Irelands answer to New Zealand

Sean O'Brien and Jonny Sexton are the new McCaw and Carter if not better.


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Ireland New Zealand final. We'll find out then shall we. I'm actually looking forward to this WC. For the first time since we came third we haven't sacked our coach in the year leading up to it (yet, he'll he gone by Christmas)

Ha well one thing that sexton does just as good if not better than Carter is his restarts. A lot of the his restarts are on the money giving shaggy plenty of time to get a chance of catching it.

OBrien I don't believe can be compared as much. McCaw is a great counter Rucker and fetcher of the ball where as SOB is a bulldozer of a player. I'm happy with the two Leinster have.

Would Jennings not be the better comparison?

Yeah he would Glas. O'Brien only became noticeable on Saturday when he went to 6 (which is a bit backwards really).

Had Jennings come back sooner from injury, I don't think they would have hesitated in starting him.

To be fair Rev, in the first half he was behind a tight five who were pathetic whereas in the second they suddenly remembered they were in a game!

That much is true as well Notch.

If the question is who will play 7 and 10 then thats a good answer. Not sure about any other question this will answer.

Wait and see, since McCaw and Carter have just re-signed for another 4 years there's some time left to prove who's better.

Not sure if it is fair to compare O'Brien to Richie McCaw. McCaw has been at the top of his profession for a number of years, O'Brien has played nice rugby, but for a much shorter time. I would give him a number of years before comparing him to McCaw.

After only 40mins of rugby against a side on their backsides and on the backfoot? Please...

Their talented alright, but a bit of consistency at the very top before we can start waxing lyrical. This just prooves how the media hystyeria after a couple of games can get out of hand (eg England in 6N)

Breadvan wrote:After only 40mins of rugby against a side on their backsides and on the backfoot? Please...

I think the article is tongue in cheek but In fairness to O’Brien he is the European player of the year, with 3 MOTM awards in the Cup across the 3 backrow positions. He’s obviously not as good as McCaw, but he’s improving all the time.

Mickado wrote:

Breadvan wrote:After only 40mins of rugby against a side on their backsides and on the backfoot? Please...

I think the article is tongue in cheek but In fairness to O’Brien he is the European player of the year, with 3 MOTM awards in the Cup across the 3 backrow positions. He’s obviously not as good as McCaw, but he’s improving all the time.

And those accolades are nothing to be sniffed at when you're only 24 and have nine caps for Ireland.

Aye, that O'Brien feller's not bad. He's got a little ways to go to match the master yet https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsOuBdkSL8U

More seriously I think SOB will find his niche at 6 not 7, but odds are McCaw may make the Michael Jones shift to 6 in a year or 2 as well

(The Jedi's views on Ireland is a good watch too).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aS3uQdgmYXM&feature=related

I've never understood the calls for Sean O'Brien for 7. It nullifies his strenghts IMO and we saw it against Samoa and we saw it last week in Cardiff.

Its fine to toss about squad players in the Magners at 7 but at test level I wouldn't encourage it.

Mickado is right. Its tongue in cheek from Hughie. Has to be.

Sexton is getting there, but he needs a massive RWC, and then some for years after - at the very top, before he can even start to be compared to Carter.

SOB is a 6. And a brilliant one at that - in the mould of his mentor - Elsom. NOT a 7. Jennings is nowhere near as good a player as McCaw. But he is the best 7 we have to put up against him. At least he would compete with him and pish him off at the breakdown. He is vital there and should travel along with Wally to NZ, IF Deccie can remove his blinkers that is. The Summer Tests will tell us all.

Gibbo a question I asked elsewhere. Would Elsom get into current Leinster team?

Hughie is having a laugh.SOB has certainly been the player of the year in Europe.He is not a number 7 however,Jennings is the best man for that.SOB is a 6 or an 8 at a push, but let's leave him where he is.I mean he isn't doing that bad there

Sexton isnt ready, he's up and down all the time, he's not mature enough to be a consistent performer for Ireland. He needs another couple of seasons I think, before he gets used to international rugby.