Leinster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread.

astonaidan

funky penguin wrote: »

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2012/0201/1224311046895.html



Confirmation that we want Thorn.

Hmmm I dont know if I like this may have to start wanting Leinster to win Heineken Cup, Dam you Brad Thorn wanting to win everything

Taco Corp

Quarter final pre sale postponed until tomorrow at 10am according to ticketmaster site

John_C

Mark Flanagan, although doing really well, has just completed an engineering degree

Is there some piece of logic I'm missing here? Do engineers make bad locks?
Doesn't Mal have an engineering degree?

totallegend

John_C wrote: »

Is there some piece of logic I'm missing here? Do engineers make bad locks?
Doesn't Mal have an engineering degree?

Leinster are trying to get away from their stereotype of being educated, privileged D4 boys; Schmidt is only looking for manual labourers, dock workers and farmers in an attempt to recreate the "men of the people" mystique which surrounds Munster.

(or maybe he means that Flanagan hasn't been training full-time due to study commitments).

eoferrall

John_C wrote: »

Is there some piece of logic I'm missing here? Do engineers make bad locks?
Doesn't Mal have an engineering degree?

presumabley since engineering takes a lot of hours he was on a reduced training schedule and so is slightly behind in developement and not ready to be thrown into HEC knock out matches.

.ak

Fingers crossed for thorn then. Not just cus its thorn, but because we're so tight. Any chance of a loan from any English sides for a third choice ala stringer?

CIARAN_BOYLE

John_C wrote: »

Is there some piece of logic I'm missing here? Do engineers make bad locks?
Doesn't Mal have an engineering degree?

“With Damien Browne our only tighthead lock available, if he gets injured we have a problem,” said Schmidt. “Factor in Devin Toner has played more minutes than anyone else in the Leinster pack this season while Mark Flanagan, although doing really well, has just completed an engineering degree and he was injured a bit last year.

I take it to mean that he hasn't been training full time due to study, maybe it also means that he isn't on track for his S&C goals

GerM

eoferrall wrote: »

presumabley since engineering takes a lot of hours he was on a reduced training schedule and so is slightly behind in developement and not ready to be thrown into HEC knock out matches.

Precisely the case. Heaslip did the very same and wouldn't take on rugby full time until he completed his engineering degree also and played most of his rugby with Trinity. Slightly different though as Leinster were counting the minutes and second to when JH made himself fully available!

Benny Cake

Interesting to hear Schmidt refer to Browne as a "Tighthead Lock" It adds some credence to the oft discussed notion that 4 & 5 are different positions in the second row...

jacothelad

Benny Cake wrote: »

Interesting to hear Schmidt refer to Browne as a "Tighthead Lock" It adds some credence to the oft discussed notion that 4 & 5 are different positions in the second row...

Maybe he just means he finds it difficult to get scrum caps that fit.

irishbucsfan

Chabal released by Racing... He plays 2nd row...

(This is not serious btw, he's not H Cup elligible and he's not good enough)

shaungil

Did Schmidt not also say he knew nothing about the forwards, IMHO second rows should be able to cover both sides, they may favour one side but should still be able to do the job.

Chabal a flat track bully disappears when thr going gets tough.

justsomebloke

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Chabal released by Racing... He plays 2nd row...

(This is not serious btw, he's not H Cup elligible and he's not good enough)

ye but think of the beard contests he could have with Hagan.

molloyjh

shaungil wrote: »

Did Schmidt not also say he knew nothing about the forwards, IMHO second rows should be able to cover both sides, they may favour one side but should still be able to do the job.

Chabal a flat track bully disappears when thr going gets tough.

Schmidt regularly plays his ability and knowledge down. He tends to be very self deprecating. During one of the videos on bluemagic.ie he says something about how he never has any idea what he's thinking himself. I don't buy that for one second.

justsomebloke

Cian Healy at it again

irishbucsfan

shaungil wrote: »

Did Schmidt not also say he knew nothing about the forwards, IMHO second rows should be able to cover both sides, they may favour one side but should still be able to do the job.

Chabal a flat track bully disappears when thr going gets tough.

Without playing in the row at pro level I don't think anyone can really say what they should be able to do. There is certainly a difference. I think as the scrum becomes more specialised (two front row bench options) its only natural that 2nd rows will follow suit.

shaungil

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Without playing in the row at pro level I don't think anyone can really say what they should be able to do. There is certainly a difference. I think as the scrum becomes more specialised (two front row bench options) its only natural that 2nd rows will follow suit.

I wasn't aware of the rule of having to have played the position at a pro level to proffer a humble opinion I shall immediately desist from offering any opinions on internet forums except in matters which I have professional experience. :pac:

liam12989

Leinster seems to be churning out great young props Healy Mcgrath O Conneel Maguire, Moore Furlong and Reilly. I hope feek is working with these young guys that are at leinster. Great them able to scrummage at top level for a TH. Anyone think who will most likely to replace ross.


Hagan hadnt Feek there when he was in leinster academy so his developemnt has been slow

shaungil

molloyjh wrote: »

Schmidt regularly plays his ability and knowledge down. He tends to be very self deprecating. During one of the videos on bluemagic.ie he says something about how he never has any idea what he's thinking himself. I don't buy that for one second.

I guess after Chieka and his intensity Scmidts approach is refreshing. He comes across well and does not rock the boat. He has inherited a very good team with great players academy and back up staff which just needs slight tweaking not big changes.
It would be mad if he was actually really horrible behind it all.:)

irishbucsfan

shaungil wrote: »

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Without playing in the row at pro level I don't think anyone can really say what they should be able to do. There is certainly a difference. I think as the scrum becomes more specialised (two front row bench options) its only natural that 2nd rows will follow suit.

I wasn't aware of the rule of having to have played the position at a pro level to proffer a humble opinion I shall immediately desist from offering any opinions on internet forums except in matters which I have professional experience. :pac:

Sorry didn't mean it like that.

What I mean is any of us can say that we think the players should play both sides, but maybe that's just less and less possible in the modern game.

Look at how few props play both sides now as opposed to 10 years ago as an example.

.ak

Interesting. Jamie Heaslip is getting in on Jo Macken's latest restaurant as a partner. It's just gonna sell steaks, and is located where crackbird was on south William st.

I have to say I'm a big fan of all of Jo's other eateries even if they can be a tad pricey. Very clever from Jamie to get in on a very popular business and have some steady income too.. thinking ahead.

You can read an article on it here.

Mmm, steak....

eoferrall

.ak wrote: »

Interesting. Jamie Heaslip is getting in on Jo Macken's latest restaurant as a partner. It's just gonna sell steaks, and is located where crackbird was on south William st.

I have to say I'm a big fan of all of Jo's other eateries even if they can be a tad pricey. Very clever from Jamie to get in on a very popular business and have some steady income too.. thinking ahead.

You can read an article on it here.

Mmm, steak....

clearly a rugby supporter wrote that article....

Alongside him and his regular investors will be 28-year-old Ireland and Leinster centre Jamie Heaslip, who has decided to become a stakeholder in the venture and in the process start to prepare for life post-rugby

Hagz

So he's going to be a steakholder...........very ambitious of him.

.ak

Hagz wrote: »

So he's going to be a steakholder...........very ambitious of him.

Haha, nice pun.

vinny chase

Really impressed by some of the young Leinster lads last night.

Peter Reilly, though he still looks a bit undersized for a tight head, put in a great shift in the scrum against a huge looking Welsh front row.

Conor Gilsenan was the best forward on show in my eyes, his workrate and tackling was immense, and Jack Conan looked really powerful from the base of the scrum with some big carries.

In the backs Foster Horan, Barry Daly and Sam Coghlan-Murray all struggled a bit with the conditions to get an opportunity with ball in hand, but Coghlan-Murray showed glimpses of what he can do. Daly put in some great work in defense.

Cathal Marsh didn't get on long enough to make an impression, but Luke McGrath looked great for me when introduced. Great authority, lovely quick pass; can't wait to see this guy progress in years to come. Drop goal was top notch too. I'd like to see him get the nod ahead of Marmion against the French the next day; really impressive when you consider the guy is just 18.

[Jackass]

Yeah aside from some of the guys you mentioned (Gilsenan, Conan, Coughlin-Murray), McGrath is the one I'm most eager to see progress.

Only 18, and second fiddle to the Irish under 20's and Leinster A, behind Cooney, I'd love to see him nail down the starting spot on both teams. Definitely the Leinster young player I'm most excited to see come through, in a position we could really use some local talent, and he has excelled at every level when given the chance, I'd love to see him get more game time and see how much he can hasten his development.

Reddan and Boss no spring chickens, and whilst I do rate Cooney, McGrath could be sesational. Really inventive player though, like Ben Youngs, unpredictable and not just a great passer, but great defence and great break and pace. Not surprised to hear he slotted a drop goal from a loose kick out last night, the type of player he is. Great goal kicker too.

Jedwardian

vinny chase wrote: »

Peter Reilly, though he still looks a bit undersized for a tight head, put in a great shift in the scrum against a huge looking Welsh front row.

I know in this country that we're obsessed with the idea of converting players to other positions but in Reilly's case it could really work. He appears a useful player but he's probably not quite as good as either Martin Moore or Tadhg Furlong. Jamie Hagan isn't a great deal older than him either so his chances at playing for Leinster at tighthead prop could be limited.

Since he played hooker at school for Castleknock, it might be advisable for him to look to switch back to that position. He already has the work rate and if he can survive scrummaging at tighthead, he could be an impressive scrummager at hooker. If he can throw into a lineout competently, he may have a future there. Beyond Richardt Strauss and Sean Cronin, Leinster have no standout players challenging at hooker.

.ak

[Jackass] wrote: »

Yeah aside from some of the guys you mentioned (Gilsenan, Conan, Coughlin-Murray), McGrath is the one I'm most eager to see progress.

Only 18, and second fiddle to the Irish under 20's and Leinster A, behind Cooney, I'd love to see him nail down the starting spot on both teams. Definitely the Leinster young player I'm most excited to see come through, in a position we could really use some local talent, and he has excelled at every level when given the chance, I'd love to see him get more game time and see how much he can hasten his development.

Reddan and Boss no spring chickens, and whilst I do rate Cooney, McGrath could be sesational. Really inventive player though, like Ben Youngs, unpredictable and not just a great passer, but great defence and great break and pace. Not surprised to hear he slotted a drop goal from a loose kick out last night, the type of player he is. Great goal kicker too.

Agreed. What we could possibly see is a mirror of what we have with reddan and boss in the sense of one scrum half being our speedy, crisp service type and the other being the physical, away game type.

For me Cooney is a great, physical presence with ball in hand, and always seems more interested in rushing away from the base. McGrath has such a crisp, fast pass and is quick to the ruck and is obviously a handy footballer.

All in all a great prospect for Leinster if we can have two starting 9s when eoin and isaac call it a day.

Jello

Does anyone know how much the tickets for the Heineken quarter final are going to be when they go on general sale tomorrow? Ticketmaster says they'll be starting at a tenner in most stands but does anyone know are these for children's tickets or will there be actually be many seats available for €10/€20?

CIARAN_BOYLE

Probably children's tickets but I heard a rumour that they were going to do an hour of power when tickets go on public release