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

vienne86 · 09-04-2015 11:18pm

ssaye2 wrote: »

Luke Fitzgerald. Delighted to have signed on for another 2 years with @leinsterrugby ,big thanks to @IKONTALENT crew for making process so easy #excitingtime

Some players posted length of their renewals

Lovely. Hopefully his injury troubles are over.

Clegg · 10-04-2015 7:35am

One year deal for Nacewa according to Thornley.

.ak · 10-04-2015 9:03am

That makes more sense.

jaansu · 10-04-2015 9:04am

If Nacewa is half the player he was I'll be happy.

aimee1 · 10-04-2015 9:21am

jaansu wrote: »

If Nacewa is half the player he was I'll be happy.

His last season he played a lot iirc and was carrying injuries too. He is a very natural player so maybe the break will have done him some good, I dont think he will flop. Think he will be a good signing.

Eponymous · 10-04-2015 9:28am

Mahatma Geansai wrote: »

Is Teo eligible to qualify for Ireland as a project player? If he doesn't qualify, Leinster can't bring in any more NIE players. If he does qualify, Nacewa will likely come in as the final NIE to make it 3+1.

Wasn't it mentioned somewhere that he already qualifies for England under the granny rule or some such reason? If international rugby is his ambition, it is a shorter route than hanging around here for a few years and hoping it works out.

thomond2006 · 10-04-2015 9:28am

.ak wrote: »

That makes more sense.

Why keep Kirchner as well then? Leinster don't need two NIE back three players. Having both on the books and not getting in a quality scrum-half is a poor decision. With 'starter' quality players like Fitzgerald, McFadden, Kearney x2 and young players like Kelleher coming through...

.ak · 10-04-2015 9:37am

thomond2006 wrote: »

Why keep Kirchner as well then? Leinster don't need two NIE back three players. Having both on the books and not getting in a quality scrum-half is a poor decision. With 'starter' quality players like Fitzgerald, McFadden, Kearney x2 and young players like Kelleher coming through...

I think we'll need all the players we can get. Isa can cover basically anywhere between 10 to 15 during the RWC and we'll likely be without Kirchner.

EDIT: Also there's a good chance we just couldn't sign a scrumhalf. I'm still hopeful tho.

CIARAN_BOYLE · 10-04-2015 9:40am

Eponymous wrote: »

Wasn't it mentioned somewhere that he already qualifies for England under the granny rule or some such reason? If international rugby is his ambition, it is a shorter route than hanging around here for a few years and hoping it works out.

England, Samoa, Australia and New Zealand he has his choice in terms of international rugby

thomond2006 · 10-04-2015 9:42am

.ak wrote: »

I think we'll need all the players we can get. Isa can cover basically anywhere between 10 to 15 during the RWC and we'll likely be without Kirchner.

EDIT: Also there's a good chance we just couldn't sign a scrumhalf. I'm still hopeful tho.

You're not going to be without Kirchner. I can't see getting into the Bok squad if he can't make the Leinster starting XV.

If Munster can sign Saili and Ulster can sign Piutau (albeit year in advance), Leinster can surely sign a 9.

Buer · 10-04-2015 9:43am

They won't be signing a 9 now with Reddan, Boss and McGrath all signed up for next season. Even with the two boys at the RWC, I'd expect Nick McCarthy to make a match day squad or three. He seems to be quite highly rated. At most, we're looking at a short terms signing.

I heard we did approach Hart but he didn't want to leave Grenoble at this stage.

10-04-2015 9:44am

Eponymous wrote: »

Wasn't it mentioned somewhere that he already qualifies for England under the granny rule or some such reason? If international rugby is his ambition, it is a shorter route than hanging around here for a few years and hoping it works out.

He has another year with Leinster and if then he moves to England to play in the AP with a view to playing for England it's still going to take him time to break into the squad.

Honestly he is a few years away from International rugby one way or another so if he is good enough we may have a bit of a chance of retaining him if he stays with Leinster.

He also has less competition in Ireland than in England for the most part although that can change.

Entirely possible he could go back to the SH if he turns out to be a star so really all we can do is wait and see and try to anchor him to Ireland somehow.

vienne86 · 10-04-2015 9:47am

Buer wrote: »

They won't be signing a 9 now with Reddan, Boss and McGrath all signed up for next season. Even with the two boys at the RWC, I'd expect Nick McCarthy to make a match day squad or three. He seems to be quite highly rated. At most, we're looking at a short terms signing.

I heard we did approach Hart but he didn't want to leave Grenoble at this stage.

Hart would be a wonderful signing, but fair enough if he wants to stay put. Nacewa for a year - that's grand. I'm still surprised he want to come back, but it'll be great to have him.

.ak · 10-04-2015 9:59am

thomond2006 wrote: »

You're not going to be without Kirchner. I can't see getting into the Bok squad if he can't make the Leinster starting XV.

If Munster can sign Saili and Ulster can sign Piutau (albeit year in advance), Leinster can surely sign a 9.

With the RWC just over the channel he could very well be used.

What I meant about not signing a 9 is it might be hard to find someone for next season in that position... also our budget must be shot with Sexton coming back.

Larbre34 · 10-04-2015 10:06am

We have to back McGrath at 9, he shows great promise. Give him his head.

total former · 10-04-2015 10:28am

I'm not sure what the big deal is over scrum-half. Our perceived need to sign one was based on the assumption that either Reddan or Boss (or both) would retire, but that's no longer the case. For the four or five matches that will happen during the RWC, McGrath and McCarthy will cover us just fine. Unless someone top-drawer was available, it would be pretty pointless and it would be an awful slap in the chops for McGrath.

What Leinster desperately need is leadership and creativity in the backline; even if Nacewa has lost a few yards of pace (and I'm sure he has), his personality and brain will still be intact. If it's a one-year contract on a sort of trial basis, then I'm very much in favour of it.

thomond2006 · 10-04-2015 10:36am

total former wrote: »

I'm not sure what the big deal is over scrum-half. Our perceived need to sign one was based on the assumption that either Reddan or Boss (or both) would retire, but that's no longer the case. For the four or five matches that will happen during the RWC, McGrath and McCarthy will cover us just fine. Unless someone top-drawer was available, it would be pretty pointless and it would be an awful slap in the chops for McGrath.

What Leinster desperately need is leadership and creativity in the backline; even if Nacewa has lost a few yards of pace (and I'm sure he has), his personality and brain will still be intact. If it's a one-year contract on a sort of trial basis, then I'm very much in favour of it.

It's not just whether they would retire or not. Will they offer enough quality to the side at 35?

sydthebeat · 10-04-2015 10:38am

so is stringer as a RWC joker a non runner at this stage?

total former · 10-04-2015 10:43am

thomond2006 wrote: »

It's not just whether they would retire or not. Will they offer enough quality to the side at 35?

I think Boss is playing really well at the moment. Reddan, not so much, but he's been picking up all sorts of niggly injuries so I'd be optimistic that if he gets over that, he can play to the level required.

I'd guess that they're both just on one-year extensions so hopefully by September 2016, one of McGrath, Cooney or McCarthy will be ready to take the reins or if not, we'll have recruited from abroad.

awec · 10-04-2015 10:52am

total former wrote: »

I think Boss is playing really well at the moment. Reddan, not so much, but he's been picking up all sorts of niggly injuries so I'd be optimistic that if he gets over that, he can play to the level required.

I'd guess that they're both just on one-year extensions so hopefully by September 2016, one of McGrath, Cooney or McCarthy will be ready to take the reins or if not, we'll have recruited from abroad.

Boss has had a lot more bad games than good games this season.

Reddan has been far from brilliant.

I reckon Leinster will really regret not getting a new scrumhalf.

.ak · 10-04-2015 10:54am

I reckon we just couldn't get one. I don't thin it'll be regret, but disappointment.

Bazzo · 10-04-2015 10:57am

total former wrote: »

I think Boss is playing really well at the moment. Reddan, not so much, but he's been picking up all sorts of niggly injuries so I'd be optimistic that if he gets over that, he can play to the level required.

I'd guess that they're both just on one-year extensions so hopefully by September 2016, one of McGrath, Cooney or McCarthy will be ready to take the reins or if not, we'll have recruited from abroad.

Cooney has already signed for Connacht next year. http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/news/13147.php#.VSeeQ71wbqA

awec · 10-04-2015 10:59am

.ak wrote: »

I reckon we just couldn't get one. I don't thin it'll be regret, but disappointment.

Unless Reddan and Boss turn around their downward spiral (and despite Boss's few good games he is still on the way out) then 9 will be a position of considerable weakness for Leinster.

Leinster not signing a scrumhalf is like Ulster not signing a backrow.

total former · 10-04-2015 10:59am

awec wrote: »

Boss has had a lot more bad games than good games this season.

Reddan has been far from brilliant.

I reckon Leinster will really regret not getting a new scrumhalf.

Boss is playing well right now and has been since Christmas, Reddan will come good.

If it turns out that we passed on Fourie du Preez or Aaron Smith, then I'll be annoyed. If our options were in the Jimmy Cowan/Brendan Leonard ballpark, then I'll be pretty happy with what we have.

thebaz · 10-04-2015 10:59am

Larbre34 wrote: »

We have to back McGrath at 9, he shows great promise. Give him his head.

he has a lot to proove , got chances this year and really has not progressed , which is a shame , next year he will be backup again - his pass is not reliable , which is a serious liability for a 9.

Isa is a great guy and great player , just wonder will it be a season too many

total former · 10-04-2015 11:00am

Bazzo wrote: »

Cooney has already signed for Connacht next year. http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/news/13147.php#.VSeeQ71wbqA

And as per my post, by September 2016 his Connacht contract will be up.

sydthebeat · 10-04-2015 11:08am

BOD and denis hickey to be on off the ball this evening discussing the up and coming semi final and whether or not leinster are in decline

thomond2006 · 10-04-2015 11:13am

.ak wrote: »

I reckon we just couldn't get one. I don't thin it'll be regret, but disappointment.

If Kockott becomes available, offer him a fat contract.

Tox56 · 10-04-2015 11:15am

total former wrote: »

Boss is playing well right now and has been since Christmas, Reddan will come good.

If it turns out that we passed on Fourie du Preez or Aaron Smith, then I'll be annoyed. If our options were in the Jimmy Cowan/Brendan Leonard ballpark, then I'll be pretty happy with what we have.

Reddan will be 35 next season. There will come a point where him "coming good" again just isn't realistic or likely. I dont know if we're there yet but even if he does start to play better Im not sure exactly how "good" his best level will be, hes got a lot of miles on the clock and his style relies a lot on speed

thomond2006 · 10-04-2015 11:20am

.ak wrote: »

I reckon we just couldn't get one. I don't thin it'll be regret, but disappointment.

I fear it will be exactly how Connacht fans regret how they didn't sign a 10 last summer.

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

Comments