Thursday 17 November 2011

Eoin Griffin: aka 'Grico'

Name:                   Eoin Griffin

Position:                Outside Centre

DOB:                    18/9/90

Height:                   1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)

Weight:                  93 kg

Club:                     Corinthians, Connacht

Representative:      Ireland U-19, U-20

School:                 Colaiste Iognaid

University:             NUIG



Part of the Ireland U-20 team which captured the Six Nations title in 2009, Griffin was very much a fringe player for Connacht coming into last season. And so it was that when Samoa rolled into Galway on 9 November 2010 that he was given his chance in the centre, and boy did he embrace it, getting a well earned Man of the Match award in the process. It was a great game to be at, and the young man really stood out that night. Here's the highlights for anyone who's bothered: http://youtu.be/yOHLRHaHhTM

He was a given a fair chance after this but found himself picked on the wing more as the season wore on, and this really didn't suit the lad. I came across him round the NUIG campus during this time and when I asked him about it he said he definitely prefers the centre. In any case, with the departure of journeyman Niva Ta'auso he is very much the specialist outside centre in the squad and this has been reflected in his almost ever-presence there this season, culminating in a very good performance against Quins last week. At the moment, he's being paired with another young centre in the form of Dave McSharry, a man who's solid physicality seems to compliment Griffin's class very well. As a Connacht supporter, it's great to finally have two young Irish centres playing in tandem and forming a good partnership. It can only mean good things down the line. Here's a nice piece from the Times on the advent of proper back-play for Connacht, bout bloody time! http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2011/1116/1224307634600.html

With a bit of further reading (by which I mean a rather biased looking wiki page!http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eoin_Griffin) he apparently holds down 'several' in-house gym records and has been given the task of showing the other lads how to pass properly. Let's hope we don't see any of the fatties try their hand at this particular kind of pass! http://youtu.be/to872nbaDVE

Here's a nice piece that TG4 must have done on him, he's a grand soft-spoken lad and I hope we see a lot more of him for Connacht. Munsterfans are already proposing to poach him, but this is a real Connachtman and lets hope he's here for the long run! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SS7KBVoDBd4&feature=colike

P.S. I can't take credit for coining the 'Grico' nickname. Apparently the Connacht lads are to blame for the hype, which is saying something for the most down-to-earth squad in the country, by necessity you understand. No doubt Mike 'Macca' McCarthy had something to do with it...

2 comments:

  1. Excellent stuff, C-man, he seems a big, powerful lad with some soft hands. I'm going to watch this Toulouse game with interest - no better stage on which to put up your hand to the Irish selectors.

    Thanks a lot.

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  2. Ah that Thornley fella is stealin my thunder! Nice interview...
    http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2011/1119/1224307821684.html

    P.S. And his dad played for Ros!

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