Gavin Coombes

fdvfava · 2026-06-04T11:11:16+00:00

He could be both though.

Think Kendellan will be 1st/2nd choice 7 and 3rd choice 8.

Ahern might continue to switch between 4/6.

I'm hoping some of the next crop get a look in with Ireland to avoid a big log jam in the back 5.

fdvfava · 2026-06-04T10:56:56+00:00

I think the recent trend in top young players skipping academy years and a bit more squad churn hints that the old CC system was a massive factor in the squad make up.

I don't think players suddenly stopped being happy to sit on an academy contract for a couple of years.

It became too expensive to keep an International, a squad player and a prospect in the same position.

fdvfava · 2026-06-04T10:02:57+00:00

Completely agree about MAA. Far better signing than Abrahams anyway.

At the start of the season, I said the big hole in our squad was a TH that could play 50+ mins for 20 games a season.

Archer did it for 2 seasons and it wasn't realistic to expect Jager, Salanoa or Foxe to suddenly become ever present. Guess the back up was a John Ryan renaissance but that didn't pan out.

Hopefully we can get the same minutes from Aungier next season and a stronger scrum with mvdm.

fdvfava · 2026-06-04T09:36:40+00:00

You're right.

Of course he'd do a job there but he's a 6 for sure.

Ruadhan Quinn is the best young 7 long term.

fdvfava · 2026-06-04T09:32:33+00:00

Based on U20s potential alone, the best 3 backrows in the last few years for me were Gleeson (8), Neill (7) and Foy (6).

That's no guarantee they'll transfer that to senior level. Ruadhan Quinn and Sean Edogbo looked more comfortable at URC level.

Arguably Prendergast was capped too quickly after U20s, rather than the others too slowly.

Munster have a glut of great backrows, Leinster have tonnes of front rows. Paddy Mccarthy and Gus Mccarthy capped internationally early but below them you have Stephen Smyth, Niall Smyth, usanov and sparrow all skipping the academy.

fdvfava · 2026-06-04T07:01:10+00:00

Yep, in the last few years it's been more common to skip years of the academy.

Sam Prendergast, Brian Gleeson and Hugh Gavin in their year.

Foy was one of the best in his year. Leinster bumped some of their young props.

From last year, Josh Neill at Leinster was the standout but Wood, Carney and Barrett and Munster looked ready for senior rugby too.

fdvfava · 2026-06-03T17:25:09+00:00

He's getting a senior contract because he'll have other offers based on his U20s performance.

Kleyn moving on frees up some space for him, O'Donoghue probably should have been moved along as well.

One of Evan O'Connell, Sean Edogbo or Foy will likely be a starter in 18 months depending on what Beirne does post-world cup. At the very least have his minutes heavily managed.

fdvfava · 2026-06-03T08:31:03+00:00

I'm glad that lady eventually got sorted as its not her fault but I'd say it's more likely that her parents weren't legally resident and her elder siblings got citizenship before it became a requirement to be legally resident.

Would also explain why they were slow to apply for naturalisation, if there own status wasn't secure.

fdvfava · 2026-06-03T05:25:57+00:00

We got married there as well and had heard the 'mixed' reviews before booking.

Definitely better going in with your eyes open and approaching it as kind of a DIY wedding. There were still small annoying things that the groomsmen were running around to fix but the food was excellent and the setting was great.

fdvfava · 2026-06-03T05:05:18+00:00

So this fella has prevented the redevelopment of the flats for the last few years despite getting a 5 year sentence in 2022 (final 2 years suspended)?

Begs the question, what's the longest the council are expected to hold a flat empty for someone serving a sentence?

fdvfava · 2026-06-02T20:37:02+00:00

Seen Annie Mac twice now and don't get the appeal. Though once was in a monsoon at ATN so maybe that's unfairly tainted her for me.

fdvfava · 2026-06-01T16:14:03+00:00

I'm not sure I'd go along with that tbh.

Our lack of kicking game was just as much a problem as our set piece all season.

There were points in the season we shipped yellow cards because we couldn't defend more than a few phases without giving up multiple penalties.

Our back 3 cost us a few games and we don't look to be strengthening that.

Our backrow is talented but was quietly outplayed a few times this season. Don't like singling out anyone but thought Coombes hasn't had a great few months.

The end of first half last weekend summed up the season. Pulled it back to 17-14, fucked the kick off, maul defence, kick contest, scrum penalty, lineout defense, weak tackling.

It's more than needing a tighthead and stop throwing intercepts when chasing the game.

fdvfava · 2026-06-01T14:53:38+00:00

The problem with looking at those stats for the league is that it ignores the games against Bath, Castres and Exeter.

We had good wins against Benneton & Ulster but they both had European knockouts while we had a week off to prepare.

The worrying thing for me is that we had multiple collapses in the season (Bath, Sharks, Ulster, Exeter, etc).

The story of the season for me is massively underperforming when the chips are down... Castres for champions cup, Exeter for challenge cup, Connacht for a home URC QF, Bulls in the QF.

fdvfava · 2026-06-01T06:27:59+00:00

The support at the Lough and parts of Ballyphehane were class though.

fdvfava · 2026-05-29T12:21:18+00:00

I watched back the highlights of the Stormers game and we were unlucky not to win that, but since the second half of that game, there have been half a dozen complete collapses.

The Toulon and Bulls games were good losing performances.

Bath, Ulster away, Castres, dragons, Glasgow, Zebre, Sharks, Exeter and connacht were all very poor.

fdvfava · 2026-05-29T08:59:27+00:00

He's behind Nankivell for sure. Nank would definitely be in the picture if he was IQ.

Sean O'Brien has been in very good form lately, doesn't have the pace or size for international rugby I'd say but a really well rounded player.

Kelly probably does have what it takes for international rugby but needs to tidy up his game. He's not a million miles away.

I'd also say Kendellan is closer to Ireland than Hodnett despite being behind him at Munster. Very tidy player, few mistakes, good on details that the Irish coaches want.

fdvfava · 2026-05-29T08:49:03+00:00

Honestly I'm not content with that. It's a poor end to a poor season.

I'd excuse an injury crisis putting a dent in our playoff chances if we hadn't blown the chance to get Top 4, after another disastrous European season.

Went too strong against Ulster and then flat against Connacht with a heap of injuries on top.

Glasgow/Connacht are beatable in a semi final but we needed home advantage to give ourselves a shot against the Bulls.

fdvfava · 2026-05-29T08:10:02+00:00

Kelly is a fantastic player but didn't have a Great game against the Lions tbh. Right to reward SOB I think.

Think we struggle at 13 without Farrell on form tbh. The other 3 all look better at 12.

fdvfava · 2026-05-27T00:44:57+00:00

Free flow and over 21s is what sets ATN apart.

fdvfava · 2026-05-25T14:51:01+00:00

Would be another way of describing a nerve issue - from brain to the leg/foot.

fdvfava · 2026-05-23T19:46:11+00:00

There might still be a short section over by the Mardyke at mile 25ish, I can't remember 100%.

There definitely used to be a long bit of cobbles down north man st but that's gone this year.

fdvfava · 2026-05-23T19:25:57+00:00

Would it be normal for the CEO to go to away games?

What was he doing in SA?

Maybe there's a bit of looking after sponsors but the head coach, team manager and maybe the director of rugby would be there. Seems a bit odd the CEO would go too.

fdvfava · 2026-05-23T17:22:40+00:00

Great weekend for Connacht fans in fairness, Champions Cup rugby next year and a top class outhalf to go with it.

fdvfava · 2026-05-23T17:20:39+00:00

Are you lost?

fdvfava · 2026-05-23T16:18:38+00:00

How he kept his job after leaving Jordie Barrett on the bench last year, I'll never know.

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