LeRouxIsPHat wrote:Speaking of evidence...did you read what he said before saying that he didn't provide evidence?
"Luke McGrath had a really effective performance on Friday. It is true that his pack even brought his slippers and pipe along on this armchair ride. McGrath picked up an injury at the wrong time of the season last year and missed the Grand Slam and missed out on selection for Australia. He is a far superior player right now to Kieran Marmion and John Cooney. The caveat is that this declaration is made on the basis that he performs for the champions of Europe, who play an irresistible brand of rugby but he is a key component in this, and every part of his game was first class on Friday.
"He made one tackle in the 15th minute when I suppose the game was still alive. Josh Bassett, the Wasps winger, came in off his wing from scrum ball in midfield and as the Leinster back line drifted Bassett was one-on-one with a man much smaller than he. The quality of that tackle was astonishing, as was its timing.
"It was the best tackle of the night and it demonstrated just one of McGrath’s many fine qualities. If he keeps playing like this he will be back in the Ireland picture."
Not the most detailed analysis but he seems to think that he dropped back in the pecking order because of his injury (which is a fairly valid reason for not thinking that Luke is at the back of the queue), says he played well on Friday, says he plays a key role in the great brand of rugby we play, and picks out his defence as a strong point.
Jaysus- that's really weak shite to offer as evidence. I did read it and its the usual Francis claptrap. An assertion- followed by a description of Luke's game on Friday. Where he admittedly played well- if not to my viewing to the heights that you judged. But forget all that for now- the really obvious point is that there's no evidence for comparison and judgement- just I repeat- a claim. I don't disregard his opinion because i dislike him- although that's a temptation that I struggle to resist. it's because he is not a serious analyst. He may be a good writer- and can be entertaining, but even here he's not to my taste, because he's a cheap shot merchant.
I and others could do the same thing for Cooney- who I believe is clearly playing at a much higher and consistent standard than McGrath- and in a much weaker team, where the luxury of playing behind the probable best pack in the NH is not afforded him. Marmion is also to my view still a better player than Luke in a weaker team- if not by as much as the gap to Cooney. The "argument" on Luke's style fitting the brand of rugby we play is baffling- does Jamie's speedier and better passing not offer as much? The later has been excellent this year but was also very good last season too.
You have in the past made arguments for Luke's supremacy over other SHs, that had some merit- but to try and use Franno- just because that fraud happen to concur with you is... well weak, is still the best word.
