Written off over his size, Michael Lowry is an example for smaller players
Ulster star Michael Lowry represents a “real beacon” for smaller players and has been backed to shine on the international stage with Ireland.
The uncapped full-back has forced his way into Andy Farrell’s 37-man squad for the Guinness Six Nations following a series of electric performances for his province.
Fleet-footed Lowry, who stands at 5ft 7in, was written off by some people earlier in his career because of his height.
Yet Ulster’s head of operations Bryn Cunningham was “blown away” by the 23-year-old from the beginning, having first seen him perform for Royal Belfast Academical Institution in a schools’ cup game around six years ago.
“If you had a checklist of things you would want in an ideal professional rugby player, Mikey pretty much ticks every single box,” Cunningham told the PA news agency.
“What he has shown, which is a real beacon to smaller players, is that you can actually make it at this level if you have the skill level but also the commitment around how you organise yourself in defence and attack.
“His work-rate and his mindset around the physicality part of the game is just absolutely unbelievable. He hits harder than many guys twice his size.
“And then the big thing above all of that is his point of difference, which is his footwork and his acceleration, which is just exceptional and I think that’s what everybody has been so excited about.
“We’ve been very aware of that internally for some time but for that outside world to now start seeing that on a regular basis it’s brilliant for the game.
“I think the vast majority want to see excitement in rugby and, if Mikey’s on the pitch, there’s a pretty good chance you’re going to get that.”
Ireland begin the Six Nations at home to defending champions Wales on Saturday.
Lowry may initially have to be patient in pursuit of a Test debut as Leinster’s Hugo Keenan has excelled in the Irish number 15 jersey.
Andy Farrell is gonna need more paracetamol with the selection headache Michael Lowry and Hugo Keenan are giving him ?#ULSvCLE | Credit: @btsportrugby
pic.twitter.com/1EixoFdZX0— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 22, 2022
Asked if he expects the talented back to grace the international stage for many years to come, Cunningham replied: “He has the ability to.
“The way he’s progressed over the last couple of years and that X-factor that he has, it will be very, very hard to ignore if he continues to do that on such a regular basis.
“Where people a few years ago maybe had doubts whether he, because of his size, would have the ability to mix it at international level, we’ve now seen at the top level of Champions Cup against some of the very best players in Europe and around the world he’s been able to do that and more.
“So I certainly would have big faith that he would be able to reproduce that at the highest level.”
Belfast-born Lowry was named in the 2020–21 Pro14 Dream Team and trained in the Ireland camp last summer.
Cunningham, who played full-back for Ulster between 1997 and 2010, fondly recalls his initial impression of the player.
“I immediately was just blown away by him in so many facets of what he produced that day,” said the 43-year-old.
“You could just see something that was pretty special and it was interesting because even at that point there were a number of naysayers saying he was too small.
“But whenever you see something so special in a kid of that age, you just cannot ignore that.
“There’s so much to him from a personal point of view, he’s just a great individual. His family can be incredibly proud of what they’ve produced because he’s an absolute credit to them.
“Certainly in terms of genetically of what he has, he uses every single ounce of that to great effect and I would love to see him get an opportunity during the Six Nations at some point.”
Lowry lined up alongside Ireland and Ulster team-mate James Hume during his school days.
He specialised as a fly-half back then and has expressed a desire to return to that role as his career progresses.
On that subject, Cunningham said: “He’s playing so well at 15 at the moment that why would you move him?
“But I’ve no doubt that certainly over time he could end up with opportunities, certainly at provincial level, of playing some rugby at 10 as well.
“He has that string to his bow, on top of 15, which will be really beneficial for him for the future for many years to come.”
Comments on RugbyPass
It was a pleasure to watch those guys playing with such confidence. That trio can all be infuriating for different reasons and I can see why Jones might have decided against them. No way to justify leaving Ikitau out though. Jorgensen and him were both scheduled to return at the same time. Only one of them plays for Randwick and has a dad who is great mates with the national coach though.
53 Go to commentsBrayden Iose and Peter Lakai are very exciting Super Rugby players but are too short and too light to ever be a Test 8 vs South Africa, France, Ireland, and England, Lakai could potentially be a Test player at 7 if he is allowed to focus on 7 for Hurricanes.
5 Go to commentsPencils “Thomas du Toit” into possible 2027 Bok squad.
1 Go to commentsDon’t see why Harrison makes the bench. Jones can play at 10 if needed, and there is a good case for starting her there to begin with if testing combinations. That would leave room for Sing on the bench
1 Go to commentsWhat a load of old bull!
1 Go to commentsOf the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.
29 Go to commentsIrish Rugby CEO be texting Andy Farrell “Andy, i found our next Kiwi Irishman”
5 Go to commentsI certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
5 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to comments