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

LBP was the best case scenario for us I feel before the game so it’s kind of nice to feel disappointed that we didn’t manage to win it in the end. Clearly stayed in it and Sharks can feel very lucky (and that South African podcast/ YT channel about Leinster disrespecting the league can keep their opinions to themselves in future…)

I thought it was a very tricky game to ref and in the circumstances I thought the ref did ok. A good not a great performance with some dodgy calls is par for the course in this league mostly. The URC head of refs (a South African….) will need to take action on these TMOs though. 2 shocking and high profile incidents between us and Ulster now. It’s a very bad look.

Given the complete lack of experience we had in parts going against a grizzled and motivated South African team at home including world cup winners I thought we did very well and have to say I’m proud to be a Leinster fan seeing how these guys fronted up.

John McKee was very good and will do his chances at a senior contact no harm vs Barron given they’re essentially vying for the same spot. Busy player with good dog about him and a solid throw that needs as much work as you’d expect from a hooker his age. If Barron wants to make it he’s going to have to get some size on. Even for an academy player I thought he was incredibly undersized.

Been said a lot but Dunne was impressive. I lamented that a man of his size should be imposing himself and really getting himself about the pitch. He did this in spades yesterday and Rob Baxter should be smiling that he’s gotten a very good deal on a very good second row. Hopefully he can string more performances like that.

Max Deegan is proving to be a source of frustration for me at times. A few seasons ago he was neck and neck with Doris for the starting Leinster XV. With 83 caps and the natural ability he has as a player he needs to step up and be a bit more talismanic. His stats have been good this season (close to top of leaderboard for tries, carries and successful carries) but I feel he needs to be more imposing in games of this type. 

I thought Tommy was mixed myself. What he does well he does extremely well and did so. But was the source of some sloppy play and penalties. But it was good to see a hardy bastard side of him. He’s a quiet guy and kind of gets about his business and goes on to the next thing. So it was nice to see him step up and bring a bit of edge to proceedings.

On to next week. I vote caution to the wind!! We need 1 more point from 2 games to be guaranteed top spot (unless we manage to throw away a 130 point difference…) So let’s go out this weekend and sling the ball about and jouer. We might concede 10. But we only need 4!!

What stands out to me about Osborne is his ability to put players he's passing to in as much space as possible by running lines that draw the defender and then passing at exactly the right time. He did it really well for ROL's break down the left before O'Brien got penalised for the high tackle. Not everyone has draw and pass instincts as good as him.

It should have been a pen to Leinster anyway that last "tackle" just wasn't a tackle just dived headfirst no arms into the space

The whole dropout is there to reward the defending team, I'm pretty sure before the law change held up would still result in game over as it was a scrum

Lee Barron is a young ,1st year academy player. He's going to grow physically in the coming years. McKie played well, delighted for him. We are loaded at hooker, it seems.

It was a good result! Lot's to take from it. Even the errors and getting sliced in open play are good beginnings for players like Cosgrave.

I think Dunne leaving will be a mistake. I don't know how high his ceiling is, but he's certainly capable of being a solid 2nd row. I think Deeny will be a decent player for us and he should see minutes this week.

Is HB carrying an injury? Why was Frawley taking the kick? If he is injured, I would assume that Hawkshaw will start this week.

I reckon a beaten is coming this week. The kicking plan must change. Stormers are a good counter attacking team. It's a cauldron to blood new lads and getting a taste of this level of rugby will make them hungry for more. It used to be we'd cap young players against the minnows! These poor boys are being tossed into the furnace. Leo is some man for bringing them in at this time.

I hope to see Milne play this week. He's really been bolloxed with his calf injury. Munster will probably beat Cardiff comfortably and close the gap. Ulster have a tough outing against Edinburgh. We just need a point! It would be mad if the boys got it this week.

I just think that HB isn't fully fit. Maybe he is and Frawley just was better beforehand. I hope HB gets another runout this week.

The Irish obsession that the no.10 must kick is just bizarre. No other nation is like this. Frawley was kicking because he's a very good goal kicker. I have no idea why people are making a thing about it.

I saw a comment on the 42 (yes, I know, I know) saying "if Frawley is kicking why don't Leinster play him at 10?" which tells you all you need to know. Irish people seem to think that the out-half must kick the same way a hooker throws or a scrum half feeds the scrum. We need to get over this.

It also really annoys me when people say "player X isn't a good out half because his goal kicking stats aren't the best". Being an out half and being a goal kicker are two completely separate roles.

I couldn't agree more. The idea of cross-referencing the rest of the no.10 jobs with goal kicking (a totally unrelated skill) is madness. The players with a good goal kicking skills should be encouraged to train as goal kickers and they should know who the best options are, in order.

Drives me cracked when they want a hooker to throw when there's absolutely nothing about being a good hooker that lends itself to throwing. They could be good lifters, or even a jumping option in the case of a tall hooker like Dan Sheehan, but that's absolutely unthinkable in the current setup.

He has

Leamy off to Munster.

Yep! I think Munster are on the way up. A new coaching team and some fantastic young players. Wonder who will replace Leamy?

Not officially but seems to have a lot of general consensus that it is happening. Sounds like a safe bet.

Smart money on Trevor Hogan I'd say

Yeah, if that’s his responsibility he’s done it well. It’s a big part of what Joe brought to Leinster and Irl and Ruck speed has definitely been part of recent Irish success too.