Leinster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread V

vienne86

D'Arcy is OK at 13, but I'd much rather we had him at 12. McFadden is OKish at 13. Leinster need better at 13. Te'o may or may not fill the gap, but we have a gap.

CatFromHue

armchaircoach wrote: »

The whole succession at 13 has been badly managed. BOD flagged his retirement a year in advance, and the response was to take a massive gamble on a league convert who would miss all preseason and the first 3rd of the season. The other option is D'Arcy, who they had to know would be with Ireland and rested for long periods (especially in a world cup season)

It was a very difficult situation to manage though.

O'Malley and Macken would have been the in house replacements but EOM had to retire at the start of last season. Luke Fitz was another in house replacement but he has injury problems.

When you look for an outside replacement a year out from the RWC it's going to be tough. Munster had to do this and brought in Andrew Smith, not a big name and also a bit of a risk as he's unknown.

Hagz

former legend wrote: »

I didn't say that at all. I didn't. You're ascribing arguments to me that I didn't make.

It was a typo which I fixed.....

It was supposed to say could not would...

Hence why at the end of my post I said can be and not will be.

I'll clarify. D'Arcy and McFadden could "do a job" at 13 in the RCC. There are plenty of 13s in the RCC who are worse than them. BUT they are not good enough to bring Leinster to the top table of the competition. Are they up there with Bastareaud, Davies, Fritz?

If they were to play at 13 consistently yes. I believe they could be "up there" with the players you've mentioned.

The Lost Sheep

the baby bull elephant wrote: »

What has happened to Tadhg Beirne?

Out with long term hip(?) injury AFAIK

jacothelad

vienne86 wrote: »

D'Arcy is OK at 13, but I'd much rather we had him at 12. McFadden is OKish at 13. Leinster need better at 13. Te'o may or may not fill the gap, but we have a gap.

Macken sometimes looks as if he is going to make it and then at others doesn't seem to know how to pass. It's a pity he is not directly under the coaching of Schmidt. Macken has really good pace. (It's a pity we can't transplant that bit of him into Darren Cave who is a proper 13 skill wise) Macken is also a big unit. Maybe like Reid he will blossom a little late. There is also the option to sign Payne.:D:D

ktulu123

Tickets for the Quins & Munster away games went on sale earlier. Got 2 for Quins & 4 for Munster, anyone else heading to either?

awec

Fair play to anyone who can be arsed with a trek to Limerick on Stephens day.

sydthebeat

yep, heading down to thomond !!! making a night of it down there

thomond2006

Stephen's Day beers anyone?

thomond2006

thomond2006 wrote: »

Stephen's Day beers anyone?

You wearing your Leinster jersey down?

Dravokivich

Deleted User wrote: »

You wearing your Leinster jersey down?

His The Vange Pyjamas!

molloyjh

Dravokivich wrote: »

His The Vange Pyjamas!

Nah, his Leo Cullen ones more like. He still talks about our Leo in the same hushed tones as a certain prop from Cappamore.

errlloyd

Tox56 wrote: »

Is he really that good? He was very good in the JWC in fairness but that kind of came out of nowhere and he was pretty average when he played in the 6 nations. He's got talent but he didn't seem stand out

There was a discussion earlier on Ringrose. He seems to have impressed in camp. Only 19 but good news.

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/international/tommy-bowe-impressed-by-classy-garry-ringrose-1.1987495?page=1

The Pheasant2

Yeah The Score ran a similar article

http://thescore.thejournal.ie/gerry-ringrose-ireland-training-ucd-1761932-Nov2014/

hopefully they're not heaping too much on him

thomond2006

Deleted User wrote: »

You wearing your Leinster jersey down?

No it will the same jersey that I wore at the last derby.

Maybe I'll get new JH pyjamas. Unfortunately Tommy Hilfiger and Hugo Boss' shops are out of them. Selling like hot cakes.

vienne86

Let's hope that Ringrose is the real deal in years to come This is a real good news story, but let's not rush to conclusions yet.

.ak

Madigan to transfer to Quinns after Christmas, confirmed by LR!! See pic below

CatFromHue

I was driving through Ballsbridge the day of the Wasps game and that jersey looks to have sold fairly well, it was fairly prominent in the crowds going to the game that day.

conf101

CatFromHue wrote: »

I was driving through Ballsbridge the day of the Wasps game and that jersey looks to have sold fairly well, it was fairly prominent in the crowds going to the game that day.

I wasn't a fan when it came out but I have to admit it's really grown on me. I really like it now.

vienne86

conf101 wrote: »

I wasn't a fan when it came out but I have to admit it's really grown on me. I really like it now.

Exactly what I was thinking - it looks better in real life than in the pics. Won't buy one though.

molloyjh

I def plan on picking one up, just haven't as of yet. I think it's pretty decent. A lot better than I thought initially. And it's good that the jerseys are quite different I reckon. It's not like fans are buying the same thing again and again.

Uriel.

at first I didn't like it, but then I tried it on and had a more positive reaction to it. Then that damn 20% voucher in the STH packs and sure I HAD to buy it then...

but i actually really like it now.

leakyboots

awec wrote: »

Fair play to anyone who can be arsed with a trek to Limerick on Stephens day.

Think you need to socialise in Limerick more, great town to go out in

vienne86

awec wrote: »

Fair play to anyone who can be arsed with a trek to Limerick on Stephens day.

Lots of people are away at Christmas, myself included. I think there could be a poor enough turnout from Leinster.

Heroditas

leakyboots wrote: »

Think you need to socialise in Limerick more, great town to go out in

It doesn't necessarily have anything to do with Limerick. It's the fact that it's the 26th of December and people may prefer to spend time with their families.

CatFromHue

Will there be any/many bars open on Stephen's night in Limerick?

former legend

CatFromHue wrote: »

Will there be any/many bars open on Stephen's night in Limerick?

Good lord yes.

S12b

CatFromHue wrote: »

Will there be any/many bars open on Stephen's night in Limerick?

Stephen's night is one of the biggest nights of the year.....

.ak

That jersey is still gank, even in the flesh,

Larbre34

It can't be assumed, as Dublin City Centre can be dead on Stephen's Night due to the tradition of 'family house' pubs remaining closed. I remember landing into Dame Street after an RDS stephens night game 3 or 4 years ago and it was like a ghost town, the suburban pubs get most of the trade.

molloyjh

.ak wrote: »

That jersey is still gank, even in the flesh,

You're just not a fan of horizontal lines, admit it. :pac:

former legend

Larbre34 wrote: »

It can't be assumed, as Dublin City Centre can be dead on Stephen's Night due to the tradition of 'family house' pubs remaining closed. I remember landing into Dame Street after an RDS stephens night game 3 or 4 years ago and it was like a ghost town, the suburban pubs get most of the trade.

It's an historical thing; the suburban pubs in Dublin didn't really open on Stephen's day either until a few years ago, something to do with the unions IIRC.

But it has always been a big night down the schticks.

I've been out in Dublin on Stephens' Night for the past 5-6 years. Plenty of stuff going on around Wexford Street area.

It's nothing like a Saturday night but it's certainly busy. Few lock ins have been found at places that would prefer if you spoke our mother tongue only too...

Clegg

Picture going around of Ruddock in Ireland training gear with a cast on his hand and three of his fingers taped together....

molloyjh

Clegg wrote: »

Picture going around of Ruddock in Ireland training gear with a cast on his hand and three of his fingers taped together....

He seems to just be carrying the tape that way. Other shots of him training show his fingers aren't bandaged at all.

.ak

It's not a cast, just a bit of strapping. And he's holding a roll of tape on his fingers, nothing wrong with his fingers.

Eat My Point

Clegg wrote: »

Picture going around of Ruddock in Ireland training gear with a cast on his hand and three of his fingers taped together....

This was on another thread earlier, he's just carrying a roll of tape and it looks like a cast

P.Walnuts

Being reported on twitter Gopperth to Wasps for 300k a year....I imagine he will swim the Irish sea if that contract is being offered

salmocab

P.Walnuts wrote: »

Being reported on twitter Gopperth to Wasps for 300k a year....I imagine he will swim the Irish sea if that contract is being offered

Fair play to him, I'm sure Leinster have no intention of offering him another contract with them having 2 Irish international 10s next season.

Larbre34

Enjoyable extended interview with Cian Healy on OTB earlier, about early development and selection for Leinster etc. On podcast etc

Superbus

salmocab wrote: »

Fair play to him, I'm sure Leinster have no intention of offering him another contract with them having 2 Irish international 10s next season.

Isn't that exactly the problem though, that for a chunk of the season they're away with Ireland. Particularly next season given it's a WC year. Who'd be next in line, Marsh?

molloyjh

P.Walnuts wrote: »

Being reported on twitter Gopperth to Wasps for 300k a year....I imagine he will swim the Irish sea if that contract is being offered

Great news for the guy. He hasn't deserved the crap he's gotten from some quarters of the Leinster fan base. Would have liked to have seen him head West but it's good he's getting things sorted.

salmocab

Superbus wrote: »

Isn't that exactly the problem though, that for a chunk of the season they're away with Ireland. Particularly next season given it's a WC year. Who'd be next in line, Marsh?

Yeah its a pain but thats what was starting to happen before Sexton left, I think Nacewa covered when both were unavailable iirc.

LostArt

Superbus wrote: »

Isn't that exactly the problem though, that for a chunk of the season they're away with Ireland. Particularly next season given it's a WC year. Who'd be next in line, Marsh?

Marsh/Crosbie, possibly might even see Reid play there if we're stuck

Hagz

Marsh should be ready by now. I'd be a bit disappointed if they didn't have enough faith to trust him with a few Pro12 games. He's gone as far as he can go at 'A' level.

Morf

S12b wrote: »

Stephen's night is one of the biggest nights of the year.....

When I worked in a pub/nightclub complex 2003/2004 Stephens night was by a distance the busiest night of the year.

Running out of glasses, ice etc. every 2 minutes there'd be something running out.

Morf

.ak wrote: »

That jersey is still gank, even in the flesh,

I liked it and I've cooled quite a bit on it now.

vienne86

P.Walnuts wrote: »

Being reported on twitter Gopperth to Wasps for 300k a year....I imagine he will swim the Irish sea if that contract is being offered

Well I'm delighted for him. For all his faults, we have been bloody glad of him many times while he has been in Leinster.

former legend

vienne86 wrote: »

Well I'm delighted for him. For all his faults, we have been bloody glad of him many times while he has been in Leinster.

He has been an excellent signing, I'm very glad he's going to a decent club and Wasps will be a much better team with him in it.

vienne86

former legend wrote: »

He has been an excellent signing, I'm very glad he's going to a decent club and Wasps will be a much better team with him in it.

He has been a good servant to Leinster and to rugby. He deserves to make a nice salary for the final part of his career. Apart from being a good solid 10, he doesn't seem to get injured - bit like Stringer in that - so there could be a few years left in his career.