Our biggest Backline ever?

[Ruckedtobits]

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

[Peg Leg]

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

damned women of this country, holding us back again!!

[paddyor]

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

Most fullback cover too I'd say.

[paddyor]

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

[simonokeeffe]

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?

[Medinah]

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

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.

[Oldschool]

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?

I think the McLaughlin props and brothers Ray and Pheighlim maybe but that's the only possible combo I can think of.

[leinster4life13]

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].

[simonokeeffe]

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].

flouride out

[johng]

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.

/ 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)

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Whales