Leinster Team Talk Thread (Love you Furlong time)

I think Farrell has bought an awful lot of good will with the IRFU and with the squad as a whole. I think he will be given an opportunity to get Ireland to a final. He very easily could have a Warren Gatland (with Wales) length tenure with Ireland but If he doesn't come up with the goods next world cup, I can see him stepping down and the IRFU letting him walk and O'Gara stepping in. O'Gara's contract with La Rochelle ends in 2027 which lines up perfectly.

You have a two time world cup winning coach on the staff at Leinster who will have a very large say in how Leinster do things, if they can't win with him, I don't think Leo is the problem.

For a lock, I would be happy for us to go down the grizzled veteran route. Again, doesn't have to be a world beater. I put as much value in someone who will be able to actually feature regularly, contribute off the field and plug whatever gap is required.

JL du Preez would be the sort of guy I'd be happy with although I don't see him leaving Sale. He's under contract for another couple of years (although I suspect English teams are fairly flexible on those these days) and both of his brothers are there with him.

But his profile is what I'd look for. Fairly aggressive, reliable player. Has enough quality to be test capped a number of times but won't be disappearing for SA again, I'd imagine. He regularly plays lock, flanker or 8 for Sale (his test starts are at flanker and 8 though).

Who would we replace Leo with if we sacked him?

I think that Leo is very good at developing players, he helped a load of players go from youngsters to great internationals in their positions. The problem with him and Lancaster was that they weren't great tactically, in terms of we only really played one way. I'm hoping with the implementation of Nienaber who looks like one of the best tacticians on the planet we should develop that side of the game.

If we are sitting here in 2 years time and we have been knocked out in the QFs of the H-Cup 2 years in a row, I'd think this conversation would be fair enough.

JL du Preez would be a great signing, but I'm still fully of the belief that Leinster are in dire need of a really robust, heavy second row off the bench and for me, Du Preez would be pushing for/if not a starter. He would be pushing to start ahead of Joe McCarthy at lock or Ryan Baird and Jack Conan at flanker. I feel very good about our starting unit, it is the back up lock and TH prop that really give me concern. Like you said I would love a grizzled veteran who offers vast experience and an impact off the bench.

I know he failed his medical at Ulster but I would target Leone Nakarawa on a one year deal with the option of a second. He is at an age (35) where you wouldn't expect him to start many games but my God you'd struggle to find a player of his size (6"7) weight (20 stone) who can run like a flanker, pass like a scrumhalf and who would be ok coming off the bench.

You land Nakarawa at Lock and Trevor Nyakane at Tighthead prop and that Leinster bench gets vastly more experienced, the scrum becomes further solidified and the lineout gains another quality operator.

Wouldn't fancy Snyman mainly due to his injury record. I also find it a bit unusual that he elected to have his surgery in South Africa after the World Cup and as a far as I can tell from his social media hasn't gone back to Munster to rehab yet. Would have been excellent to get him back to the province and going into local schools to inspire the next generation. Between that and 10 games (4 starts) over 4 years for Munster, he wouldn't exactly fit the profile of someone who I'd like to see us in for. Interestingly he's also played in 11 games for South Africa in that time frame, although 10 of those have been appearences off the bench. 5 starts in 4 years and out for another 4 months doesn't scream good business to me.

I wonder could a deal be struck where a Leinster player potentially went the other way. I could easily see Will Connors going in the other direction as JVDF and Scott Penny are both ahead of him for Leinster and a trio of Ewers, Connors and Timoney would be interesting.

Do I want Snyman at Leinster? Yes. Would he be a massive signing? Yes. Would he help Leinster if healthy? Yes. Is it likely? Absolutely not.

I'd have thought Snyman's got something lined up already if his Munster exit has been confirmed.