Leinster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread XII (The Byrne Supremacy)

I'm delighted to see him back! Getting opportunities though, could be tough. I think it will take an injury to get him into the mix. Conan for me, is the 1st choice 8, Doris the back up and then Deegan!

He has his work cut out to get back to where he was. But, the talent is there!

...TO BELFAST HOPEFULLY😁

There is only 2kgs in the difference and one cm in height between Murphy and Doris. Which is pretty negligible in terms of physicality. The main difference between them would be athleticism more than physicality. Murphy tends to go through players, while Doris goes by them. I don’t think Doris lacks physicality, he just doesn’t use himself as a battering ram. He’s plenty physical in defence.

I reckon if it comes down to a choice of two out of three on the pitch. Between Conan, Doris and Murphy. Murphy will lose out every single time. Even Ruddock who is a better player than Murphy IMO would lose out to those two.

I wouldn't have anyone other than Ruddock ahead of Murphy at blindside. He's a powerful carrier and does the grunt work.

Any word on academy intakes

I'd definitely like to see Frawley at 12 some more. He's a very good distributor and kicker. He's played more at 10, but I think he benefits from the extra split second he has at inside centre.

I had hoped that last season would be his breakthrough into Leinsters full strength 23. He played well when he started, but his season was ruined by injury. Hoping he has bette luck this time around.

Maybe Henshaw is a better 13 than Ringrose, but we need both of them on the pitch. Neither Frawley nor anyone else is on the same level.

Conor O'Brien hasn't played for Leinster in almost two years lads.

Much like Leavy, I've zero hopes or expectations for him to come back and be an important member of the team. Would just like to see him get healthy again.

TOB is another guy I've high hopes for. Looks a Rolls Royce of a player. Just makes the right decision time after time. I could see him as a playmaking centre down the line. But his future could easily be as a wing in the Nacewa mould. Someone who could be used as a strike runner, but also a playmaking threat.

I think TOB could be an excellent 14. He'll have a hard task of replacing Larmour, who has a skillset unlike.any other back three player in Ireland though.

Osborne looked very good at 15 for the U20's. But whether his future lies at 13 or 15 he still faces the same problem of trying to replace a surefire Ireland test starter. Ringrose and Keenan own those jerseys at the minute.

I think Osborne may be better off focusing on 13. Jimmy O'Brien has looked very good at full back when he's deputised for Keenan. But there's less certainty over Ringrose's cover. RoL is decent but nothing special.

I agree with you that Osborne looks the business at fullback. But I'm just looking at a squad depth perspective. There more need for another decent 13 than 15. Ultimately I think he'll perform well in either position.