Leinster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread VI: End of the MOC [Revenge of the STH]

Larbre34

I don't think the fans were out of line in not accepting a strategy which saw good players straight-jacketed and killed creativity and which saw months of poor performances, not when it was known there was much more capability.

It became extreme when the stuff on the pitch became farcical. If the fanbase had even a small bit to do with MOC departing, it should not be regretted.

total former

Deleted User wrote: »

Who is MOC? A new signing?

F**k's sake Emmet, keep up. After Bayonne's relegation to ProD2, we've swooped for one of their star players:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvin_O'Connor

irishbucsfan

Larbre34 wrote: »

I don't think the fans were out of line in not accepting a strategy which saw good players straight-jacketed and killed creativity and which saw months of poor performances, not when it was known there was much more capability.

:pac:

As we get further and further away from the events, and as people's grasp on what actually happened moves further away from reality, this argument just becomes more and more pointless.

The only thing I'm really interested in is his backing of Leo and whether or not that's an indication that we're going to have Leo for the entire season, or even beyond that.

total former

total former wrote: »

F**k's sake Emmet, keep up. After Bayonne's relegation to ProD2, we've swooped for one of their star players:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvin_O'Connor

Nice signing. I heard he got an offer from Toulouse.

Deleted User

Deleted User wrote: »

Nice signing. I heard he got an offer from Toulouse.

"Swervin' Marvin" just doesn't have the same ring.

total former

More from Matt here:
http://www.herald.ie/sport/rugby/matt-oconnor-id-love-to-have-had-run-with-sexton-31330256.html

Gives Leo the thumbs up as head coach, but what else is he going to say I suppose.

stephen_n

The expectations thing will not be useable this season, as most fans don't really have any expectations, above hoping that we see progress in how we play and some meaningful game time for the next generation. It will be interesting to see how long it takes Tony Ward to trot it out.

ionadnapokot

Bored with MOC business. I cant wait until we have a new head coach. & not Leo Cullen.

dub_skav

ionadnapokot wrote: »

Bored with MOC business. I cant wait until we have a new head coach. & not Leo Cullen.

See you in 2017 :pac:

ionadnapokot

ionadnapokot wrote: »

Bored with MOC business. I cant wait until we have a new head coach. & not Leo Cullen.

If Leo goes on to win the RCC and Pro12 next season boards will collectively:

awec

Deleted User wrote: »

If Leo goes on to win the RCC and Pro12 next season boards will collectively:

Yea, and if Leo really manages that then:

CatFromHue

So what type of team are we looking at putting out during the RWC?

Front row is still abit of an unknown til we know who's going to the RWC
Second Row: The 2 Micks (McCarthy and Kearney), and Douglas
Back Row: Ruddock, Kev McL, Ryan, Leavy, Van der Flier, and Conan too I'd say
Scrum Half: L. McGrath
Outhalf: ??
12: O'Shea/Reid
13: Te'o
Wing: Fanning, M.McGrath, DK/McFadden (both won't be going to the RWC).
FB: Nacewa, ZK

That's potentially a good loose 5, centres, and outside backs there

Thanos

CatFromHue wrote: »

So what type of team are we looking at putting out during the RWC?

Front row is still abit of an unknown til we know who's going to the RWC
Second Row: The 2 Micks (McCarthy and Kearney), and Douglas
Back Row: Ruddock, Kev McL, Ryan, Leavy, Van der Flier, and Conan too I'd say
Scrum Half: L. McGrath
Outhalf: ??
12: O'Shea/Reid
13: Te'o
Wing: Fanning, M.McGrath, DK/McFadden (both won't be going to the RWC).
FB: Nacewa, ZK

That's potentially a good loose 5, centres, and outside backs there

Would think we will see Isa on one of the wings for his experience and can drop to FB if needs be (injury).

Back 3 of ZK, Isa and DK/McF would be great while internationals are away.

CatFromHue

Could be.

The players not involved with the U20's, Ireland, or Emerging Ireland will be back training next week, Isa included.

sydthebeat

CatFromHue wrote: »

So what type of team are we looking at putting out during the RWC?

Front row is still abit of an unknown til we know who's going to the RWC
Second Row: The 2 Micks (McCarthy and Kearney), and Douglas
Back Row: Ruddock, Kev McL, Ryan, Leavy, Van der Flier, and Conan too I'd say
Scrum Half: L. McGrath
Outhalf: ??
12: O'Shea/Reid
13: Te'o
Wing: Fanning, M.McGrath, DK/McFadden (both won't be going to the RWC).
FB: Nacewa, ZK

That's potentially a good loose 5, centres, and outside backs there

For a rwc'less team, that's also a damn fine second row and replacement.

Thanos

As an after thought and seeing the question mark at outhalf, would we go down the road of Isa to 10 again......?

CatFromHue

I dunno I think he'd be better in the outside backs, assuming he's back near to what he used to be.

Madigan could be with Ireland during the 6N so no harm to give whoever the next 10 is a bit of a run first.

.ak

Are we sure ZK won't be in the Boks squad?

I reckon we'll see

1. Byrne
2. Byrne
3. Furlong
4. Maccer
5. Douglas
6. Ruddock
7. Ryan
8. Conan
09. McGrath
10. Marsh
11. Fanning
12. Reid
13. T'eo
14. McFadden
15. Nacewa

16. Dundon?
17. Hirst
18. RBF
19. Kearney
20. Leavy
21. McCarthy
22. Byrne
23. COS/McGrath

Not a bad 23 to be honest, bar the front rows?

Clearlier

.ak wrote: »

Are we sure ZK won't be in the Boks squad?

There's a decent chance he won't be in the starting XV for Leinster this season - I know that that boks aren't renowned for their backs but they must have several better options available to them.

From a Leinster and long term Irish point of view I'd prefer to see Furlong left out of the squad. The world cup period is a great opportunity to give him an extended run of games and I don't think that it's impossible that he'll leapfrog Ross and Moore within the year.

.ak

Well if they don't pick him he'd start for us during the RWC, so then a back 3 of ZK, Isa and Ferg/DK... That's really not bad!

.ak

.ak wrote: »

Are we sure ZK won't be in the Boks squad?

Bit off topic and not sure how to tackle this without appearing either ignorant or racist but with the new policy implemented by SA regarding having a minimum number of black players on the team - will this improve ZK's chances of qualifying?

I'm not sure of ZK's ancestry and don't know where the line is drawn.

.ak

Deleted User wrote: »

Bit off topic and not sure how to tackle this without appearing either ignorant or racist but with the new policy implemented by SA regarding having a minimum number of black players on the team - will this improve ZK's chances of qualifying?

I'm not sure of ZK's ancestry and don't know where the line is drawn.

Yeah well he was used as an example at the time when it came up - because they weren't sure how he'd be 'classified'.

Ugh, the whole thing is ridiculous really.

Buer

Deleted User wrote: »

Bit off topic and not sure how to tackle this without appearing either ignorant or racist but with the new policy implemented by SA regarding having a minimum number of black players on the team - will this improve ZK's chances of qualifying?

I'm not sure of ZK's ancestry and don't know where the line is drawn.

It's for non-white players and Kirchner is what is considered coloured in SA as opposed to black. But there are a fair few others who would be there too.

Habana, Hendricks, Mvovo and Pietersen are all non-white and back three players too. They've all been involved in recent times. I wouldn't expect ZK to be involved aside from having a shot at the wider squad.

Buer

Buer wrote: »

It's for non-white players and Kirchner is what is considered coloured in SA as opposed to black. But there are a fair few others who would be there too.

Habana, Hendricks, Mvovo and Pietersen are all non-white and back three players too. They've all been involved in recent times. I wouldn't expect ZK to be involved aside from having a shot at the wider squad.

Thanks for clarifying Buer!

molloyjh

.ak wrote: »

Are we sure ZK won't be in the Boks squad?

I reckon we'll see

1. Byrne
2. Byrne
3. Furlong
4. Maccer
5. Douglas
6. Ruddock
7. Ryan
8. Conan
09. McGrath
10. Marsh
11. Fanning
12. Reid
13. T'eo
14. McFadden
15. Nacewa

16. Dundon?
17. Hirst
18. RBF
19. Kearney
20. Leavy
21. McCarthy
22. Byrne
23. COS/McGrath

Not a bad 23 to be honest, bar the front rows?

Dundon retired didn't he? I think Tracy has played hooker a fair bit despite being classed as a prop so we might see him in the 16 shirt. I'd say Nacewa will bench early on until he's back up to speed. We don't have huge issues in the back 3 at all so there's no rush there. So we'd probably be looking at something like:

Byrne Byrne Furlong
McCarthy Douglas
Ruddock Conan Ryan

McGrath Marsh
Reid T'eo
Kearney Kirchner McFadden

Tracy, Dooley, Royce, Kearney, Leavy, McCarthy, Byrne, Nacewa

I thought the Byrne brothers looked pretty good last year when they had a run out. If they can stay fit I wouldn't be hugely worried about our front row. And if Furlong goes to the RWC then Bent won't so we should be fine at TH either way. Considering that I think it's a fairly decent pack given the circumstances.

12-15 we're laughing I think. I know Zane hasn't impressed much in the last season or so but I still have a feeling in my waters (or is it my bowels) that he'll come good for us. It's 9 and 10 yet again that raise the questions. But with Dempsey likely there for the first few months anyway, plus Reid outside them, there's plenty of familiarity from coaches to the combinations on the field. That should help.

The front row and halfs replacements are a little bit of an issue, although Byrne has a good bit of talent. The problems will come if/when the injuries do. But even at that we still have the likes of VDF, Denton, Fanning, Mick McGrath, SCM, Crosbie, O'Shea etc floating about the place. If we can keep a few key guys fit for the first 6-7 weeks then we should be able to hold our own. And that would be a pretty good accomplishment for a team so badly affected by international call-ups.

thomond2006

SCM is gone to England.

molloyjh

thomond2006 wrote: »

SCM is gone to England.

Ah yeah forgot about that....

RichieRich89

Even discounting all of the players in the wider Ireland squad we could still put out a team that looked something like:

1 Byrne
2 Byrne
3 Burke-Flynn
4 Douglas
5 McCarthy
6 Ryan*
7 van der Flier
8 Timmins
9 McGrath
10 Marsh/Byrne
11 Kirchner
12 Te'o
13 O'Shea
14 Kelleher
15 Nacewa

16 Tracy
17 Dooley/Hirst
18 Heffernan
19 Denton
20 Leavy
21 McCarthy
22 Byrne/Crosbie
23 Ringrose/Fanning

Looking at that line-up, it would definitely be useful to have Conan and Furlong available. Conan should be available but Furlong could easily make the final 31

Will Ruddock actually be out during the WC period, or was he left out of the Ireland squad because the injury would have hampered his training in the build up?

*What's the situation with McLaughlin? Anyone know whether he'll be fit for the start of the season?

vienne86

RichieRich89 wrote: »

Even discounting all of the players in the wider Ireland squad we could still put out a team that looked something like:

1 Byrne
2 Byrne
3 Burke-Flynn
4 Douglas
5 McCarthy
6 Ryan*
7 van der Flier
8 Timmins
9 McGrath
10 Marsh/Byrne
11 Kirchner
12 Te'o
13 O'Shea
14 Kelleher
15 Nacewa

16 Tracy
17 Dooley/Hirst
18 Heffernan
19 Denton
20 Leavy
21 McCarthy
22 Byrne/Crosbie
23 Ringrose/Fanning

Looking at that line-up, it would definitely be useful to have Conan and Furlong available. Conan should be available but Furlong could easily make the final 31

Will Ruddock actually be out during the WC period, or was he left out of the Ireland squad because the injury would have hampered his training in the build up?

*What's the situation with McLaughlin? Anyone know whether he'll be fit for the start of the season?

Well that's not too bad a line up at all. Front row is a worry if the Byrnes get injured, but it could be a great chance for Marsh to impress at 10. Great chance for Luke McGrath too......he didn't exactly shine last season, so he is lucky to get another go. Having Nacewa, ZK and DK/McFadden in the backs is just great.

Interested Observer

At least one of Bent and Furlong will be available.