Leinster Team Talk Thread (Love you Furlong time)

It happened me too, and I realised it's because I'm signed into Ticketmaster under a different account.

You are probably right, they will probably land a lock similar in caliber to Jenkins again which isn't the worst but would love them to be as bold as they have been with their coaching hires in buying a world class lock.

Leinster should sign one of the Portuguese wingers. Sorti or Marta. Or a big, athletic Fijian winger. I'd much rather that than another lock when we have McCarthy.

Leinster lack game breakers in the backline, capable of making a difference in the big games.

I'm not expecting them to break the bank for a lock or prop but if they decided to use only two NIQ designations instead of three, potentially there would be additional money available to upgrade the positions. In a perfect world we would land a Lood De Jager or Maro Itoje. That isn't going to happen but its not unrealistic to want a marginal upgrade over Jason Jenkins and Michael Ala'alatoa, if Leinster and the IRFU had to spend 100 to 150k per players more to land that depth, it would be money well spent, especially seeing as they would be at leinster for at max 2 years for a TH prop and potentially 2 to 3 for a lock.

I don't fully agree with the sentiment that we lack game breakers given how many teams would kill to have Ringrose, Keenan or Lowe in their team but there certainly is no harm having a big athletic outside back.

But if you think that's going to come from a Pro D2 winger you're living in fantasy land and bought far too much into the feelgood factor that Portugal gifted us with during the RWC

Sorti or Marta would offer no more game breaking ability than Rob Russell, Tommy O'Brien or Larmour

Game breakers are game breakers because they play in teams that facilitate that style. Leinster aren't really that sort of team. Their attack is far more concentrated on multi-phase, starter moves and decision making. Whilst raw pace will always have a place, there's very few guys who have raw pace and are genuinely rounded players.

Kolbe, for example, was far more dangerous for Toulouse than Toulon. His try scoring rate dropped significantly as his team played a less cavalier approach. Doug Howlett had a brilliant scoring record in NZ. Munster played a forward based game and that dropped off hugely. He was still a brilliant player for them as he was such a professional and well rounded player but what he brought to the team moved on from being the game breaker in attack that he had been at Auckland/NZ.

Players like JOB or Hansen are far more suited to Leinster (admittedly Hansen is much more of a finisher) but they're well rounded guys who can step in at first receiver, defend fairly well and have a kicking game. Leinster are always going to aim for guys like that more than the flying outside back. The flying outside back who can do all of the above is in very elite company and will cost a small fortune....and then be asked to play in the Leinster attacking structure.

Yeah, I couldn't see that happening, I think they feel comfortable enough with Harry, Frawley, Prendergast and Tector. I would trust all but Tector to start a European game.

I don't see that happening as it isn't a problem area. Areas I can potentially see Leinster maybe using the NIQ designations if all of their NIQ qualified players left are (in order):

TH Prop - Rory McGuire and Paddy McCarthy are prospects I rate but are a year or two away from being difference makers. A quality back up TH is essential.

Lock - A lock off the bench to replace Jenkins is a high priority.

LH Prop - Michael Milne, Jack Boyle and Paddy McCarthy should be more than capable of covering this so not a big need.

Scrum half - JGP to me is World class but McGrath and Foley don't fill me with confidence, Gunne is a real prospect but he is probably a year or two away.