Leinster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread.

gcgirl

Luke could be the Darcy of 03, Darc missed out on that world cup played solid for leinster then got called up for 6 nations and ran away with player of touriment

WeeBushy

wixfjord wrote: »

Also, anyone think that Luke not travelling could be the beginning of his career at 12? Would love to see him trialled there with O Malley, and it's an area where we have two "boshers" in Darce and MCF, with another coming through in Macken, and no real distributors.

He's a kicking option, good passer and good step, would love to see a game there.
Hopefully he'll flourish with the responsibility of being one of the senior players in our team for the start of the year.

Interesting. Especially with the serious strength in the back 3 and that we look a little light in midfield. Would certainly like to see this trialed.

CatFromHue

wixfjord wrote: »

Also, anyone think that Luke not travelling could be the beginning of his career at 12?

This was trialed at the start of the 08/09 season and it didn't work then. Not sure why you will think it will work now.

vinny chase

CatFromHue wrote: »

This was trialed at the start of the 08/09 season and it didn't work then. Not sure why you will think it will work now.

To be fair, I think Luke has put a bit more size on since then, and his physicality in defence has also improved since then.

Be an interesting experiment again at least.

Since his time at Williamstown right up to now, the more ball he gets in his hands the better he plays.

totallegend

CatFromHue wrote: »

This was trialed at the start of the 08/09 season and it didn't work then. Not sure why you will think it will work now.

See above post from wixfjord, D'Arcy made the switch to centre after starting life as a full-back (like Luke), then switching to wing (like Luke) then made the switch to centre aged 23. What age is Luke? 23...

gcgirl

totallegend wrote: »

CatFromHue wrote: »

This was trialed at the start of the 08/09 season and it didn't work then. Not sure why you will think it will work now.

See above post from wixfjord, D'Arcy made the switch to centre after starting life as a full-back (like Luke), then switching to wing (like Luke) then made the switch to centre aged 23. What age is Luke? 23...

Exactly 2003 changed things for darc

CatFromHue

Darcy only got a run in the centre cos BOD was injured and he filled in at 13 not 12. He only moved to 12 later when BOD came back. Darcy was a full back first and then a winger, a very different winger to Luke Fitz too. I just had a look on the Leinster website and Darcy had something like 20 trys up to and incl the 2003/03 season from 48 starts.

Luke Fitz has been tried at 12 with mixed results. He was unfortuneatly thrown in at the deep end i.e. he played against the All Blacks at 12 in a very public trial match of sorts while still finding his feet at Leinster in that position.

I don't think there has ever been a question mark over his physicality in defence, maybe over who he chooses to tackle though and I'm not sure what their ages are/were matter either.

Do you not think all the chopping and changing is actually damaging him and there is a chance that an out and out winger will come along and take his spot. Say if he does play 12 and does ok and Carr starts on the wing and does very well what happens when Darcy comes back with a World Cup winners medal? Luke Fitz is dropped and Carr and Darcy start.

I think that Fitz has the skillset of a 12, but perhaps not the mentality/experience.

I'd have no qualms whatsoever about trying him there for a couple of games.

vinny chase

CatFromHue wrote: »

Darcy only got a run in the centre cos BOD was injured and he filled in at 13 not 12. He only moved to 12 later when BOD came back. Darcy was a full back first and then a winger, a very different winger to Luke Fitz too. I just had a look on the Leinster website and Darcy had something like 20 trys up to and incl the 2003/03 season from 48 starts.

Luke Fitz has been tried at 12 with mixed results. He was unfortuneatly thrown in at the deep end i.e. he played against the All Blacks at 12 in a very public trial match of sorts while still finding his feet at Leinster in that position.

I don't think there has ever been a question mark over his physicality in defence, maybe over who he chooses to tackle though and I'm not sure what their ages are/were matter either.

Do you not think all the chopping and changing is actually damaging him and there is a chance that an out and out winger will come along and take his spot. Say if he does play 12 and does ok and Carr starts on the wing and does very well what happens when Darcy comes back with a World Cup winners medal? Luke Fitz is dropped and Carr and Darcy start.

Yeah, I think you make a very valid point there at the end about the constant chopping and changing of position being damaging to his development. He's said as much himself in the past, but personally I feel long term his best position is in the centre rather than on the wing.

tolosenc

Apparently we are getting a 3rd jersey afterall...

https://twitter.com/#!/leinsterstore/status/105642737080074241/photo/1

andrewdcs

CatFromHue wrote: »

what happens when Darcy comes back with a World Cup winners medal?

praise god!

gutted for him personally, as for Jones, but he just did't put a game away, like Jennings. Look at Kearneys first game back, very solid, looked like he's not been away at all, no questions.

He's the pick of position now for 2 months, hopefully he nails himself to a shirt and forces the issue himself.

durkadurka

wixfjord wrote: »

With my Leinster hat on, that announcement hasn't harmed our ML start too much.

Bit light at SH, but it will give Cooney, who looked good last week, a chance to shine hopefully, and perhaps McGrath aswell, although unlikely.

Also, Jennings, Fitz and MCL staying are three experienced HEC standard starters, which adds much needed experience.

There are chances of late call ups due to injury, but overall, we should have enough to compete well.

We're a bit unproven at second row, half back and centre.

Hopefully Sykes and Berquist turn out well.
Scrum Half definitely a risk.
Otherwise front row is sound, back row is almost international, back three is international. and that's with Carr and D Kearney not even on the team.
Should be enough quality around to make up.

Spud83

tolosenc wrote: »

Apparently we are getting a 3rd jersey afterall...

https://twitter.com/#!/leinsterstore/status/105642737080074241/photo/1

Looks like a copy and paste job between last years HC jersey, and last years home jersey.

totallegend

CatFromHue wrote: »

Darcy only got a run in the centre cos BOD was injured and he filled in at 13 not 12. He only moved to 12 later when BOD came back. Darcy was a full back first and then a winger, a very different winger to Luke Fitz too. I just had a look on the Leinster website and Darcy had something like 20 trys up to and incl the 2003/03 season from 48 starts.

Ah I was only messing with the D'Arcy parallels, just trying to make the point that just because a player starts off at a given position, doesn't mean he's stuck there for life; D'Arcy is living proof of it.

CatFromHue wrote: »

Do you not think all the chopping and changing is actually damaging him and there is a chance that an out and out winger will come along and take his spot. Say if he does play 12 and does ok and Carr starts on the wing and does very well what happens when Darcy comes back with a World Cup winners medal? Luke Fitz is dropped and Carr and Darcy start.

Yes, I think the chopping and changing is very damaging for him but I'm not sure the left wing is "his spot". When everyone is back, there'll be Fitz, Carr, Nacewa, Kearney, Horgan and McFadden fighting it out for the back-three positions. That's six quality players, three of whom are going to be missing out. Nacewa has to be a nailed-down starter, so you're now looking at two from five. It's a risk for Fitz to nail his colours to the mast as an out-and-out winger and nothing else; is he even guaranteed his left-wing spot while the RWC is on? A back three of Nacewa, Carr and Horgan* isn't too shabby...
*injury permitting

I think Schmidt is a very savvy coach and has made very few bad calls so far; if he does go with Luke at either 12 or 13, then I'd be confident it's a good call for both the team and the player.

Hagz

There is a possibility of Fitz being tested at 12 in these early games. Sheridan is our only specialist inside centre. I don't have much faith in Sheridan, hasn't impressed me much when I've seen him play.

copacetic

tolosenc wrote: »

Apparently we are getting a 3rd jersey afterall...

https://twitter.com/#!/leinsterstore/status/105642737080074241/photo/1

There was always to be a third jersey, announcement a while back was just that they weren't going to call it a Heineken cup jersey. Which is ludicrous!

PhatPiggins

totallegend wrote: »

Ah I was only messing with the D'Arcy parallels, just trying to make the point that just because a player starts off at a given position, doesn't mean he's stuck there for life; D'Arcy is living proof of it.



Yes, I think the chopping and changing is very damaging for him but I'm not sure the left wing is "his spot". When everyone is back, there'll be Fitz, Carr, Nacewa, Kearney, Horgan and McFadden fighting it out for the back-three positions. That's six quality players, three of whom are going to be missing out. Nacewa has to be a nailed-down starter, so you're now looking at two from five. It's a risk for Fitz to nail his colours to the mast as an out-and-out winger and nothing else; is he even guaranteed his left-wing spot while the RWC is on? A back three of Nacewa, Carr and Horgan* isn't too shabby...
*injury permitting

I think Schmidt is a very savvy coach and has made very few bad calls so far; if he does go with Luke at either 12 or 13, then I'd be confident it's a good call for both the team and the player.

Why because he's played poorly at 11 and 15 this season. Fitzgerald is in danger of falling into the utility player bracket. Centre make well prove to be his best position but I hope for everyones sake he picks one position and is given time to nail it down.

Quint2010

Would love to see McGrath thorn in at some stage. Very physically strong for an 18 year old-this guy is going to be a star

thebaz

Quint2010 wrote: »

Would love to see McGrath thorn in at some stage. Very physically strong for an 18 year old-this guy is going to be a star

i thought his lack of bulk will be his biggest problem , think he has a long way to go before he is at senior level physically -

on the leinster front , apart from Luke, think Ruddock is very unlucky also not to be on the plane

WeeBushy

thebaz wrote: »

i thought his lack of bulk will be his biggest problem , think he has a long way to go before he is at senior level physically

He's the same height and only 4lbs lighter than Reddan, according to the Leinster website, who is presumably Ireland's first choice scrum half.

CIARAN_BOYLE

thebaz wrote: »

i thought his lack of bulk will be his biggest problem , think he has a long way to go before he is at senior level physically -

on the leinster front , apart from Luke, think Ruddock is very unlucky also not to be on the plane

Ruddock wasn't in contention for Leinster selection for the big games, I hardly think he could force himself into the Ireland squad. He is a future International regular but it will take some more time imo

CouchSmart

Hopefully Fitz will tog out in Blue on Friday. Would love to see him play 12 again - where we'll be short now with BOD, D'Arce and McFadden heading to NZ.

Even with 13 players gone we'll have a strong team to put out during the WC.

1. Heinke 2. Strauss 3. Hagan
4. Toner 5. Sykes
6. McLoughlin 7. Jennings 8. Ruddock

9. Cooney/Willis 10. Berquist
12. Fitz 13. O'Malley
11. Carr/Conway 15. Nacewa 14. Horgan/D. Kearney

Happy days.

Hagz

Swap Kearney and Conway no? Conway seems to be played at 14 and Kearney at 11.

I've a feeling this will be a special year for Leinster. So much talent bursting through. Ruddock will be looking to nail down a starting jersey and Conway if given game-time could be lethal. Then you look at the potential of the guys who will be playing in the B&I cup. McGrath, Gilsenan, Moore, Furlong, Macken. Can't wait.

We're stronger in key positions like hooker, tight-head, out-half and with Kearney back fit, we have a head-ache at full-back.

tolosenc

I'd put Dippy at 6 and start Locky and Syko(we're calling him this now :P) in the Second Row.

Quint2010

thebaz wrote: »

i thought his lack of bulk will be his biggest problem , think he has a long way to go before he is at senior level physically -

McGrath is a very blocky, physical player. Plus he has raw talent. Depends what Joe thinks of him and how he goes in training. If we start to see him on the bench then he is obviously going well. I would expect him to make an impression this season given the chance

irishbucsfan

Quint2010 wrote: »

thebaz wrote: »

i thought his lack of bulk will be his biggest problem , think he has a long way to go before he is at senior level physically -

McGrath is a very blocky, physical player. Plus he has raw talent. Depends what Joe thinks of him and how he goes in training. If we start to see him on the bench then he is obviously going well. I would expect him to make an impression this season given the chance

Id be surprised if we see him this season. We've still hardly seen Conway.

Id prefer Mcgrath takes the year to start regularly for the 20s and A team while getting used to pro rugby rather than attempting to push him into the senior squad, unless we get an injury to Cooney or Willis.


The wing is going to be ultra competitive still. Horgan, Carr, Fitzgerald, Conway, Kearney all competing. I think this season will be Horgans last, at the end of the year we'll have back 3 options of both Kearneys, Nacewa, Carr, Fitzgerald, McFadden and Conway and himself!

CIARAN_BOYLE

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Id be surprised if we see him this season. We've still hardly seen Conway.

Id prefer Mcgrath takes the year to start regularly for the 20s and A team while getting used to pro rugby rather than attempting to push him into the senior squad, unless we get an injury to Cooney or Willis.


The wing is going to be ultra competitive still. Horgan, Carr, Fitzgerald, Conway, Kearney all competing. I think this season will be Horgans last, at the end of the year we'll have back 3 options of both Kearneys, Nacewa, Carr, Fitzgerald, McFadden and Conway and himself!

Conway was getting a bit of a run around the 6Ns before getting injured. He didn't play the rest of the season. He was slightly ahead of D Kearney before that.

irishbucsfan

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

Conway was getting a bit of a run around the 6Ns before getting injured. He didn't play the rest of the season. He was slightly ahead of D Kearney before that.

The point is that Conway was rated as the best young prospect we'd produced since BOD and we didn't see him until very late in his first season (think it was the Scarlets game where SOB broke his leg?). That was as a winger. McGrath will be playing a more influential position that requires more experience and control, so I doubt we'll see him.

David900

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

Ruddock wasn't in contention for Leinster selection for the big games, I hardly think he could force himself into the Ireland squad. He is a future International regular but it will take some more time imo

I would imagine that Ruddock will leave Leinster at the end of the season for this reason. He'll probably play most of the world cup period at 8 given McLauaghlin isn't going now either. Its probably impossible for him to get ahead of Heaslip or O'Brien. Its a pity from a Leinster point of view as he is the type of player you'd need as back up to continually be pushing for the HC. I'd think he'd have to leave just to kick his career on to the next level.

CIARAN_BOYLE

David900 wrote: »

I would imagine that Ruddock will leave Leinster at the end of the season for this reason. He'll probably play most of the world cup period at 8 given McLauaghlin isn't going now either. Its probably impossible for him to get ahead of Heaslip or O'Brien. Its a pity from a Leinster point of view as he is the type of player you'd need as back up to continually be pushing for the HC. I'd think he'd have to leave just to kick his career on to the next level.

I reckon there is a chance that he could over take McLaughlin if it doesn't happen he will probably leave at the end of the season. Wannenburg is in the last year of his contract with Munster and Ulster may wish to recruit him as a replacement. Munster might go for him too or he could get a job in England or France easily.