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

Richie_Rich89

Those Demented Mole articles detailing how many young (defined as U23) and old (defined as 33+) players start league games over different seasons make for interesting reading.

https://dementedmole.com/2015/01/20/the-age-of-aquarius/

https://dementedmole.com/2018/03/21/from-aquarius-to-leo-rising/

In the selection to face the Dragons there are two "young" players - Frawley and Ronan Kelleher - and three "old" players - Fardy, Bent and Sexton. It'd be interesting to keep track of how many young players start on average in the league over the course of the season.

Currently contracted U23s:
Michael Milne
Ronan Kelleher
Dan Sheehan
John McKee
Thomas Clarkson
Jack Dunne
Ryan Baird
Charlie Ryan
Brian Deeny
Joe McCarthy
Scott Penny
Martin Moloney
Sean O'Brien
Alex Soroka
Caelan Doris
Hugh O'Sullivan
Paddy Patterson
Cormac Foley
Ciaran Frawley
Harry Byrne
David Hawkshaw
Tommy O'Brien
Liam Turner
Michael Silvester
Aaron O'Sullivan
Andrew Smith
Niall Comerford
Max O'Reilly

Current players who are 33+:
Michael Bent
Sean Cronin
Scott Fardy
Devin Toner
Jonathan Sexton

jacothelad

Clegg wrote: »

Cronin, Porter, Healy, Baird and Deegan is a ridiculous set of forwards to bring off the bench.

Unless the Dragons have undergone a huge transformational improvement, I suspect they are in for a complete rugby enema.

arsebiscuits1

Deleted User wrote: »

Thoroughly enjoyable listen. Good insight into Sexton's mindset and attitude:

There is a rationality and maturity about him that I admire a lot. A lot of the sentiment here is reflective of the calculated nature of successful people in any sport or professional pursuit.

Can hear a lot of Lancaster in there also.

Listened to it in 2 parts finishing it this morning.

Really really excellent interview.

While I know that Sexton is far from the persona we see on the pitch - it's refreshing to see him in his comfort zone here being able to be honest with his chat. he comes across exceptionally well here. Quite serious but able to poke fun at himself and show a much lighter side of his personality.

Johnny gets misinterpreted by a lot of people because they either see what he's like on the pitch. Or they see what he's like in press conferences or sound bites. And I hate both of those mediums as all they cater to is print media dying for a headline (something he alluded to in this pod) As a result in those mediums he can come across as rather blunt or disinterested or aloof where as in actual fact, he's protecting himself as much as possible against the inevitable misrepresentation that print media will print.

Side note: I know people love to hate Haskell, but he is excellent at adding to an environment where people can be pretty open and honest and comfortable. The episode they did with SOB a few months back was similarly excellent.

Paul Smeenus

Your last point is spot on - I think Haskell is an absolute @rse, but players from all the home nations seem to love him; he seems to be a bit of a character and to be fair, very open himself, so his presence really seems to set interviewees at their ease

Skyfloater

Paul Smeenus wrote: »

Your last point is spot on - I think Haskell is an absolute @rse, but players from all the home nations seem to love him; he seems to be a bit of a character and to be fair, very open himself, so his presence really seems to set interviewees at their ease

He is funny though.

arsebiscuits1

Jesus couldn't have asked for better conditions for the first game back.

Splitting sun out there and no rain forecast this evening.

Should be a good one. Looking forward to this

Clegg

This is actually really cool. Digital programme for tonight's match.

https://twitter.com/leinsterrugby/status/1312041404965756928?s=19

Great idea.

sydthebeat

Fantastic interview with Ashton hewitt

Guinness RFC

Looking forward to seeing Keenan tonight. He’s the best option at FB presently. Will be watching for positional play and reads at the backfield. Hopefully can defend well also

Will be watching TG4 to avoid a head wreck on Eir.

Clegg

Not the best of starts to the new season.

randomname2005

Clegg wrote: »

Not the best of starts to the new season.

Shocking, but better scrum

Clegg

That's much better.

Start as you mean to go on

Squidgy Black

That's a massive scrum against the head.

Also what the fúck are those Dragons jerseys

Clegg

Using your 9 on the crashball from set piece.

I like it

Honestly that's frustrating to see given how much it cost us against saracens

Squidgy Black

Huge clearout by Lowe there on that ruck

Clegg

Unlucky for Keenan. Did well to get in front of his marker, but couldn't get the grounding.

Buer

Why all the looks? Not a chance he grounded it on any angle.

degsie

This on radio anywhere?

Buer

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Honestly that's frustrating to see given how much it cost us against saracens

Different opponent but noticeable that all 8 stayed down the whole time. Ruddock also supporting the loose head makes a significant difference.

"Dragons are comfortable with slowing down the clock"

5 mins in at 0-0

Gas

Boscoirl

Buer wrote: »

Why all the looks? Not a chance he grounded it on any angle.

Toland is some dose

Wanted to exclude the angle that showed it was a knock clear on. Saying the slow makes it look like a knock on.

Clegg

That's an incredible counter ruck.

randomname2005

Would like to see fardys tackle again, seemed like he was happy with the completion. Afraid of holding on to long?

Clegg

That's Frawley fecked with the head knock.

He's not coming back in after his HIA.

randomname2005

Clegg wrote: »

That's Frawley fecked with the head knock.

He's not coming back in after his HIA.

Yup. Would be very surprised to see him again

Guinness RFC

Clegg wrote: »

That's Frawley fecked with the head knock.

He's not coming back in after his HIA.

He got nice and low on the tackle though. Good intent if not execution

A-Train

That’s a terrible knock Frawley got.