Whos the fastest player in Irish rugby?

Amazotheamazing

nipps wrote: »

got to be bowe, did ye see when he burnt williams against wales earlier this year?

Williams himself isn't an all out speedster, much like Fitz, what makes him seem so is that he can change direction without losing speed. By comparison, Dempsey is probably faster than both of them, but not able to change direction at all.

anonymous_joe

twinytwo wrote: »

3 fastest... dempsey, bowe and earls... bowe is fast for anyone who thinks he isnt...wtf:pac:

My understanding of that was always that Bowe's acceleration when he was younger didn't look great.

A lot of the 'fastest' players are tall lads who lope along, Bowe, Dempsey, etc.

Compare that to O'Driscoll who isn't that fast but has great acceleration, it never really matters that he's 'slow.'

Amazotheamazing

anonymous_joe wrote: »

My understanding of that was always that Bowe's acceleration when he was younger didn't look great.

A lot of the 'fastest' players are tall lads who lope along, Bowe, Dempsey, etc.

Compare that to O'Driscoll who isn't that fast but has great acceleration, it never really matters that he's 'slow.'

O'Driscoll used to be a lot faster, he's not that fast anymore due to injuries but he's changed his game so much you wouldn't notice it. If you look at old footage of O'Driscoll his game is very similar to how Earls plays now, but nothing like how O'Driscoll plays now.

One of the things I really admire about O'Driscoll is how he's changed his game so completely and still remains the best in the world in his position. Very unusual to see it happen, imo.

anonymous_joe

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

O'Driscoll used to be a lot faster, he's not that fast anymore due to injuries but he's changed his game so much you wouldn't notice it. If you look at old footage of O'Driscoll his game is very similar to how Earls plays now, but nothing like how O'Driscoll plays now.

One of the things I really admire about O'Driscoll is how he's changed his game so completely and still remains the best in the world in his position. Very unusual to see it happen, imo.

It does happen though. Fantastic player.

LightningBolt

eoin wrote: »

Don't mean to drag this off topic, but is the first section not all about the strength of the quads? Would sprinters not traditionally be stronger and heavier than longer distance runners?

To be honest I'm just recalling the info we were told! From what we were taught we were told to keep the body low for the first 15 or so and then gradually come up and power through. In theory you're right, the bigger, stronger guys should power out past the lighter blokes. In practice the lighter guys accelerated really quickly before we pulled them back a bit further up. It should be said also that generally, most of the forwards improved out of the blocks considerably more with the coaching compared to the backs. Hope that helps somewhat!

bacon bites

Sparkx wrote: »

If you raced john hays against say Kearney over 5 meters , you might be surprised who wins. Props are known for thier power & pace over the first 10 Metres.

I'd say you're right there. There was a story going around years ago that before Christian Cullen came to Munster Marcus Horan was the fastest in the squad over the first 20 metres. That could explain his wing-hugging mentality!
Fastest now imo would be between Earls and Fitzgerald.

bamboozle

fastest sprinters in Irish rugby would be Ahern of UL Bohs, Max Rantz McDonald (with clontarf last season) & Brian Touhy and he might have slowed down a bit now but Conor MacPhillips of Marys/ ex connacht was a flyer
O'Driscoll is fast over 30 metres but not really over 100

apparently Victor Costello could beat Hickie over 30

andrewdcs

I can't find it at the moment, but read earlier this year one of those sunday times style graphics spreads about sprinters and how mechanically/mathematically the taller they are the faster the "theoretical" maximum speed they could reach. Bolt is 6'5" or so. The problem was that taller lads don't tend to have the acceleration, the right muscle structure. Devin Toner should be focussing all his time on sprinting! Banahan for England is crazy tall /fast. Shame he can't kick or pass, ergo an 11 shirt.

In a rugby / field sport context acceleration is more important. So 50m times would boss 100 metre times.
In 7s though, I think flat out speed is used more often, as there's more room.

Tim Robbins

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

O'Driscoll used to be a lot faster, he's not that fast anymore due to injuries but he's changed his game so much you wouldn't notice it. If you look at old footage of O'Driscoll his game is very similar to how Earls plays now, but nothing like how O'Driscoll plays now.

One of the things I really admire about O'Driscoll is how he's changed his game so completely and still remains the best in the world in his position. Very unusual to see it happen, imo.

I don't agree with that.

He began running evasive lines with shimmys, serves and side-steps. He also had an exceptional perception of space, drawing 2 - 3 defenders and setting up other players with a superb off loading game. Then he bulked up and ran straighter / harder lines. Then by his own standards had a slight dip in form. Then he lost a bit weight, and has gone back to where he started lighter on his feet and playing more evasively.

I see very little similarity between Earls and BOD.

Earls has a very good turn of pace, but I haven't seen enough of him yet to rate the other parts of his game.

OldJay

bamboozle wrote: »

apparently Victor Costello could beat Hickie over 30

myth

Ceartgoleor

Someone mentioned Vas Artemiev earlier on this, who is no longer part of the Leinster academy set up but was as quick as anyone i've seen, and probably the quickest player to have been involved in Irish rugby in the last few years. Luke Fitz was probably third quickest on that Blackrock squad, behind Vas and Niall Morris, but Luke's times in shuttle drills that involved the direction changes were way ahead of everyones.

Andrew Conway is lightning fast and will break into the Leinster and Irish side within the next three years fact.

bamboozle

Tim Robbins wrote: »

I don't agree with that.



I see very little similarity between Earls and BOD.

Earls has a very good turn of pace, but I haven't seen enough of him yet to rate the other parts of his game.

Earls has a lot to go to become a player in or close to BOD's league. His handling and tackling need to improve big time...but he has time on his side

[Jackass]

I would have said from the international squad it would probably be Bowe, but we don't really have any out and out pace players as a defining characteristic...

We're really crying out for one.

Luckycharm

ki wrote: »

I know he is not there anymore, but, I remember reading Hicke could run a sub 12 sec 100m.
Bryan Habana can run 100m in 11 seconds.

Hickie was the Irish school sprint champion and came 2nd in the British and Irish Schools 100ms he ran 10.8 seconds at 18 - that is very quick at that age before they do all the extra weights etc to take off the 10ths of a seconds. He is probally the quickest player we have had in years- brendan Mullan was also a sprint champion.

PhatPiggins

bamboozle wrote: »

apparently Victor Costello could beat Hickie over 30

Is that pints of Guinness or metres ?

jack01986

Ye Hickie was deffo the fastest while he was playing. I dont know think we have any real out and out speedsters playing international rugby at the moment. Lots of fast guys but no flyers. I remember watching Conway in the SCT final this year that guy has some serious pace. We seem to have lots of guys that dont look to be going fast but are actualy carrying a lot of speed Bowe, Girvan etc. Anthony Horgan anyone?:D:D

Amazotheamazing

Tim Robbins wrote: »

I don't agree with that.

He began running evasive lines with shimmys, serves and side-steps. He also had an exceptional perception of space, drawing 2 - 3 defenders and setting up other players with a superb off loading game. Then he bulked up and ran straighter / harder lines. Then by his own standards had a slight dip in form. Then he lost a bit weight, and has gone back to where he started lighter on his feet and playing more evasively.

I see very little similarity between Earls and BOD.

Earls has a very good turn of pace, but I haven't seen enough of him yet to rate the other parts of his game.

Like you say, you haven't seen enough of him.

The_Kew_Tour

PhatPiggins wrote: »

Is that pints of Guinness or metres ?

One the best posts I have seen that one lol

NaiveMelodies

Sparkx wrote: »

If you raced john hays against say Kearney over 5 meters , you might be surprised who wins. Props are known for thier power & pace over the first 10 Metres.

As Far as I know the fastest time tested over 10 metres in irish rugby was set by a winger in Leinster Under 20s a year back, think it was Ian O'neill, beat Mafi's fastest time apparently.

hiney

Heard a few weeks back that Brendan Macken is the quickest player in the Leinster Sqaud over 40 metres

ALH-06

hiney wrote: »

Heard a few weeks back that Brendan Macken is the quickest player in the Leinster Sqaud over 40 metres

I seriously doubt that! With the likes of Morris and Conway at Leinster?

siltirocker

hiney wrote: »

Heard a few weeks back that Brendan Macken is the quickest player in the Leinster Sqaud over 40 metres

Man, that guy has potential!:)

RugbyFanatic

only1stevo wrote: »

As Far as I know the fastest time tested over 10 metres in irish rugby was set by a winger in Leinster Under 20s a year back, think it was Ian O'neill, beat Mafi's fastest time apparently.

He was the player that made that amazing tackle in the semi finals against CBC when the CBC no.8 was over the try line. Ran from the other side of the pitch and made it, amazing tackle and serious pace.

anonymous_joe

Where is he now?

remus808

anonymous_joe wrote: »

Where is he now?

Leinster Academy. Played against Nice in the pre-season!

RugbyFanatic

karmabass wrote: »

Leinster Academy. Played against Nice in the pre-season!

Nah your thinking of Brendan Macken.

GO'S

keith earls has lightening pace whilst making big hits and also bags tries...what makes bod better?

Eoin

GO'S wrote: »

keith earls has lightening pace whilst making big hits and also bags tries...what makes bod better?

As a better player overall? Are you serious?

peterako

GO'S wrote: »

keith earls has lightening pace whilst making big hits and also bags tries...what makes bod better?

He just is.

danthefan

GO'S wrote: »

keith earls has lightening pace whilst making big hits and also bags tries...what makes bod better?

Are genuinely asking why BOD is a better player than Earls?

bamboozle

GO'S wrote: »

keith earls has lightening pace whilst making big hits and also bags tries...what makes bod better?

he is a very weak tackler, his handling is poor and his awareness is far far poorer than BOD's this is all reflected in the fact that he is not being considered in the centre or at 15 for Munster. I think his career will be similar to trimble, promising initial break through but will fail to improve.

GO'S

danthefan wrote: »

Are genuinely asking why BOD is a better player than Earls?

yes bod is overrated in my opinion

magotch07

GO'S wrote: »

keith earls has lightening pace whilst making big hits and also bags tries...what makes bod better?

the last 10 years makes him better Bod has done everything in the northern hemisphere...very few players even com close to what he has achieved

GO'S

magotch07 wrote: »

the last 10 years makes him better Bod has done everything in the northern hemisphere...very few players even com close to what he has achieved

thats in the past...i think ireland should have looked on bringing a possible future team in to the internationals with a backlin like o leary sexton bowe cave earls fitzgearld and kearney and starting forewards like buckley o brien ronan

danthefan

GO'S wrote: »

thats in the past...i think ireland should have looked on bringing a possible future team in to the internationals with a backlin like o leary sexton bowe cave earls fitzgearld and kearney and starting forewards like buckley o brien ronan

Oh my.

chupacabra

GO'S wrote: »

yes bod is overrated in my opinion

Earls is nowhere near the player Brian is, or even was when he was his age. BOD is the best player we have by a country mile and one of the greatest players the game will ever see. Its not all about pace, or "big hits" or tries. Its about how you read the game, how you control the game and for BOD its also about being an inspiration to the players around him. He is a game breaker, a game winner, something earls hasn't become yet. He was and is a model captain, an immense leader and i am very proud to be able to say i have seen him play, its something i will tell my grandkids about over and over when i'm a crotchety old man. Go and actually watch some games for a change and you might see that while Earls is a prodigious talent, Brian O'Driscoll is quite simply a very special player and the rugby world will lose one of the greats when he retires. Hopefully that wont be for a long time yet.

RugbyFanatic

GO'S wrote: »

yes bod is overrated in my opinion

What a complete and utter joke. O'Driscoll has essentially rewrote what is expected of a 13. He will go down as one of the greatest players world rugby has ever seen. He has been considered the best in his position for the last 13 years now, has captained his side to the first grand slam in 61 years, has captained the Lions and was one of the best players in this year's tour and was an integral part of the Leinster winning the Heineken Cup.
I also have no doubt he will win IRB player of the year this year as well.

Any world 15 and one of the first names down is O'Driscoll at 13. As good as Earls is he is not even close to O'Driscoll at the same age and it is highly unlikely he ever will be.

Overrated? :rolleyes:

NaiveMelodies

RugbyFanatic wrote: »

He was the player that made that amazing tackle in the semi finals against CBC when the CBC no.8 was over the try line. Ran from the other side of the pitch and made it, amazing tackle and serious pace.

Oh ye good to put a face to a name!!

That was some tackle, very embarassing for the no. 8 though! Wasn't that the game where marys were expected to get hammered but hammered CBC instead??
And the little winger popped up with a smashing try in the end?

fifth

Putting it out there:

Shaggy turns it on in this vid

:P

Amazotheamazing

Just to clear up my earlier quote about Earls and BOD, I was saying when BOD came through he played like Earls does now, better obviously, but same style of player. Now his game is completely different to what it was/

Course, Earls is coming through in a different era so there's no real comparison. When BOD came through most teams didn't even have a specific defensive coach, crazy how much things have changed in 10 or so years.

danthefan

funkyflea wrote: »

Putting it out there:


Shaggy turns it on in this vid

There was a straight out footrace between Howlett and Horgan at one stage in the game in the RDS a few weeks back and Horgan was not outpaced. He's quicker than a lot of people think, possibly due to his size/slightly awkward running style. Not the quickest in Ireland though.

anonymous_joe

danthefan wrote: »

There was a straight out footrace between Howlett and Horgan at one stage in the game in the RDS a few weeks back and Horgan was not outpaced. He's quicker than a lot of people think, possibly due to his size/slightly awkward running style. Not the quickest in Ireland though.

In the Glasgee game at the end of last season I remember one of the Evanseses making a break and Shaggy tore back to catch them. He's astonishingly fast.

siltirocker

GO'S wrote: »

thats in the past...i think ireland should have looked on bringing a possible future team in to the internationals with a backlin like o leary sexton bowe cave earls fitzgearld and kearney and starting forewards like buckley o brien ronan

Yes the past, , , , the past 6 months. Test starting Lion, captained his nation to their first grand slam in 61 years & a first european title for his province.

Shoe in for player of the year, but i suppose that is technically in the past.:rolleyes:

RugbyFanatic

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

Course, Earls is coming through in a different era so there's no real comparison. When BOD came through most teams didn't even have a specific defensive coach, crazy how much things have changed in 10 or so years.

Yeah but at Earl's age O'Driscoll was still considered the best 13 in the world. The comparison is how they played compared to their peers who had the same advantages/disadvantages to play with and O'Driscoll was considered the best in the world in his position. Earls is very good but he is nowhere near the best 13/15 in the world right now. Thats not to say he will be not be world class in a few years but definitely that Earls is no O'Driscoll (I doubt we'll ever see an O'Driscoll again unforutnately )

Nukem

I know BOD probably isn't renowned for his top end speed but the guy is pretty damn fast. Was it last year or the year prior playing Scotland he managed to tackle someone on the half way and get up and sprint back to make a try saving tackle on the line in what seemed like an unreal quick time.

Eoin

If that's the same one I'm thinking of, I think it was Bowe that did most the work there - O'Driscoll looked like he had given up on making the tackle until Bowe made the first hit.

RugbyFanatic

Whatever about now he had a serious amount of pace considering he was knocked off balance initially at full sprint and then had to change direction.

Depp

i can assure you, whoever it is it is not a prop

hiney

ALH-06 wrote: »

I seriously doubt that! With the likes of Morris and Conway at Leinster?

Conway is quick , but I would say Macken has much more acceleration . I know that Macken was a member of an athlethics club sprinting team , dunno if the same can be said for Conway . Both are flyers either way

Rob Mc

Digifriendly wrote: »

Fionn Carr seems pretty quick to me.

This.

Carr is unreal fast, outran three or four scarlets players the last day, EPIC!!