The usual winners of the Leinster schools’ cup have a ferocious pack of forwards and one, maybe two dazzling backs who can provide the spark to separate them from the others.
Most of the time Blackrock produce such a neatly embroidered mesh. Peter Smyth’s 2014 version is different. For one they are pretty much the 2013 side, just a year older.
In full flow they are a sight to behold. As they disappeared into the Bective club house with a 19-6 half-time lead over the league champions the debate raged. Is it Nick Timoney’s forwards or Jack Power’s backs that makes them so special?
Of course it is both.
They are a team to be put alongside Jordi Murphy’s 2009 group or even the benchmark of them all; the 1996 Dream Team that produced five Ireland internationals, including Leo Cullen, Bob Casey and a little fifth-year sub named Brian O’Driscoll.
Tighthead prop Jeremy Loughman is as good a place as any to start the analysis. His 116 kilogram frame wouldn’t look out of place at the Aviva Stadium next weekend. Loughman singlehandedly decimated Newbridge attempts to turn their maul into an attacking weapon yesterday.
His fellow scrummagers were equally effective with the return of Jack Dwan, the biggest of them all, cut short by a dislocated shoulder that did at least pop back into its socket.
It can even be said that Dane Fitzpatrick, Hugo Keane, Caelan Doris and Conor Oliver actually outplayed last year’s star performers Timoney and David O’Connor.
For teenagers they are ginormous. But it was the backline that shone the brightest.
The first two tries were only breathtaking. The third, finished by the marvellously balanced running of Power, is best described as heavenly.
Accurate skip passes
The ability of Leinster under-19 outhalf Seán Kearns to fling accurate skip passes, off either hand, created the space for Hugo Keenan (MacNeill, the greatest Hugo of them all, was in the stand) to sprint onto.
Keenan’s offload to Joey Carberry was special but the fullback’s inside pass to release Power was, well, out of this world.
That followed an earlier try from Zach O’Hagan after superb and subtle hands by Kearns and Power.
Power crossed himself after 13 minutes while showcasing powers of evasiveness that would secure him a seat in Dáil Éireann.
Then, without any warning, the momentum shifted Newbridge’s way. Much of the credit goes to Tom Brady’s pack but their gifted scrumhalf Mark Sutton’s move to first receiver immediately resulted in runners being released through the narrowest of gaps.
Niall Delahunt crossed for a try on 39 minutes after Sutton, now back at the base, produced lightning quick service for Jake Howlett to find his fullback.
When the natural place-kicking of Joe D'Arcy delivered another three points for Newbridge Blackrock's mettle was under genuine scrutiny. They responded like champions. It was relentless and despite some heroic defending from men like Cormac Nugent, stopping Loughman in his tracks, when Sutton's clearance found Keenan instead of touch their energy levels sagged.
Carry deep
The winger mesmerised a lined of would be tacklers to carry deep into the 22 and when possession was spread left there was Timoney to scramble over.
Smelling blood, and before Newbridge could catch their collective breath, a burst by Keane and clever inside pass from Ian Kinsley put O’Hagan in the clear yet again.
This is a blueprint for how rugby should be played. The forwards are so expertly drilled that scrumhalf Tristan Brady is working off a silver platter and in Kearns they have a play-maker who utilises every available blade of grass.
His wingers are never idle. No one is.
Newbridge were a collection of excellent footballers and while this contest was deserving of any final the difference in physical presence was stark.
The only concern ahead of the March 18th meeting with Clongowes Wood or St Andrew’s, almost certainly the former, at the RDS is injuries to Dwan and O’Hagan, but Blackrock’s strength in depth runs deeper than the usual winners of the Leinster schools cup.
