Leinster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread V

Buer

Cooney is a far more rounded player than McGrath and always has been. He is a very solid scrum half who moves the ball away pretty well; his decision making can be a little patchy. The thing is, he isn't excellent at any one aspect. McGrath is potentially world class is a couple of facets and severely lacking in arguably his main one. I haven't seen much of Nick McCarthy but his showing against France reminded me of Cooney at the same level. As McCarthy is captain, I'm hoping there's a bit more to him, though.

He seems to have improved steadily though even since leaving Leinster. When he came on against Edinburgh for Connacht, he was an improvement on Marmion who was far looser. The pack started being brought onto the ball more sharply and organised, going through phases and gaining yards.

It's a tough call but I'm guessing their respective ages was influential in Leinster sticking with McGrath, him being 3 years younger.

.ak

Buer wrote: »

Cooney is a far more rounded player than McGrath and always has been. He is a very solid scrum half who moves the ball away pretty well; his decision making can be a little patchy. The thing is, he isn't excellent at any one aspect. McGrath is potentially world class is a couple of facets and severely lacking in arguably his main one. I haven't seen much of Nick McCarthy but his showing against France reminded me of Cooney at the same level. As McCarthy is captain, I'm hoping there's a bit more to him, though.

He seems to have improved steadily though even since leaving Leinster. When he came on against Edinburgh for Connacht, he was an improvement on Marmion who was far looser. The pack started being brought onto the ball more sharply and organised, going through phases and gaining yards.

It's a tough call but I'm guessing their respective ages was influential in Leinster sticking with McGrath, him being 3 years younger.

You're also assuming that Leinster had to pick one. John might've just thought the opportunity for more game time out west was more appealing.

.ak

total former wrote: »

Reddan, D'Arcy and Moore back training with Leinster yesterday, might see them on Friday.

http://inpho.ie/assignment/Leinster-Rugby-Squad-Training/Ijed2Wuf-GuHc9JDnVYlDg..a?ts=FaNE87BqhJWapFmcTn-E5A..a

Ruddock, Kirchner and McLaughlin there too which is encouraging.

Surprised Healy wasn't released, or O'Brien. Maybe the don't want to risk them.

So we could see a team of

Bent
Dundon
Furlong
Douglas
Maccer
Ruddock
Jennings
Conan
Reddan
Gopperth
Kearney
D'arcy
Teo
McFadden
Kirchner

Bench could be tricky, depends on who's released. Potentially

Cronin, Hagan, Moore, Marshall, Ryan, McGrath, Marsh, Fanning/McGrath

The_Captain

Brian o'Meara is only 38, we could get him in for some short term cover for next year

Heroditas

.ak wrote: »

Surprised Healy wasn't released, or O'Brien. Maybe the don't want to risk them.

So we could see a team of

Bent
Dundon
Furlong
Douglas
Maccer
Ruddock
Jennings
Conan
Reddan
Gopperth
Kearney
D'arcy
Teo
McFadden
Kirchner

Bench could be tricky, depends on who's released. Potentially

Cronin, Hagan, Moore, Marshall, Ryan, McGrath, Marsh, Fanning/McGrath

Don't forget Luke!

.ak

Heroditas wrote: »

Don't forget Luke!

Jesus, knew I forgot something. Could be 13 or 23.

molloyjh

.ak wrote: »

Jesus, knew I forgot something. Could be 13 or 23.

Or 11 if Joe wants to have a look at him on the wing?

Buer

The_Captain wrote: »

Brian o'Meara is only 38, we could get him in for some short term cover for next year

Not sure if serious....

dregin

The_Captain wrote: »

Brian o'Meara is only 38, we could get him in for some short term cover for next year

I'm sure Alain Rolland has a bit more spare time now that he's dropped the reffing gig!

Leinster likely RWC tourists list

Very Likely Possibles Maybes
McGrath Strauss Ryan
Healy McCarthy D.Kearney
Cronin Boss
Ross Murphy
Moore McFadden
Toner Fitzgerald
SOB
Heaslip
Ruddock
Reddan
Sexton
Madigan
Kearney


Currently contracted players. Bold for 'not in above table' and so almost certainly available.

LH - Healy, McGrath, Bent, Byrne
HK - Cronin, Strauss, Byrne, Dundon, Tracey
TH - Ross, Moore, Furlong
SR - Toner, McCarthy, Douglas, Marshall, Denton, M.Kearney
BS - Ruddock, McLaughlin, Ryan
OS - SOB, Jennings, Van Der Flier
8 - Heaslip, Murphy, Conan
SH - Reddan, Boss, McGrath
FH - Sexton, Madigan, Marsh
LW - D.Kearney, SCM
IS - D'Arcy, Reid,
OS - Fitzgerald, Te'eo, Macken
RW - McFadden, Fanning, McGrath
FB - Kearney, Kirchner

I'm missing loads. Help me out here?

.ak

McFadden, Collie O'Shea is a senior too though I heard he's leaving?

molloyjh

Deleted User wrote: »

Leinster likely RWC tourists list

Very Likely Possibles Maybes
McGrath Strauss Ryan
Healy McCarthy D.Kearney
Cronin Boss
Ross Murphy
Moore McFadden
Toner
SOB
Heaslip
Ruddock
Reddan
Sexton
Madigan
Kearney



Currently contracted players. Bold for 'not in above table' and so almost certainly available.

LH - Healy, McGrath, Bent, Byrne
HK - Cronin, Strauss, Byrne, Dundon
TH - Ross, Moore, Furlong
SR - Toner, McCarthy, Douglas, Marshall, Denton, M.Kearney
BS - Ruddock, McLaughlin, Ryan
OS - SOB, Jennings, Van Der Flier
8 - Heaslip, Murphy, Conan
SH - Reddan, Boss, McGrath
FH - Sexton, Madigan, Marsh
LW - D.Kearney,
IS - D'Arcy, Reid,
OS - Fitzgerald, Te'eo
RW - McFadden, Fanning, McGrath
FB - Kearney, Kirchner

I'm missing loads. Help me out here?

Tracey at hooker, Macken at OC, I could say Sean McCarthy but I don't think he counts and SCM on the wing. Will we see any Academy lads promoted? Not sure who is where in their Academy contracts tbh.

EDIT: The Byrne twins are still in the Academy as are Marsh and VDF AFAIK.

Big Nelly

Deleted User wrote: »

Leinster likely RWC tourists list

Can't see how D.Kearney has fallen that far out? I am sure he would be pushing for starting spot versus Zebo only for injury against Wasps....

Hagz

What's the difference between a possible and a maybe?

Hagz

Hagz wrote: »

What's the difference between a possible and a maybe?

More things need to happen for a maybe. 2/3 players out of form/injured instead of 1 etc.

Hagz

What's a perhaps then?

total former

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Leinster likely RWC tourists list

Very Likely Possibles Maybes
McGrath Strauss Ryan
Healy McCarthy D.Kearney
Cronin Boss
Ross Murphy
Moore McFadden
Toner
SOB
Heaslip
Ruddock
Reddan
Sexton
Madigan
Kearney

Ouch. Poor D'Arcy. Not even a "maybe"?

wowy

total former wrote: »

Ouch. Poor D'Arcy. Not even a "maybe"?

Nor Fitzgerald either?

S12b

John Cooney back with Connacht today....the roundabout goes on....I read posts here saying Leinster had called him back for the season but this was never confirmed anywhere....I'd say he just went back for that one game and with Reddan back fit, he's out west again!

irishbucsfan

Interesting that Leinster specifically mentioned that Reddan trained fully following the injury against Wasps. I guess he hasn't trained fully until now? I had thought he was already back.

dub_skav

S12b wrote: »

John Cooney back with Connacht today....the roundabout goes on....I read posts here saying Leinster had called him back for the season but this was never confirmed anywhere....I'd say he just went back for that one game and with Reddan back fit, he's out west again!

Probably just left his spare boots in his Ma's house and popped home to collect them, fancied a game while he was home.

.ak

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Interesting that Leinster specifically mentioned that Reddan trained fully following the injury against Wasps. I guess he hasn't trained fully until now? I had thought he was already back.

IRFU said he was fit but then again they might've said anything for the mind games element.

scott1974

http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/news/13250.php#.VOSuVeasX94

No mention of Ruddock..kinda thought he might be in the mix for this game.

vienne86

Is Kirchner's injury sorted? Also about Kirchner, is his contract up at the end of this season?

ssaye2

vienne86 wrote: »

Is Kirchner's injury sorted? Also about Kirchner, is his contract up at the end of this season?

"and similarly Zane Kirchner has recovered fully from the leg injury that has kept him out of action since early January. "


and Yes his contract is up

vienne86

ssaye2 wrote: »

"and similarly Zane Kirchner has recovered fully from the leg injury that has kept him out of action since early January. "


and Yes his contract is up

Oops - stupid me, I hadn't read the update.

Wonder if we'll keep Kirchner. I hope so.

ionadnapokot

vienne86 wrote: »

Oops - stupid me, I hadn't read the update.

Wonder if we'll keep Kirchner. I hope so.

would have loved if AAC had come in instead.

Buer

ionadnapokot wrote: »

would have loved if AAC had come in instead.

Apparently he was approached at the time along with Drew Mitchell but they weren't interested. Those lads can command serious cash from France. Not too many Aussies coming to Ireland these days.

Reps4jesus

Met AAC in Melbourne in 2013 and mentioned that I hoped he would come to Leinster, his response - "was very close but you went for Kirch instead". Not sure if he was implying that he was available but Leinster picked Zane over him or what tho

The_Captain

He's hardly going to tell you we're a bunch of povs and he expected to be offered 600k a year

19543261

vienne86 wrote: »

Oops - stupid me, I hadn't read the update.

Wonder if we'll keep Kirchner. I hope so.

Me too. Kirchner reminds me of Isa in his worth ethic and eagerness.

durkadurka

19543261 wrote: »

Me too. Kirchner reminds me of Isa in his worth ethic and eagerness.

He's a poor man's Isa to be fair.

I think he's a good signing and would happily keep him but Isa was a couple of notches above him.

AdamD

I think hes fairly mediocre for somebody taking up a foreign slot

.ak

I think he's had some average performances which seems to be souring some people's view of him, but I personally think he's an outstanding player and we're lucky to have him. The issue is he shines at FB but he isn't great on the wing.

.ak

.ak wrote: »

I think he's had some average performances which seems to be souring some people's view of him, but I personally think he's an outstanding player and we're lucky to have him. The issue is he shines at FB but he isn't great on the wing.

Totally agree and importantly at times when Leinster have not been playing well he has still showed a lot of class and created chances. Lot's of players this year haven't impressed unless the team as a whole has clicked, Kirchner is an exception to this.

sydthebeat

hes far from mediocre ..... he has that extra class at this level.

he has just been disrupted with injury and hasnt had a clear run in one particular position

though he was excellent in last years final

.ak

Yep, mediocre is something that I would apply to player like Fanning. Although if Fanning was a NIQ I wonder if he'd be saying he was a 'good quality Andrew Goodman style workman'.

Podge_irl

I'd be happy for him to stay but outstanding is a bit much.

.ak

.ak wrote: »

Yep, mediocre is something that I would apply to player like Fanning. Although if Fanning was a NIQ I wonder if he'd be saying he was a 'good quality Andrew Goodman style workman'.

banned

molloyjh

Podge_irl wrote: »

I'd be happy for him to stay but outstanding is a bit much.

I'd happily say very good, but yeah outstanding is a stretch. There have been games where I'd have expected more from him and he's faded a bit into the background. In the right circumstances he can be excellent (the Pro12 final being a good example) but put him in a second string Leinster side and he seems to slip down to the level of those around him. We need him to be raising the bar for the others, not lowering his to match.

That said I'd have some sympathy for him as our back line simply haven't functioned well for the most part so it's always going to be harder for him to shine as a result.

vienne86

.ak wrote: »

I think he's had some average performances which seems to be souring some people's view of him, but I personally think he's an outstanding player and we're lucky to have him. The issue is he shines at FB but he isn't great on the wing.

I'm a fan of Kirchner. I think he is class, but not outstanding - he has had some moderate enough performances. I don't think he is another Isa, and I think he has been a bit unfortunate being in our backline the way it has been playing, and also he has been pushed on to the wing a few times, where he does not play as well anyway. Also, he's had a couple of injuries. I'd really like us to have him ofr the WC.

.ak

Semantics then I guess.

total former

So... team announcement in 20 mins. Probably picks itself to some extent, will be interesting to see if Healy or Madigan have been made available. Would hope to see Moore, D'Arcy and Fitzgerald to start, both Boss and Reddan to be involved too.

Could be a strong enough team.

sydthebeat

.ak wrote: »

Semantics then I guess.

youre just a glass half full type of person .ak

total former

15. Zane Kirchner
14. Fergus McFadden
13. Ben Te'o
12. Gordon D'Arcy
11. Luke Fitzgerald
10. Jimmy Gopperth
9. Eoin Reddan
1. Michael Bent
2. Aaron Dundon
3. Marty Moore
4. Mike McCarthy
5. Kane Douglas
6. Dominic Ryan
7. Shane Jennings CAPTAIN
8. Jack Conan

16. Sean Cronin
17. Cian Healy
18. Tadhg Furlong
19. Ben Marshall
20. Dan Leavy
21. Isaac Boss
22. Cathal Marsh
23. Dave Kearney

Very strong team, no quibbles with it at all. And Healy on the bench too.

Dan Leavy on the bench.

irishbucsfan

Is Dan Leavy fully fit?

Swan Curry

Good to see Leavy getting an opportunity, hopefully he gets more than a few minutes.

Tox56

I'm guessing Leavy is highly rated if he comes straight back in, and I'm also guessing Schmidt sees Fitz as a winger

Neil3030

Noel Reid injured?

.ak

Good call by molloyjh on Fitz to 11. I wonder if he has a stellar game there will he be considered for Ireland (if he doesn't get injured..)

Very, very strong team. Hopefully we can right some wrongs of last week. Thought DK deserved a start tho!