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

former total

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Is it just me or is Reid not as bad as is being made out?

He makes good ground and distributes well often in heavy traffic. He's not good defensively but he can work on that. Drico improved defensively a lot in his late 20's.

Seems to have got a lot of the blame for the Wasps game. I agree with you fwiw.

irishbucsfan

Deleted User wrote: »

Is it just me or is Reid not as bad as is being made out?

He makes good ground and distributes well often in heavy traffic. He's not good defensively but he can work on that. Drico improved defensively a lot in his late 20's.

Agreed. I think he's our best 12 going forward and would have loved to see us stick with him at 12 and work on his defense.

JPNelsforearm

former total wrote: »

Seems to have got a lot of the blame for the Wasps game. I agree with you fwiw.

When he didnt jump on that loose ball that was it for me, he doesnt have the dog to ever be a good defender, that instinct is utterly lacking.

JPNelsforearm

JPNelsforearm wrote: »

When he didnt jump on that loose ball that was it for me, he doesnt have the dog to ever be a good defender, that instinct is utterly lacking.

Yeah on the basis of that one lapse in concentration I'm also happy to write off his entire career. Pity.

Interested Observer

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Agreed. I think he's our best 12 going forward and would have loved to see us stick with him at 12 and work on his defense.

There were two instances in the Wasps game where he looked to me like he almost refused contact. Once when he should have gone down on a loose ball and another when a forward ran at him and he basically got out of the way. Then there was a try earlier in the season against Scarlets maybe when again he waved then in under the posts. These are just things I can recall off the top of my head. He's just not good enough there. I really wanted him to turn into a decent 12 but I've given up now.

Hagz

JPNelsforearm wrote: »

When he didnt jump on that loose ball that was it for me, he doesnt have the dog to ever be a good defender, that instinct is utterly lacking.

That's typical of him really. I remember that 'A' game (I think against Munster) where he had a real shocker and the ball dropped right in front of him and he was having none of it.

molloyjh

For the record he made 2 of 4 tackles in the full 80 of the Wasps game. Ferg made 8 of 9 and Ringrose made 2 of 2 in 9 mins. So that's 10 of 11 in the 13 channel compared to 2 of 4 in the 12 channel.

I know stats will only tell you so much, but he attempted less than half the number of tackles Ferg did. Of all the starters only Maccer attempted less, and he went off injured at the start of the second half.

That said Triggs made 0 from 4.....

former total

That A game is going to follow Noel Reid around for the rest of his life.

In fairness to him, he was already crocked when he put himself on the line on Friday and he still got stuck in.

I'm a fan anyway.

vienne86

former total wrote: »

That A game is going to follow Noel Reid around for the rest of his life.

In fairness to him, he was already crocked when he put himself on the line on Friday and he still got stuck in.

I'm a fan anyway.

I think he was playing 10 in that A game, and hd a nightmare.

I would hope that his tackling can be improved, because I like a lot of the other stuff he does at 12.

.ak

His tackling isn't the issue. As with most instances poor defensive reading will make you look like a poor tackler. He can definitely improve, it's all in his mind.

Zzippy

I've only seen Reid a few times, including against Connacht last year when he was excellent. Seems a really promising player with great attacking potential. Like all young players breaking into the team he will have things to work on, some fans don't seem to recognise this and want the finished product straight out of the academy. Give the guy a break!

AdamD

Reid's actually effective at the things Madigan's supposed to be good at when playing 12, like passing and bringing team mates into play.

Interested Observer

.ak wrote: »

His tackling isn't the issue. As with most instances poor defensive reading will make you look like a poor tackler. He can definitely improve, it's all in his mind.

His tackling absolutely is an issue, are you for real?

former total

Zzippy wrote: »

I've only seen Reid a few times, including against Connacht last year when he was excellent. Seems a really promising player with great attacking potential. Like all young players breaking into the team he will have things to work on, some fans don't seem to recognise this and want the finished product straight out of the academy. Give the guy a break!

Well he's 25 now so he'd want to be cracking on now, but yeah, he has great ability, if he can tighten his game up a bit he'll be flying.

molloyjh

He can definitely improve that part of his game, although he'd want to do it soon. But he can't be doing it in important competitive games. I'd love him to sort that out because his attacking game is very impressive.

.ak

Interested Observer wrote: »

His tackling absolutely is an issue, are you for real?

Did you just read that sentence and not the other part of my post?

irishbucsfan

His tackling absolutely is an issue though. Form and footwork all over the place, at times he's reminiscent of early Quade Cooper.

Interested Observer

.ak wrote: »

Did you just read that sentence and not the other part of my post?

I read the whole thing. His tackling is still an issue.

.ak

I've seen him make good hits. Especially last season. He's well capable of it. That's why for me it's more of a positional/defending issue. He gets caught on his heels too much. That's more to do with your preparation than anything.

scott1974

Did anyone else hear that O'Brien is out this weekend with an inner ear infection, apparently it's affecting his balance. My dad mentioned it to me earlier... Hopefully it doesn't last too long, we need him the following 2 weeks

vienne86

scott1974 wrote: »

Did anyone else hear that O'Brien is out this weekend with an inner ear infection, apparently it's affecting his balance. My dad mentioned it to me earlier... Hopefully it doesn't last too long, we need him the following 2 weeks

Yes, it's here:

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/guinness-pro12/obrien-ear-problem-adds-to-concussion-concerns-34247895.html

It sounds very strange.

former total

scott1974 wrote: »

Did anyone else hear that O'Brien is out this weekend with an inner ear infection, apparently it's affecting his balance. My dad mentioned it to me earlier... Hopefully it doesn't last too long, we need him the following 2 weeks

What's a bit weird is that's it's being described as an inner ear "issue", rather than an infection.

Anyone with kids will know that inner ear infections happen all the time, you go to the GP, you get an antibiotic and job done. Why does O'Brien need to see an ear specialist? And right after he gets a bang to the head?

Something not right about this.

vkid

those type of issues can be nasty. My Ma was in trouble with her inner ear for a long time. Balance was an issue to the point of keeping her bed ridden for weeks. that was from a bang to the head after a fall.

Hope he recovers quickly. Wouldn't wish something like that on anyone,

hogandrew

.ak wrote: »

I've seen him make good hits. Especially last season. He's well capable of it. That's why for me it's more of a positional/defending issue. He gets caught on his heels too much. That's more to do with your preparation than anything.

He seems to hesitate for an instant a lot. He can tackle fine when he doesn't. I think it's that split second hesitation that often causes his footwork being wrong and technique looking poor. What annoys me at times is when he has time to think and goes low leaving an offload so simple to do.

Maybe it's a lack of self confidence or something. Perhaps if he put on a few kilos it might give him more confidence

ArmchairQB

.ak wrote: »

I've seen him make good hits. Especially last season. He's well capable of it. That's why for me it's more of a positional/defending issue. He gets caught on his heels too much. That's more to do with your preparation than anything.

He is poor defensively and goes missing or conveniently steps inside to avoid tackling, I have watched him for years if he hasn't improved by now....... look at Ringrose you either are committed to putting in the defensive side of the game or you are not he is most definetley not committed and can't see that improving. A lot of the other backs love the tackle and it boosts the team seeing Reid continually be very poor defensively has a negative effect on the team. No place in the modern game for lads that won't tackle or stand up to the physical side of the game.

former total

former total wrote: »

What's a bit weird is that's it's being described as an inner ear "issue", rather than an infection.

Anyone with kids will know that inner ear infections happen all the time, you go to the GP, you get an antibiotic and job done. Why does O'Brien need to see an ear specialist? And right after he gets a bang to the head?

Something not right about this.

I wonder if it might be creatine related?

Worth thinking about.

molloyjh

former total wrote: »

What's a bit weird is that's it's being described as an inner ear "issue", rather than an infection.

Anyone with kids will know that inner ear infections happen all the time, you go to the GP, you get an antibiotic and job done. Why does O'Brien need to see an ear specialist? And right after he gets a bang to the head?

Something not right about this.

There are a whole host of inner ear issues that someone can have other than just an infection. Someone on LF for example mentioned that they have Ménière's disease, which has no cure at all. And diagnosing inner ear problems can often be tricky. There is no definitive test for Ménière's disease for example.

I don't think he actually got a bang to the head against Wasps though did he? We didn't think so from where we were anyway.

The Pheasant2

Could be anything - I got a blood clot in my ear canal before and had to stop rugby for a couple of weeks because catching a wallop could cause perforation of the ear drum.

vienne86

former total wrote: »

What's a bit weird is that's it's being described as an inner ear "issue", rather than an infection.

Anyone with kids will know that inner ear infections happen all the time, you go to the GP, you get an antibiotic and job done. Why does O'Brien need to see an ear specialist? And right after he gets a bang to the head?

Something not right about this.

Well being Sean O'Brien, he would be marched off to a specialist without delay. I hope he is OK - inner ear problems can be very unpleasant - a friend of mine described it like sea-sickness, and in fact dealt with with travel sickness tablets.

Clegg

Injury update from Leinster:

SOB out as per earlier news
Strauss back after passing return to play protocols
R.Kearney back in training and hopefully back for this weekend.

Luke McGrath has a medial strain. Out for game this weekend, but hopefully back for Toulon games (excellent news)
Reid hasn't broken any bones, but has damaged ankle ligaments. Will see a specialist.
Sexton took a knock to the back against Ulster and has some stiffness, but is fit to play.