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

Larbre34

salmocab wrote: »

In fairness Leinster are more than twice as good as them.

No doubt, but they picked a hella bad bad night to show the 06 ERC semi on VMT2

Former Former

Munster always had this membership scheme though, whereas Leinster did not. Munster would have found it very hard to jack up the price of an existing product, especially since its main value (getting tickets to the big games) is no longer guaranteed.

I also note that Munster have an option to gift any remaining credit from your season ticket to them, which is basically what Leinster are doing.

You don't like the Leinster offering, you don't pay it. It's that simple. You won't lose anything by not paying it.

Larbre34

Yes absolutely, but I think the Branch may loose out by setting that price. Not only on overall revenue, but on goodwill. 10,000 signing up at 60 quid is the same as 5,000 signing up at 120, but the PR value is significantly greater the more you can get inside the tent. There's significant disquiet on other fan media about the particularly prohibitive cost on families.

Ulster plan to announce their scheme in the next few weeks, it'll be interesting to see their pricing. If Leinster are found to be as far out of whack with that province also, it will have to be looked at again.

DelBoy Trotter

Larbre34 wrote: »

Yes absolutely, but I think the Branch may loose out by setting that price. Not only on overall revenue, but on goodwill. 10,000 signing up at 60 quid is the same as 5,000 signing up at 120, but the PR value is significantly greater the more you can get inside the tent. There's significant disquiet on other fan media about the particularly prohibitive cost on families.

Fully agreed, I think this is the main thing Leinster are going to miss out on and it's going to hurt them in the medium term, especially as I'd expect a bump in season ticket prices when everything goes back to normal so it will be like a double blow to supporters

Clegg

Excellent newly posted tribute video to Nacewa. Up there with BoD and Sexton as the best player I've ever seen in blue. His greatest attribute was his calmness on the pitch. When all our test players were away on Ireland duty he'd basically become the on field coach and hold the hands of his inexperienced backline and guide them through the game.

https://youtu.be/Ax0xk7_Dj2o

Burkie1203

https://twitter.com/jarrodbromley/status/1272128500217139212?s=19

Clegg

https://twitter.com/leinsterrugby/status/1272930908056797184?s=19

skeogh82

Has anybody noticed that James Lowe seems to be in NZ at the moment (per his Instagram) - presumably he should be back by now if he is to quarantine before getting to training...

errlloyd

skeogh82 wrote: »

Has anybody noticed that James Lowe seems to be in NZ at the moment (per his Instagram) - presumably he should be back by now if he is to quarantine before getting to training...

Ah tbh. Let him enjoy an open country with bars and live sports - he's IQ come November and then he'll be in for a hell of a season with the double 6 nations followed by Lions tour. We'll (hopefully) be giving some gimme runouts to Ferg and Bobby K, and then everyone else is fit.

thomond2006

McFadden has retired, he would need a short term deal to play again.

skeogh82

errlloyd wrote: »

Ah tbh. Let him enjoy an open country with bars and live sports - he's IQ come November and then he'll be in for a hell of a season with the double 6 nations followed by Lions tour. We'll (hopefully) be giving some gimme runouts to Ferg and Bobby K, and then everyone else is fit.

You are assuming he’s coming back 😂

Scottmactom

thomond2006 wrote: »

McFadden has retired, he would need a short term deal to play again.

Expect him to be involved until end of current season afaik.

Scottmactom

skeogh82 wrote: »

You are assuming he’s coming back ��

unless you know something, theres no suggestion he won't be back, so assume he won't be back is a bigger assumption than assuming he will.

skeogh82

Scottmactom wrote: »

unless you know something, theres no suggestion he won't be back, so assume he won't be back is a bigger assumption than assuming he will.

I was joking...but to be honest I’m still surprised they let him go so close to being qualified - like what if he had gotten stuck there and ended up not qualifying

scott1974

thomond2006 wrote: »

McFadden has retired, he would need a short term deal to play again.

He announced he is retiring at the end of the season, not with immediate effect.

Yeah_Right

Scottmactom wrote: »

unless you know something, theres no suggestion he won't be back, so assume he won't be back is a bigger assumption than assuming he will.

I heard that Lowe has been hanging out with the Blues. Said it had long been a dream of his to play in a team with Beauden Barrett and DC.

Scottmactom

Yeah_Right wrote: »

I heard that Lowe has been hanging out with the Blues. Said it had long been a dream of his to play in a team with Beauden Barrett and DC.

dont blame him tbf

Shefwedfan

skeogh82 wrote: »

Has anybody noticed that James Lowe seems to be in NZ at the moment (per his Instagram) - presumably he should be back by now if he is to quarantine before getting to training...

He is safer in NZ than in Ireland based on covid.....

salmocab

Shefwedfan wrote: »

He is safer in NZ than in Ireland based on covid.....

Although he’d be safer in Ireland than various aeroplanes and airports.

Bridge93

2009 croke park semi final on virgin media 2. Literally just started

Burkie1203

Bridge93 wrote: »

2009 croke park semi final on virgin media 2. Literally just started

Rocky well onside there.

Sheep Shagger

Healy is tiny!

icdg

VM Sport for those who have that channel (eir Sport and VM subscribers) are doing three nights of Leinster this weekend (they did Munster last week, before anyone asks). The 2009 semi is on again tonight along with the 2009 final straight after, and the 2012 and 2018 finals on Sunday - I think virtually everything else is from this season.

salmocab

Going to be very interesting starting off with probably all back rows available between the internationals usually back slightly later and then away regularly generally it’s rare that they are all fit and available at the same time and even then it’s generally understood that for big games who is likely in but this year all could be available for a good while before the internationals and an injury or two kick in.

Clegg

Really want to see that combo of Leavy/VDF/Conan. Incredible how little they've played together over the last few seasons. Doris off the bench for impact.

Scottmactom

Will leavy be ready for munster? big ask for his 1st game back in over a year.

arsebiscuits1

Scottmactom wrote: »

Will leavy be ready for munster? big ask for his 1st game back in over a year.

As level a playing field as you could ask for. Given both teams would be going full tilt, most players wouldn't have played since that day in Twickenham which will have been 6 months previously.

From a performance POV, he's in the same boat as the rest of them really, following the individual training plan followed by a return to contact along with the rest of them

aloooof

arsebiscuits1 wrote: »

As level a playing field as you could ask for. Given both teams would be going full tilt, most players wouldn't have played since that day in Twickenham which will have been 6 months previously.

From a performance POV, he's in the same boat as the rest of them really, following the individual training plan followed by a return to contact along with the rest of them

VdF did somewhat similar last season, returned from injury in the Pro 14 SF and was brilliant straight out of the gate, getting man of the match, he was class that day.

Obviously VdF wasn't out for as long as Leavy, but hopefully Leavy can return to his pre-injury levels, I'd wish him all the best (just not against Munster )

Clegg

The hierarchy at openside is intriguing. A fit and in form Leavy is an incredible player. Nuisance on the deck and a powerful carrier. But in his absence VdF has been one of Leinster's most consistent performers and our overall best player this season imo. Could potentially see Leavy move to blindside to accommodate both on the pitch. But that leaves Ruddock in the wilderness when he's done nothing to warrant a benching.

Scottmactom

arsebiscuits1 wrote: »

As level a playing field as you could ask for. Given both teams would be going full tilt, most players wouldn't have played since that day in Twickenham which will have been 6 months previously.

From a performance POV, he's in the same boat as the rest of them really, following the individual training plan followed by a return to contact along with the rest of them

apart from the obvious huge trauma his leg suffered. He is quite obviously going to be behind the rest.