Potential Irish centres

First topic message reminder :

JARED PAYNE (Ulster)
The 28-year-old former New Zealand Under-21 player was earmarked as a successor to O’Driscoll when Ulster signed him in 2011, and he becomes Irish-qualified under the three-year residency rule next season.
An ex-Crusaders and a stand-out player with the Blues in 2011 mostly as an outside centre, his first season with Ulster was ruined by a ruptured Achilles tendon but with his sumptuous timing he’s oozed class when gliding into the line from ‘15’ in the last two seasons and when afforded occasional outings at his favoured ‘13’.
Looks the part. KEITH EARLS (Munster)
Devastatingly quick, with good footwork, of the candidates the 26-year-old Earls is possibly only rivalled by Fitzgerald for his ability to beat a man and has the best strike rate (26 tries in 91 games for Munster, 12 in 39 for Ireland).
Yet likewise has suffered with injuries and for his versatility, and laterally has been more of a wing.
Still, Earls deputised impressively for O’Driscoll in the 2012 Six Nations and in the autumn of that year.
DARREN CAVE (Ulster)
The hard running, strong tackling 26-year-old has actually the biggest body of work at outside centre over the last six seasons, having played 129 games for Ulster (scoring 30 tries) in that time.
He has also won five caps, albeit all of them away on summer tours, of which two apiece have been against the USA and Canada.
For all the previous doubts about his passing skills, he has upped his try assists this season and is likely to be taken on summer tour.
ROBBIE HENSHAW (Connacht)
Henshaw blossomed in his latter years with Marist College in Ahtlone, playing for the Irish schools, under-18 and under-19 teams.
Has already accumulated 38 games in two seasons for Connacht, mostly at full-back, where he also made his debut for Ireland against the USA, adding two more caps off the bench.
Clearly identified by Joe Schmidt as a potential 13, it is hard to credit he’s still only 20, and will have the size, power and speed to compete in the modern-day midfield war zone.
FERGUS McFADDEN (Leinster)
The 26-year-old has 103 games for Leinster and 26 for Ireland, and not alone began life as a centre but used to regard ‘13’ as his best and most effective position.
Brave, physical and quick, although he still sporadically plays at ‘13’, has mostly played on the wing.
Of his 13 Test starts, two were at outside centre in the World Cup warm-up defeat to Scotland and the home Six Nations defeat to Wales last season; the rest were on the wing.
LUKE FITZGERALD (Leinster)
Like his kindred spirit Earls, the gifted Fitzgerald has been a victim of injuries and versatility.
Hence, although he has played 122 games for Leinster and 27 for Ireland over eight seasons, he could have achieved more.
Of his 19 starts – the last was the World Cup warm-up match in Bordeaux in August 2011 – three have been at ‘12’, five at full-back and the rest on the wing. When fit and confident, has wondrous footwork, real gas and is a finisher.

In my opinion, Fitzgerald out of all the candidates, has the potential to be the greatest.
He has illustrious acceleration, great strength, and rarely misses tackles.He has experience at the highlest level(started for the lions), and is still only 26!(2 years younger than Mr.Payne).

ME-109 wrote:

Touchy...spent most of primary school in cork while his Da worked there.

I see now why you dont like him starred in the beating of Clowngowes in the 04 final....thats very parochial of you Guns...

I actually didnt realise he played in that game nor that he lived in Cork. Blackrock and Clongowes are the two best teams in Leinster so you cant win them all.

GunsGerms wrote:

ME-109 wrote:

Touchy...spent most of primary school in cork while his Da worked there.

I see now why you dont like him starred in the beating of Clowngowes in the 04 final....thats very parochial of you Guns...

I actually didnt realise he played in that game nor that he lived in Cork. Blackrock are the best teams in Leinster so you cant win them all.

Fixed that for you.

Oh and I would think he would be a great signing for Munster....

GunsGerms wrote:

ME-109 wrote:

Touchy...spent most of primary school in cork while his Da worked there.

I see now why you dont like him starred in the beating of Clowngowes in the 04 final....thats very parochial of you Guns...

I actually didnt realise he played in that game nor that he lived in Cork. Blackrock and Clongowes are the two best teams in Leinster so you cant win them all.

School Location Titles
Blackrock College Blackrock, Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown 68 times
Belvedere College Great Denmark Street, Dublin City 10
Terenure College Terenure, Dublin City 10
Clongowes Wood College Clane, County Kildare 8
Castleknock College Castleknock, Fingal 8
St. Mary's College Rathmines, Dublin City 5
St. Andrew's College Booterstown, Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown 4
St. Michael's College Ailesbury Road, Dublin 4 2

It would appear not

Talking about the last 10 years Golden.

Plus Blackrock played Clongowes in this years final so clearly they are at the moment the two best teams. Clongowes also had more players selected for the Ireland under 18 team.

Clongowes have only won it once in the last ten years.   

I'd say it's been Michaels or Belvo who were second best in the last ten years

They did look good this year though.

Golden wrote:Clongowes have only won it once in the last ten years.   

I'd say it's been Michaels or Belvo who were second best in the last ten years

They did look good this year though.

Thats not true they were back to back winners 2010 and 2011. They have also been in the final 6 times in the last 10 years. Thats more finals and wins than Michaels and Belvo.

Michaels definitely have been up there in recent years though.

Clongowes also have more representation in this years 6 nations winning team than any other school so this also suggests they were quite strong over the last 10 - 15 years.

 

Your spoofing there GunsGerms, the Blackrock team were all overage to play for the u18's. The Leinster u19's that beat Australia u19's featured 8 players from rock in the starting line up, 4 from Clongowes.

Haha fair enough forgot about 2010

PredictorofTeams wrote:Your spoofing there GunsGerms, the Blackrock team were all overage to play for the u18's. The Leinster u19's  that beat Australia u19's featured 8 players from rock in the starting line up, 4 from Clongowes.

Not spoofing at all, what I said is true and it probably just suggests Clongowes will be strong again next year.

Ye that's fair enough but don't go saying they had more leinster representatives then Blackrock ye hear.

PredictorofTeams wrote:Ye that's fair enough but don't go saying they had more leinster representatives then Blackrock ye hear.

They probably dont. Jordan coughlan is the only recent one I can think of.

Henshaw had a great game against Scarlets. Made breaks, offloads, good kicking, made the last try and scored a try.

any link to that game Prof? Wouldn't mind checking him out, the lad is gonna be class.

He and Cave will get a game against Argentina - all to play for

Lovely try by Cave the other night - pity he didn't touch the ball for the rest of the game.....

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:any link to that game Prof? Wouldn't mind checking him out, the lad is gonna be class.

It should be on RTE player. He played well in the first half but didn't get much ball. Skip to the second half. It was a cracking game too with 7 tries in that second half.


EDIT: Just checked RTE player and its not on there yet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4KHuBGUHtk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyftkIsUx24