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

Osborne is excellent but there's really no evidence of this.

This is coming from someone who thinks Frawley and Henshaw should have started v the Bulls

Maybe an example of a try Osborne created with his "more instinctive understanding of how to put others into space"?

Was Ringrose's pass to Lowe v Connacht not instinctive enough for you? Or this?

That's two examples of Ringrose putting others into space with his passing. But since Osborne is so much better, you must have way more examples of him doing the same, right?

I think they are very different players but in the same class as each other. Tuilagi is a power player more comparable to Aki though.

Ok sure. But that wasn't your original point. You said "He's got a lot more instinctive understanding of how to put others in space than Ringrose has". And I provided 3 examples of Ringrose putting others into space with his passing (in big games). You didn't say anything about "manipulating defenses". And perhaps Osborne is better at that aspect.

But I could just as easily say Ringrose has a far better long range passing game off both hands than Osborne. I'd also wager Ringrose's stats for running meters and clean breaks are much higher. As well as Ringrose being a top class defender. I also recall Osborne making a break v Ulster in March and delaying the pass too much before throwing it to deck, botching a probable try. Osborne's strike rate is also fairly pitiful. Ringrose's running lines himself are also better IMO. His ability to read the defenders' body language and pick a line accordingly to make yards is excellent.

That's not to say Osborne isn't a very good player with big potential, but lets not be too hasty to want Ringrose thrown out for the shiny new toy. Ringrose has had a very good season.

Jesus! 40 odd caps, 100 for Leinster, multiple silverware. Let's just take a **** on him!

So the centers next season are Ngati, Henshaw, Ringer and Osborne. I thought Turner was going to be on a development contract! I am assuming that Frawley will be reverted to out half? Tommy O'Brien is also available to play inside center? Is there a possibility that Larmour could be tried in center? I'm thinking if there's injuries, international windows etc. I don't think there's a shortage of talent, Ngati will be available throughout and Osborne too! I'm thinking if Turner is not signed, who is the breakglass option if TOB is out til the new year and the international players are away or being rested. If Larmour does not make the international squad, is he an option?

It is strange. I think we'd struggle with Sarries. On the other hand, the Tigers are probably improving. Albeit, they are losing Ford next season. So, they probably won't be as good.

All I've seen of the game is the drop goal clip on twitter, but Saracens' defence doens't look as oppressive as it used to be. Leinster would be able to get go-forward against them, is what I'm thinking.

So Leinster end the season as the third or fourth best team in the League, and the second best team in the European Cup. Somewhat disappointing, you would have to say - considering they perhaps looked like the best team in both competitions for much of the season.

Yeah thsts sport. Bit disappointing on both fronts but it sold be useless if leinster won everything. For that matter, it would be pretty useless if the best team always won.

Decent season. Lots of good game tikenfor the likes of Jimmy O Brien, Joe O Connor and Dan Sheehan.

I thought leinsyer looked very tired at the end of the season maybe they were overtrained towards the end. The famous Stusdays might have been misjudged.

There is plenty to work on for next year. The scrum is a problem and strength in depth at prop needs to be improved over the coming years. A serious injury to the starting props would leave them very vulnerable.

Taking a stab:

Lh; Porter, Healy, Byrne, Milne

Hooker; Kelleher, Sheehan, Treacy, McKee(academy)

Th; Furlong, Big Mike, Clarkson, Abaladze

Lh lock; Molony, McCarthy, Deeny

Th lock; Ryan, Jenkins, Ryan

Blindside; Doris, Baird, Rudduck

7. VDF,Connors, Penny

8. Conan, Deegan SOB( academy)

9. JGP, Luke, Foley

10. JS, RB, HB, Frawley?

11. Lowe, Kearney, Russell (academy)

12. Henshaw, Ngati, Frawley?, TOB

13. Ringer, Osborne, Turner

14. Larmour, JOB, TOB, Russell

Fb. Keenan, JOB, MOR

I think that's everyone!

Brilliant, delighted for Nick McCarthy