Denis Hurley for Ireland

[etcpostmaster]

There probably is a thread on this somewhere else but the guy needs to be given a cap. He's solid and can be spectacular too. I have literally lost count of the amount of times he has run a good line and given a spectacular offload. His nick name on this forum is Sony bill Hurley.... Does that not say enough? He may not be as boring and dependable as " kick the ball and run into a big pack of forwards" Kearney, but he needs o be given a chance.

Sure plenty of people on here are going to disagree but that's what debate and discussion is all about.

[John123]

I really like Denis as a player but think he is JUST below the level required...having said that I'd rate him every bit as highly as Felix Jones and he is in the squad...

[bosh12]

Hurley has been capped, against US in 2009 I think.

For me too slow, not quite athletic enough and a bit clumsy, and very poor kicker to be international regular, but Kidney appears to be fan. In fairness to him, gets most out of talents

First time I ve ever heard the SBW comparison....bit like Zinedine Kilbane?

[5eight]

More Sonny Knowles than Sonny Bill.

[JoeyFantastic]

He's been good this season and it's between him and Henshaw for fullback, imo.

[McCloud]

How did Bowe get on as fb for Ulster? My to kids watched a bit of the Ulster match with DK before the start of the Munster match. DK said he wanted to see how TB got on. Given the request that TB and Felix start this weekend at fb I guess it doesn't look good for Hurley....

[John Cooper Clarke]

I agree he's been very decent this season, but I'm not sure he's an international standard 15.

Jones may well leapfrog him, and/or Earls may end up at 15 in green too.

[The Last Stand]

I think it will be earls or bowe. Expect that the same old midfield will be back.

[Evil Omer]

Jones has a lot of work to do to leapfrog Hurley for Munster if the selection is on form and performance alone. Hurley has been better than Dougie all year, in fact vying with O'Dea for second best back after Zebo. That's a high standard and Jones just needs to get some games right now before we talk about taking anyone's place.

[Viigand]

Hurley is having a great season and should keep his place on form. I'd have him in the international squad ahead of Jones based on form and game time. I don't get this constant perception that he is slow.

[Delmar O'Donnell]

He's been good this season and it's between him and Henshaw for fullback, imo.

Henshaw in there would be brilliant to see. If he was playing the way he is and had two seasons under his belt he'd be in the squad. Or if he was playing for one of the big three.

[John Cooper Clarke]

Henshaw in there would be brilliant to see. If he was playing the way he is and had two seasons under his belt he'd be in the squad. Or if he was playing for one of the big three.

He should move to one of them in that case.

[mr chips]

How did Bowe get on as fb for Ulster? My to kids watched a bit of the Ulster match with DK before the start of the Munster match. DK said he wanted to see how TB got on. Given the request that TB and Felix start this weekend at fb I guess it doesn't look good for Hurley....

Think I remember a couple of knock-ons (knocks-on?)/dropped passes, more than likely due to the fact that he never normally plays at fullback. I only had half an eye on the game, but I don't recall it being one where he was hugely tested in the skillset required for that position c/f successfully competing/challenging for a high ball in the air, last-ditch tackling, counter-attacking etc. Someone who kept a closer eye on him may well have a different opinion though.

[Dowlinz]

Acceleration too slow to be international standard, he'd be targeted by speedsters all day long. Doesn't offer a breaking threat and isn't a particularly good kicker. "Solid" is correct but it's a loaded description of a player that isn't entirely positive.

Good option to have if we're stuck but nothing more.

[sewa]

Good player but there is no way he is an international fullback

[Thomond78]

Good player but there is no way he is an international fullback

Rob Kearney doesn't tackle or pass, yet has caps. I'd prefer a player without top-level acceleration but who can make the tackle and pass than a revolving door that gets targeted with relentless, painful, efficiency.

We have a terrible, terrible, almost Australian-level, weakness as a rugby-watching public for the flashy-but-flawed over the quietly-efficient. Geordan Murphy over Shaun Payne being another past example.

[NotreDameRFC]

Rob Kearney doesn't tackle or pass, yet has caps. I'd prefer a player without top-level acceleration but who can make the tackle and pass than a revolving door that gets targeted with relentless, painful, efficiency.

We have a terrible, terrible, almost Australian-level, weakness as a rugby-watching public for the flashy-but-flawed over the quietly-efficient. Geordan Murphy over Shaun Payne being another past example.

You forgetting Girvan dempsey 80 odd caps?

[Thomond78]

You forgetting Girvan dempsey 80 odd caps?

No, but we did the "but Geordan was so exciting despite being more flaky than the stock room of a 99 factory" debate to death earlier. With neither was there ever the warm fuzzy feeling every time the opposition kicked of knowing: it's fine, Shaun's got it, and we'll gain from this.

[lactose intolerant]

Who calls him Sonny Bill Hurley?

[joeriddick]

For me too slow, not quite athletic enough

Have a look at the guy steaming up at the bottom of your screen here at 1hr 27m

a bit clumsy

Look at DAT CLUMSY OFFLOAD 6:00 in!

Seems like Hurley keeps getting damned for reasons that don't hold up anymore. Is he a top level Test fullback? Not really, no. Is he a top level HCup full back? Yes, I think his performances stack up there.

He's not a winger, his acceleration isn't up par for that but his high ball work, his positional sense, his offloading ability and his top speed make him an excellent full back. He has a big boot too, even if his kicking form isn't as sexy as ROG's.

[Dowlinz]

Have a look at the guy steaming up at the bottom of your screen here at 1hr 27m

He's quick at full speed, it's his acceleration thats the problem. A guy with a quick turn of pace will have left him for dead by the time he's got through the gears.

Rob Kearney doesn't tackle or pass, yet has caps. I'd prefer a player without top-level acceleration but who can make the tackle and pass than a revolving door that gets targeted with relentless, painful, efficiency.

We have a terrible, terrible, almost Australian-level, weakness as a rugby-watching public for the flashy-but-flawed over the quietly-efficient. Geordan Murphy over Shaun Payne being another past example.

Ah now labeling Kearney an all flash and no substance player is unfair. He's not the complete package but his fielding, countering, pace and kicking are all world class for a fullback. Geordan or Denis could never say they were amongst the best in the game at their strongest facets, merely effective.

[The Outlaw]

No, but we did the "but Geordan was so exciting despite being more flaky than the stock room of a 99 factory" debate to death earlier. With neither was there ever the warm fuzzy feeling every time the opposition kicked of knowing: it's fine, Shaun's got it, and we'll gain from this.

I think Payne was the most over-rated 15 in the history of Irish Rugby. He excelled in 10 man rugby. Dempsey was far superior to him.

Catching and kicking are basic requirements at 15. Hardly anything to deem a 15 in the world class mode.

[Dumptruck]

I think Payne was the most over-rated 15 in the history of Irish Rugby. He excelled in 10 man rugby. Dempsey was far superior to him.

Catching and kicking are basic requirements at 15. Hardly anything to deem a 15 in the world class mode.

You obviously didn,t watch him too often, he was much much more than a catch and kick 15, so much so that even when Christian Cullen was fit, he kept him out, . I suspect though that this is yet another assinine post by you to wind people up. It doesn,t work anymore, you are as transparent as a glass mickey.

[JoeyFantastic]

Rob Kearney doesn't tackle or pass, yet has caps. I'd prefer a player without top-level acceleration but who can make the tackle and pass than a revolving door that gets targeted with relentless, painful, efficiency.

We have a terrible, terrible, almost Australian-level, weakness as a rugby-watching public for the flashy-but-flawed over the quietly-efficient. Geordan Murphy over Shaun Payne being another past example.

At the risk of intruding into your dreamworld, Kearney is miles and miles ahead of Hurley.

[The Outlaw]

You obviously didn,t watch him too often, he was much much more than a catch and kick 15, so much so that even when Christian Cullen was fit, he kept him out, . I suspect though that this is yet another assinine post by you to wind people up. It doesn,t work anymore, you are as transparent as a glass mickey.

CC post 20 injuries. You forgot to qualify your post with that. I've done it for you just so as you can avoid the embarrassment of anyone reading this thread might think that Payne was superior to the greatest 15 ever to grace the planet.

[barleys chinos]

If Hurley gets a chance i think he will do fine.
An all round solid fullback,no flash no frills.
I think Ireland has enough flash harrys at the minute.

[Dumptruck]

CC post 20 injuries. You forgot to qualify your post with that. I've done it for you just so as you can avoid the embarrassment of anyone reading this thread might think that Payne was superior to the greatest 15 ever to grace the planet.

When he was here, he most certainly was better than Cullen. Stop being a plonker ,ps, I don,t get embarrased because of anything I ever post on the internet.

[Thomond78]

At the risk of intruding into your dreamworld, Kearney is miles and miles ahead of Hurley.

The Rob Kearney of 2009, yes. The Rob Kearney ushering through Gray and others like the guy in the top hat at the door of Brown Thomas? Hmmmm...

[Cowboy]

The Rob Kearney of 2009, yes. The Rob Kearney ushering through Gray and others like the guy in the top hat at the door of Brown Thomas? Hmmmm...

He was very very prominent in the latter stages of last years HEC too though, Drop goal in Clermont was a monster. Dinny Hurley has the Craig Gilroy stick worn off him as well.

[The Outlaw]

The Rob Kearney of 2009, yes. The Rob Kearney ushering through Gray and others like the guy in the top hat at the door of Brown Thomas? Hmmmm...

Would hurley start for the Lions?