FROM UNDERAGE SUCCESS to academy deal to development contract to fringe squad member to Pro12 regular; the professional pathway in Irish rugby is well worn at this stage.
There is the odd outlier of course, the youngster who is catapulted directly into first-team action or even international contention before their ‘time,’ but the majority of young Irish players are forced to sit patiently in the backlog.
Some fade away, while others are eventually rewarded for their long wait. Darren O’Shea has opted for another route altogether.
A year into his time with Munster’s academy the Crosshaven man decided he could succeed by looking elsewhere, and is now part of Worcester Warriors’ drive for promotion back into the English Premiership.
The Dean Ryan-directed outfit are just three points behind Championship leaders Bristol after their 10-try 69-8 win on the road against the Cornish Pirates yesterday, a game that O’Shea started in the second row.
The final day of the regular season next weekend sees O’Shea’s Worcester host Bristol in a top-of-the-table clash, but the likelihood is that the pair will have to face each other again in the promotion play-off final.
“We’re all buzzing for the run in to the play-offs and we’re trying to add to our game each week,” says O’Shea.
The lock’s rugby journey started with a talented Crosshaven RFC underage group coached by Mossy Barry and featuring the likes of current Dolphin men Cian McGovern, James Rochford and Killian O’Keeffe.
O’Shea played his underage rugby with his hometown club all the way up to U19 level, and was capped by Munster Youths, before a brief switch to Cork Constitution and then on to taste senior rugby with Dolphin.
The 6ft 9ins specimen was part of the Munster sub-academy while he was still at school, though back disc and knee injuries meant he had to serve three years at that level before Peter Malone signed him on full academy terms in 2013.
A year later, O’Shea had signed for Worcester.
“Basically all I wanted was a bit of game time and the six British and Irish Cup games a year was what I wanted more of, at a higher level. So I decided if I wanted to take the next step I needed to look abroad.
Munster wanted me to stay in the academy for another year and see how it went. They were very happy with how I was developing, but at the end of the day I wanted to play games and get my name out there a bit more, so I made the decision to go.”
O’Shea linked up with agent Niall Woods, a former Ireland international, whereafter the opportunity at Worcester came up and the lock was presented with a deal that greatly appealed.
“I flew over and met with Dean Ryan and the other coaches,” says O’Shea. “They sat me down and were chatting about the vision for the future and about the change the team was going to have.
“They weren’t doing too well in the Premiership at the time and obviously the team got relegated in the end, but they were changing the squad to target younger players that wanted an opportunity and wanted games.”
O’Shea, who was involved with Ireland at U19 and U20 levels, was firmly in that bracket and penned a two-year deal with a stated ambition of featuring in the Premiership within that timeframe.
There was a degree of nervousness at leaving his home province, particularly as his move was not something “people traditionally did in Munster.” However, there are no regrets now after a season in which O’Shea has played 15 times and also scored two tries so far.
Ryan and forwards coach Carl Hogg, ex-internationals for England and Scotland respectively, have been able to nurture O’Shea’s pre-existing talent, helping the 22-year-old to develop his technical skills and lineout work.
The latter is particularly useful as O’Shea has been calling the set-piece for the Warriors.
The minute we move on to who we’re playing next in the fixture list, we’d be analysing their lineout and setting a lineout menu for what we’re going to use against them or what might work against them,” says O’Shea of that task.
“The callers come together and we’ll have a conversation about it. I was lucky enough to have picked up bits and pieces from the likes of Paul O’Connell and Dave Foley at Munster, and that helps over here.”
O’Shea admits he has already surpassed the individual targets he set himself at the outset of the move in terms of game time, but the most important thing is being in the Premiership next year.
The whole club is focused on that.
The Championship format sees first finisher in the table play fourth over two aggregated semi-final legs, while the second-placed does the same against third. A two-legged final then follows for the honour of a spot in the Premiership. It’s far from decided yet.
Off the pitch, O’Shea is enjoying living with fellow Irishman Niall Annett, formerly of Ulster, while his girlfriend and old buddies from Crosshaven have been regular visitors to the West Midlands city.
Priority number one is a return to the top tier of English rugby, and Worcester’s giant Irish lock is not losing focus.
“We’re hoping, not taking it for granted, but hoping to be back in the top flight next year,” says O’Shea. “We just have to take it week by week.”
It’s only the beginning of O’Shea’s career in truth, but he’s already proven he’s not one for waiting around.
Mcgrath Best Furlong Ryan Toner Cj O’brien Heaslip Murray Jackson Earls Henshaw Ringrose Trimble Zebo
https://media.giphy.com/media/GjYjLvGErsggg/giphy.gif
I STILL think Kearney shouldn’t be starting
Team I would go with …
McGrath, Best, Furlong
Ryan, Toner
Stander, Heaslip, SOB
Murray
Jackson
Trimble, Henshaw, Ringrose, Earls
Zebo
R: N Scannell, Healy, Bealham, Henderson, JvdF, Marmion, R Scannell, O’Halloran
In terms of the team that will start Joe will go with that first 15, bar Kearney at FB. On the bench he’ll probably go with Treacy, Keatley & Zebo instead of the brothers Scannell & O’Halloran.
He loves Kearney can’t see him being dropped
Zebo isn’t coming off the bench. Either 11 or 15
@John Kelly: I was going to post my team but this is pretty much it.
I think its a toss up between this team and Kearney at FB with Zebo on the wing and Earls on the bench
McGrath, Best, Furlong
Henderson, toner,
VDF, Heaslip, Cj stander,
Murray, Jackson
Henshaw, Ringrose,
Earls, OHalloran , Zebo.
1. McGrath
2. Best
3. Furlong
4. Toner
5. Ryan
6. Stander
7. VDF
8. Headlip
9. Murray
10. Jackson
11. Earls
12. Henshaw
13. Ringrose
14. Zebo
15. O’Halloran
McGrath Best Furlong Toner Ryan Stander O Brien Heaslip Murray Jackson Trimble Henshaw Ringrose Zebo O Halloran.
1. McGrath 2. Best 3. Furlong 4. Ryan 5. Toner 6. Stander 7. Van den flier 8. Heaslip 9. Murray 10. Jackson 11. Zebo 12. Henshaw 13. Ringrose 14. Trimble 15. O’Halloran 16. N Scannell 17. Healy 18. Ryan 19. Henderson 20. O’Brien 21. Marmion 22. R Scannell 23. Earls
1 Jack m
2 Rory B
3 T Furlong
4 toner
5 Ryan
6 CJ
7 SOB
8 Heaslip
9 Murray
10 Jackson
11 Earls
12 Scannell
13 henshaw
14 Trimble
15zebo
Bench Scannell, Healy, John Ryan, Henderson, JVDF, Marmion, Keatly. Ringrose
O halloran, zebo, ringrose, Henshaw, Earls, Jackson, Murray, heaslip, vdf, stander, toner, Ryan, furlong, best, ma grath
McGrath, Best, Furlong
Henderson, Toner
Stander, Heaslip, SOB
Murray
Jackson
Zebo, Henshaw, Ringrose, Earls
O’Halloran
R: Scannell, Healy, Bealham, Ryan, JvdF, Marmion, Scannell, Trimble
1. Tiernan O’Halloran
2. Andrew Trimble
3. Garry Ringrose
4. Robbie Henshaw
5. Simon Zebo
6. Paddy Jackson
7. Conor Murray
8. Jack McGrath
9. Rory Best
10. Tadgh Furlong
11. Billy Holland
12. Dan Leavy
13. Jamie Heaslip
14. Keith Earls
15. Ian Keatley
16. Cian Healy
17. Finlay Bealham
Great half back combo , and the centres will be hard to stop on a crash ball .
I love that phrase “crash ball” Always reminds me of Kevin Maggs for some reason.
1 McGrath
2 best
3 furlong
4 dillane
5 Henderson
6 Stander
7 VDF
8 Heaslip
9 Murray
10 Jackson
11 Earls
12 Henshaw
13 Ringrose
14 Trimble
15 Zebo
16 Scannell
17 Healy
18 Bealham
19 Ryan/ Toner
20 SOB
21 Marmion
22 Scannell
23 O’Halloran
It absolutely amazes me that you think we should drop our best second row for Iain Henderson (who barely plays at all) and Dillane (who’s been injured for a while now)
Now 2nd rows need to be more athletic. In my opinion Toner offers nothing else other than a line out option. In the 6Ns you have Itoje, Kruis and Johnny Gray all extremely athletic and mobile 2nd rows. In my opinion Ireland should go with Dillane and Henderson due to their mobility and athleticism but saying that I do think Schmidt will go with Toner and Ryan
I’m meant to be working so don’t really have the time to reply to that, but this article pretty much sums it up for me
https://dementedmole.com/2017/01/08/ireland-second-rows-in-2016-the-post-paul-oconnell-era/
And I should be studying for my Leaving
Oisin if your right and toner and Ryan offer nothing apart from lineout ( our major source of tries) why may I ask will joe pick those two statues?
Wow excellent article
Kearney will start as he generally delivers for Joe. I’d be one of his biggest critics but in fairness he delivered against NZ. Ryan and SOB will start imo with Henderson and vdf coming off the bench around 50mins to inject pace into game
About 40 comments and McCloskey hasn’t even been mentioned as a bench option. Ulster have been terrible but McCloskey has performed better than most. Not sure I’d start him over Ringrose but considering the calls for him 12 months ago I’m surprised he hasn’t even been named.
Johnny 5 we have 3 centres playing better and for winning teams. RS is the only player who’s got a chance of breaking the partnership of henshaw and ringrose.
@Johnny 5: Boooo! McCloskey’s defensive errors were woeful against Clermont, always coming out too quick, not drifting, and he certainly didn’t imrpove on his mistakes when playing against Exeter.
My advice to McCloskey, lose the top not and try to get some advice from Andy Farrell
O halloran earls ringrose hesnhaw zebo Jackson Murray stander VDF SOB Henderson Toner furlong best McGrath
McGrath, Best, Furlong,Toner, Henderson, Stander, SOB, Heaslip, Murray, Earls, Henshaw, Ringrose, Zebo, O’Halloran
Any 10?
Popplewell-wood-claw-o’connell-mc bride- o’brien-slattery-foley Murray-campbell-geoghean-gibson- O’driscoll-ringland-o’reilly.
@sean byrne: Campbell for Kyle, are you mad?
McLaughlin, Wood, Millar, O’Connell, McBride, J O’Driscoll, Slattery, Duggan, Murray (on form, needs to do it consistantly for legend status), Kyle, T O’Reilly, Gibson, O’Driscoll, Ringland, T Kiernan.
1. McGrath, 2. Best 3. Furlong, 4. Ryan, 5. Toner 6. Stander 7. O’Brien 8. Heaslip 9. Murray 10. Jackson. 11. Zebo 12. Henshaw 13. Ringrose 14. Trimble 15. O’Halloran 16. Healy 17. Scannell 18. Ryan 19. Henderson 20. Van der Flier 21. Marmion 22. Scannell 23. Earls
Team I want:
mcgrath, best, furlong
toner, hendo
stander, heaslip, van der flier
murray, jackson
marshall, henshaw
earls zebo trimble
scannel, finly, ryan, dillane, o’brien, marmion, scannel, kearney
Team that will be picked:
mcgrath, best, furlong
toner, ryan
stander, heaslip, van der flier
murray, jackson
henshaw, ringrose
zebo kearney trimble
scannel, healy, finly, hendo, o’brien, marmion, scannel, earls
Stick to the Fulham Dacourt!
1 McGrath 2 Best 3 Furlong 4 Ryan 5 Toner 6 Stander 7 O’Brian 8 Henderson 9 Murry 10 Jackson 11 Earls 12 Henshaw 13 Ringrose 14 Trimble 15 Zebo 16 N Scannel 17 Healy 18 Belham 19 Henderson 20 VanDeflier 21Marmion 22 R Scannel 23 Kearny
Henderson will start , we need at least one 2nd row who can carry the ball forward and make defensive hits . And at 6ft 7in tall he’s a great lineout option.
1 Mc Grath
2 Best
3 Furlong
4 Toner
5 Ryan
6 Stander
7 Van Der Flier
8 Heaslip
9 Murray
10 Jackson
11 Earls
12 Henshaw
13 Ringrose
14 Trimble
15 Zebo
16 Scanell
17 Healy
18 Ryan
19 Henderson
20 O Brien
21 Mc Grath
22 Keatley
23 Kearney
McGrath, Best, Furlong Toner, Ryan Stander, SOB, Heaslip Murray Jackson Henshaw, Ringrose Earls, Trimble Zebo R. Scannel, Healy, Bealham, Henderson, JVDF, Marmion, Scannel, TOH
McGrath, Best, Furlong, Toner, D Ryan, Heaslip, Stander & O’Brien
Jackson & Murray
15 Kearney, 14 Zebo,13 Henshaw, 12 McCloskey & 11 Trimble (12 is likely to be Ringrose)
Subs: Healy, Tracy, J Ryan, Henderson, van der Flier, Ringrose, Marmion, Keatley (if Ringrose starts Earls on the bench)
N Scannell and Conan to get opportunities over the course of the championship. It’s a pity Byrne and O’Loughlin didn’t get a shot ahead of Gilroy and Bowe (past form vs current form)
Treacy doesnt even start for leinster why would he make irelands subs?
I say the only real choices are:
Who partners Toner in Second Row?
Trimble v O’Halloran…
I think it is fair to say that Schmidt is looking at the Henshaw-Ringrose center pairing…
The Front Row is nailed down… Back row of CJ, Heaslip, SOB is one of the strongest in the world… The All Blacks would fear them…
I would loved a winger like Healy or Kelleher… A guy with real gas… Gilroy has a fair bit…
1. Healy
2. Best
3.J. Ryan
4.Henderson
5.Toner
6.Stander
7. Van der Flier
8. Heaslip
9. Murray
10. Jackson
11. Earls
12. Mccloskey
13. Henshaw
14. Bowe
15. Zebo
16. Tracey. 21. L. Mcgrath
17. Mcgrath 22. R. Scannell
18. Furlong. 23. O’ Halloran
19. D. Ryan
20. Conan
I had a look at who started in previous games, if schmidt hasnt changed his mind in the last few months then the depth chart is:
15: kearney, Zebo, OHalloran
14/11: Trimble, Earls/Zebo, Gilroy, the rest(Z started vs NZ, but E started the last game vs Aus)
13: Ringrose, Marshall
12: Henshaw, McCloskey/Scannell
10: Jackson, Keatley/Scannell
9: Murray, Marmion, McGrath
8: Heaslip, CJ, Conan
7: SOB, VDF, TOD
6: CJ, POM, Leavy
5/4: Toner, Ryan, Henderson, Dillane, Holland
3: Furlong, Bealham, Ryan
2: Cronin, Tracy, Scannell
1: McGrath, Healy, Kilcoyne
Again, this is purely based on who Schmidt picked in previous games. Not based on my own preferences
McGrath Best Furlong Toner Ryan Stander O Brien Heaslip Murray Sexton Earls Henshaw Ringrose Trimble Zebo Bench Scannell Healy Ryan Henderson O mahony Marmion Jackson Bowe
No sexton scannell 22 and Jackson 10 and van den flier on the bench
Looks like Trimble might be out though.
15. Zebo
14. Earls
13. Ringrose
12. Henshaw
11. Trimble
10. Jackson
9. Murray
1. McGrath
2. Best
3. Furlong
4. Toner
5. Ryan
6. SOB
7. VDF
8. Stander
16. N Scannell
17. Healy
18. Bealham
19. Dillane
20. Heaslip
21. Marmion
22. R Scannell
23. O’Halloran
Healy,
Scannell
kilcoyne
Dillane
Henderson
Van der Flier
ODonnell
Conan
Marmion
Jackson
Bowe
mcLoskey
gilroy,
Trimble
OHalloran
Reinstate the Probables V Possibles match!!
Zebo, Bowe, Trimble, Ringrose, Henshaw, Jackson, Murray, Heaslip, Stander, O’brien, Toner, Henderson, Furlong, Best, Mcgrath
15-Zebo
14-Trimble
13-Ringrose
12-Henshaw
11-Earls
10-Jackson
9-Murray
1-McGrath
2-Best
3-Furlong
4-Henderson
5-Toner
6-Stander
7-O’Brien
8-Heaslip
16-Tracy
17-Healy
18-Bealham
19-Dillane
20-van der Flier
21-Marmion
22-Keatley
23-O’Halloran
1. McGrath, 2.Best, 3. Furlong
4. Toner, 5.Ryan
6. Stander, 7. O’Brien, 8. Heaslip
9. Murray, 10. Jackson 11. Zebo 12. Henshaw 13. Ringrose 14. Earls 15. Kearney
Replacements;
Treacy, Belham, Healy
Henderson, J VDF,
Marmian, Scannell, O’Halloran
Dillane & Trimble not fully fit so I’m ruling both out. A chance that Zebo starts at 15 with Bowe at 14 to add some experience & no place for Kearney