THE FORM OF John Cooney was high on the agenda when Murray Kinsella and Bernard Jackman sat down for a chat on this week’s The42 Rugby Weekly.
The Ulster scrum-half has been sensational through the opening half of the season, landing crucial scores for his side and providing a fluid service for his team to attack with.
In his analysis of Cooney’s work, Jackman noted an impressive and unheralded aspect to his game. The ability to put together a picture of what is happening around the field.
“When you actually just cut up his clips, the amount of scanning he does before he gets to the breakdown is phenomenal,” said Jackman.
“I remember doing something on Aaron Smith a couple of years ago for some young 9s at Dragons and his ability to actually see the picture.”
Jackman uses the example of Cooney’s try for Ulster against the Scarlets between European fixtures to illustrate an immediate pay-off for the scrum-half’s awareness – from 45 seconds in the video below.
“They went wide, (Robert) Baloucoune got tackled just before the line and the Scarlets winger (Morgan Williams) just has a little go at the counter-ruck and he tries to get back out, but Cooney spots that (gap) and he barges over.
“(If) he goes down that alley and it’s a dead end, he gets shoved into touch there, it’s a huge error on his part but he just seems to be able to spot very, very quickly where the weakness is. And, as you mentioned, that outward scoot away from the breakdown, and just trying to find little gaps in the defensive line, is something that he’s added to his game.
“And also the fact that he’s a goal-kicker means he stands out just when he’s kicking last minute kicks but honestly, his all-round game is laying down a marker to the other 9s. And for sure, Conor (Murray)’s not playing badly, it’s just there’s someone putting it up to him at the moment.”
With the Six Nations just seven weeks away, the formguide is firmly in Cooney’s favour in the bid to start 2020 in Ireland’s 9 shirt.
Bernard Jackman joined Murray Kinsella and Sean Farrell in studio to chat about this, the Ireland captaincy and plenty about the provinces in this week’s Rugby Weekly.
The42 Rugby Weekly / SoundCloud
Hopefully he gets his chance in the six nations he’s got a huge camp ahead of him and injury permitting he has a great chance to establish himself as the number 1 scrum half
@Jim Lynch:
We had in Connacht, fine player and we knew he would shine in Ulster. I prefer Marmion and Blade has been making hay while he has been injured.
Murray is good bit down the list and cynically it looks like McGrath was brought to the RWC as he was the only one that wouldn’t show up Murray.
Thinking back it was madness to bring Carty and not Marmion, Carbury would have preferred Marmion too… Rem Marmion has only started for Ireland 7 times and he beat Wales, England and New Zealand… Impressive
@Cowboy Paddy: ah that’s a wild statement to say they brought McGrath so that he wouldn’t show up Murray. Look at the end of the day things didn’t work out at the World Cup that’s over and done with. Blade is playing the best rugby of his life, Murray is a different man ever since he got that injury he has never recovered that form and I’d have Cooney just about leading the way at the moment
Ireland number 9 for the six nations. On current form, streets ahead of Murray!
@Darren Mullins: who isnt
He’s been our best nine for over a year now tbh. Streets ahead of Murray and McGrath.
Certainly been in great form and has developed significantly since his arrival at Ulster deserves international recognition as does mccloskey & Marshall they’ve been the two in form centres this season Marty moore also pushing very hard for inclusion in the squad
Now if that’s not a bullshitty modern rugby headline, I don’t know what is.
@Mark Kelly: how?
God