Leinster squad 10/11

[profitius]

New Look Leinster squad confirmed

Rugby: A new era dawns within Leinster Rugby as incoming head coach Joe Schmidt takes over from Michael Cheika while the new squad for the 2010/11 season has also been finalised.

Schmidt arrives in Dublin fresh from his involvement in Clermont Auvergne’s Bouclier de Brennus success and brings with him a new-look backroom team.

Jono Gibbes will serve as forwards coach, while Richie Murphy’s role has been expanded to incorporate skills and kicking duties. Guy Easterby takes over as team manager following his involvement with the province’s British and Irish Cup and ‘A’ in recent years, which brings plenty of continuity in the new coaching ticket.

Former New Zealand prop Greg Feek has signed a deal to become the senior team’s consultant scrum coach. Capped 10 times for the All Blacks, the former Taranaki, Canterbury and Tasman frontrow has been the forwards coach for the Wellington Hurricanes since 2008.

On the pitch Leinster signed Ulster and Ireland duo Isaac Boss (scrumhalf) and Ed O’Donoghue (secondrow) on respective two and three year deals. They also won the signature of South Africa prop Heinke van der Merwe from Super 14 side the Lions on a two-year deal.

In addition, Isa Nacewa signed a new three-year deal, while the province hopes to complete one further back-five forward signing in the coming weeks.

Ireland Under-20 back Andrew Conway signed his first professional contract, while six other Academy graduates â€" Brendan Macken, Jack McGrath, Niall Morris, Rhys Ruddock, Paul Ryan and Eoin Sheriff - have each signed development contracts with the senior squad.

“I am delighted to welcome our new signings on board and I’m confident that each will make a significant impression on the team both next season and in the years ahead,†said Michael Dawson, Leinster chief executive.

“All of the players come with impressive pedigrees and they will supplement a squad which has been further bolstered by six Academy players who have signed Development contracts with the province. We are delighted by the talent coming through the Academy system and it is encouraging both for Leinster and Irish rugby that such a strong crop of underage talent are being rewarded in the next step in their careers.

“Greg Feek joins the province having accrued impressive playing and coaching credentials in New Zealand and he will supplement a coaching team which will draw on the experience of Jono, Richie and Guy, who have all been involved in the senior set-up over the last two years, while Joe joins us after guiding Clermont to the French championship.â€

Leinster will face London Wasps in a pre-season friendly in Donnybrook in an evening game on Friday, August 20th and travel to England to face Leicester Tigers on Saturday, August 28th at Welford Road.

Leinster squad 2010/11

Forwards: Leo Cullen, John Fogarty, Jason Harris-Wright, Cian Healy, Jamie Heaslip, Nathan Hines, Trevor Hogan, Shane Jennings, Stephen Keogh, Ronan McCormack, Jack McGrath*, Kevin McLaughlin, Sean O’Brien, Ed O’Donoghue, Mike Ross, Rhys Ruddock*, Paul Ryan*, Eoin Sheriff*, Richardt Strauss, Devin Toner, Heinke van der Merwe, Stan Wright

Backs: Shaun Berne, Isaac Boss, Andrew Conway, Gordon D’Arcy, Luke Fitzgerald, Shane Horgan, David Kearney, Rob Kearney, Brendan Macken*, Fergus McFadden, Niall Morris*, Isa Nacewa, Paul O’Donohoe, Brian O’Driscoll, Eoin O’Malley, Eoin Reddan, Jonathan Sexton

*Denotes Development Contract

http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/rugby/2010/0616/1224272657160.html


Plenty of coaching changes with Clermont assistant coach Joe Schmidt from New Zealand being the new head coach. 18 year old Andrew Conway given a professional contract.

 

[MunsterMan]

Conway on a full contract at 18 is impressive, well done to him

In addition, Isa Nacewa signed a new three-year deal, while the province hopes to complete one further back-five forward signing in the coming weeks.

An Irish Qualified back 5 forward on the way? Hmmmm, Casey, Best and Wilson all have contracts afaik, can't think of many other Irish players playing abroad who would fit the billing. A Connacht poach or someone with an Irish Granny from somewhere out foreign? Unless Strauss is classified as a "project" like Diack and Borlase and doesn't count as NIQ?

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

while the province hopes to complete one further back-five forward signing in the coming weeks

We've already stolen Boss and O'Donoghue off Ulster, now we're stealing Xavier Rush too

 

[munstermuffin]

How many imports have Leinster. But still it a very strong squad but surprised that they didn't try bring in a big name hooker as that is weakness they have.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Leinster have 5 NIQs (Berne, van der Merve, Nacewa, Hines and Wright) and Richardt Strauss who can become IQ. I think that's the limit but they may get a dispensation to add another. Last year they had Billy Ngawini on trial despite already reaching the quota- in the end David Kearney beat him to the last contract. Perhaps with Kevin McLaughlin looking like he'll miss a chunk of game time through injury, Sean O'Brien recovering from injury and both Jamie Kneeslip and Shane Jennings on international duty, some additional backrow cover might be permitted.

I agree that hooker is a more pressing need.

 

[munstermuffin]

Was wondering as I was including Strauss and those that mean so technically our new prop is IQ and not NIQ.

Also it wrong if Leinster get special dispensation for an extra spot at back 5 forward as this is an area they are heavily equipped already

 

[Peat]

Neil McMillan is currently out of contract, although he might be retiring.

 

[profitius]

They'll bring in yet another southern hemisphere player I presume. Strauss can potentially be Irish qualified so for that weak reason he's counted as an Irish player.

 

[MunsterMan]

Their 5 + 1 is filled. Heinke VDM, Stan Wright, Nathan Hines, Shaun Berne, Isa Nacewa + Richart Strauss.

No room for an NIQ player without special dispensation which they are unlikely to get IMO, Ulster didn't get one to sign a hooker as cover for Roory Best last season.

 

[coonor]

A talented side Leinster with bags of young potential. This year will be all about the coaching team. If they can pull out the best of the players and really get consistant performances we will do very well. Hopefully with the new coaches young players like Mcfadden will get lots of oppoutunities.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

No room for an NIQ player without special dispensation which they are unlikely to get IMO, Ulster didn't get one to sign a hooker as cover for Roory Best last season.

That was a BS decision. Leinster were also denied permission to add Matt Giteau on a short term deal once Jonny Sexton got injured despite the replacement, Shaun Berne, also being NIQ thus he wouldn't block an IQ player. The same season Munster brought in Toby Morland and Wiaan Du Preez on short deals while the year before Leinster added David Holwell and Ollie Le Roux. I've no idea why the circumstances changed for Ulster and Leinster in the interim.

 

[munstermuffin]

Ulster have alot of imports too though and well Leinster are very weak I think now in the front-row compared to rest of Europe.
I think they are desperate for a decent hooker or will Strauss be more of an influence this season.

 

[MunsterMan]

Ulster, Leinster and Munster have exactly the same number of imports.

 

[munstermuffin]

I know that as there is quotas but Ulster plan it wrong as in they don't bring in correct players

 

[Feicarsinn]

Ulster have alot of imports too though and well Leinster are very weak I think now in the front-row compared to rest of Europe.
I think they are desperate for a decent hooker or will Strauss be more of an influence this season.

I don't believe that for a minute. We have pretty much the same front row as last year, especially when you consider that CJ played bugger all games in his time at Leinster. We have one of the most promising young props in Europe on the loosehead side, the most underrated prop in the magners league on the other side and Mike Ross and our new saffa in reserve. We're quite comfortable when it comes to the propping situation, probably better than Munster when it comes down to it.

While admittedly we are weaker at hooker, we're not as badly off as some people like to make out. John Fogarty is a good player, not up to international standard but a competant and steady operator. Strauss really hasn't show what he has to offer at Leinster so he remains something of an enigma and young Jason Harris-Wright is a player with bags of talent and a hell of alot of potential. Unlike our fellow provinces we're unlikely to lose anyone at 2 to the international setup so we'll be pretty consistant in that position, which is good.

So are we much weaker than other teams in the frontrow? Not a chance.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Here's the squad broken down a bit:

Props: Cian Healy, Stan Wright, Van Der Merwe, Mike Ross, Jack McGrath, Ronan McCormack

Hooker: Richardt Strauss, Jason Harris-Wright, John Fogarty

Second-Row: Leo Cullen, Nathan Hines, Ed O'Donoghue, Devin Toner, Eoin Sheriff, Trevor Hogan

Back-Row: Shane Jennings, Kevin McLaughlin, Jamie Heaslip, Sean O'Brien, Rhys Ruddock, Paul Ryan, Stephen Keogh

Scrum-Half: Eoin Reddan, Isaac Boss, Paul O'Donohoe

Out-Half: Johnny Sexton, Shaun Berne

Centre: Gordon D'Arcy, Brendan Macken, Brian O'Driscoll, Eoin O'Malley, Fergus McFadden

Back-Three: Luke Fitzgerald, Andrew Conway, Shane Horgan, Rob Kearney, Dave Kearney, Isa Nacewa, Niall Morris

Quite good really. For the ML, with no internationals I'd expect something like this:
1) Wright
2) Fogs
3) Ross
4) Toner
5) Hines
6) McLaughlin
7) Jennings
8) Keogh
9) Boss
10) Berne
11) Dave Kearney
12) McFadden
13) O'Malley
14) Horgan
15) Nacewa

16) McGrath
17) Van der Merwe
18) Strauss
19) O'Donohgue
20) Ruddock
21) O'Donohoe
22) Macken
23) Conway

*****in'. We''re really going to see what the younger lads are made of this year.

 

[munstermuffin]

Feic it debateable about Props as Munsters new lads could be big impacts but in saying that we still poor scrummaging. And well hope that improves with the lads and maybe if Fisher is removed as forwards coach.
But at hooker ye are seriously weak and need a star player there as it a vital cog.

Also is Paul O Donohue staying after all so.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Yep, he's signed up.

The Leinster lineout worked quite well last year. The weakness at hooker is over-analysed imo. Fogarty isn't the most dynamic in the loose, but it's a small complaint and Cian Healy makes up for him quite well. I want to see alot from JHW this year. As a converted backrow forward he brings alot of dynamism and is actually quite similar to Healy in the way he plays: confrontational and a strong runner. Hope he gets a decent chance.

 

[Peat]

I know that as there is quotas but Ulster plan it wrong as in they don't bring in correct players

I'm dragging it off topic here I know, but what mistakes have Ulster made with this seasons NIQ recruitment? If you ask me, they've got it pretty spot on.

Is McGrath one of the props from last years U20s?

 

[Feicarsinn]

Yep he was. Comes in at an impressive 121kg too. Big guy for a 20 year old.