Leinster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread.

totallegend

phog wrote: »

Is that more to do with other NIQ players that Leinster wanted than the IRFU telling Leinster to drop him or was it around the duration of his contract? It's hard to see the IRFU saying to a province that you must cut loose one of the players that you have but you can sign others.

Big loss to Leinster but not in the same league as Rocky.

Ah in fairness now, none of the imports are ever likely to measure up to Rocky in terms of impact over such a short period. Hines has still been a great player for Leinster and is right up there with the best imports we've had, but:
1) He got a two-year deal with Clermont, I would say Leinster would have offered a one-year contract at most, given his age.
2) I assume Clermont were offering more money.
3) The "keeping an irish player out of the jersey" argument is a bit less compelling given that Leinster were always going to go out and sign another NIQ player to replace him.
4) Between World Cup and Six Nations, Hines' game time would be seriously limited anyway.
5) He has played in France previously so is obviously happy enough to be going back.

Adding all that up, it makes sense that he's leaving...

GerM

Matt Berquist playing 10 for the Crusaders in their clash with the Bulls this weekend. Gives the early risers amongst us an opportunity to get a look at him starting against good opposition. Game is at 8.30am.

GerM

Link to game here: http://embed.zonein.tv/plkgftdhgfhydfyhayer.php?id=326235&w=900&h=675

Not a great start. Missed one kick and spilled a ball. Nailed his second kick though. Just settling into the game.

So it looks like Nacewa will be taking the place kicks when he arrives....

totallegend

Deleted User wrote: »

So it looks like Nacewa will be taking the place kicks when he arrives....

Yup. Penalty conceded just now too.

Poor b*stard, doesn't realise he's being judged by the Leinster fans before he even gets on the plane!

GerM

Deleted User wrote: »

So it looks like Nacewa will be taking the place kicks when he arrives....

Made the try with a nice flat pass and carrying the ball up to the line committing the defence but he's supposed to be a goal kicking specialist. 1/3 so far. Looks lively enough but needs to be a more reliable percentage player if he's playing up here. Gets penalised taking the ball into contact now.

Penalty is forgivable I think in that situation. I've no problem with him letting Nacewa take place kicks btw, Nacewa is an excellent place kicker. We don't need a 8/10 kicker at 10 if we have one at 15 too.

His kicking from hand has been good though.

Referee is so whistle happy against defending teams.

Berquist lining up a long place kick

Missed short and left. Seems to have a strange kicking technique, ball curls right to left on almost every kick.

GerM

He has been involved a hell of a lot already. So far doesn't look bad. Very lively with ball in hand and varying his distribution. Hopefully goal kicking is just a bit jitterey given he's in the driving seat for once. Misses another one....not sure he should be taking that one on anyway!

Crusaders are bloody good overall.

Yeah I'm liking what I've seen so far. He's doing a lot of changing direction and finding players on "different" lines. He's not afraid to get involved either, hit a few rucks hard already. It fits in quite well with what we've been doing I reckon.

Nacewa will cover the kicking duties, so that's no worry.

Kiwi_knock

He is playing well for someone that has so little game time, he looks eager to impress. Looks a good signing and should provide good back up.

copacetic

some of the kicks were tough enough, but that conversion just now was a terrible effort.

TheRevolution

If hes good enough to be back up for the Crusaders then hes more than likely good enough to be back up for us.

I'm impressed so far.

Kiwi_knock

Really seems like he has concentrated solely on his running game this week and neglected kicking duties.

GerM

As Emmet says, Nacewa can take the kicks. But I don't think that was the plan when signing him. The press releases when he was signed all mentioned what a top goal kicker he was. Wonder is it a case of him not handling additional pressure very well?

Overall though, I'm quite encouraged by what I've seen.

totallegend

Jesus, that was some collision

Kiwi_knock

Nasty looking injury there, really weird music to be played during the match.

Crusaders playing a good mix. SH attack and NH defence.

Good to see

That was glorious from Jack there, GAA style over his head.

Any chance we could get him to replace Hines?

Overall very happy with that. He's not Daniel Carter, he can't kick goals or find the corners like ROG, but he can run a backline, he can defend, and he looks clever and bright.

Solid backup 10.

sock puppet

TheRevolution wrote: »

If hes good enough to be back up for the Crusaders then hes more than likely good enough to be back up for us.

I'm impressed so far.

Well not really. Crusaders' other options at 10 left to get gametime so they signed Berquist. Still I'm sure he'll be fine.

CouchSmart

ISA, ISA, ISA!

CouchSmart

Great win yesterday but it's back to the bread and butter in the Magners next weekend. A vital inter pro against the high flying Ulstermen, a must win IMO.

Definitely going to be a lot of sore bodies this week but nothing we can't deal with. I'd go for something like the following, with a trip to Aironi and the semi in the following weeks in mind we'll need to be careful with certain players.

15. Fitzgerald
14. Horgan
13. O'Malley
12. McFadden
11. Kearney
10. McKinley
9. Reddan

1. Heinke
2. Harris-Wright
3. Wright
4. McLoughlin
5. Toner
6. Ruddock
7. Ryan/Jennings
8. Heaslip

16. Dundon
17. McGrath
18. Shawe
19. Cullen
20. SOB
21 Boss
22. Sexton
23. Nacewa

I think that's got a good balance to it and a strong bench if it's needed.

Leave Fitz at 11 and let Morris play 15 imo

CouchSmart

Deleted User wrote: »

Leave Fitz at 11 and let Morris play 15 imo

My preference would be Conway but he's been out for a while, dunno if he's back playing yet? Morris has looked fairly shakey at fullback and with him heading off to Leicester I'm not too interested playing him again this season - not in a bad way, just want to see players who will be here next year get game time.

Conway is sure as **** not ready to play FB at ML level.
With regards to Morris, it's that time of the year, when results matter more than anything. Results in the next few games matter more than blooding players or bringing players through.

thebaz

heaslip needs a rest for me - keep him fresh

one thing i kept thinking during the match yesterday was, i hope hines or cullen dont get injured - to me toner is so far behind the intensity of yesterday , maybe in a year or 2

irishbucsfan

Deleted User wrote: »

Conway is sure as **** not ready to play FB at ML level.
With regards to Morris, it's that time of the year, when results matter more than anything. Results in the next few games matter more than blooding players or bringing players through.

I agree about 15, but we could put Fitzgerald, Madigan or Morris at 15 and put Conway onto the wing. I'd be keen to see him back in the team to continue his development.

And with regards to your second point, we have generally sent a young team out at the end of the season for the past few years. The playoff system gives us the freedom to do it so we should take advantage of it.

WeeBushy

thebaz wrote: »

heaslip needs a rest for me - keep him fresh

one thing i kept thinking during the match yesterday was, i hope hines or cullen dont get injured - to me toner is so far behind the intensity of yesterday , maybe in a year or 2

Heaslip had a few (3 or 4?) weeks off with his ankle, so I don't think he would be as in need of a break as O'Brien would be. Heaslip's got phenomenal energy reserves, and is the kind of player who gets better and better the more he plays.

I would start him against Ulster along with Jennings and Ruddock/Ryan.

Agree with Toner, Sykes better be a hit or we could struggle in that area next year. Only part of the team I'm concerned about. I think next season is crucial for Toner, he really has to stand up and be counted.

durkadurka

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