Leinster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread.

MungBean

durkadurka wrote: »

I'm trying to understand why you're connecting Leo to that gag?
You're not suggesting we breed Leo are you? Jesus the girls would have to be pretty drunk.

Oh I know what it is. You're thinking about when he nearly lost a bollock and with it breeding capability!

Key is in the word "operation". I think Tim wants to breed Leo with Isa in the hope of creating some massive Welsh style backs.

CIARAN_BOYLE

Brad Thorn soon, Donnacha Ryan next year, slightly shocked if this turns out to be true

https://twitter.com/#!/Indo_Sport/status/169203174580813824

Squatter

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

Brad Thorn soon, Donnacha Ryan next year, slightly shocked if this turns out to be true

https://twitter.com/#!/Indo_Sport/status/169203174580813824

Sounds like his agent is haggling for a wage increase from Munster.

Next we'll hear that Biarritz are interested!

.ak

Have to say I wouldn't mind seeing Ryan on the team. Think he's excellent and adds a certain level of work rate to any pack. But, lets be honest, it's the indo..

CatFromHue

I wouldn't be so sure (regarding agent looking for a better wage).

He started the first three HEC games for Munster and was replaced for DOC with about 25 or 30 mins still to go in all of them. Then for the home Lanelli game he was benched and came on in the back row for Leamy, I can't remember if Leamy was injured or not. While he did get the start in the second row against Castres with Munster back row problems he's been playing their since. While he is getting gametime in the HEC this year he's still not a definite starter.

I'd say he's fairly sure that DOC won't be going anywhere soon, he knows he won't get ahead of POC, and then there's MOD and Nagle in the wings too.

I'd welcome up here anyway and sure Nenagh is only a few miles from Leinster anyway!

Hagz

Sounds like nothing to me. He's the starting lock at Munster and I don't understand why it would be now, a time when he finally has broken into the XV, that he'd choose to leave. He would have had plenty of opportunities before now to go somewhere else.

tolosenc

I wouldn't like it. Given my feelings on any Munster move for Ruddock, I'd be a hypocrite if I thought this was a good thing.

.ak

tolosenc wrote: »

I wouldn't like it. Given my feelings on any Munster move for Ruddock, I'd be a hypocrite if I thought this was a good thing.

DR is hardly a product of the academy, all green n all. Different things.

funky penguin

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2012/0214/1224311745313.html

Leinster 'close to finalising deal' for Thorn

GAVIN CUMMISKEY

IT IS now a case of when, not if, Brad Thorn will join Leinster. assistant coach Richie Murphy yesterday stated: “We are close to finalising the deal” for the 37-year-old, which gives the former All Black lock the opportunity to play in the Heineken Cup in the winter of an already epic career.

Thorn has already won the World Cup and a Super Rugby title with the Canterbury Crusaders, while also representing Australia in Rugby League and Queensland in the State of Origin series. He retired from the Test arena last October, signing a two-year deal with Japanese club Fukuoka Sanix Blues.

However, the current Japanese off-season allows Thorn to solve Leinster’s chronic secondrow problem, further highlighted by Damien Browne’s enforced withdrawal with a recurring shoulder injury during last Friday’s 42-8 defeat of Treviso.

“Really exciting,” was how stand-in Leinster captain Kevin McLaughlin described Thorn’s imminent arrival to Dublin.

“We’ve a bit of a crisis in the secondrow this season, especially now Leo has got the surgery (Achilles). I’ve had to go in there a bit, which I’m happy to do, but we’re getting a specialist secondrow in who’s won the World Cup, he’s done everything there is to be done in rugby. It is going to be a huge lift for the squad.”

Thorn is not expected to arrive ahead of Friday’s Pro12 game against the Scarlets and may not make the trip to Glasgow on February 25th, but the March 2nd match in Aironi would be the ideal opportunity to integrate him into the squad.Leinster forwards coach Jono Gibbs never played in the same All Blacks pack as Thorn, who returned for a second stint in the league with the Brisbane Broncos between 2005 and 2007, although the pair would have faced off on numerous occasions.

Until the Six Nations Council confirm the rescheduled date for the France match in Paris, it is unclear how many Irish players Declan Kidney will release for Friday’s game, although Eoin Reddan was togged out for Leinster training yesterday.

Meanwhile, the Super 15, which starts next week, will introduce a “white” card for referees to brandish when they suspect foul play but cannot identify the culprit. A citing commissioner will then review the footage.

Wouldn't trust a word that lad says. Probably farmed the article from here!

tolosenc

Maxine Wrong Grits wrote: »

Wouldn't trust a word that lad says. Probably farmed the article from here!

I read it last night and thought "I read most of this article in various boards threads about an hour ago..."

Still, I doubt he'd be putting words in Locky's mouth, so that lends credence to his story.

ed7890

.ak wrote: »

DR is hardly a product of the academy, all green n all. Different things.

This would be worse right? Poaching a 1st team player.

chancer12

Believe Leo is recovering well and has been involved in coaching the forwards; things v quiet regarding Fitz and Conway 'tho, any updates?

leftleg

ed7890 wrote: »

This would be worse right? Poaching a 1st team player.

How long has it taken Munster to actually give him some first team game time. Munsters slowness to blood new players has come back to bite a bit here if the news is to be believed imo.

GerM

I wouldn’t trust any journalist’s own bluster given they’ve clearly lifted information from the forums previously but that’s a direct quote from McLaughlin. “We’re getting a specialist secondrow in who’s won the World Cup”. Seems fairly solid to me. I’ve heard that the bulk of the agreements were put in place a week ago, just in the hands of the agents/legal people now drawing up the contract if not already done.

GerM

chancer12 wrote: »

Believe Leo is recovering well and has been involved in coaching the forwards; things v quiet regarding Fitz and Conway 'tho, any updates?

Not available currently but aiming to be back for Glasgow and are on a conditioning schedule to prepare them for that game due to the length of time they've spent out. Fitz must be in contention for unluckiest man in rugby by now.

ed7890

leftleg wrote: »

How long has it taken Munster to actually give him some first team game time. Munsters slowness to blood new players has come back to bite a bit here if the news is to be believed imo.

I think he got almost 20 starts last season, was getting action in seasons previous to that, and is a locked down 1st team player in the HEC team this season. It's not easy to get ahead of full internationals who are playing in your position. I don't think he's been treated poorly by Munster.

totallegend

This Ryan story is bananas; the Indo (Hugh Farrelly, but still), implies that he'd be going to further his Ireland career which makes no sense. With Ryan at Leinster, DOC would be back as 1st choice at Munster and DK would be only too glad to keep picking him for Ireland. If Ryan keeps DOC out of Munster, then eventually Kidney will have to drop him too (won't he??).

Would this be the first time a first-choice player has switched provinces? Other than from Connacht, obviously. It's never going to happen.

CatFromHue

It was an interesting article all right. Whether it's true or not is a different matter.

I don't think Ryan is cast iron first choice for Munster. While he started the first three HEC games he was replaced in all of them with 25 to 30 mins to go. All of these games were still very much in the balance when he was taken off. Then he was benched for the fourth game at home to Lanelli.

If you take in for Ireland he is ahead of Cullen and Toner in the reckoning so in theory he could be thinking he'd be first choice up here. POC and DOC are there to stay in Munster and one of the criticisms of Ryan is that he hasn't move on already. He has thought about it though as he went to Northampton for a look. If he moved to Leinster he'd still be within the Irish set up and would be joining a top quality team (in comparison to moving abroad that is).

It could just be a rubbish article but we do need a new second row and Ryan could fill that spot very well.

Mr.Applepie

totallegend wrote: »

This Ryan story is bananas; the Indo (Hugh Farrelly, but still), implies that he'd be going to further his Ireland career which makes no sense. With Ryan at Leinster, DOC would be back as 1st choice at Munster and DK would be only too glad to keep picking him for Ireland. If Ryan keeps DOC out of Munster, then eventually Kidney will have to drop him too (won't he??).

Would this be the first time a first-choice player has switched provinces? Other than from Connacht, obviously. It's never going to happen.

We'd have to draw a game before Kidney makes any changes. The way I see it if we lose, the lads have to have a chance to redeem themselves. If we win, well why change a winning formula.

Ryan has really upped his game in the last 12 months and I think he would do very well at Leinster. That being said, I can't see him moving.

profitius

Leinster should have gone for Ryan last summer or the summer before that. He would be ideal for Leinsters style of play but I can't see Ryan leaving now unless he is made a big offer.

Nagle, Foley would be more realistic. Both athletic players and good in the air.

WeeBushy

profitius wrote: »

Leinster should have gone for Ryan last summer or the summer before that. He would be ideal for Leinsters style of play but I can't see Ryan leaving now unless he is made a big offer.

Nagle, Foley would be more realistic. Both athletic players and good in the air.

I really don't see him moving to Leinster, as you said maybe a few years ago he might've joined but then again Leinster didn't really need him then with Hines in place.

Nagle and Foley may be more realistic but they are players with good potential rather than established HC standard players, and that's what Leinster need for next seaon. We have enough squad players, and a couple of promising youngsters already. We need a player with the ability to fill the boots of Hines and Cullen next season.

[Jackass]

Deleted User wrote: »

Wouldn't trust a word that lad says. Probably farmed the article from here!

Half right, it's farmed from the gaurdian, but not an original piece, as to be expected.

tolosenc wrote: »

I wouldn't like it. Given my feelings on any Munster move for Ruddock, I'd be a hypocrite if I thought this was a good thing.

Agree 100%. On both counts. I'd be a hypocrite if I endorsed, but also genuinely don't want it for a number of reasons. Yes, he would be a fantastic signing, BUT, he's first choice at Munster, an no first choice player should be open to such moves imo, secondly, there's been talk of us swooping for Nagle or someone (speculation by fans, never hinted officially), and the worst thing that could happen to Leinster is to get into these trade off positions where we take him and you get him (and possibly him also), and since we have the most resources in terms of talented youth, if we're stuck for, say a lock, and we're up sh*t creek, such as the current position, it would be easy for another team to bargain "neither of these 2 lads are in your Heinken Cup 23's, so we'll take 2 of your most talented players for a player you badly need...."

etc..

essentially, I think we should primarily be looking to bring talents home (such as Downey to Munster, a Leinster man, but I've no problem with that) or players who aren't going to be needed at a province (e.g. Keatley, no problem with him either as he wasn't needed / wanted), but not players firmly in a provinces future plans, and guys like Ryan and Nagle are firmly in Munster future plans, so are off the table as options imo.

Buy Caldwell out of his contract one season early would be an option. The of course being a 3 year top class NIE player, and get Caldwell when he becomes available, and in that time make sure Toner and Flanagan get up to HEC standard, work on converting McLoughlin to a lock and look to sign up any other lads floating around who may be worth a punt.

totallegend

profitius wrote: »

Leinster should have gone for Ryan last summer or the summer before that. He would be ideal for Leinsters style of play but I can't see Ryan leaving now unless he is made a big offer.

Someone over on the Munster thread seemed to think he was on a central contract in which case money doesn't come into it. I'm not sure if that's correct though.

profitius wrote: »

Nagle, Foley would be more realistic. Both athletic players and good in the air.

We need proven quality who can slot in straight away, not youngsters. As highly as Nagle is rated on boards.ie, his top-level experience is negligible and Foley, afaik, has even less. By all means bring them in but it doesn't help us short-term if Cullen doesn't recover fully.

Podge_irl

profitius wrote: »

Leinster should have gone for Ryan last summer or the summer before that.

I'd be amazed if they didn't approach him. Which is also why I'd be amazed if he moved now. Why turn them down when he's not getting any game time and then move when he finally breaks into the team?

Hagz

Keating's agent has put up a new video. Usually means the player is looking to leave. Still think he'd do well at Connacht.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZlxx_WyVdo

Horrible music. There's a another video of Denis Fogarty up as well. Maybe he's thinking of leaving?/not getting his contract renewed.

boynesider

A munster second row who would suit Leinsters style perfectly is Dave O'Callaghan. Would much prefer him to Nagle or Foley

bamboozle

Hagz wrote: »

Keating's agent has put up a new video. Usually means the player is looking to leave. Still think he'd do well at Connacht.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZlxx_WyVdo

Horrible music. There's a another video of Denis Fogarty up as well. Maybe he's thinking of leaving?/not getting his contract renewed.

Keating has 9 or 10 trys so far in the english championship, himself and Robin Copeland at Rotherham (12 trys playing at 6) would be useful additions to the Connacht squad.

irishbucsfan

Championship is a fair way below RDP12 standard, but I do hope connacht give these guys a chance to come home.

totallegend

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Championship is a fair way below RDP12 standard, but I do hope connacht give these guys a chance to come home.

While I agree with the sentiment, Connacht need front-rowers and half-backs, the likes of Keating should be well down their list.