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

Interested Observer

Burkie1203 wrote: »

I think Doris should not play again this season.

Obviously to be left to the medical team but yeah tbh you'd fear for him if he played again any time soon.

I recall VDF had a fairly long period stood down early in his career, few months possibly (?) and he seems to have come through it alright. Such a shame for Doris, unbelievably talented player.

Exclamation Marc

Burkie1203 wrote: »

Who was the player who went to see a specialist who diagnosed an ear issue was the cause of the symptoms?

Am hoping 🙠its something similar but I think Doris should not play again this season.

Sean O'Brien I think.

bayern

What sort of backrow will leinster have for the 6 nations if Conan/Ruddock/Connors/JVDF are all with ireland and not released and Penny/Deegan/Doris looking like they'll all be out injured.

Could we see Soroka start at 6 or 8?

Or will Leavy move to 8 and SOB start at 7?

arsebiscuits1

bayern wrote: »

What sort of backrow will leinster have for the 6 nations if Conan/Ruddock/Connors/JVDF are all with ireland and not released and Penny/Deegan/Doris looking like they'll all be out injured.

Could we see Soroka start at 6 or 8?

Or will Leavy move to 8 and SOB start at 7?

I didn't get the impression from Leinster that Penny was looking at a lengthy layoff. But obviously neck injuries are tread carefully territory.

By the time Dragons rolls around it will be 6 weeks since he went off. Hopefully ample time for recovery.

In this case I assume it would be 6 - Murphy 7 - Penny 8 - Leavy.

Also I think it's fair to say we will get Baird back so there is an option to play him at 6 too.

Also if we're stuck we can obviously stick Fardy there also.

As a more left field pick if we totally shorn of options, I think a back row with Leavy at 7 and Josh Murphy at 8 would be pretty good. I know Josh has only covered 8 when we've been stuck but I think he could do a job there. His carrying has been very good this season.

Shoehorning people in though in lieu of playing the academy hasn't really been Leinsters MO in recent years though. I think we will see one of SOB or Soroka assuming they're ready.

With full respect to Dragons, if a Leinster academy player at any stage isn't ready to take to the field against them or Zebre, they are pretty unlikely to make it. I consider lower end Pro14 games the minimum expectation for academy players of any age

molloyjh

If we assume that we get nobody back from Ireland camp, which may not be the case, I'd say we'll see something like the below, although I may be being optimistic on the injury front. Does anyone know if Bent is available?

Dooley Tracy Bent/McGrath
Molony Fardy
Murphy Leavy Penny/SOB

McGrath HByrne
Frawley Turner
Kearney JOB Kelleher

Cronin, Milne, Clarkson, Dunne, SOB/Soroka, HOS, Hawkshaw, Osborne

EDIT: I forgot about Toner, who I'm assuming will be available. Thst maybe eases things a bit and allows Fardy to move into the back row. Still, we're fairly threadbare on a few positions at the moment unless we get a few guys back from injury.

bayern

If TOB/JOB were available i'd really fancy seeing this backline:

9. McGrath
10. HB
11. Kearney
12. Frawley
13. TOB
14. Kelleher
15. JOB

If not i'd love to see Hawkshaw start at 12 or 13.

Must love hardship

molloyjh wrote: »

If we assume that we get nobody back from Ireland camp, which may not be the case, I'd say we'll see something like the below, although I may be being optimistic on the injury front. Does anyone know if Bent is available?

Dooley Tracy Bent/McGrath
Molony Fardy
Murphy Leavy Penny/SOB

McGrath HByrne
Frawley Turner
Kearney JOB Kelleher

Cronin, Milne, Clarkson, Dunne, SOB/Soroka, HOS, Hawkshaw, Osborne

Big Dev Toner could cover the 2nd row and Fardy the back row if short a back row.

Must love hardship

Also is Dan Sheehan injured? Broke onto the scene last year but hasn't been seen in a few months? Looked a decent prospect.

bayern

Must love hardship wrote: »

Also is Dan Sheehan injured? Broke onto the scene last year but hasn't been seen in a few months? Looked a decent prospect.

Nope. He was 4th choice at the start of the season and remains so.

One of the senior leaders in an under-performing A team.

.ak

Harry Byrne can play backrow.

errlloyd

.ak wrote: »

Harry Byrne can play backrow.

At Lions level. And it's a disgrace he hasn't been tried yet.

arsebiscuits1

errlloyd wrote: »

At Lions level. And it's a disgrace he hasn't been tried yet.

Sick of people underselling a young players ability. It's a cancer within Irish Rugby.

Harry Byrne is better than Lions quality and it's time people started realising this.

Bloody establishment

.ak

He’s an All Black captain, Farrell is holding him back.

salmocab

.ak wrote: »

He’s an All Black captain, Farrell is holding him back.

Third choice Leinster 10 is more prestigious.

irishbucsfan

Wait is Harry Byrne... above international standard?

First one of them we've had in a decade!

jacothelad

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Wait is Harry Byrne... above international standard?

First one of them we've had in a decade!

Apparently he can cure Covid-19 and Ebola using nothing but Pepsi Max Cherry Flavour and a bag of Tayto cheese and onion....

bayern

Brendan Fanning reporting Connacht approached Hawkshaw but he turned them down to stay in Leinster: https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/six-nations/after-a-stellar-test-career-its-time-for-johnny-sexton-to-consider-how-to-bring-his-playing-days-to-a-dignified-end-40076670.html

Connacht recently made a play for Hawkshaw and were hopeful of a happy ending, only to be knocked back. The captain of Ireland under 20s two seasons ago, Hawkshaw is a quality player who needs games to develop.

They would be easier found in Connacht. For Leinster to hang onto him you’d imagine Leo Cullen must have presented some pretty picture.

molloyjh

jacothelad wrote: »

Apparently he can cure Covid-19 and Ebola using nothing but Pepsi Max Cherry Flavour and a bag of Tayto cheese and onion....

What do you mean apparently!?

Squidgy Black

bayern wrote: »

Brendan Fanning reporting Connacht approached Hawkshaw but he turned them down to stay in Leinster: https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/six-nations/after-a-stellar-test-career-its-time-for-johnny-sexton-to-consider-how-to-bring-his-playing-days-to-a-dignified-end-40076670.html

Would have been very surprised if Hawkshaw had made the move, considering this is his first full season with Leinster since his injury.

stephen_n

Squidgy Black wrote: »

Would have been very surprised if Hawkshaw had made the move, considering this is his first full season with Leinster since his injury.

I would have thought not making the Bench against Connacht. With a half fit Sexton starting, was a very firm indication of how Leinster rate him. He might really struggle for game time going forward.

salmocab

stephen_n wrote: »

I would have thought not making the Bench against Connacht. With a half fit Sexton starting, was a very firm indication of how Leinster rate him. He might really struggle for game time going forward.

Or he’s backing himself to make it at one of the very best clubs in the world. Same as Will Connors did when Connacht tried to sign him.

stephen_n

salmocab wrote: »

Or he’s backing himself to make it at one of the very best clubs in the world. Same as Will Connors did when Connacht tried to sign him.

When the coaches show as little faith in you as they did that night. Backing yourself is a brave decision, not something Will Connors has ever experienced at Leinster to my knowledge.

Rugby4568

stephen_n wrote: »

When the coaches show as little faith in you as they did that night. Backing yourself is a brave decision, not something Will Connors has ever experienced at Leinster to my knowledge.

Well Hawkshaw proved the coaches wrong when he had the best stats on the pitch that night even though he was only on for 23 minutes. It’s Leinster loss if they lose him.

Rugby4568

stephen_n wrote: »

When the coaches show as little faith in you as they did that night. Backing yourself is a brave decision, not something Will Connors has ever experienced at Leinster to my knowledge.

Wouldn’t call it brave I’d call it wise. He was out for 18 months with an injury and has only been available the past few months for selection. Any player with high ambitions would choose to stay at Leinster especially when it’s his first proper year at the club. Leinster being one of the best clubs in the world winning trophies every year is also probably one of the many reasons he chose to stay.

Yeah_Right

salmocab wrote: »

Or he’s backing himself to make it at one of the very best clubs in the world. Same as Will Connors did when Connacht tried to sign him.

Nah he is obviously just another mama's boy afraid to cut the apron strings and get out of his comfort zone. This is what is holding Irish rugby back.

Buer

Yeah_Right wrote: »

Nah he is obviously just another mama's boy afraid to cut the apron strings and get out of his comfort zone. This is what is holding Irish rugby back.

If it was anyone else who said this, I'd criticise them. But given that you left the outback years ago and said goodbye to Oz to make a life in Ireland, you're coming from a place of experience.

arsebiscuits1

stephen_n wrote: »

When the coaches show as little faith in you as they did that night. Backing yourself is a brave decision, not something Will Connors has ever experienced at Leinster to my knowledge.

If he was expected to nail his colours to the mast based on one bench appearance which the coaches undoubtedly communicated with him before and after then I wouldn't want him in my squad.

Bizzare take to be honest. Hawkshaw is clearly rated and will get his chances

bayern

stephen_n wrote: »

I would have thought not making the Bench against Connacht. With a half fit Sexton starting, was a very firm indication of how Leinster rate him. He might really struggle for game time going forward.

He was on the bench against Connacht?

arsebiscuits1

bayern wrote: »

Brendan Fanning reporting Connacht approached Hawkshaw but he turned them down to stay in Leinster: https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/six-nations/after-a-stellar-test-career-its-time-for-johnny-sexton-to-consider-how-to-bring-his-playing-days-to-a-dignified-end-40076670.html

Short to medium term this is a good decision. I think there is a good chunk more development he can do while being in the Leinster environment.

There will be a question posed about him getting significant game time and a potential move in a season or 2, but for the moment I think he's in a good place here

arsebiscuits1

Assuming Fannings report is accurate and Hawkshaw has backed Leinster, does that mean he's graduating a year early?

Presumably Connacht were not offering him an academy place. And I'd be surprised if Leinster didn't at least match what another province were offering.

I wouldn't have had him down as an early graduate from the academy.