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

Best uncapped side is a funny enough concept as there's only 14 senior players still uncapped ha.

(Actually as I type it I realise I'm going by Leinster site which isn't up to date on academy grads. Boyle got promoted so 15 that I count)

Prendergast surely in line for International minutes this November against Fiji or someone else fitness depending to others.

South Africa cemented a pretty clear pecking order for Farrell in Green of Crowley, Frawley and Prendergast (this could obviously change)

One maybe for the Ulster or Ireland thread but Aiden Morgan is a totally unknown quantity. I am NOT calling for him to be capped this November but he might go straight on the Emerging tour, and if he does well you never know. Stranger things have happened and Farrell (but now Easterby for the mo) is not afraid to make big calls.

Boyle started last season extremely strongly and Leinster looks to be managing his development quite well. His scrummaging performances were largely good but I am cognisant of fact that I had no previous performances to rate him on. He was a totally blank slate. Hopefully he starts this season and shows himself as a solid contender for European rugby.

As you said, Milne kinda forgot how to scrummage towards the end of last season. If I'm Boyle I'm looking at him saying that jersey is mine.

I wonder how well Morgan (1.72m, 82kg) handles the physicality. He's barely bigger than Michael Lowry (1.70m, 79kg). Might be better also if he was allowed to find his feet with Ulster through getting a run of games rather than being taken out of the set up soon after joining.

new jersey

Looks more like South Dublin to me... 🤔😅

I neither love it nor hate it.

I do love how they've embroidered the crest on though. As it should be.

In any case as with many jerseys in recent years I am far too cheap to buy it. But if given it as a present I will be earnestly thankful and like it 😂

I know where you're coming from but the marketing guff is all about wearing it "on & off the field" so that's the vibe they're going for, I'd say

The new jersey in kind of nice.

Has anyone actually been able to track their order from the Leinster website?

When are academy contracts announced ?

Martin Moloney having a trial at Exeter. Hadn't realised he'd been released.

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/leinster-flanker-martin-moloney-on-trial-at-exeter-chiefs/

It's been done to death in this thread but Farrell is on to something with Frawley at ten. Interesting to note how Squidge analysed his first drop goal in the second test. Just an off the cuff decision in response to the quality of Pollard's goal line drop out which made Ireland's routine of Doris carrying back unworkable. He made the point that Ireland's adherence to their system approach has been key to their success but also perhaps the source of their limitations, Frawley seems to have the ability to play with the accuracy required to keep the system humming bit with the creativity and courage to make big calls where needed. I'm not suggesting Crowley doesn't but Crowley doesn't play for Leinster. It's a kind of rerun of where Joe ran into the ground and an important question for both Ireland and Leinster given how both their seasons played out. One way or another Leo is going to have to make a big decision in the next couple of months.

I think we need to see more of Frawley at 10 but I'd be very hesitant about all these suggestions that he's our best 10.

Like, Frawley won that game for us, the ballsiness and technique were top drawer. But, in the lead-up to the second, he kicked away possession when we were two points down and less than a minute on the clock. It was fantastic that SA carried into touch but also a fair amount of luck, and tbh I'd question the decision-making behind that.

IMO he's still a 12 slotting in at 10, but at the same time, we need to give him a run of games at 10 to really find that out.

There's an argument that that kick was well calculated and turned the last defender forcing him to carry out or risking Lowe regathering/

Agree wholeheartedly. I was roaring at the TV when he kicked it up the line in the 79 min or whatever it was. It paid off and worked out but on another day that doesn't get brought into touch, it's their lineout, they recycle for a couple of phases and kick it out and we're lamenting Frawley's lack of nous. You make your own luck though so fair play to him.

Didn't he have a poor crossfield kick also when he came on? The dropgoals were superb obviously, and it was a great redemption for him, but I'd like to see more of his general 10 play before anointing him challenger to Crowley's jersey.

Like you said, he needs a decent run of games at 10 for Leinster and we see what he's made of. There's a lot of competitors there, hard to see who will lay claim to the jersey this season.

I'd rather see Leo back Prendergast from the off. Let Frawley play at 12. We don't need to ruin him the way Paddy Wallace was.