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

KaneToad

KaneToad wrote: »

To this day it still amazes me that Bent played for Ireland before playing for Leinster.

You forget what happened the previous winter in Twickenham. The Irish scrum was struggling and Ross went off around mid way through the first half (albeit I think he had been in difficulty all game).

Tom Court came into a struggling front row and got folded for 60 minutes. We were actually the better team that day in open play. England struggled to build a score despite winning every scrum dominantly. It was a disaster and the coaches were under serious pressure to avoid a repeat so went looking for tightheads and the result was Bent getting capped immediately.

Scottmactom

Scottmactom wrote: »

You'd have thought leinster might have announced some contract news by now.

There isn't a single business in the country that isn't being extremely careful with cash right now. Too much uncertainty for long term planning - It won't be like previous years.

pjdarcy

Scottmactom wrote: »

re-watched Leinster Munster 2009 and Leinster Northampton 2011 at the weekend. RK missed both games.

Great memories.

Yeah I watched that too. I forgot how intense it was. The first twenty minutes were akin to a war. Late hits, early hits, swinging arms, offside hits and all grand from the refs point of view. It doesn't seem like it was that long ago but the game was so much more entertaining back then.

Scottmactom

Deleted User wrote: »

There isn't a single business in the country that isn't being extremely careful with cash right now. Too much uncertainty for long term planning - It won't be like previous years.

Ulster, Munster and Connacht have all announced contract extensions and confirmed their academies for next season.

Rigor Mortis

thomond2006 wrote: »

ThLike you I'm glad to see the move to five years as the likes of the IRFU and SRU had completely broken the spirit of the rule.

I think that is unnecessarily harsh. It is hard to find any Tier 1 team, bar SA, who has not abused this rule. Moving players overseas as schoolkids is no less an abuse than what happened with James Lowe, CJ, Bundee, Payne etc.

I'm delighted to see the increase in residency to 5 years, but the scholarships will continue to be offered and the South Sea islands will continue to lose players.

AbusesToilets

Deleted User wrote: »

He is going to walk into the starting 15 and I'm personally fine with it. I'm glad the rule has changed to 5 years. I think 5 years is a reasonable period of time and limits future selections to players who have spent a substantial amount of time within the community. He'll be the last player through on the 3 year rule so I hope there isn't a lot of teeth gnashing when he inevitably starts a tier 1 fixture.

I think he's a good shout at walking into the Lions test team too. He's just a cut above any other back 3 player in the home nations imo.

Scottmactom

Scottmactom wrote: »

Ulster, Munster and Connacht have all announced contract extensions and confirmed their academies for next season.

Ok so there are three businesses...!

I can't explain why the delay with Leinster so, but again it's not normal rules at the moment so I haven't been expecting much of anything either.

salmocab

KaneToad wrote: »

To this day it still amazes me that Bent played for Ireland before playing for Leinster.

It’s a yes and no answer for me, he certainly hadn’t close to earned a cap but that wasn’t his fault, Ireland were stuck for decent TH cover and he came along, I personally think he’s been one of Leinster’s best overseas signings overall but him getting capped then says more about the Irish setup at that stage than anything else.

Scottmactom

Leinster's 30's brigade

Scott Fardy(36) - contract was due to end in June 2020.
Johnny Sexton(35) - centrally contracted until June 2021
Michael Bent(34) - contract was due to end in June 2020.
Sean Cronin(34) - contract was due to end in June 2020.
Devin Toner(34) - central contract was due to end in June 2020.
Rob Kearney(34) - expected to depart at the end of the season.
Fergus McFadden(34) - finishing at the end of the season.
Cian Healy(32) - centrally contracted until June 2021
Dave Kearney(31) - signed contract last season.

ongarite

Unfortunately I think Fardy will be released.
In any other circumstances he would be signed for one more year.

aloooof

AbusesToilets wrote: »

I think he's a good shout at walking into the Lions test team too. He's just a cut above any other back 3 player in the home nations imo.

I wouldn't quite go that far, but he does strike me as the kinda player Gatland would like.

Shefwedfan

salmocab wrote: »

It’s a yes and no answer for me, he certainly hadn’t close to earned a cap but that wasn’t his fault, Ireland were stuck for decent TH cover and he came along, I personally think he’s been one of Leinster’s best overseas signings overall but him getting capped then says more about the Irish setup at that stage than anything else.

Wasn't that the November internationals? wasnt it the following 6 natiosn we ended up with POM on the wing v Italy? :P

Clegg

ongarite wrote: »

Unfortunately I think Fardy will be released.
In any other circumstances he would be signed for one more year.

I hope we can come to an arrangement to have him stay until the season is completed. He'll be vital for the Munster double header coming up and a potential league final. But I'd money is as tight as we think then he probably won't be able to stay. Great opportunity for Baird though.

Burkie1203

ongarite wrote: »

Unfortunately I think Fardy will be released.
In any other circumstances he would be signed for one more year.

It's possible contracts were signed 4 or 5 months ago and just not announced yet too. Leinster losing 5 players as it is. 10 international games next season followed by a Lions tour. Iremand internationals will be playing even less pro14 games

Burkie1203

Burkie1203 wrote: »

Iremand internationals

Scottmactom

Burkie1203 wrote: »

It's possible contracts were signed 4 or 5 months ago and just not announced yet too. Leinster losing 5 players as it is. 10 international games next season followed by a Lions tour. Iremand internationals will be playing even less pro14 games

Mick Dawson said contracts for the squad for next season were all sorted pre pandemic. why they haven't announced it yet, well who knows.

Former Former

The entire squad is in negotiations about a sizeable pay cut. Announcing anything about contracts is probably premature.

Scottmactom

Former Former wrote: »

The entire squad is in negotiations about a sizeable pay cut. Announcing anything about contracts is probably premature.

hasnt stopped the other provinces.

Former Former

Scottmactom wrote: »

hasnt stopped the other provinces.

You seem to be taking it very personally. It doesn't really matter that much.

Scottmactom

Former Former wrote: »

You seem to be taking it very personally. It doesn't really matter that much.

why bother at all with updates for fans and having a social media presence if it all ultimately doesnt really matter?

Kevski

Clegg wrote: »

I hope we can come to an arrangement to have him stay until the season is completed. He'll be vital for the Munster double header coming up and a potential league final. But I'd money is as tight as we think then he probably won't be able to stay. Great opportunity for Baird though.

I saw Fardy out walking on Saturday so he’s still around anyway.

Clegg

There's pics of Leinster's first training session back. Sexton looks like he's put on a stone in muscle.

Edit. That's the one.

Scottmactom

Buer

Sexton was always deceptively big. He looks lean on the pitch because of his height and a bit of a funny shape but he's a big enough bloke. He doesn't execute all those choke tackles or smash someone like Carl Fearns purely on technique. I remember there were traning photos on the Lions tour where he looked like a tank.

Image halfway down this page: https://www.the42.ie/lions-2017-ireland-984157-Jul2013/

Scottmactom

Leinster Senior squad until end of September:

LH Prop(4)
Cian Healy(32)
Ed Byrne(26)
Peter Dooley(26)
Michael Milne(21)

TH Prop(4)
Michael Bent(34)
Tadhg Furlong(27)
Andrew Porter(24)
Vakh Abdaladze(24)

Hooker(4)
Sean Cronin(34)
James Tracy(29)
Ronan Kelleher(22)
Dan Sheehan(21)

Lock(6)
Scott Fardy(36)
Devin Toner(34)
Ross Molony(26)
James Ryan(24)
Jack Dunne(21)
Ryan Baird(21)

Backrow(9)
Rhys Ruddock(29)
Jack Conan(28)
Josh Van Der Flier(27)
Dan Leavy(26)
Josh Murphy(25)
Will Connors(24)
Max Deegan(23)
Caelan Doris(24)
Scott Penny(20)

Scrumhalf(4)
Jamie Gibson Park(28) - currently in NZ
Luke McGrath(27)
Rowan Osborne(23)
Hugh O'Sullivan(22)

Outhalf(4)
Jonathan Sexton(35)
Ross Byrne(25)
Ciaran Frawley(22)
Harry Byrne(21)

Centre(7)
Robbie Henshaw(27)
Rory O'Loughlin(26)
Garry Ringrose(25)
Conor O'Brien(24)
Jimmy O'Brien(23)
Gavin Mullin(22)
Tommy O'Brien(22)

Back Three(9)
Rob Kearney(34)
Fergus McFadden(34)
Dave Kearney(31)
James Lowe(28) - currently in NZ
Barry Daly(27)
Adam Byrne(26)
Cian Kelleher(26)
Hugo Keenan(24)
Jordan Larmour(23)

Buer

Is that official?

Tomane gone. Sheehan, Dunne, Byrne, Baird, Tommy O'Brien, Mullin, and Milne promoted.

All else the same, I think?

Exclamation Marc

Buer wrote: »

Is that official?

I don't think so. They've announced nothing.

Sheep Shagger

Healy looks like a beast too.

https://www.sportsfile.com/more-images/2006022a/

thebaz

Buer wrote: »

Sexton was always deceptively big. He looks lean on the pitch because of his height and a bit of a funny shape but he's a big enough bloke.

yeah Sexton is a lot bigger in real life - some dodgy looking bleached haircuts - cut it Josh !

BonnieSituation

Sheep Shagger wrote: »

Healy looks like a beast too.

https://www.sportsfile.com/more-images/2006022a/

I remember getting a flight to Paris just after Christmas in 2009 and Healy and his other half were getting the same flight.

And even then he was built like another species! Massive!