Leinster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread.

chancer12

agree with .AK, Conway is excellent defensively, Kearney might seem to make more ground but he's surprisingly poor defensively, Carr is inconsistent. IMO Conway has the best potential of all three.

Clegg

Am I right in thinking that if Leinster beat Montpellier next week they'll get Harlequins in the 1/4 final?

That could be a pretty dodgy match,even if it is in the Aviva.

irishbucsfan

Clegg wrote: »

Am I right in thinking that if Leinster beat Montpellier next week they'll get Harlequins in the 1/4 final?

That could be a pretty dodgy match,even if it is in the Aviva.

Harlequins or Ulster, it seems.

durkadurka

Clegg wrote: »

Am I right in thinking that if Leinster beat Montpellier next week they'll get Harlequins in the 1/4 final?

That could be a pretty dodgy match,even if it is in the Aviva.

Still too hard to predict. Could be any of about four teams like ulster, embra, Cardiff, quins,

Clegg

I know qualification depends on next week results but if I'm being totally honest then I think Clermont will beat Ulster.

Clermont have one of the best squads in Europe and are very strong at home. Their away form is poor but I just can't see them losing at home.

Ulster have improved remarkably over the last few years but I don't know if they have enough to beat Clermont. It will definitely be tight game. I don't think Ulster will be dominated but Clermont back down either.

roycon

Clegg wrote: »

I know qualification depends on next week results but if I'm being totally honest then I think Clermont will beat Ulster.

Clermont have one of the best squads in Europe and are very strong at home. Their away form is poor but I just can't see them losing at home.

Ulster have improved remarkably over the last few years but I don't know if they have enough to beat Clermont. It will definitely be tight game. I don't think Ulster will be dominated but Clermont back down either.

your dead right rory clegg. i heard during the week that clermont havent lost a game at home since 2009 - toulon gave them a good go recently though - think its on rugbydump

tolosenc

I actually don't reckon Ulster will get through. Cardiff/Embra will have 21 points, and Quins will have 20 and could have 21. Ulster need to get, therefore, 1 if not 2 points in Clermont. Not an easy task.

Clegg

roycon wrote: »

your dead right rory clegg.

I am not affiliated with Harlequins in any way

I think Ulster are actually the second best province in Ireland right now. Their pack is a match for any in Europe and their backs are very dangerous.

But Clermont are just so good at home. Clermont are one one of the favourites to win the Heineken Cup and I think thay'll just have a bit too much for Ulster.

CIARAN_BOYLE

Two matches next week may strech the squad slightly

I've heard Struass and McLaughlin will be back fit, I've heard Berquist may be back soon as well, it was supposed to be early January I think, assuming Sexton is fit this would be my squads

HEC 23

Healy Strauss Ross
Toner Cullen
SOB Heaslip Jennings
Redden Sexton
McFadden EOM
Nacewa Kearney DKearney

Cronin VDM White Browne McLaughlin Boss Madigan Darcy

B&I Cup 22

McGrath Dundon Hagan
Flanagan Sykes
Ruddock Auva Murphy
Cooney Reid/Berquist
O'Shea Macken
Carr Conway Hudson

Sexton O'Connell Keogh Marshall McGrath Reid/Marsh Boyle

[Jackass]

O'Driscoll, Shaggy, Fitz and possibly Sexton out of next week, and who knows how long.

If Sexton isn't 100% I wouldn't start him.

Who knows what Montpellier will send to Dublin, plus we're through, and Madigan is a quality player and can do the job for us, deserves his shot and no way is it worth risking Sexton.

For Montpellier, and assuming above are unavailable, I'd go for:

9. Boss
10. Madigan
11. Nacewa
12. D'Arcy
13. O'Malley
14. McFadden
15. R. Kearney

I'd drop Ross for White also.

bamboozle

Jamie Hagan played 80 mins for Old Belvedere on saturday against Clontarf. He didnt exactly stand out in a very poor Belvo team.

Neil3030

shuffol wrote: »

Yea especially since nobody else is really putting their hands up.

He has improved massively this season, but I just don't see Kidney picking him.

shuffol

Neil3030 wrote: »

He has improved massively this season, but I just don't see Kidney picking him.

He's done very well in recent weeks but I still say its a year too early for him, he's not the finished article but is improving every week so my tendency would be to leave him at Leinster where he's starting regularly. Tuohy, Ryan and McCarthy are all better options at this stage but I agree that Toner does offer something different.

smurphy29

To be fair, Toner is a middle of the lineout man and is not competing for the 4 shirt. He and POC would be an ill-fitting combination. He'd be fast tracked to the starting team if POC got injured, but Tuohy, Ryan and (in all probability) our good friend O'Callaghan are all fighting for the 4 jumper.

shuffol

Quote from Schmidt after the game yesterday

"We risked leaving out Richardt Strauss and Luke Fitzgerald, and we're hopeful that those two guys might be available next week," said Schmidt.

Sounds like Schmidt hasnt heard the rumours about Fitzgerald yet

CIARAN_BOYLE

shuffol wrote: »

Sounds like Schmidt hasnt heard the rumours about Fitzgerald yet

Thank god

durkadurka

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

Thank god

Shouldn't we Tell him?

Podge_irl

I make a point of not believing injury rumours as going by them half the Irish team would have retired by now, but Schmidt was saying something similar about BOD at the start of the season.

.ak

Also there's a touch of mind games when it comes to what you tell the press, as the opposition may be reading...

irishbucsfan

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

shuffol wrote: »

Sounds like Schmidt hasnt heard the rumours about Fitzgerald yet

Thank god

Don't think ODriscoll has anything to do with the physios at the moment.

totallegend

shuffol wrote: »

Quote from Schmidt after the game yesterday

"We risked leaving out Richardt Strauss and Luke Fitzgerald, and we're hopeful that those two guys might be available next week," said Schmidt.

Sounds like Schmidt hasnt heard the rumours about Fitzgerald yet

Great news, not so much for Leinster as I don't think we'll particularly need him again until April, but I'm delighted that (if this is true) he'll be in the mix for the Six Nations. He's the form #11 in Ireland so deserves a run at some stage at least.

.ak

totallegend wrote: »

Great news, not so much for Leinster as I don't think we'll particularly need him again until April, but I'm delighted that (if this is true) he'll be in the mix for the Six Nations. He's the form #11 in Ireland so deserves a run at some stage at least.

Yep, for me it's Fitzy and Trimble battling it out for the 11 shirt. Bowe will default in the squad.

Earls should be on the bench imo, but will probably start at 13.

Kinger83

Sexton wins Bank Of Ireland November/December player of the month.

http://leinsterrugby.ie/newsroom/9266.php

Nice to see him heap praise on Madigan for his performances so far this season also.

chancer12

Kinger83 wrote: »

Sexton wins Bank Of Ireland November/December player of the month.

http://leinsterrugby.ie/newsroom/9266.php

Nice to see him heap praise on Madigan for his performances so far this season also.

Total gent

durkadurka

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Don't think ODriscoll has anything to do with the physios at the moment.

What do you mean by this?

WeeBushy

durkadurka wrote: »

What do you mean by this?

Think he's referring to BOD as god.

I didn't get it the first time either

irishbucsfan

If I try to explain it ill cringe.

chancer12

Great news - Jonny and Luke both fit!

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/heineken-cup/sexton-and-fitzgerald-boost-for-leinsters-pool-finale-2990333.html

durkadurka

Cullen out for ten weeks with Achilles surgery....
I'm getting worried....

irishbucsfan

durkadurka wrote: »

Cullen out for ten weeks with Achilles surgery....
I'm getting worried....

He has been quite poor this season but his leadership could be a vital missing part.

I wonder who is next in line. I guess Jenno? Perhaps Heaslip.