Our biggest Backline ever?
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- Rob Kearney
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Our biggest Backline ever?
Gleaned from the Centenary History of Irish Rugby by Edmund Van Esbeck (and correlated to stats about their height and weight), the biggest back-line Ireland fielded before now was reputed to be in 1959 against England when Ireland had a backline of: 15. Noel Henderson (Ulster 6'1'' & 15 St); 14. Cecil Pedlow (Ulster, 6'2'' & 14 St), 13. AJF O'Reilly (Leinster, 6'3'' & 14 St 10lb) 12. Johnny Dooley (Connacht, 5'11'' & 13 St 10 lb), 11. Niall Brophy (Leinster, 6'3'' & 14 St). The half-backs however were 10. Mick English (Munster, 5'8'' & 12 St) & 9. Andy Mulligan (Oxford University, 5' 8'' & 12 St 9 lb).
Including our half-backs Conor Murray & Jonny Sexton, both well over 6'0'', the backline of Rob Kearney, Tommy Bowe, Jared Payne, Rob Henshaw, & Simon Zebo must be the tallest back division we have ever fielded.
That it has taken us 55 years to surpass the height of that 1959 back-line probably says more about our breeding and the lack of tall women in the country than about the selection policy over those intervening years. So even if the Joe-inspired experiment of Jordan Coughlan moving to centre didn't quite work out in Leinster, he has now got his wish for a big back-line. Interesting to see if it works
Including our half-backs Conor Murray & Jonny Sexton, both well over 6'0'', the backline of Rob Kearney, Tommy Bowe, Jared Payne, Rob Henshaw, & Simon Zebo must be the tallest back division we have ever fielded.
That it has taken us 55 years to surpass the height of that 1959 back-line probably says more about our breeding and the lack of tall women in the country than about the selection policy over those intervening years. So even if the Joe-inspired experiment of Jordan Coughlan moving to centre didn't quite work out in Leinster, he has now got his wish for a big back-line. Interesting to see if it works
- Peg Leg
- Rob Kearney
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Re: Our biggest Backline ever?
damned women of this country, holding us back again!!Ruckedtobits wrote:Gleaned from the Centenary History of Irish Rugby by Edmund Van Esbeck (and correlated to stats about their height and weight), the biggest back-line Ireland fielded before now was reputed to be in 1959 against England when Ireland had a backline of: 15. Noel Henderson (Ulster 6'1'' & 15 St); 14. Cecil Pedlow (Ulster, 6'2'' & 14 St), 13. AJF O'Reilly (Leinster, 6'3'' & 14 St 10lb) 12. Johnny Dooley (Connacht, 5'11'' & 13 St 10 lb), 11. Niall Brophy (Leinster, 6'3'' & 14 St). The half-backs however were 10. Mick English (Munster, 5'8'' & 12 St) & 9. Andy Mulligan (Oxford University, 5' 8'' & 12 St 9 lb).
Including our half-backs Conor Murray & Jonny Sexton, both well over 6'0'', the backline of Rob Kearney, Tommy Bowe, Jared Payne, Rob Henshaw, & Simon Zebo must be the tallest back division we have ever fielded.
That it has taken us 55 years to surpass the height of that 1959 back-line probably says more about our breeding and the lack of tall women in the country than about the selection policy over those intervening years. So even if the Joe-inspired experiment of Jordan Coughlan moving to centre didn't quite work out in Leinster, he has now got his wish for a big back-line. Interesting to see if it works
"It was Mrs O'Leary's cow"
Daniel Sullivan
Daniel Sullivan
Re: Our biggest Backline ever?
Most fullback cover too I'd say.Ruckedtobits wrote:Gleaned from the Centenary History of Irish Rugby by Edmund Van Esbeck (and correlated to stats about their height and weight), the biggest back-line Ireland fielded before now was reputed to be in 1959 against England when Ireland had a backline of: 15. Noel Henderson (Ulster 6'1'' & 15 St); 14. Cecil Pedlow (Ulster, 6'2'' & 14 St), 13. AJF O'Reilly (Leinster, 6'3'' & 14 St 10lb) 12. Johnny Dooley (Connacht, 5'11'' & 13 St 10 lb), 11. Niall Brophy (Leinster, 6'3'' & 14 St). The half-backs however were 10. Mick English (Munster, 5'8'' & 12 St) & 9. Andy Mulligan (Oxford University, 5' 8'' & 12 St 9 lb).
Including our half-backs Conor Murray & Jonny Sexton, both well over 6'0'', the backline of Rob Kearney, Tommy Bowe, Jared Payne, Rob Henshaw, & Simon Zebo must be the tallest back division we have ever fielded.
That it has taken us 55 years to surpass the height of that 1959 back-line probably says more about our breeding and the lack of tall women in the country than about the selection policy over those intervening years. So even if the Joe-inspired experiment of Jordan Coughlan moving to centre didn't quite work out in Leinster, he has now got his wish for a big back-line. Interesting to see if it works
Ruddock's tackle stats consistently too low for me to be taken seriously as a Six Nations blindside..... Ruddock's defensive stats don't stack up. - All Blacks Nil, Jan 15th, 2014
England A 8 - 14 Ireland A, 25th Jan 2014
Ruddock(c) 19/2 Tackles
England A 8 - 14 Ireland A, 25th Jan 2014
Ruddock(c) 19/2 Tackles
Re: Our biggest Backline ever?
The opposition
Le Roux 1.85m, Hendricks 1.88m, Habana 1.80m, de Villiers 1.90m, Serfontein 1.88m (average 1.86m)
Our average is 1.89m
Le Roux 1.85m, Hendricks 1.88m, Habana 1.80m, de Villiers 1.90m, Serfontein 1.88m (average 1.86m)
Our average is 1.89m
Ruddock's tackle stats consistently too low for me to be taken seriously as a Six Nations blindside..... Ruddock's defensive stats don't stack up. - All Blacks Nil, Jan 15th, 2014
England A 8 - 14 Ireland A, 25th Jan 2014
Ruddock(c) 19/2 Tackles
England A 8 - 14 Ireland A, 25th Jan 2014
Ruddock(c) 19/2 Tackles
- simonokeeffe
- Jamie Heaslip
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Re: Our biggest Backline ever?
has there ever been another time when Connacht had two players in an Ireland squad in the same position? even just 2 centres, 2 props etc?
Retired from babbling. Can be found on twittter @okeeffesimon
Re: Our biggest Backline ever?
Remember that whilst size is something to be brought in, it can be a double edged sword. Some of the biggest players are also the biggest woosies.Ruckedtobits wrote:Gleaned from the Centenary History of Irish Rugby by Edmund Van Esbeck (and correlated to stats about their height and weight), the biggest back-line Ireland fielded before now was reputed to be in 1959 against England when Ireland had a backline of: 15. Noel Henderson (Ulster 6'1'' & 15 St); 14. Cecil Pedlow (Ulster, 6'2'' & 14 St), 13. AJF O'Reilly (Leinster, 6'3'' & 14 St 10lb) 12. Johnny Dooley (Connacht, 5'11'' & 13 St 10 lb), 11. Niall Brophy (Leinster, 6'3'' & 14 St). The half-backs however were 10. Mick English (Munster, 5'8'' & 12 St) & 9. Andy Mulligan (Oxford University, 5' 8'' & 12 St 9 lb).
Including our half-backs Conor Murray & Jonny Sexton, both well over 6'0'', the backline of Rob Kearney, Tommy Bowe, Jared Payne, Rob Henshaw, & Simon Zebo must be the tallest back division we have ever fielded.
That it has taken us 55 years to surpass the height of that 1959 back-line probably says more about our breeding and the lack of tall women in the country than about the selection policy over those intervening years. So even if the Joe-inspired experiment of Jordan Coughlan moving to centre didn't quite work out in Leinster, he has now got his wish for a big back-line. Interesting to see if it works
"H-use" - Nigel Owens.
Re: Our biggest Backline ever?
I think the McLaughlin props and brothers Ray and Pheighlim maybe but that's the only possible combo I can think of.simonokeeffe wrote:has there ever been another time when Connacht had two players in an Ireland squad in the same position? even just 2 centres, 2 props etc?
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall who's the greatest player of them all? It is Drico your majesty.
- leinster4life13
- Mullet
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Re: Our biggest Backline ever?
Strange its taken us this long to put out a reasonably sized team. Probably the estrogen in the modern environment, and cr@p diets . we actually had talented olympians back then too, unlike our current crop , [/url]http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Whales[/url].
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Heroes: David Knox, Carlos Spencer, Marc Lieveremont, Ian Madigan.
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- simonokeeffe
- Jamie Heaslip
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Re: Our biggest Backline ever?
flouride outleinster4life13 wrote:Strange its taken us this long to put out a reasonably sized team. Probably the estrogen in the modern environment, and cr@p diets . we actually had talented olympians back then too, unlike our current crop , [/url]http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Whales[/url].
Retired from babbling. Can be found on twittter @okeeffesimon
Re: Our biggest Backline ever?
/ switches things off in html. so you need url at the start and /url at the end. (Or you can just paste the link in with nothing. That works too)leinster4life13 wrote:Strange its taken us this long to put out a reasonably sized team. Probably the estrogen in the modern environment, and cr@p diets . we actually had talented olympians back then too, unlike our current crop , http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Whales.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Whales