Jack Conan - The most talented young No.8 in Keltia

[Dave Cahill]

Discuss.

[IanD]

His underhand offload for Leavys try against Dragons was amazing. It was a thing of beauty.

If that was by an All Black it would have articles on The 42 about it and be all over the web.

I would put forward he is the most talented No. 8 in the whole wide Keltia but not the most experienced. I think he should be in every Leinster and Ireland team - player wellfare etc permitting - from now on to get the experience that will improve him for Japan 2019.

[neiliog93]

People are going to hate this but I actually think he's amongst the very top no.8s in the world based on current ability and performance level. He just doesn't have a big pedigree or track record.

[blockhead]

His speed and more importantly, his acceleration, is fantastic.
He could be the best 8 Leinster have produced since, well since Jamie.

[outcast eddie]

His speed and more importantly, his acceleration, is fantastic.
He could be the best 8 Leinster have produced since, well since Jamie.

He hasn't gone away y'know.

[Armchair]

People are going to hate this but I actually think he's amongst the very top no.8s in the world based on current ability and performance level. He just doesn't have a big pedigree or track record.

The exact things that make you world class lets see him get a good injury free run and perform against the top teams both at club and internationally then judge. He need to be more consistent and need to stay injury free as has been a problem for him since he left school. Goes to show what a beast Jamie has been for us so long injury free until last season will we see his like again? Conan has the ability to be Jamie part 2 as does Deegan

[leinsterforever]

Conan's astonishingly good. He's got it all really. Great acceleration and pace, superb footwork, sublime handling ability, brute strength, makes loads of tackles, reads the game well so he can support play or find a supporting player with a pass. Just a very rounded player. He must be a nightmare to defend against with all the tools he has.

I daresay he should be starting at 8 for Leinster and Ireland this season

[Flash Gordon]

He's a fantastic player. Glad I'm not picking the team to be honest!!

[wixfjord]

Great player, supreme athlete.

The one thing he has to add to his game is rucking and turnover threat. Add that and I think he's getting very close to Jamie tbh.
Excellent lineout operator too.

One caveat though is that he hasn't yet done it in too many big games. Don't remember him being too effective v Clermont although he did play well against Wasps.

[riocard911]

We are so lucky with the abundance of talent we have at number 8.

[simonokeeffe]

Heaslip is one of the best blockers in the game too
I suspect therell be a big reaction this season from him

I dont like either of them at 6 especially given other resources we have. A 6-2 bench split is looking even more called for this season

[COYBIB]

With depth such as Jack Conan along with the IRB u20 world player of the year nominee Max Deegan and multiple Lions tourist Jamie Heaslip, we're not bad at 8. If all were 100% fit, honestly tough to know who's our best option. Deegan needs another season or two obviously, but between Conan and Heaslip I suppose it's a case of horses for courses rather than ability at this stage, as Conan has shown he's right up there with the best of them. I wouldn't mind seeing the passing of the guard over this season.

I'm very excited about this new generation coming through.

[ChrisUppy]

With depth such as Jack Conan along with the IRB u20 world player of the year nominee Max Deegan and multiple Lions tourist Jamie Heaslip, we're not bad at 8. If all were 100% fit, honestly tough to know who's our best option. Deegan needs another season or two obviously, but between Conan and Heaslip I suppose it's a case of horses for courses rather than ability at this stage, as Conan has shown he's right up there with the best of them. I wouldn't mind seeing the passing of the guard over this season.

I'm very excited about this new generation coming through.

Oi - that's IRB u20 world player of the year winner Max Deegan, mate!

[matt]

Even the top teams like the Crusaders or the Highlanders would like 8 back row players like Conan, O'Brien, Heaslip, Leavy, Van Der Flier, Ruddock, Jordi Murphy & Deegan. We also have Fardy an International back row in the second row.

Last season from the Munster away game Conan & Leavy were our best players & this season to be able to pick 3 on form each week from that 8 is a serious advantage. SOK is right it will be tempting to go for a 6-2 split on the bench & really try & exert pressure with the calibre of player we have available & also helped by the versatility in the backs of Luke McGrath, Carbery & Isa amongst others which might let us get away with only 2 backs on the bench. It would bring a new dimension to our unstructured style & the likes of Leavy, VDF, Deegan coming on in second half could create havoc.

Re Conan agree that he can make big impact as a starter with Ireland if injury free & selected.

[simonokeeffe]

I suspect though he would have to conclusively take the shirt off Heaslip and keep it for a few months at least to have a chance of taking Ireland jersey, be it from Stander (which from a childish provincial viewpoint would be a larf) or force POM out of the team or on to the bench

Would Stander SOB Conan be a better balance backrow than Stander SOB Heaslip? Personally I prefer POM at 6

[Flash Gordon]

I suspect though he would have to conclusively take the shirt off Heaslip and keep it for a few months at least to have a chance of taking Ireland jersey, be it from Stander (which from a childish provincial viewpoint would be a larf) or force POM out of the team or on to the bench

Would Stander SOB Conan be a better balance backrow than Stander SOB Heaslip? Personally I prefer POM at 6

Don't discount Dan Leavy either!

Ridiculous depth but you actually need that with the backrow these days because it's such an attritional position which probably makes the selection discussions a bit irrelevant, I think they'll get game time and that we'll need them all.

[simonokeeffe]

I suspect though he would have to conclusively take the shirt off Heaslip and keep it for a few months at least to have a chance of taking Ireland jersey, be it from Stander (which from a childish provincial viewpoint would be a larf) or force POM out of the team or on to the bench

Would Stander SOB Conan be a better balance backrow than Stander SOB Heaslip? Personally I prefer POM at 6

Don't discount Dan Leavy either!

Ridiculous depth but you actually need that with the backrow these days because it's such an attritional position which probably makes the selection discussions a bit irrelevant, I think they'll get game time and that we'll need them all.

BUT THATS THE FUN!!!

We will definitely need them all
Leavy is a brilliant impact sub and covers 6 and 7 incredibly well, considering SOBs problems and JVDF being a specialist 7 he has every chance this season

[neiliog93]

Great player, supreme athlete.

The one thing he has to add to his game is rucking and turnover threat. Add that and I think he's getting very close to Jamie tbh.
Excellent lineout operator too.

One caveat though is that he hasn't yet done it in too many big games. Don't remember him being too effective v Clermont although he did play well against Wasps.

Conan was very good against Clermont. Along with Rhys Ruddock he really took it to Clermont physically. The highlight was when he beasted Damien Chouly with a disgustingly good hand-off, and from a standing start.

[Peg Leg]

Discuss.

He's no Parisse

[simonokeeffe]

Discuss.

He's no Parisse

Youre right, he probably does have more wins at international level