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

Buer

Good win and decent performance but hard to judge due to the standard of opposition. Our defence was exposed again several times. We shouldn't be giving up 19 points to the Kings in 45 minutes. That's a poor return in anyone's language.

Really useful to get a good run out for so many guys who are in the academy or starting out. Kelleher, Dunne, Doris, Deegan, O'Sullivan, Patterson, COB and JOB will all benefit from the run out and continued development. Some really young guys there. Outside of Mick Kearney, I think the entire pack was 24 or younger. It's bizarre to think Ross Molony hasn't even turned 25 yet and is about to hit 80 provincial caps.

In terms of individual showings, I thought all the back row were really good. Murphy won't get the plaudits that others do but I thought he had a fine game. Made his tackles, stole ball in the line out and killed a couple of mauls on his own. A really Kev McLauglin/Leo Cullen type performance from him.

Front row and set piece was very good. Ross Molony had another good game and is really moving to another level in terms of his role within the squad/team. He gave a good platform for Kelleher to build his confidence. Kelleher went well. Nothing spectacular but looked quite comfortable at this level; Tracy showed the difference in experience when he came on and was very hungry to get on the ball. Kelleher should only improve with time.

Ed Byrne was excellent. For a guy who isn't huge he's extremely physical and tackled very well. His footwork for the first try was ridiculous. I posted elsewhere that I expect him to end up with a respectable number of caps for Ireland by the time he's done and I'll stand by that. Porter was hungry enough for a guy who is probably very disappointed this week and was part of a vastly improved scrum before he bagged his try. He can be relatively pleased. Jack Dunne will be happy to get his first proper run. Did nothing special but got his hands on the ball a number of times. Definitely room to put more beef on his frame.

Halfbacks were solid but it was very easy for them. HOS's passing was vastly improved aside from one that died a death and led to a knock on. Shades of Luke McGrath at 20. I would have been hoping for a little more threat around the fringes from him. Ross Byrne was grand without being spectacular. He's definitely trying to show a running game and, in fairness, he was taking the ball to the line a good bit more before releasing the support. Lovely offload for a late try. His kicking from hand was not great at times although his kicking from the tee was pretty decent. The lack of penalties at goal for Leinster this season is bizarre. 7 shots at goal all season from penalties from Ross Byrne, 3 of which were against Munster.

stephen.scrum

thomond2006 wrote: »

Any particular reason why the kickoff was 8pm last night? I doubt it helped the attendance last night which was quiet.

TV.

thomond2006

Dooley had a good cameo last night. He really needs to get out of Leinster in the summer, he'll turn 25 in August and it's time to push on. Could he potentially be second choice at Ulster or Connacht?

stephen.scrum

thomond2006 wrote: »

Dooley had a good cameo last night. He really needs to get out of Leinster in the summer, he'll turn 25 in August and it's time to push on. Could he potentially be second choice at Ulster or Connacht?

He isn't out of contract, the three props ahead of him at leinster are. He isn't going anywhere this summer.

thomond2006

stephen.scrum wrote: »

He isn't out of contract, the three props ahead of him at leinster are. He isn't going anywhere this summer.

Cian Healy will be getting a monster contract from the IRFU.

Jack McGrath is an interesting situation. He hasn't recaptured the form that got him on the Lions and Healy is the undisputed first choice. He'll be getting big offers from overseas.

Ed Byrne has had a breakout season and the timing couldn't be better.

If the three stay then Dooley needs to get out of there. Another season as fourth choice won't help his future prospects. I don't think Leinster would stand in his way.

stephen.scrum

thomond2006 wrote: »

Cian Healy will be getting a monster contract from the IRFU.

Jack McGrath is an interesting situation. He hasn't recaptured the form that got him on the Lions and Healy is the undisputed first choice. He'll be getting big offers from overseas.

Ed Byrne has had a breakout season and the timing couldn't be better.

If the three stay then Dooley needs to get out of there. Another season as fourth choice won't help his future prospects. I don't think Leinster would stand in his way.

If Leinster released him this summer, they'd have 1 senior LH Prop until December.

Who knows what will happen with the 3 older props, but I'd be very surprised if Dooley wasn't with Leinster in preseason.

thomond2006

stephen.scrum wrote: »

If Leinster released him this summer, they'd have 1 senior LH Prop until December.

I understand that, but Leinster will likely be so dominant in those Pro14 games it's unlikely to matter.

stephen.scrum

thomond2006 wrote: »

I understand that, but Leinster will likely be so dominant in those Pro14 games it's unlikely to matter.

ah come of, no one who runs a pro sports team thinks that way.

thomond2006

stephen.scrum wrote: »

ah come of, no one who runs a pro sports team thinks that way.

Oh I know, it's certainly not in Leinster's best interest to release him.

stephen_n

thomond2006 wrote: »

Oh I know, it's certainly not in Leinster's best interest to release him.

Given he only signed at contract at the end of last season, despite offers from Ulster. I get the impression he’s not in a rush to leave.

Exclamation Marc

So a win next week or Edinburgh and Treviso failing to win today and we've topped the conference with four/five games to spare.

Has been a good season domestically and hopefully the younger players can keep up the momentum over the dead rubber games.

Turnout was good last night in the RDS given the circumstances.

Burkie1203

Heymans wrote: »

True and he'll look good in those games getting loads of carries. It's when the level goes a bit higher that I worry about his contribution to the team.

He had one monster tackle turnover and made numerous gainline breaks. He had a good game I'm just highlighting what I think is a lack of work ethic or a habit he has carried with him since his underage days from poor coaching.

11 carries for 51m
14 tackles (0 misses) - highest on Leinster team
Total tackle count wad 80 (and 9 missed)

Possession was 67-33 in Leinsters favour

Whatever issues he may have. It ain't a lack of work ethic

sydthebeat

Burkie1203

Embra losing means Leinster are 100% assured a play-off spot now.

A win next seals conference

durkadurka

Burkie1203 wrote: »

Embra losing means Leinster are 100% assured a play-off spot now.

A win next seals conference

It’s been a done deal since Christmas really hasn’t it. We’ve just been waiting for the mathematics to catch up. I’ve never known a more dominant campaign

stephen_n

durkadurka wrote: »

It’s been a done deal since Christmas really hasn’t it. We’ve just been waiting for the mathematics to catch up. I’ve never known a more dominant campaign

Let’s hope that doesn’t prove detrimental and we end up off the boil by the playoffs.

Dubinusa

Lots of youngsters getting a stab at it.
They are hungry and will pressure the seniors.
Deegan is a superb prospect, and already is a good player. Don't understand the criticism!
Anyway, Josh Murphy and Doris alongside Deegan will in time become an outstanding back row unit. Then, there's Penny and the incumbents!
Harry Byrne is another one for the future. He is going great for the u20's.
Dooley will stay as I think Healy or Jack may leave.
Both of them would get serious pay increases in France.
I think Jack will go. Just a feeling, but the IRFU would be mad to let Healy bolt.
I was surprised to see that Dowling wasn't involved?

stephen_n

Leo’s comments about Deegan and Doris, saying we have two 7 1/2’s but not an 8 were interesting. Not really sure how the lads should take that one.

Shefwedfan

stephen_n wrote: »

Leo’s comments about Deegan and Doris, saying we have two 7 1/2’s but not an 8 were interesting. Not really sure how the lads should take that one.

Will Nordi become an 8 and swap him for one of Deegan/Doris?

He is playing 8 today

Ireland and Leinster light on 8, bring Nordi back down, swap Deegan/Doris up. Nordi/Conan straight out fight for Lsinter 8 jersey.....Ulster have Cootzee playing 8 and I think he signed new contract.

In this new World of interclub transfer it might make sense. In regards to 7 we have Leavy, Van Der Flier and Penny

stephen_n

Shefwedfan wrote: »

Will Nordi become an 8 and swap him for one of Deegan/Doris?

He is playing 8 today

Ireland and Leinster light on 8, bring Nordi back down, swap Deegan/Doris up. Nordi/Conan straight out fight for Lsinter 8 jersey.....Ulster have Cootzee playing 8 and I think he signed new contract.

In this new World of interclub transfer it might make sense. In regards to 7 we have Leavy, Van Der Flier and Penny

I think Leo is pointedly using his post match interviews to push certain players on. He did it already with Deegan this season. Both players are natural 8’s IMO. Both are also still young. Conan is only really fulfilling his potential in the last two years.

awec

Murphy signed a two year deal with Ulster but I would be surprised if he headed straight back down to Leinster at the end of that.

kingofthekong

Murphy would be mad to come back down into a Leinster squad with: Conan, Deegan, Doris, Connors, Penny, Leavy, VDF, Ruddock, Josh Murphy

Clegg

kingofthekong wrote: »

Murphy would be mad to come back down into a Leinster squad with: Conan, Deegan, Doris, Connors, Penny, Leavy, VDF, Ruddock, Josh Murphy

Jordi is comfortably better than most of those players though. He'd push for a start at 6 or 8 where he's at a very similar level to Ruddock and Conan. Not a better openside than VdF or Leavy though.

Heaslip's retirement coupled with Murphy's departure has really opened up things for Leinster's backrow. The younger players are getting even more opportunities to play now. That'll only increase when SoB leaves. It's why I wouldn't want Murphy back even though he'd walk into the best 23.

Dubinusa

I think the knock on affect of Jordi leaving and SOB almost out the door, is that the other backrows will get to see a lot of match time.
In a couple of years, these lads could be mainstays.
They all are superb prospects.
Leinster are blessed to have this level of quality.

Shefwedfan

kingofthekong wrote: »

Murphy would be mad to come back down into a Leinster squad with: Conan, Deegan, Doris, Connors, Penny, Leavy, VDF, Ruddock, Josh Murphy

Leinster are not going to be allowed to keep all those players


Ulster are already after Deegan
Munster are after Leavy or VDF


So don't expect them to stay. Leinster need at least 2 x 8's....Conan and ?? if it is Doris then we need to invest in him now and release Deegan.

If Doris and Deegan are not really 8's then why would Murphy not come back and have a direct fight with Conan for the 8 jersey.

troyzer

Shefwedfan wrote: »

kingofthekong wrote: »

Murphy would be mad to come back down into a Leinster squad with: Conan, Deegan, Doris, Connors, Penny, Leavy, VDF, Ruddock, Josh Murphy

Leinster are not going to be allowed to keep all those players


Ulster are already after Deegan
Munster are after Leavy or VDF


So don't expect them to stay. Leinster need at least 2 x 8's....Conan and ?? if it is Doris then we need to invest in him now and release Deegan.

If Doris and Deegan are not really 8's then why would Murphy not come back and have a direct fight with Conan for the 8 jersey.

I know that Ulster approached Deegan but since when have Munster been sniffing after one of our opensides?

Burkie1203

troyzer wrote: »

I know that Ulster approached Deegan but since when have Munster been sniffing after one of our opensides?

Munster were rumoured to be interested in Leavy or VDF last summer.

D14Rugby

Ulster are looking at other options for backrow now, they've moved on from Deegan unless something changes the situation don't expect him to go up there.

Shefwedfan

troyzer wrote: »

I know that Ulster approached Deegan but since when have Munster been sniffing after one of our opensides?

Next season we will have Leavy/VDF and Penny who are all specialist 7's. Munster's TOD is on the way out now for a while. From an IRFU point of view they will have too many eggs in Leinster.



No idea if official approach but wasn't it mentioned in press about VDF to Munster? or maybe it was some of the rugby sites

Squidgy Black

I wouldn't read into Leo's comments too much, simply because neither player is a 7 or close to it. It's more a comment to push them on and refine their game as an 8. They're both natural 8s in size and playing style.

Ulster will/should try hold on to Nordie for as long as they can, he can cover across the backrow at a high level and is a real foundation to build off of to help bring younger players through.