Stuart McCloskey

Talk about the men in white, and everything Ulster!!

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HammerTime
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Stuart McCloskey

Post by HammerTime »

Snubbed again for Ireland with red card merchant Aki picked again and even Frawley in. I know this has been done to death (and should probably be in the Ireland thread) but I think if it was any other Province there’d be more pressure from fans and media alike. But there’s hardly a whisper about it. Was talk that he turned down holding tackle bags for Ireland while he was on holidays in France a few years ago. Surely that isn’t still an issue. Even though he only covers 12 he practically guarantees gaining yards if used correctly. His been exceptional once again all season for Ulster and rarely injured. IMO it’s getting to the stage were the big lad should sod the lot of them and head for a payday in France even though he’d be a huge loss to Ulster.
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Re: Stuart McCloskey

Post by Big-al »

I’d course.

Nobody in their right mind can look at the league and European games and come to the conclusion that Aki and Frawley are better players.
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Re: Stuart McCloskey

Post by paddybrown »

It's a matter of priorities. Ireland's priorities when selecting seem to be Leinster players and imported project players. If you're neither you'll have an uphill struggle to get picked no matter how good you are, and if you do get picked you'll only get a run out against Italy.

Don't know how many of those mythical big money moves to France are actually available though. They manage to spend all their money on French and South African players. Big Stu might decide, like John Cooney did, that he'd much rather play where the fans love him than move to another country and learn a new language.
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Dave
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Re: Stuart McCloskey

Post by Dave »

It's a hate crime, IMHO.

Utterly ludicrous.
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Re: Stuart McCloskey

Post by big mervyn »

Stu will possibly exceed Cave/ Trimble s' Ulster appearance record and will retire witb similar status in the minds of most Ulster fans. FIRFU.
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Re: Stuart McCloskey

Post by horslips »

Of course the IRFU has a long established policy of picking from winning teams such as Leinster. Oh wait....... >threaten
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Re: Stuart McCloskey

Post by richardt84 »

There was an interesting point by Three Red Kings (Munster fan) on Twitter where he said that Ireland are geared towards the Leinster playing style and players who know the Leinster system will ultimately be favoured in selections for that reason. The Leinster bias is not a new opinion but from what I would perceive to be a decent analyst the point on Leinster style rather than the Leinster player being better (as many D4 media would advocate) was a new one from a relatively prominent account.

At what stage does that cost the other three provinces? Would Ulster have tied down McCloskey to a contract extension as easy if he knew at the time his international career is over based on a preference for Frawley despite McCloskey playing prominently in knockout rugby? Similar with Burns and Harry Byrne - Byrne may be the future but if he was a player for the other 3 provinces he wouldn’t be talked of as a potential international never mind being in the squad. I saw a clip of Farrell trying to justify Doak’s exclusion by saying he’s in the best place by playing rugby but that doesn’t apply to players such as Byrne. Ulster and Munster are lucky enough in that even without international jerseys they can offer a decent package (competitive, good crowds) but at some stage the current approach will cost them.
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Re: Stuart McCloskey

Post by Dave »

The 12 for Ireland either passes or trucks it up the middle. No other 12 makes more yards than big Stu. It's not even close. Even De Allende had about a third of Stu's yards beyond the gain line.
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Re: Stuart McCloskey

Post by rumncoke »

I actually think Frawley is a better 12 than 10 and therein lies the reason for his inclusion consider the possible out halfs the squad

Sexton a pensioner nursing an injury waiting to happen
Carberry" Mr Play by Numbers " another injury waiting happen
Harry Byrne a better option than Ross but both over kick the ball -- ie too often and too deep -- which against the ABs is an invitation to run at you

Alternatives Lowry the ABs would be dying to hit him just once and Frawley and that fact makes him a sure place on the bench covering 10 and 12

Mccloskey's main problem is he either starts or sits in the stands his ability to move across a backline does not exist and therefore of no merit on the bench .

Farrell can't afford a specialist BACK on a five game tour against the ABs ( out half and scrum half are Half Backs not backs )
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Re: Stuart McCloskey

Post by Lurgan Lad »

richardt84 wrote: Thu Jun 16, 2022 8:38 pm There was an interesting point by Three Red Kings (Munster fan) on Twitter where he said that Ireland are geared towards the Leinster playing style and players who know the Leinster system will ultimately be favoured in selections for that reason. The Leinster bias is not a new opinion but from what I would perceive to be a decent analyst the point on Leinster style rather than the Leinster player being better (as many D4 media would advocate) was a new one from a relatively prominent account.

At what stage does that cost the other three provinces? Would Ulster have tied down McCloskey to a contract extension as easy if he knew at the time his international career is over based on a preference for Frawley despite McCloskey playing prominently in knockout rugby? Similar with Burns and Harry Byrne - Byrne may be the future but if he was a player for the other 3 provinces he wouldn’t be talked of as a potential international never mind being in the squad. I saw a clip of Farrell trying to justify Doak’s exclusion by saying he’s in the best place by playing rugby but that doesn’t apply to players such as Byrne. Ulster and Munster are lucky enough in that even without international jerseys they can offer a decent package (competitive, good crowds) but at some stage the current approach will cost them.
Maybe I'm wrong but I get the impression Ireland want to play a faster game than Leinster, which would suit players from Ulster? McCloskey, just like Cave's, face doesn't fit. You wonder is it a Sexton thing in all honesty, Cooney inside him and McCloskey outside him must both be no nos.
The biggest disappointment in the Ireland tour party was Treadwell, how is there not a better available 2nd row than him? At his age there can be no excuses for giving away stupid penalties, he has been a professional long enough and if he did that in NZ Ireland would have only themselves to blame.
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Re: Stuart McCloskey

Post by rumncoke »

Treadwell has bulk his set piece isn't bad line out and scrum his problem is his blond hair which means he is conspicuous in the loose and therefore identifiable

Henderson suffers to a lesser degree when playing head up

Both players are better than their penalty count others are possibly more guilty but fade into the mass and avoid the eye of the referee and the spectator's as well.
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Re: Stuart McCloskey

Post by rumncoke »

Every side has key players previously it was RoG and BoD latterly it has been Sexton --Cooney as always been a threat due to place kicking and to lesser degree his ability to switch to out half .

And the fact that IRFU f--ked up on Jackson now bites them because none of the alternatives are up to International standard and are basically bog average Proclub players who fail to impose a controlled inspiration to the back line .

McCloskey's problem has always been the fact he is a gain line 12 and therefore seen as a one trick pony -- Aki Henshaw and Frawley are assumed to offer more . The fact he is a better gain line 12 than all of them counts for nothing.
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Re: Stuart McCloskey

Post by Lurgan Lad »

I think there are more than enough blonde South Africans that don't give stupid penalties away, not convinced by your argument Rum.
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Re: Stuart McCloskey

Post by solidarity »

I've alwaays said that Ulster would give away fewer penalties if they didnt wear white shirts. Easier to see, easier to penalise. Simple. :roll:
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Re: Stuart McCloskey

Post by rumncoke »

Its because there are sp many in South Africa they are not individually conspicuous.

Treadwell is conspicuous -- just watch a game on the television and consider how often you can identify Treadwell compared to Ryan

or VdF to another back row forward ( due to his red scrum cap) VdF avoids giving penalties by timing his interventions in the ruck something he has perfected from a young age Treadwell has never had to acquire that skill because he has never been expected to be a ball winner his task in the ruck is as either to guard the ball or to remove someone who is guarding the ball .

His other weakness is due to his height and the inability to avoid the high tackle by playing head up rather than down.

But the fact is his set piece play is excellent
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