Irish rugby's lineout failings

[@johnmccarthy9964]

Jaykers, a month ago we were too small a nation to find a massive number of players, then we weren't able to find fast wingers, then we couldn't find big people for power, then we didn't have lads with good hands and now we can't find lineout jumpers. Can our coaches not teach people skills or once you sign a contract is it assumed that you're a complete player?

[@noelpucarua2843]

A small nation will have difficulty regularly finding massive players, fast wingers, big people for power...etc ..etc.. These problems are bound to persist and there is no contradiction there, because it is true for each of those skills and atributes, Small nations will always have a shortage of players compared to bigger countries. It is especially true for countries where rugby is not a top sport. Scotland, with a similar population, does not have Gaelic football and Hurling in the mix attracting players, yet Ireland does very well compared to them. National coaches can hone skills but cannot create them.

[@cathalsheehan9596]

Ah yes, Ross Molony leaving Leinster explains why Ireland’s line out is terrible! Again, are we happy just to make excuses rather than actually fix the problem… All we are doing is leaving a massive target for an opposition to go after come 6N.

[@SMacCuUladh]

@@kh7431 or that teams up their game against Ireland and Leinster and change up what they do when playing us.

[@tvpc3194]

hes the lineout guru dont ya know? anyway 18months ago jackman was saying poc will sort this out

[@breakfastfoodanddarkhaired280]

Should the coaches in Ireland and Leinster not yknow... figure it out ?

[@eoinh3816]

I’m not a massive Cullen fan at all but he is right that Christophe Urios sides are notoriously very strong defensively both in open play and in the lineout. That was a big Clermont pack.

[@lizzyhanahoe4197]

Lineouts seem to be a lot more complicated than expected. So if POM is good at this lineout calling, would it be a plan to get him on board along with POC and coach the Ireland team building up for 2027? If lineouts are so integral to our attack game, then we really need to get this sorted asap, it was bad for us in WC2023, let’s not repeat, we need to go forward confident that this is fixed.

[@mahasamatman12]

Admittedly, Clermont were decent, but a serious title contender playing at home should have taken 5 points here. Leinster will need to improve significantly for the LAR game.

[@Conorhimself]

Height, athleticism, and lineout intelligence. Billy Holland highlighted 24 x months ago that Thomas Ahern would be our guy in this space for Munster after Pete. No doubt with time, he could be that for Ireland too.

[@markhynes157]

By this token is Ryan Baird a man for Leinster to loo to ?

[@Conorhimself]

​​​@@markhynes157100% Ryan Baird is the guy for Leinster and when he is back he will most likely play 6 for Leinster and Ireland when Pete retires. Baird has a higher ceiling than Deegan IMO. Picking a 4 to 8 from Ryan, McCarthy, Doris, Baird, Ahern, Van Der Flier, Conan, Pete O'M, Izuchukwu, McCann, Henderson is nice 😊

[@eoinh3816]

I think there’s questions around Ahern’s ability to hold his own in the tight at international level. He spends a lot of time as a wing forward, but international level as a 6 you’ll be spending a lot more time in the middle. He’s tall but he’s not big and is quite an easy frame to hit as he’s very slight. I think the Ireland coaching staff have those reservations also

[@Conorhimself]

@@eoinh3816 possibly, but at 24 he has time.

[@tvpc3194]

ross maloney lol this is getting crazy haha crazy how he covers up for people and selections

[@brendanpayne115]

Jesus lads just work it out!

[@deirdreryan5674]

Maybe should be Leinster’s line out issues?!

[@username9175]

South Africans and Munster fans. Are there any worse in rugby?

[@jmo8934]

Ross Moloney leaving? So what’s the problem with the national team? Moloney never played in that. This is a load of nonsense. In NZ two years ago the lineout was very good. Ryan and Beirne were in the second row with O’Mahoney in the back row with the same hookers throwing in. It’s not just the lineout. Ireland and Leinster have been all over the place since the start of the autumn. Poor kicks, lack of hunger, poor set piece, poor handling, loads of penalties given away. In other words across the board. That falls at the coaches feet to sort out as these players here right now have done much better than this in the past including in the lineouts.

[@noelpucarua2843]

Ireland, after the Autumn Nations games, are at number 2, ahead of NZ in the world rankings. Those rankings are based on results.