missing something Re. Lewis Finlay?
He has been very very good for Ireland U20s
Re: New Scrum Half?
Shanahan didn't, but Stewart did he was involved with U20 for two years.therealspratt wrote: ↑Wed Feb 26, 2020 1:25 pmThough in Shanahan and Stewart we have players who didn't even deliver at that level.Snipe Watson wrote: ↑Wed Feb 26, 2020 12:14 amThere is a vast chasm between U20 standard of play and the professional game.launish116 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 25, 2020 8:24 pm Am i missing something Re. Lewis Finlay?
He has been very very good for Ireland U20s
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Re: New Scrum Half?
I don't think that's quite fair on Finlay - he has looked very good at U-20 level, and these days U-20 is a consistently high standard, and while it's not unheard of for a player to go nowhere after shining at U-20, it has recently tended to be a very good indicator of a good future. I haven't seen quite enough of him just yet, but I think he's been very impressive so far. As for being behind ROD, it's not really surprising given that back then he would have been what 18? And ROD with a couple of seasons under his belt - I know you are a big ROD fan, and I am too up to a point, but I have to say that while I've often been impressed by him at Hinch, I'm not sure he has stood out so much that it's obvious to me he should be in the Ulster squad..kingofthehill wrote: ↑Tue Feb 25, 2020 9:07 pmHe’s a decent AIL player.launish116 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 25, 2020 8:24 pm Am i missing something Re. Lewis Finlay?
He has been very very good for Ireland U20s
As I have said many times before they made a mistake when they choose Stewart over O’Donnell.
Finlay was at Hinch last year and couldn’t get near the 1s because ROD was there. Hence why he left to go to Malone.
They will now throw all the eggs in Doak’s basket but to be fair, he’s a cracker!
I do think he's better than Stewart though - Stewart played for the 20s for a couple of years, but a relatively weak team, and didn't really stand out, in fact what I remember most is his kicks continually being charged down!
..one more thing
Re: New Scrum Half?
Mixed feeling about signing Alby yes we need a backup for Cooney, would have preferred a local 9 on the bench.
We have at least three potential candidates from our local resources but all need time to mature. Finlay is playing well for under20’s, Doak has already featured for UlsterA but is currently is involved with Wallace’s SchoolsCup. Campaign and Connor McKee was with the U20 squad but hasn’t featured due illness at the beginning of the campaign but spent last week with the senior squad as cover due to Shanahan carrying an injury.
So a 1 year contract is good business as it gives the local youngsters time to develop and mature. I think if we throw Curtis into the pool as well Ulster have some strength at 9.
We have at least three potential candidates from our local resources but all need time to mature. Finlay is playing well for under20’s, Doak has already featured for UlsterA but is currently is involved with Wallace’s SchoolsCup. Campaign and Connor McKee was with the U20 squad but hasn’t featured due illness at the beginning of the campaign but spent last week with the senior squad as cover due to Shanahan carrying an injury.
So a 1 year contract is good business as it gives the local youngsters time to develop and mature. I think if we throw Curtis into the pool as well Ulster have some strength at 9.