Leinster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread XI (The Finals Countdown)

sydthebeat

whatawaster wrote: »

Am I the only one who would not be in the least bit surprised to see Frawley push on and be ahead of Ross Byrne in the next year? It could obviously go the other way too - any there are a lot of variables (best position, gametime, will he even stay at Leinster). But he has a very well rounded game, not too unlike a young Sexton had.

Byrne is currently a better distributor, which is a must for a 10.

Frawley needs more consistent game time, or i fear he will be over taken by Byrne Jnr (if not already)

AdamD

AdamD wrote: »

Could see Frawley leaving anyway. I'd be shocked if one of our 8s left. Would make more sense for Josh Murphy to move on. One of the younger 9s is surely due to go too. COB isn't getting much game time either but the other provinces have plenty of centres.

The one factor with a lot of these younger players is that many of them are studying in Dublin. Isn't Murphy studying medicine?

whatawaster wrote: »

Am I the only one who would not be in the least bit surprised to see Frawley push on and be ahead of Ross Byrne in the next year? It could obviously go the other way too - any there are a lot of variables (best position, gametime, will he even stay at Leinster). But he has a very well rounded game, not too unlike a young Sexton had.

I think Byrne has improved this season just like he improved last season. He keeps getting better while everyone talks about the next guy up who is going to knock him out of the lineup.

Frawley needs to start at 10 in a few games where Leinster are under serious pressure and deliver a good game managing performance to see us through. Byrne has done this, need to see it from Frawley before any bets are on or off.

Buer

Frawley needs a bit more composure. He looks like he has a nicely rounded game but his distribution can be quite erratic. In the second half of the Connacht game, he had 10 minutes where his passing was all over the place and he must have thrown 3 passes to the deck.

I don't think Ross Byrne is an exceptionally gifted passer of the ball but, for the most part, he's a very good decision maker and changes the direction of play very smoothly and efficiently.

salmocab

[Deleted User] wrote: »

The one factor with a lot of these younger players is that many of them are studying in Dublin. Isn't Murphy studying medicine?
.

This is actually a very good point, the younger lads more so may have reasons to be in Dublin.

Clegg

The Times have Ruddock, VdF, Deegan, Doris and Connors all in the 6N squad. Who do Leinster select when these lads are away? Getting a bit thin on cover. Penney and Murphy would start. But there are no obvious number 8's.

errlloyd

Clegg wrote: »

The Times have Ruddock, VdF, Deegan, Doris and Connors all in the 6N squad. Who do Leinster select when these lads are away? Getting a bit thin on cover. Penney and Murphy would start. But there are no obvious number 8's.

They won't all be gone, but if they are we can call up whoever is currently playing there for the Michael's JCT, or Fardy can do a job at 8.

whatawaster

errlloyd wrote: »

They won't all be gone, but if they are we can call up whoever is currently playing there for the Michael's JCT, or Fardy can do a job at 8.

I'd say Connors and one of Deegan/Doris will be released for most Leinster matches

Buer

Clegg wrote: »

The Times have Ruddock, VdF, Deegan, Doris and Connors all in the 6N squad. Who do Leinster select when these lads are away? Getting a bit thin on cover. Penney and Murphy would start. But there are no obvious number 8's.

Leinster don't have a match until Feb 15th. We'll have all wider squad members back with the Leinster camp for the week leading into that match as there's no Irish game so I'd expect lads like Conners, Deegan/Doris (if not selected by Ireland) to be playing for Leinster.

arsebiscuits1

Clegg wrote: »

The Times have Ruddock, VdF, Deegan, Doris and Connors all in the 6N squad. Who do Leinster select when these lads are away? Getting a bit thin on cover. Penney and Murphy would start. But there are no obvious number 8's.

Guaranteed to get a few of those lads back. Much as I'd like to see it, I don't think all those fellas will start/ bench for Ireland.

The likes of Fardy, Murphy, Penny and even Baird would all adequately supplement Connors and Deegan/ Doris depending who we get back (and Farrell will definitely want the latters getting game time)

Dubinusa

The annual pilfering of Leinster treasure! It's good for the overall game on the island, but I hate seeing lads leaving.
I think Ferg and RK will be done and dusted this year. So incoming lads, TOB and Mullin will step right in. Tomane may not be offered a new contract, if so, COB will stay.
I can see Adam Byrne uproot and go elsewhere! He'd be a good fit at Connacht. Frawley would be mad to leave! Sexton is in the twilight of his career and Frawley would see lots of playing time over the next couple of seasons.
One of H.O.S or Patterson is likely to move. They won't get a look in at Leinster. I think Aungier will see some game time over the next few weeks. I'm not sure if Leinster rate him very high. Salanoa may go, but Leinster may really rate him and try to keep him. Unfortunately, I think one of the 8's will leave. When Conan returns it's going to limit the development of Doris and Deegan. Penny may go, especially knowing that Leavy will be back. It's a bottleneck in the back row, some one will want more minutes. I think Munster will make a pitch for Connors. He would waltz into the starting line up and get regular minutes. As far as I can see Munster don't give their own lads a chance. Clote is limited and not near test level. JOD is played out of position so a pitch for Connors could be coming.

Richie_Rich89

Clegg wrote: »

The Times have Ruddock, VdF, Deegan, Doris and Connors all in the 6N squad. Who do Leinster select when these lads are away? Getting a bit thin on cover. Penney and Murphy would start. But there are no obvious number 8's.

There'd be Murphy and Dowling for blindside, and Penny for openside (dunno if Aspil is still with the squad). I think Martin Moloney was long-term injured. Don't know if he's back. He can play both flanker positions.

8 is where the obvious hole is if Deegan and Doris are away. If they're unavailable, I guess it'd be one of Tony Ryan, Ronan Foley or Ronan Watters. I read there's an 'A' game against Ulster coming up. Selection for that might give a few pointers who'd be selected at 8.

Squidgy Black

Richie_Rich89 wrote: »

There'd be Murphy and Dowling for blindside, and Penny for openside (dunno if Aspil is still with the squad). I think Martin Moloney was long-term injured. Don't know if he's back. He can play both flanker positions.

8 is where the obvious hole is if Deegan and Doris are away. If they're unavailable, I guess it'd be one of Tony Ryan, Ronan Foley or Ronan Watters. I read there's an 'A' game against Ulster coming up. Selection for that might give a few pointers who'd be selected at 8.

Bit of a moot argument now Richie considering Ruddock didn't get called up.

Richie_Rich89

Squidgy Black wrote: »

Bit of a moot argument now Richie considering Ruddock didn't get called up.

I suppose. They could stick Ruddock in at 8, with Murphy at blindside.

Kevski

Conan should be back in the next month or so if his rehab has been going well. He had surgery at the beginning of October and the timeframe given for his return at that time was 4 months.

Clegg

Kevski wrote: »

Conan should be back in the next month or so if his rehab has been going well. He had surgery at the beginning of October and the timeframe given for his return at that time was 4 months.

It was reported as a 6 month absence afaik. If that's the case then we may not see him play at all this season.

Clegg

Clegg wrote: »

The Times have Ruddock, VdF, Deegan, Doris and Connors all in the 6N squad. Who do Leinster select when these lads are away? Getting a bit thin on cover. Penney and Murphy would start. But there are no obvious number 8's.

Farrell's done us a favour in this regard. Ruddock absolutely deserves to be in the Ireland squad, but I won't complain that he'll be available for Leinster.

PhlegmyMoses

Wouldnt surprise me if Ruddock decided to look for a big payday elsewhere tbh.

AbusesToilets

Shocking treatment of Ruddock tbh. What more can he do? Outplayed everyone at 6 in the country, gets ****ed over repeatedly. I'd be off to France at this stage, make some money. Have to wonder if he regrets getting capped for Ireland. He'd walk into the Welsh team.

prawnsambo

Clegg wrote: »

It was reported as a 6 month absence afaik. If that's the case then we may not see him play at all this season.

Four to six months was the initial prognosis. And there's almost three of those gone now.

Faugheen

PhlegmyMoses wrote: »

Wouldnt surprise me if Ruddock decided to look for a big payday elsewhere tbh.

Exactly my first thought. I wouldn’t bother hanging around if I was him.

Exclamation Marc

AbusesToilets wrote: »

Shocking treatment of Ruddock tbh. What more can he do? Outplayed everyone at 6 in the country, gets ****ed over repeatedly. I'd be off to France at this stage, make some money. Have to wonder if he regrets getting capped for Ireland. He'd walk into the Welsh team.

Ridiculous that he's not been picked. On form alone, he's miles ahead of Peter O'Mahony. You're right, you wouldn't blame him at 29 heading off for a serious payday.

AbusesToilets

I guess Leo can give him some comfort. He had plenty of experiences getting passed over for inferior players.

Tim Robbins

whatawaster wrote: »

Am I the only one who would not be in the least bit surprised to see Frawley push on and be ahead of Ross Byrne in the next year? It could obviously go the other way too - any there are a lot of variables (best position, gametime, will he even stay at Leinster). But he has a very well rounded game, not too unlike a young Sexton had.

Frawley is bigger and a better tackler. Byrne has a big more game management experience but Frawley will catch up in my view, my be a 12 as well.

But yeah I'd agree with you.

Tim Robbins

Buer wrote: »

Makes complete sense. They've 4 outhalves all of whom are either good enough or potentially good enough to be capped. The same is true at openside.

At 8, there are only 3 real options but it's possibly the highest standard of all.

Something has to give with these guys although I'd say all of them are watching one another hoping one of the others depart.

I'd say Penny and Frawley are the most likely to leave at this point.

One of those 8's can play / cover 6.

Kevski

Stuart Lancaster did a 50min interview for this weeks Rugby Union Weekly podcast. Worth a listen if you get a chance. Nice to hear him say that Isa is the greateat leader that he has worked with.

https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/rugby-union-weekly/id1197440162?i=1000462549758

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p080cl9k

Clegg

Try had it all. BOD's pop pass putting Nacewa through the gap, Nacewa's beautiful 20 metre pass whilst running at full tilt, D'Arcy's finish and Sexton telling ROG to GTFO.

https://twitter.com/Murray_Kinsella/status/1217568436273983491?s=19

arsebiscuits1

PhlegmyMoses wrote: »

Wouldnt surprise me if Ruddock decided to look for a big payday elsewhere tbh.

Ruddock would absolutely thrive in the premiership.

He was never the most athletically gifted player but his fundamentals are excellent. Few give more to latches, carries, tackles. And he is rarely dominated physically.

He's a real all rounder that would suit the premiership style. A team like Exeter would love a player of his calibre.

Would be a monumental loss to Leinster but could understand if he chose to move. He's 29 with a phenomenal injury profile.

AdamD

At what point did being an all rounder at 6 become a bad thing? Isn't that the usual thing you want in your 6, not a line out specialist? Worlds gone mad

Bus Boy

Kevski wrote: »

Stuart Lancaster did a 50min interview for this weeks Rugby Union Weekly podcast. Worth a listen if you get a chance. Nice to hear him say that Isa is the greateat leader that he has worked with.

https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/rugby-union-weekly/id1197440162?i=1000462549758

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p080cl9k

Great listen. What a humble intelligent man. Seems himself and Leo are a perfect match.

Squidgy Black

Is the team announcement for Treviso today?