Rewatching Glory, Glory, Munster it's almost easy to forget of just
how long we've had the services of Wallace to call on, he broke
through at a pretty young age, making his debut in the 1998/1999
season, though (iirc) he didn't really cement his place until the end of
2000 (calendar year, not season), and lost virtually a season after
the Lions tour? he'll be 31 next season, will probably play in almost
every test match this season, and the RWC, it's fair to say we can't
be sure just how much longer he'll be able to take top level rugby,
especially considering his injuries over the years. So, it's only natural
to begin to wonder, and maybe worry, about where his replacement
is going to come from.
Considering we are forced to play Leamy at 7 this weekend, and that
we had to sign an Australian as cover for when the Internationals are
away, (though I think we did play JOS there earlier in the season
too). Leamy made his breakthrough at 7, before moving to 6, before
returning to his schools position of 8 so we know he's a versatile
player, but with EOS picking him at 8 for Ireland, it seems unlikely
his long term future lies anywhere else. why are there no out and out
number 7's coming through the ranks, or am I just completely
ignorant of a whole host of academy 7's waiting for the call?
Iirc, Shannon's Johnny O'Connor was expected to come through, and
got some caps there last year, but he's since gone to Coventry
(getting good reviews there though) and there seems to be no home-
grown heir-apparant. We seem to have become adept at turning out
very good 6's and 8's, so much so that Keogh can leave the Munster
bench and become one of Leinster's top players over the course of a
few months. Of course we'd rather Keogh had remained with
Munster, but it has been excellant to see his emergence from sub to
possible 6n's candidate, something he wouldn't be had he been kept
on the Munster fringes.
I know mcGann has looked pretty good in his games so far, and at
25, there's plenty of rugby left in him, but having been capped at 7's
he's not an option for the Irish team. If anything, his signing
highlights the problems we are having at finding a homegrown
player. Bizarrely, with Jennings now returning to Leinster, should
Munster make a play for Lansdowne's Niall Ronan, who has looked
pretty good in his limited chances so far? Sure the thoughts of a
Leinster forward with Munster are enough to make anyone nauseous
but this are strange days, our best prospects at prop are from Cork,
one of our best prospects at centre plays with Thomond, the old
order must be crumbling!
The problem isn't just confined to Munster, Connacht recently
extended the contract of Ray Ofisa until 2009, which, although it
would allow him qualify for Ireland under residency, also betrays the
lack of 7's working through the system at the minute.
We've been lucky to have Wallace, and we probably won't realise
just how lucky until we've to look for a long term replacement. At
least at 6 and 8, while we are replacing worldclass players, we are
replacing them with players who have huge potential (even better if
Keogh returns), can we be as confident about 7?
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Originally Posted by The Crimson King
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