Leinster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread X: [****]

joseywhales

I'd hate to be a 7 in the modern game, a life spent on with surgeons and physios.

Clegg

joseywhales wrote: »

I'd hate to be a 7 in the modern game, a life spent on with surgeons and physios.

True. So looking back It's remarkable how many caps McCaw has for New Zealand. He played in one of the most physically taxing positions in rugby and was undoubtedly targeted by the opposition for some extra 'treatment'.

clsmooth

Leavy does seem quite unlucky with injury. I gather this was the case before he made his breakthrough too. Would be nice to see him get a run again injury free

Clegg

Frawley? Looks badly hurt.

mangobob

That didnt look forward to me.

mangobob

Great time to score.

Dubinusa

Jaysus, looking at that list of missing players, I just noticed Tomane. Forgot all about him. I think he's going to struggle to get much playing time next year. The likes of Barry Daly and AB, will keep him out of the squad.

Clegg

Leinster are 21 points ahead of second place with seven games left. Performances will need to improve a lot, but if we win our next couple of games the pool could be clinched with months to spare.

Locke_Lamora

Lads, didn't catch the match - how did Vakh get on? Was a big fan of his from watching the A games.

Richie_Rich89

Locke_Lamora wrote: »

Lads, didn't catch the match - how did Vakh get on? Was a big fan of his from watching the A games.

Mixed the good with the bad. Made a bullocking, highlight-reel run but then slipped off a tackle that led to a Scarlets break and try. Got pushed back in one scrum, but then was rock solid and putting pressure on in the next one

molloyjh

Clegg wrote: »

Leinster are 21 points ahead of second place with seven games left. Performances will need to improve a lot, but if we win our next couple of games the pool could be clinched with months to spare.

Edinburgh have a game in hand against the Kings. Should be a handy 5 pointer. Meaning we’ll be 18 points clear at the end of the weekend. We could well have top spot mathematically down up after the Cheetahs game, but possibly not. We need a max of another 17 points in the last 7 games.

leakyboots

Clegg wrote: »

True. So looking back It's remarkable how many caps McCaw has for New Zealand. He played in one of the most physically taxing positions in rugby and was undoubtedly targeted by the opposition for some extra 'treatment'.

Something that often gets overlooked with Richie is he took the year out towards the end of his career to prolong it a bit longer (for the World Cup I think?). It's something I think players should consider - ridiculous I know to tell Sean O'Brien - 'Hey Sean, take a year out there, don't worry if JvdF or Leavy tear it up in your absence'... but it's such an attritional sport now, especially for the forwards, I wonder could certain injury prone players look at even taking the first half of the season off?


That said we do try and manage our players better than other nations so maybe we're doing our best

troyzer

leakyboots wrote: »

Clegg wrote: »

True. So looking back It's remarkable how many caps McCaw has for New Zealand. He played in one of the most physically taxing positions in rugby and was undoubtedly targeted by the opposition for some extra 'treatment'.

Something that often gets overlooked with Richie is he took the year out towards the end of his career to prolong it a bit longer (for the World Cup I think?). It's something I think players should consider - ridiculous I know to tell Sean O'Brien - 'Hey Sean, take a year out there, don't worry if JvdF or Leavy tear it up in your absence'... but it's such an attritional sport now, especially for the forwards, I wonder could certain injury prone players look at even taking the first half of the season off?


That said we do try and manage our players better than other nations so maybe we're doing our best

David Pocock did the same thing.

You could argue he took three years out between his actual year off and then his two years in Japan. Japanese rugby is nowhere near as gruelling as other leagues.

I think he's doing another year there after the world cup.

Buer

Locke_Lamora wrote: »

Lads, didn't catch the match - how did Vakh get on? Was a big fan of his from watching the A games.

I don't think the coaches see him as ready. It was notable that they kept Bent on the field until the 70th minute despite him being no more than solid and mostly a loosehead these days.

VA was alright in his cameo. The carry to set up the decisive try will be what's remembered by most.

troyzer

Buer wrote: »

Locke_Lamora wrote: »

Lads, didn't catch the match - how did Vakh get on? Was a big fan of his from watching the A games.

I don't think the coaches see him as ready. It was notable that they kept Bent on the field until the 70th minute despite him being no more than solid and mostly a loosehead these days.

VA was alright in his cameo. The carry to set up the decisive try will be what's remembered by most.

He's really, really slow. I couldn't believe how slow he was defensively when setting up and shuffling along.

KH25

troyzer wrote: »

He's really, really slow. I couldn't believe how slow he was defensively when setting up and shuffling along.

Thought he was very slow to get up and react before the last scarlets try. Then again, I thought the defending as a whole was poor. The line speed wasn’t great and Scarlets had a lot of time on the ball.

Clegg

Scott Penny was Leinster's top tackler with 23 completed and 1 missed. He's only 19 but he already looks comfortable at professional level.

Dubinusa

Assuming Fardy is not resigned, Nagle brought back into the squad?
I never thought he was much use but, watching him play with Ulster has changed my mind.
Anybody think Dowling is ready?

salmocab

Dubinusa wrote: »

Assuming Fardy is not resigned, Nagle brought back into the squad?
I never thought he was much use but, watching him play with Ulster has changed my mind.
Anybody think Dowling is ready?

Nagle and Fardy aren’t even close. Nagle is what he always was a decent player he’s not going to win you big games but that’s okay he’s a squad player. Fardy can be the difference in the biggest games.

Clegg

Nope. Nagle is useless and hasn't contributed to Leinster at all. I don't know if Dowling is ready, but Nagle certainly isn't the answer.

Shefwedfan

After trying to watch the Munster match and turning it off I think we all have to admit

It hits Munster hardest when the Leinster players go to Ireland camp

:P:P:P:P:P:P:P:P:P:P

Burkie1203

Shefwedfan wrote: »

After trying to watch the Munster match and turning it off I think we all have to admit

It hits Munster hardest when the Leinster players go to Ireland camp

:P:P:P:P:P:P:P:P:P:P

Leinster stuck 50 on the Dragons last international window

Shefwedfan

Burkie1203 wrote: »

Leinster stuck 50 on the Dragons last international window

I looked at the match thread and seemingly it was the ref's fault :p:p

It is shocking how many poor ref's Munster get

awec

This is the Leinster thread. Stop being a dick.

Clegg

The Kings beating Edinburgh solidifies Leinster's 21 point lead. Top spot is essentially assured now.

We'll need to keep a few games open for the senior players to reintegrate into the side, but I'm looking forward to seeing the academy lads get plenty of gametime.

troyzer

Clegg wrote: »

The Kings beating Edinburgh solidifies Leinster's 21 point lead. Top spot is essentially assured now.

We'll need to keep a few games open for the senior players to reintegrate into the side, but I'm looking forward to seeing the academy lads get plenty of gametime.

So we're 21 points ahead and Edinburgh have a maximum of 30 left? Is that right?

awec

troyzer wrote: »

So we're 21 points ahead and Edinburgh have a maximum of 30 left? Is that right?

Edinburgh have a max of 35 left.


14 more points, at the absolute most, guarantees Leinster top spot. But that is only if Treviso bonus point every game.


In reality, Leinster will probably have it sewn up in the next 3 or 4 games.

troyzer

awec wrote: »

troyzer wrote: »

So we're 21 points ahead and Edinburgh have a maximum of 30 left? Is that right?

Edinburgh have a max of 35 left.


14 more points, at the absolute most, guarantees Leinster top spot. But that is only if Treviso bonus point every game.


In reality, Leinster will probably have it sewn up in the next 3 or 4 games.

I see. And Treviso and Edinburgh still have to play both each other and Leinster.

Leinster will probably clinch it after that visit to Murrayfield at the latest.

molloyjh

The reality is that we should have top spot fully nailed down in the next 3 games.

Burkie1203

molloyjh wrote: »

The reality is that we should have top spot fully nailed down in the next 3 games.

Zebre away, Kings and Cheetahs at home is next 3 games. Given how other fixtures fall 2 wins will be enough unless one club wins all 7 remaining.