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Ireland's 35 stone centre pairing is the heaviest in their Test history
A common refrain in Irish rugby circles is that the island of Ireland struggles to produce sizable rugby athletes.
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Last year Leinster head coach Leo Cullen raised eyebrows after his side were outmuscled by Saracens in the Champions Cup, with the line: “You know it’s genetics, really; you can really only do so much about it.” He wasn’t the first and he certainly won’t be the last Irish rugby coach to fall back on the gene pool excuse.
Yet, if you look at Ireland’s midfield pairing for their Autumn Nations Cup match with Georgia this weekend, you’d be forgiven for wondering what the hell they were talking about.
With Stuart McCloskey and Chris Farrell, Ireland will field the heaviest midfield pairing in their history, the duo tipping the scales at 221kg or 34 stone 11 Ibs between them. McCloskey stands 6’4 and weighs in at 111kg, while Farrell is but a tiddler in comparison at 6’3, 110kg.
By way of comparison, the pair would have been the heaviest two players on Ireland’s 1976 tour of New Zealand, with the exception of 112kg second-row Emmett Rafferty. They would have towered over their fellow centres on that tour: 5’10, 77kg Mike Gibson and even Ian McIlrath, an outsized centre by the standards of the day at 6’2 and 95kg.
Not only are the McCloskey and Farrell massive centres by Irish rugby standards, they’re right up there among the heaviest international midfield pairing ever in international rugby.
It’s possible the position in the rugby that has seen the biggest change in terms of mass since professional changed the game in 1995.
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A comparison between the first-ever RWC final contested in 1987 by the All Blacks and France and the 2019 final in Japan between England and South Africa, speaks to change in the dimensions.
In ’87, New Zealand fielded Warwick Taylor and Joe Stanley against France’s Denis Charvet Patrice and Philippe Sella. The average weight of the four centres was 81.75kg (12st 12lb); New Zealand 81kg (12st 11lb) and France 82.5kg (13st).
In Yokohama in 2019, the average weight of the four centres on show was 99.5kg (15st 9lb). England head coach Eddie Jones fielded the heaviest centre partnership in World Cup history at 102kg (16st 1lb), helped by the 112kg (17st 9lb) Manu Tuilagi. The Springboks’ pair of Damian de Allende and Lukhanyo Am tipped the scales at 97kg (15st 4lb) on average.
In fact, in the 21st century, there has not been a midfield pairing in a Rugby World Cup final that has averaged under 95kg (14st 13lb), while there was not one that averaged over 90kg (14st 2lb) in the twentieth.
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However, how effective hulking centres are, especially at 13, is another question entirely. One school of thought would tell you that big thirteen’s struggle in the notoriously difficult to defend position. Brian O’Driscoll, who knew a thing or two about playing 13, scored two tries when pitted against the monstrous 6’7, 18 stone frame of England’s Matt Banahan in 2011.
Big of course, doesn’t necessarily mean better.
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope WRU cops a 12 month ban.
1 Go to commentsOuch. Pumped. Even Nohamba is a better flyhalf than Ford.
2 Go to commentsI hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
2 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
25 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
13 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
25 Go to comments