@derm-mccrum said in Exodus 2019:
@mariner4life said in Exodus 2019:
@derm-mccrum are those Irish squad sizes correct? Between 60 and 69 players? Does that include the reserves side?
All the 6 teams include both the senior and academy squads as they're called. In Ireland, we don't have "reserves' as such. The PRO14 Championship is 21 rounds, the European Cup has 6 pool rounds, (plus knockouts) and there's 10-12 tests to play, so players get game time. Last season, Leinster used 55 players during the season.
At the weekend just gone, they went away to Dragons in Wales. Cullen decided to throw his kids in at the deep end, minded by Grandad Fardy. 5 first team benchers, 11 second and third choice, and 7 academy 19/20 year olds - mainly in the backline. 4 of the academy kids scored on the night in a absolute routing 59-10. The academy keeps on giving.
Never mind the dry powder, metres-gained metrics, etc, etc... THIS, this gives me the fucking fear, as an All Blacks supporter.
It really sounds like Ireland has got their shit together.











