Leinster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread.

phog

.ak wrote: »

I get my usual seats in the west stand. Great view, and more to the point very accessible bar! Also the OLSC same day return bus leaves 45 minutes after the whistle and they park near the west stand so it makes sense. But it looks like all the Leinster fans will be pretty spread out as usual.. Hopefully we make some noise!

If you're in the North terrace you'd be out the gate and in the bus before anyone from the West Stand would be.

irishbucsfan

phog wrote: »

.ak wrote: »

I get my usual seats in the west stand. Great view, and more to the point very accessible bar! Also the OLSC same day return bus leaves 45 minutes after the whistle and they park near the west stand so it makes sense. But it looks like all the Leinster fans will be pretty spread out as usual.. Hopefully we make some noise!

If you're in the North terrace you'd be out the gate and in the bus before anyone from the West Stand would be.

Ah yeah but Munster fans are generally far quicker to leave either way

phog

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Ah yeah but Munster fans are generally far quicker to leave either way

It's .ak that was in such a rush back to the safety of his bus We had to block the exits to keep you in on the last two visits to TP, the stewards said afterwards they never had a more difficult task.:D

.ak

phog wrote: »

It's .ak that was in such a rush back to the safety of his bus We had to block the exits to keep you in on the last two visits to TP, the stewards said afterwards they never had a more difficult task.:D

Ha, I hung onto the bitter end. Fireworks n' all, just incase, y'know, it was a mistake...

CatFromHue

It looks like Biarittz are interested in Matt Berquist.

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_7505845,00.html

Clegg

It would be a shame to see Berquist leave as he hasn't really had a chance to play for Leinster. But he's probably 3rd choice for Leinster now as Madigan is improving at a very fast rate.

Hope he does well wherever he goes to.

WeeBushy

Clegg wrote: »

It would be a shame to see Berquist leave as he hasn't really had a chance to play for Leinster. But he's probably 3rd choice for Leinster now as Madigan is improving at a very fast rate.

Hope he does well wherever he goes to.

I agree, if he does go it'd be a shame that he never got a proper chance. Although from his point of view he would be 3rd choice, so why would he fly half way round the world to play A games.

It would leave us a little light next season were he to go. An injury to Madigan/Sexton and a very inexperienced guy would be on the bench. Although in saying that, we've been fine so far without him and Reid has looked promising. But is he ready yet?

Hagz

CatFromHue wrote: »

It looks like Biarittz are interested in Matt Berquist.

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_7505845,00.html

If they get him they'll have a nice squad forming. A back 3 of Balshaw, Brew and Ngwenya

EDIT: Hopefully Madigan doesn't leave, although I have a sneaking suspicion he might. That would leave us very light indeed.

Clegg

WeeBushy wrote: »

I agree, if he does go it'd be a shame that he never got a proper chance. Although from his point of view he would be 3rd choice, so why would he fly half way round the world to play A games.

It would leave us a little light next season were he to go. An injury to Madigan/Sexton and a very inexperienced guy would be on the bench. Although in saying that, we've been fine so far without him and Reid has looked promising. But is he ready yet?

I think Reid could do pretty well at Pro 12 level. It's much too early for him to make the step up to Heineken Cup level though.

We've yet to see how Madigan copes at Heineken Cup level either. He's had 1 start and a few sub appearances so far. I think he will do well but we really don't know yet.

ambid

Hagz wrote: »

If they get him they'll have a nice squad forming. A back 3 of Balshaw, Brew and Ngwenya

EDIT: Hopefully Madigan doesn't leave, although I have a sneaking suspicion he might. That would leave us very light indeed.

Madigan would be crazy to leave. He's playing for one of the very best sides in Europe with an exceptional backs coach in Schmidt. He's had plenty of games this year and he will have plenty more next year with Schmidt's rotation policy. However if I was the new Ulster coach I'd be giving Madigan a call as he'd be an upgrade on Humphries IMO.

I wouldn't worry too much about replacing Berquist as I can't imagine many teams have three experienced fly halfs. I doubt many of us could name the Toulouse, Saracens, or Munster third choice fly half. Madigan now has enough experience and quality to be considered a good player rather than just a promising youngster. I hope we don't sign a a new import to replace Berquist if/ when he leaves.

Sandwlch

ambid wrote: »

Madigan would be crazy to leave. He's playing for one of the very best sides in Europe with an exceptional backs coach in Schmidt. He's had plenty of games this year and he will have plenty more next year with Schmidt's rotation policy. However if I was the new Ulster coach I'd be giving Madigan a call as he'd be an upgrade on Humphries IMO.

But Madigan is never really going to start the big games and advance his career (unless he becomes the inside centre to replace the declining Darcy....). More than one more year would be holding back his career I think. He could be very good.

CatFromHue

Berquist also covered 12 which was very handy for the squad. In the full squad we have D'arcy and McFadden who cover 12 both of who are currently with Ireland.

While we don't need cover at 10 (Sexton, Madigan, Nacewa) I think we could do with some at 12 (D'arcy, McFadden). Whether someone from the Academy can step up I don't know.

Next week against Lanelli will tell us how we're fixed at 12.

I think at the moment Madigan would be mad to even think of leaving. He won't get picked ahead of Humphries in Ulster who is available for all the games as he isn't with Ireland at all. So he would be fighting it out with Paddy Jackson for second fiddle. Munster isn't an option and he will learn alot more at Leinster than at Connacht. The season after next is a different story though.

ongarite

Can we take it from reading between the lines, that the fact that Horgan is on the RTE panel, that unfortunately his chances of a comeback from injury are all but over?

Sandwlch

ongarite wrote: »

Can we take it from reading between the lines, that the fact that Horgan is on the RTE panel, that unfortunately his chances of a comeback from injury are all but over?

Quite possibly. Leinster overloaded with outside backs coming though anyway.

But we'll always have Twickenham 2006....

Hagz

I agree that Madigan would be mad to leave, but I still think there's a good chance it will happen. I can see him going to either France or England.

Jello

Hagz wrote: »

I agree that Madigan would be mad to leave, but I still think there's a good chance it will happen. I can see him going to either France or England.

I can see some clubs being reluctant to sign him though because not a huge amount is known about his goal kicking. Unless they have another specialist goal kicker on the pitch.

molloyjh

I can't see him going anywhere. He's second choice behind Ireland's first choice out half with a coach who has shown that he is happy to rotate players where they show they can do a job. He's obviously learning a lot and fits the Leinster game well, meaning the Leinster game suits him too. He's our highest try scorer etc. He can't but be enjoying his rugby and he is getting more and more game time.

jacothelad

CatFromHue wrote: »

I think at the moment Madigan would be mad to even think of leaving. He won't get picked ahead of Humphries in Ulster who is available for all the games as he isn't with Ireland at all. So he would be fighting it out with Paddy Jackson for second fiddle. Munster isn't an option and he will learn alot more at Leinster than at Connacht. The season after next is a different story though.

I think he would soon get in ahead of Humphreys who possibly is more talented but as we know wildly erratic.

boynesider

Wouldn't call Humphries more talented than Madigan

CatFromHue

jacothelad wrote: »

I think he would soon get in ahead of Humphreys who possibly is more talented but as we know wildly erratic.

I don't think he would next season which would leave him probably getting less gametime than he would if he stayed with Leinster.

[Jackass]

Madigan will soon be the second best 10 in the country. I think with Joe's rotation policy, there's not a hope of him leaving.

danthefan

Even if Madigan got in ahead of iHumph he'd still have to contend with Jackson, who is extremely talented. He's getting loads of gametime at Leinster and as Berquist seems to be off (and best of luck to him) it would suggest Madigan is going nowhere.

.ak

To be honest, watching how Madigan has grown over the past few seasons, he's been totally moulded into the way Leinster play - his delivery is so quick and he plays so flat I think he'd struggle with most other teams in the league or in the UK.

[Jackass]

Ah I don't know about that, I think it's more a case of some teams would struggle to be able to play the type of game he can and utalise his skills to their maximum.

After Sexton I think he's the best 10 in Ireland for getting a back-line moving, and as we've seen 8 times (iirc), his break from 10 - 20 yards is lethal, his burst of pace and step has seen him ghost through most defences he's played against.

Definitely his game management is improving, but not knock-out HEC quality yet, but I'd say by this time next season he'll reach that level.

It seems that Leinster players aren't given the benefit of the doubt on any of their abilities, as the simularities between the emergence of Sexton and the emergence of Madigan are quite striking....anybody and everybody giving a list of the things he can't do, until proven otherwise, kicking a good example, and he hasn't displayed a full range of game management display, quite simply because when he's started at 10, we've run most of our ball and scored a sh*t load of tries... How important is game management when you're able to operate a back line so well that you're punching holes at will and barely kicking away possesion at all? If he can bring that to the next level and start producing that in HEC games (and already has, all be it vs Bath), then he's a serious contender for Irish squad and rotation with Sexton in Leinster.

Sexton is still miles ahead of him though, but then, as I mentioned before, I think Sexton will be the starting 10 for the Lions.

.ak

[Jackass] wrote: »

Ah I don't know about that, I think it's more a case of some teams would struggle to be able to play the type of game he can and utalise his skills to their maximum.

After Sexton I think he's the best 10 in Ireland for getting a back-line moving, and as we've seen 8 times (iirc), his break from 10 - 20 yards is lethal, his burst of pace and step has seen him ghost through most defences he's played against.

Definitely his game management is improving, but not knock-out HEC quality yet, but I'd say by this time next season he'll reach that level.

It seems that Leinster players aren't given the benefit of the doubt on any of their abilities, as the simularities between the emergence of Sexton and the emergence of Madigan are quite striking....anybody and everybody giving a list of the things he can't do, until proven otherwise, kicking a good example, and he hasn't displayed a full range of game management display, quite simply because when he's started at 10, we've run most of our ball and scored a sh*t load of tries... How important is game management when you're able to operate a back line so well that you're punching holes at will and barely kicking away possesion at all? If he can bring that to the next level and start producing that in HEC games (and already has, all be it vs Bath), then he's a serious contender for Irish squad and rotation with Sexton in Leinster.

Sexton is still miles ahead of him though, but then, as I mentioned before, I think Sexton will be the starting 10 for the Lions.

Sorry, that's what I meant. I wrote that wrong, I didn't mean he'd struggle personally, I meant it would be hard to fit him into a lot of teams. They'd struggle to keep up with his pace tbh or wouldn't get the best out of him as you say.

I think game management does include operating a backline like he does, so really I don't have any issues with his developing game management. But, having said that, it is just that - developing.

Thursday was the best all around performance I've seen him put in imo. He was the whole package, and it was a great test for him considering how well Treviso have come along in recent years.

smurphy29

10 starts, 5 sub appearances, 7 tries; this fella's having one hell of a season. Thursday was the first time I thought his kicking game looked above average - if he can continue to bring this element of his game along we will be looking at a fantastic player.

Any talk of Madigan leaving Leinster is nuts. This is just his second season out of the academy and he's started 10 games already, and had his first start in the HEC. On this site people seem to have this misconception that a young guy needs to be starting every HEC match or he's not 'getting enough gametime'. He's getting buckets, and getting better all the time.

He certainly should be going to New Zealand in the summer.

Dr.Evil

Is there a doubt regarding Nacewa's Leinster future or is he signed on for next season?

WeeBushy

Dr.Evil wrote: »

Is there a doubt regarding Nacewa's Leinster future or is he signed on for next season?

His contract expires at the end of next season iirc.

MungBean

WeeBushy wrote: »

His contract expires at the end of next season iirc.

After which he wont be allowed to re-sign with the new NIQ players rules nor will Leinster be allowed to sign another NIQ FB for four years.

Or have I got that all wrong?

Hagz

Fitz and Conway won't be in contention for the Scarlets match as both are taking part in a 10 day conditioning programme to prepare them for the Glasgow match. Dippy should be ready to return though!