Pro14 R3: Leinster v Edinburgh Fri 11th Oct KO 19:35

[riocard911]

Harry Byrne will be Sextons successor long term.

I tend to agree.

[backrower8]

Harry Byrne will be Sextons successor long term.

I tend to agree.

+1 and possibly at Ireland too for several reasons to do with Joey:

- he may be better (I think he currently has a better grasp of the 'strategic' requirements of 10 than Joey who has moved between 15 and 10 quite a bit).
- Joey may continue his worrying injury trajectory of on-off-on-off...
- he may facilitate Joey moving to 15 for Ireland in pursuit of the 2 playmaker approach

[hugonaut]

Harry Byrne will be Sextons successor long term.

I think you're right. Long way to go though!

[Ruckedtobits]

Harry Byrne will be Sextons successor long term.

He may be, but there's a long way to go in his development. He's got an excellent range of skills and talents, including speed off the mark, but he has to learn more about understanding the skills and weaknesses of those beside him and to recognise that opponents at a higher level will set traps for him to play into.

Having Lancaster, Contepomi, Sexton and a big brother should afford the best education any Club could provide.

[Oldschool]

Following the discussion re Ross Byrne's "future".
His trend is upwards still and his place kicking is improving. He also has the benefit of THE coaching resources at Leinster.
However if it proves to be the case that a better option becomes available!
Has/Can/could Ross play in another position.

[Pilotman123]

Following the discussion re Ross Byrne's "future".
His trend is upwards still and his place kicking is improving. He also has the benefit of THE coaching resources at Leinster.
However if it proves to be the case that a better option becomes available!
Has/Can/could Ross play in another position.

Can’t ever see Ross playing a different position, he’s a 10, where else do you think he could possibly play? He’s been playing ten ever since he was a kid in the Michael’s primary school he’s never played a different position

[Oldschoolsocks]

Following the discussion re Ross Byrne's "future".
His trend is upwards still and his place kicking is improving. He also has the benefit of THE coaching resources at Leinster.
However if it proves to be the case that a better option becomes available!
Has/Can/could Ross play in another position.

Can’t ever see Ross playing a different position, he’s a 10, where else do you think he could possibly play? He’s been playing ten ever since he was a kid in the Michael’s primary school he’s never played a different position

Personally I think it’s great that he can transfer the skills he has been learning since primary school to other positions on the pitch.

[backrower8]

Personally I think it’s great that he can transfer the skills he has been learning since primary school to other positions on the pitch.

“Come into the parlour - said the spider to the fly!”

[mildlyinterested]

He isn't athletic enough to play another position.

[cormac]

He isn't athletic enough to play another position.

Can't disagree with that. Really struggling to imagine him being a success at centre or full-back.

[joooooe]

Following the discussion re Ross Byrne's "future".
His trend is upwards still and his place kicking is improving. He also has the benefit of THE coaching resources at Leinster.
However if it proves to be the case that a better option becomes available!
Has/Can/could Ross play in another position.

Can’t ever see Ross playing a different position, he’s a 10, where else do you think he could possibly play? He’s been playing ten ever since he was a kid in the Michael’s primary school he’s never played a different position

We have become conditioned in Ireland to think of a particular type of 10. The game goes through them no matter what the choice of tactic or strategy, they are the lmbest kicker from hand or ground and they are narky feckers who shout a lot. This is a mindset stuck about 10 years ago. Look at all the other 1/4 finalists in The World Cup and how they view their 10 (and by extension, their 12 and/or 15). Ireland have one primary playmaker (as well as Murray), and Leinster often do too, particularly when Kearney also plays, but it is striking that Sexton and Kearney do not often play together for Leinster recently. Ringrose's role is also different for Leinster as he often comes in at first receiver in multi phase play, sometimes even on first phase. Nacewa's changed role in his final 2 seasons another example.

In this light, I think it's possible to see Byrne (take your pick) with 12 on the jersey if it gets the best players on the pitch and gets the team playing the best rugby to win.

[Serb]

There’s just no need for him to change position or really offer anything other than the things that make him a decent 10.

I think Byrne’s distribution and defence are both excellent, but a lack of any carrying or game breaking threat really doesn’t make him a great fit for either centre role.

He’s probably going to be our 10 immediately post Sexton, I imagine no matter what happens regarding potentially other players overtaking him, he’ll remain in the squad and do a decent job as the backup.

It’ll be interesting to see where he’s at in about 4 years time. Is he first choice for Leinster? Is he getting a look in for Ireland? Is he “too good” to be a backup and look to move to another province or abroad? Interesting times.

[Pilotman123]

He isn't athletic enough to play another position.

Agreed, his mates even slag him for being slow

[Pilotman123]

Following the discussion re Ross Byrne's "future".
His trend is upwards still and his place kicking is improving. He also has the benefit of THE coaching resources at Leinster.
However if it proves to be the case that a better option becomes available!
Has/Can/could Ross play in another position.

Can’t ever see Ross playing a different position, he’s a 10, where else do you think he could possibly play? He’s been playing ten ever since he was a kid in the Michael’s primary school he’s never played a different position

We have become conditioned in Ireland to think of a particular type of 10. The game goes through them no matter what the choice of tactic or strategy, they are the lmbest kicker from hand or ground and they are narky feckers who shout a lot. This is a mindset stuck about 10 years ago. Look at all the other 1/4 finalists in The World Cup and how they view their 10 (and by extension, their 12 and/or 15). Ireland have one primary playmaker (as well as Murray), and Leinster often do too, particularly when Kearney also plays, but it is striking that Sexton and Kearney do not often play together for Leinster recently. Ringrose's role is also different for Leinster as he often comes in at first receiver in multi phase play, sometimes even on first phase. Nacewa's changed role in his final 2 seasons another example.

In this light, I think it's possible to see Byrne (take your pick) with 12 on the jersey if it gets the best players on the pitch and gets the team playing the best rugby to win.

Disagree they’re both 10s they can’t play anywhere else, wouldn’t be surprised in the far future if one of them moves to a different province

[Oldschool]

Disagree they’re both 10s they can’t play anywhere else, wouldn’t be surprised in the far future if one of them moves to a different province

Begs the question tho'.
Harry, being younger and only starting out, should be able to adapt to another position more easier.

[Oldschoolsocks]

Disagree they’re both 10s they can’t play anywhere else, wouldn’t be surprised in the far future if one of them moves to a different province

Begs the question tho'.
Harry, being younger and only starting out, should be able to adapt to another position more easier.

Yeah, this sounds really odd to me, I find it difficult to understand how a back line player in effectively a professional rugby nursery from the age of 10 or 11 can’t adapt their skill set to a different position?

[Pilotman123]

I remember James Ryan when he was sixth class in Michael’s he was getting conversions from the sideline, was a very good outhalf back in the day it’s mad how much he developed but he was always big though

[neiliog93]

Harry is faster and generally more athletic, a few years younger, surely he could play in another position?

[Pilotman123]

Harry is faster and generally more athletic, a few years younger, surely he could play in another position?

Can’t move to fullback because Chris Cosgrave will have that position soon, there’s so much talent coming through in each position in the back line he can’t just walk into any position he wants even though he’s a fantastic player, maybe he could turn out better than Ross and Ross moves to a different province? Interesting times ahead

[Pilotman123]

Or maybe he could move to fullback if Cosgrave moves to the wing, but then yet again there’s a lot of talent in that position but it’s great competition