
Rugby
Share
Published 15:22 7 Jan 2020 GMT
Updated 15:25 7 Jan 2020 GMT
Explore more on these topics:
"Jack O'Donoghue is not in the squad and neither is Sean Reidy," says Trimble. "Neither is Matty Rea, who is going really well. These guys are not even getting in the enormous, 45-man squad. It's tough for Sean Reidy especially, as he's been playing class for Ulster."
"Reidy is physical," notes Flannery, "but I'm trying to see what his point of difference is, though. I can see that he is one of the better ball-carriers in the Ulster pack but when I look at someone like Jack O'Donoghue, he gives you almost like a Pete O'Mahony-esque presence in the lineout, attack and defence, and he's a brilliant maul stopper and he's a good athlete around the field.
"But Jack's best position is probably at 8 and when you look at it, there's CJ, Caelan Doris and Max Deegan, so there's a lot of competition there. Jack Conan, even, when he gets fit again." "I think Caelan Doris needs to play international rugby now," Flannery adds. "He's just going to get better and better and better. He's phenomenal. "I'd have Doris in there [ahead of Deegan]. Deegan has excellent as well, but I think Doris has to play international rugby sooner rather than later. He just looks that bit more comfortable. "When I was looking at Leinster's back row and what they each bring - they have van der Flier's line-speed, the have Leavy's all-round abilities as a 7 but he's a real poach threat, you have Connors' massive work-rate and dominant tackles. Then you have Doris and Deegan both at8 - two fantastic footballers. And then at 6 you have Ruddock's ability to carry into four or five bodies and still make gainline. You can throw Scott Fardy in there too and Jack Conan, who is so explosive, when he comes back. They've just so many."When it comes to that first matchday squad Andy Farrell names ahead of the Guinness Six Nations opener with Scotland, Flannery notes that the World Cup quarter final back row of O'Mahony-van der Flier-Stander will be strongly considered. Still, he would like to see Doris in the matchday 23 and pushing for a starting role.
Ref mic picks up risky backchat from annoyed Munster captain Beirne
He was not at all pleased…. As expected, a strong Munster outfit put a big score against a seriously depleted Ulster team, beating them 41-14 at Thomond Park on Saturday. The result puts Munster up to fifth in the URC, after a hugely tumultuous few weeks, while Ulster are down to eighth, and just three […]
Rugby
2 days ago
The SportsJOE Friday Pub Quiz: Week 137
Another big teaser! The SportsJOE Friday Pub Quiz is going nowhere! Give it a crack and good luck!
Rugby
6 days ago
The SportsJOE Friday Pub Quiz: Week 136
Rugby