Leinster v Treviso, Sat 15.00

[the spoofer]

it's Treviso.

If he can't play well against them..

*** Edited by mod ***

[wixfjord]

Very little mention of how well Jordi Murphy played in this, despite the worries pre-match.

Yeah he was excellent alright. The whole backrow played well.

I still don't think he's remotely a 7 though, and with SOB and JVDF out, we could be goosed.

[goreyguy]

it's Treviso.

If he can't play well against them..

But he did play well against them, despite there being worries about him not playing well against them.

which says a lot about peoples expectations when he plays 7, a position he has routinely be shown to be not good enough when facing superior competiton than Treviso. If he has a very good game against Ulster then by all means praise him, but i'm not going to get excited by him playing well against a terrible side.

[goreyguy]

Very little mention of how well Jordi Murphy played in this, despite the worries pre-match.

Yeah he was excellent alright. The whole backrow played well.

I still don't think he's remotely a 7 though, and with SOB and JVDF out, we could be goosed.

With one of the most talented young opensides in the country in the squad, you'd think the answer would be simple.
Is it going to take another few years of attempting to play Jordi at 7 for the coaches to finally realise he isn't one? Similar to Dippy.

[simonokeeffe]

Jordi Murphy turned 25 in April

8 seems his best position, but his versatility is useful in lesser league games

[Dave Cahill]

Very little mention of how well Jordi Murphy played in this, despite the worries pre-match.

Yeah he was excellent alright. The whole backrow played well.

I still don't think he's remotely a 7 though, and with SOB and JVDF out, we could be goosed.

No, hes not a seven alright, but hes a good footballer so he can play it by ear somewhat.

Having said that, he did have fulfil one of the sevens key roles really well on saturday in shadowing the ball-carrier.

The Pro12 site's highlights dont do it justice, so I've uploaded the tg4 coverage of the Jack McGrath try - take a look at how many times Murphy involves himself. Takes and gives an offload with Isa, a big carry off the next ruck, gets involved with a further ruck, then comes around the corner for another big carry to set up the ruck that McGrath scores off - really good play. Now, Treviso aren't really at the races, but that kind of work ethic deserves praise - its easier to slack off than work harder when faced with poor opposition.



He takes up a similar position for the Nacewa try and gets a gives a nice pass to put Nacewa over

[goreyguy]

Jordi Murphy turned 25 in April

8 seems his best position, but his versatility is useful in lesser league games

Yup but if he is out starting 7 against a serious team we are in trouble based on his performances there overall.

That's not being negative, it's being realisitic.

[the spoofer]

Jordi Murphy turned 25 in April

8 seems his best position, but his versatility is useful in lesser league games

Yup but if he is out starting 7 against a serious team we are in trouble based on his performances there overall.

That's not being negative, it's being realisitic.

Jordi has put in excellent performances in the 6N. Give the lad a break.

[riocard911]

Most particularly in the England match in Lansdowne in 2015, when he started in place of an injured Jamie Heaslip and played his socks off in a head to head v Billy Vunipola.

[goreyguy]

Most particularly in the England match in Lansdowne in 2015, when he started in place of an injured Jamie Heaslip and played his socks off in a head to head v Billy Vunipola.

Yup at 8, his position. I've never claimed he isn't a good 8, he is, when on form.

Anyway I'm more concerned about how he plays for Leinster, playing good for Ireland is great and all but the internationals need to show up and do similar for leinster.

[johng]

You can spot their 19 lashing Johnny out of it at the start of the clip too.

[simonokeeffe]

we're 100% in the league with Jordi at starting at 7 this season

shows our depth too when our 3rd choice 7 has 14 caps for Ireland

[Peg Leg]

Most particularly in the England match in Lansdowne in 2015, when he started in place of an injured Jamie Heaslip and played his socks off in a head to head v Billy Vunipola.

Yup at 8, his position. I've never claimed he isn't a good 8, he is, when on form.

Anyway I'm more concerned about how he plays for Leinster, playing good for Ireland is great and all but the internationals need to show up and do similar for leinster.

When they're picked in their best position of course.

[goreyguy]

Most particularly in the England match in Lansdowne in 2015, when he started in place of an injured Jamie Heaslip and played his socks off in a head to head v Billy Vunipola.

Yup at 8, his position. I've never claimed he isn't a good 8, he is, when on form.

Anyway I'm more concerned about how he plays for Leinster, playing good for Ireland is great and all but the internationals need to show up and do similar for leinster.

When they're picked in their best position of course.

yup and that isn't 7 for Jordi.

[riocard911]

How come every time I go to watch the replay of Leinster v Treviso on Setanta Ireland they're showing ****ing Connacht v Glasgow? Monday night at 20.00 it was the case and now at 13.00 on Tuesday it's the same!!!!!!

[Oldschool]

Jordi Murphy turned 25 in April

8 seems his best position, but his versatility is useful in lesser league games

Yup but if he is out starting 7 against a serious team we are in trouble based on his performances there overall.

That's not being negative, it's being realisitic.

On the positive side he has timed his return to form to perfection.

[goreyguy]

Jordi Murphy turned 25 in April

8 seems his best position, but his versatility is useful in lesser league games

Yup but if he is out starting 7 against a serious team we are in trouble based on his performances there overall.

That's not being negative, it's being realisitic.

On the positive side he has timed his return to form to perfection.

returned to form against treviso, what a coincedence.

[simonokeeffe]

hey if it was that easy Dave Kearney would have managed it

Plus backrow is the one area Treviso are strong, his opposite number has 99 international caps and their other flanker 28

[curates_egg]

Very little mention of how well Jordi Murphy played in this, despite the worries pre-match.

Yeah he was excellent alright. The whole backrow played well.

I still don't think he's remotely a 7 though, and with SOB and JVDF out, we could be goosed.

No, hes not a seven alright, but hes a good footballer so he can play it by ear somewhat.

Having said that, he did have fulfil one of the sevens key roles really well on saturday in shadowing the ball-carrier.

The Pro12 site's highlights dont do it justice, so I've uploaded the tg4 coverage of the Jack McGrath try - take a look at how many times Murphy involves himself. Takes and gives an offload with Isa, a big carry off the next ruck, gets involved with a further ruck, then comes around the corner for another big carry to set up the ruck that McGrath scores off - really good play. Now, Treviso aren't really at the races, but that kind of work ethic deserves praise - its easier to slack off than work harder when faced with poor opposition.



He takes up a similar position for the Nacewa try and gets a gives a nice pass to put Nacewa over

Thanks for uploading. 3 important carries in that play (as well as a ruck inspection). His offload for the Nacewa try was top notch.
The highlights/tries would imply he was influential...but that's all I can see.
One thing I have noticed is that he looks a lot heavier this season and, as a result, lumbering. I wonder if that has affected his game?

[goreyguy]

hey if it was that easy Dave Kearney would have managed it

Plus backrow is the one area Treviso are strong, his opposite number has 99 international caps and their other flanker 28

Dave Kearney is in awful form, so no he probably wouldn't.

Just because they have international caps doesn't mean they are either in good form or actually that good, they are italian after all.

Until Jordi performs well at 7 when facing a team that's actually any good i'm going to remain very skeptical he is a good option there, especially when it comes to the breakdown where he has been found out fairly regularly when playing 7.