Whatever about subjective points in the rest of your post, this is just objectively not true.
Whether any of us agree, McGrath is our #1 9 by any objective measure.
Let's look at our biggest games since Christmas last year.
McGrath started against Saints x2, Montpellier, Castres, Wasps, Clermont, Scarlets, Munster, Montpellier and Glasgow.
I'd say that's a fairly clear pattern.
I don’t think it’s clear to the management either at this stage.
No, I don’t think either Luke or Jamison are now in the position of being clearly established first choices.
You said 'observe the management team's selection policy'.
That was your chosen criteria.
The management team clearly see McGrath as our #1 9, because he has started ALL of our big games for the past year.
You're blatantly choosing to ignore the facts here dude.
Look, we are in danger of entering a Twilight Zone of “you said that: therefore...” murkiness. I’ve addressed the equivalence of ‘starting’ with being ‘better’ already. You haven’t picked up in that. There was also a contention on this forum (mistaken in my view) that Luke was a better ‘starter’ and Jamison a more effective ‘finisher’. Which wouldn’t square with a clear settlement on there bring a first choice.
But whether about that, or even on the view of the coaches at the start of the season on their preferred starter, and I’m prepared to concede that Luke was probably marginally ahead up to the last month, are you really saying that is the position now?
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"Oh, I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused!"
ronk wrote:JGP could as easily go the other direction and find himself in Ireland squads.
Could he? I don't see that at all, is far too headless at 9 for a schmidt coached team.
Maybe I can't view him without a negative bias, ever since that scarlets semi final.
The bias started a lot earlier than then, probably as soon as it looked like his passing was better than McGrath's.
Luckily for McGrath, JGPs passing has regressed the past few games....
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
ronk wrote:JGP could as easily go the other direction and find himself in Ireland squads.
Could he? I don't see that at all, is far too headless at 9 for a schmidt coached team.
Maybe I can't view him without a negative bias, ever since that scarlets semi final.
I think the first point is key. If you look at his treatmnet of marmion, I don't think Schmidt would be all that hot on him.
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
At this point in time the JuciSora line must be that the first choice in any position in at least three of the provinces should be Irish Qualified.
Ideally that should exclude project players but some flexibility would obviously apply.
At this point in time then McGrath should always get the nod over JGP.
If that was agreeable to posters then we could pack in the debate re McGrath v JGP and
Focus on McGrath v McCarthy comparisons.
A poster recently remarked that McGrath was throwing 5000 passes a week.
That's all well and good but quality over quantity should be the priority.
How should McGrath be coached/training to improve his passing.
We could say the same about our hookers (and before anyone jumps up and down to point out the obvious)
notwithstanding the fact that the lineout is more than a one man operation.
The same could be said for the SH and his passing. His runners and OH have to be getting it right too.
And the SH has to be prepared to react, hold the trigger and take the punishment himself.
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall who's the greatest player of them all? It is Drico your majesty.
Rumour Mill...."who is the better scrum-half?/rate the scrum halves in order of preference" debates can be held in the Laighan Out Bar after the Connacht game. ....the OLSC have also confirmed they will be providing Marmite to all participants. ....
Conor Dean(St. Marys) and Harry Byrne(UCD) appear to be the likely starter for Ireland u20 during the 6 nations. Both could join academy next season.
David Hawkshaw(Belvdere) is the star prospect in schools rugby but if he sticks with 10 is up for debate.
Hugh O'Sullivan(Clontarf) should feature heavily for Ireland u20, while Patrick Patterson(UCD) might also when he returns from injury.
Cormac Foley(St. Gerards) is the star prospect in schools rugby, where he currently plays 12.
Hugh O'Sullivan and Harry Byrne started for Ireland u20 against Italy and impressed.
Patterson/Dean were on the bench, Dean got 20 mins and didn't really make an impression IMO. Patterson got 5 minutes and in limited time looked decent, would like to see him get some more game time.
Nick McCarthy(23/UCD-St.Michaels) - 16 appearances, but only 2 starts this season. Progressing well.
Charlie Rock(23/Lansdowne-Blackrock) - has 1 appearance, in final year of academy. Size could be a barrier to further progress.
Hugh O'Sullivan(20/Clontarf-Suttonians) - 1st year in academy & 1st year playing 9 fully, has been playing AIL and irish u20's.
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Paddy Patterson(u20/UCD-Blackrock) - in sub academy, missed start of season with injury. Made 1 appearance for Ireland u20 off bench, starting regularly in AIL.
James Kenny(u20/Lansdowne-Gonzaga) - injured most of the season, has made a few appearances for Lansdowne under-20.
Cormac Foley(u19/St. Gerards) - has been playing 12 this season in school, made Ireland u19 as a 9.
Shane Murphy(u18/Skerries) - made Ireland u18B team.
Ben Murphy(u18/Pres Bray) - under-17, made Ireland u18A team.
