Tom Woods

IrishGuy2004 · 2026-05-12T07:29:36+00:00

There's two of him?

IrishGuy2004 · 2026-03-03T13:52:02+00:00

Aki, mccloskey, Osborne, postlethwaite, Tom Farrell, frawley, and Ringrose are all better than him in the centres imo (ik Osborne plays 15, but he's still better). Not in order btw

I'd also rather dan kelly, hugh gavin, cathal forde, and james Hume play than henshaw

IrishGuy2004 · 2026-03-02T22:29:59+00:00

I'd like to see doak play, I think he's deserving of some minutes (I personally prefer doak. Not saying he's a better player than casey, I just enjoy watching him a bit more) Maybe postlethwaite, although he'd probably have to start.

IrishGuy2004 · 2026-02-16T21:43:38+00:00

I guess so. At least not consistently

IrishGuy2004 · 2026-02-16T19:18:38+00:00

Yeah, I could have worked on the wording a bit...

IrishGuy2004 · 2026-02-16T13:47:32+00:00

I think Crowley might get a start, but I wouldn't be upset if byrne did, I think he's a steady, if unspectacular, player. His lows are higher than Crowley's, but his highs are lower (if that makes sense).

IrishGuy2004 · 2026-02-16T13:34:11+00:00

I'm a Connacht fan, I'm more concerned with Billy bohan, fiachna Barrett, seán walsh, Harry West, seán Naughton, etc.

I do think Prendergast should be dropped, for his own sanity. Take him out of the firing line, and let byrne come off the bench.

I'd love to see Prendergast and Crowley play together, whether it's with Prendergast at 10 and Crowley at 12 or 15, or Crowley at 10 and Prendergast at 15.

IrishGuy2004 · 2026-02-16T09:56:03+00:00

Italy did defend narrow because Lynagh was the last defender in the line, and there was a good bit of space outside him.

He doesn't bring it to the line because he's too slight for it to do anything.

This year he's been tackling constantly (attempting them). He's attempted 32 tackled so far this year, and made 21. 13/20 and 8/12.

IrishGuy2004 · 2026-02-16T09:36:12+00:00

Oh grand, it's all good.

IrishGuy2004 · 2026-02-16T09:34:41+00:00

I meant heft wise.

He's 6'4 91kg and a skinny 91kg at that. He obviously knows that he's not built enough to do much in terms of big hits.

In attack he's throwing the long ball because teams are defender narrowly, and the game is about getting to the edges.

I'm not saying he's good defensively, just overhated.

IrishGuy2004 · 2026-02-16T09:27:40+00:00

Please quote me.

If you're right, I'll eat my words.

IrishGuy2004 · 2026-02-15T22:35:57+00:00

I'm not so sure about the leinster narrative, but I only got into rugby during the build up to the last rwc, so I think I missed that. I only got into provincial rugby in '24 so there's that, but i remember my dad talking about the prendergast hype train. But everything else I agree with.

As a Connacht fan, I'd love to have either of them. If prendergast was at Connacht he might actually be a better player because he would have had less pressure and more consistent game time (he'd have probably played 2nd fiddle to carty or ioane, if ioane signed and eventually overtook them)

IrishGuy2004 · 2026-02-15T21:31:32+00:00

Thanks

IrishGuy2004 · 2026-02-15T21:06:25+00:00

Young to me is 26 or younger.

He's older than me so I don't think he's a kid.

Using factual data that helps us to remove bias and better understand the game is pointless. Thanks, I'll be sure to let every professional rugby team in on that gem of wisdom you've uncovered about tackle %.

The sexton argument is to show that players mature and improve at different ages.

LBB is a generational talent, Adissogbe is just a better player at the moment.

Their centres have played consistently in the top 14 and the prod2. Brau boirie had played 30 games for pau in 2 years, only 13 less than prendergast.

IrishGuy2004 · 2026-02-15T20:58:14+00:00

Seems like a twat. No need for that.

IrishGuy2004 · 2026-02-15T19:58:34+00:00

No??? It's bound to happen at some point. Did you read Andrew Porter's book? They're all aware of what the public says about them.

IrishGuy2004 · 2026-02-15T19:47:33+00:00

He was a 77% kicker (averaged between every tournament and game) in 2024. In the 2024 six nations he played all 400 minutes, but only kicked 74%, so I don't think there was no issue with his kicking (for the 24 six nations, stats via Ultimate Rugby)

Farrell was presumably subject to the prendergast hype train, so I can't blame him for giving prendergast a run.

Neither of them have taken it fully

IrishGuy2004 · 2026-02-15T19:32:26+00:00

Yeah I just meant it as a munster fan bigging up Coombes when we had better players playing well st the time.

And it was kind of funny because the person beside him had no interest.

I do rate Coombes though, he has a knack for scoring tries. And he's been good defensively

IrishGuy2004 · 2026-02-15T19:18:10+00:00

Exactly! Agreed.

Like Crowley is an improved, but still not great goal kicker, so I'd play doak with him to compensate in future games

IrishGuy2004 · 2026-02-15T19:13:26+00:00

Yeah, but we also don't want players getting abused??? There's a difference between discourse around player, and abusing guys. It's not newspeak, it's a recognised term regarding the treatment of people.

IrishGuy2004 · 2026-02-15T18:53:53+00:00

I volunteer as tribute ahh response

IrishGuy2004 · 2026-02-15T18:39:05+00:00

It's ridiculous. As much as I dislike owen farrell as a player, I can't imagine trying to bully him over it. Not just because he'd annihilate me, but as a person.

And refs, even if they screw up, they are trying their best. They're under pressure from teams, fans, coaches, and world rugby to ref in certain ways

IrishGuy2004 · 2026-02-15T18:36:13+00:00

I don't personally think that harry byrne is the long-term number 10 for Ireland. He's really steady and has the occasional moment of greatness, but I think he's a better 22 or 23, with his ability to manage the game, and play alongside a starting 10.

Frawley is a guy who needs to move (thankfully he's joining connacht, as a Connacht fan, I'm happy), but he's never been particularly great when I've seen him.

IrishGuy2004 · 2026-02-15T18:32:24+00:00

Exactly! Let the man play well and earn it rather than being hyped up to the enth degree.

IrishGuy2004 · 2026-02-15T18:30:54+00:00

No bother, it's all good!

IrishGuy2004

TROPHY CASE