The Leinster thread

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

They wont block it, they gave Munster the same option last year I believe.

However, given that this year is going to be a non-event either way, I wouldnt object to seeing the development props all moving 1 up the ladder. You never know how they will go until they are given a run.

The PAG also blocked Leinster signing Matt Giteau and Ulster signing a hooker last year- God knows what they'll do.

I wouldn't mind Leinster taking their time in getting the right player in. Van Der Merwe and Ross can do a competent job starting. McCormack is poor while McGrath isn't ready yet but both can be adequate in short 20 minute spells off the bench until Healy is made available again.

 

[munstermuffin]

Thing is though Healy will be used sparingly as it is a World Cup year and therefor all our provinces are up against it as it is but Snoop you nailed it there when saying Leinster shouldn't panick but take time and find right player instead of rushing and getting first option.
And also as is proven there is no certainty that they will receive permission to sign another import

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Yeah, all internationals are being used sparingly this season. It's very noticeable that every soundbite from the new coach mentions it'll be a tough season and youth will be promoted. It's as though they're preparing the fans to lower their expectations as it's going to be a year of transition from one coaching team to another and also from one generation of players to a newer breed.

In my opinion it'll be very difficult before Christmas and Leinster will drop quite a few games as the new coach gets his ideas across. A top 4 finish in the Magners League should be achieveable but getting out of the Heineken Cup group will be very hard. If Leinster can make the knockout stage in the Magners League, put themselves into contention for the Amlin Cup at least (should they fail to make the HC last 8), increase their average gate (hosting two games in the Aviva Stadium should help achieve this) and promote a couple of younger players like Andrew Conway and a new flyhalf, it'll be a very good season.

 

[munstermuffin]

Same with Munster and well I think both provinces while in hard groups should achieve QF spots like Munster are used to been in group of deaths and Leinster have a steel about them and well are experience enough now to know how to get job done.
My only fear is like 07 we might go into the World Cup a bit under cooked although I think Deccie will make sure same faults from France don't occur

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Off topic but I hate how the theory is that Ireland failed in the last World Cup because they were under cooked or didn't play enough. Ireland played three games (or was it four - Italy, Scotland, a French club team and maybe Wales too?) in the month leading up to the World Cup yet that wasn't deemed enough. Argentina played a grand total of two games yet made the semi final.

Rather than being under cooked, Ireland were over trained in my opinion. Eddie O'Sullivan spent too much time trying to beef them up in the gym and didn't concentrate on increasing their core skills. He also flogged the same players game after game when they clearly weren't performing well enough. I doubt Declan Kidney falls into the same trap- as a Leinster fan I can't fully warm to him (due to the circumstances under which he left) but he's a terrific head coach and man manager.

 

[Peat]

They wont block it, they gave Munster the same option last year I believe.

However, given that this year is going to be a non-event either way, I wouldnt object to seeing the development props all moving 1 up the ladder. You never know how they will go until they are given a run.

Bit of a difference, that was at loosehead, where Munster didn't have a potentially international quality player already there and Ireland had a couple of options as every other province has an IQ starter. If Leinster bring in another NIQ, only Munster and maybe Connacht will have IQ starting tightheads.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Off topic but I hate how the theory is that Ireland failed in the last World Cup because they were under cooked or didn't play enough. Ireland played three games (or was it four - Italy, Scotland, a French club team and maybe Wales too?) in the month leading up to the World Cup yet that wasn't deemed enough. Argentina played a grand total of two games yet made the semi final.

Rather than being under cooked, Ireland were over trained in my opinion. Eddie O'Sullivan spent too much time trying to beef them up in the gym and didn't concentrate on increasing their core skills. He also flogged the same players game after game when they clearly weren't performing well enough. I doubt Declan Kidney falls into the same trap- as a Leinster fan I can't fully warm to him (due to the circumstances under which he left) but he's a terrific head coach and man manager.

I'd be inclined to agree with you on this one. Focusing on strength training would be silly going into a world cup. These guys are highly tone athletes already, what point is there trying to bulk them up further? Deccie would be well advised to work on skills and trying to get a bit of familiarity with his different combinations.

Oh, it was three games by the way. Scotland, Italy and Bayonne.

 

[tinchy17]

I know this may sound silly but how good are Leinster as a team?

 

[Feicarsinn]

Awesome.


Next question.

 

[tinchy17]

Awesome.


Next question.

Was that meant to be sarcastic? I'm only asking because Saracens have them in the Heineken Cup

 

[Feicarsinn]

Was that meant to be sarcastic? I'm only asking because Saracens have them in the Heineken Cup

No, we really are awesome. 2009 Heineken Cup champions, 2008 ML champions, 2010 ML runners up. Our starting team would be pretty much international standard including B&I Lions Heaslip, Drico, D'arcy, Kearney, Fitzgerald and Nathan Hines. We've got some of the most promising young talents in the Northern Hemisphere with the impressive Johnny Sexton(Will be starting for the Lions at 10 in Australia) orchastrating things at fly half. Our backrow is formidable, our halfbacks are of international quality (Boss, Reddan. Both have multiple caps) and our second rows are fairly ace too. Our biggest weakness is the front row, but outside of the set piece Cian Healy is an absolute monster.

So yes, we are awesome.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Aye, if Sale were in a group with Leinster i'd just expect two losses
Despite what the Magners says last season i'd say they're the strongs ML team

 

[Feicarsinn]

Ugh, that final was horrible. Must have been the worst we had played all season. Hopefully we'll be alot more adventurous this year but we all expect alot of teething problems with the new coaching staff so perhaps don't expect us to be as good this year.

 

[durbutter]

Let us win one this year yeah? Sound.

 

[munstermuffin]

Agreed Snoop we were given too much strength training but also we were cramming too much work in to a short space and if I remember Italy should have beaten us up in Ravenhill only for a dubious decision.

On Leinster. Was that a serious question askin how good r they wen they been challenging for last few years saracenangel it shows it's been a while since ye seen H Cup

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

This relates to all provinces. From the Indo:

IRELAND'S top international players will be available to play for their provinces in the first two rounds of the Magners League which kicks off next week.
Last season, under the Player Management Scheme, Ireland front-liners such as Ronan O'Gara and Jamie Heaslip did not play until round four of the Celtic competition at the end of September. However, the Ireland management say that, while the approach is different, the objective of having their top players play between 26 and 32 games a season remains the same.
"The big difference this year is that most of the international players will be available to play in Magners League (week) One and then there are seven or eight other internationals -- the guys who are going to play a lot of football this year and who played a lot of football last year -- who will start Magners League Two," said Ireland manager Paul McNaughton.

If the internationals play all the international games, you can subtract 9 games from that total i.e. internationals will play between 17 and 23 games for their province. Making the (unlikely) assumption that they'll make the Heineken Cup final, we could see international players play just 8-14 Magners League games. That leaves plenty of opportunities for fringe and young players to make their mark.

 

[coonor]

I think Ulster could do well this year considering that they won't lose to many players for Irish international training etc and many of there top players are from SA. I think Leinster may strugle this year however they should get some new players blooded which may be good in the long run. Munster may have to look to alter there game plan, there pack is strong in the ML but in the Hcup it's just average really plusthey have good ball carriers so kicking shouldn't be the first option. Connacht will hopefully not be on the bottom this year but beatting the Italian teams wont be easy looking at the signings they've made.

 

[tinchy17]

Leinster are so good that I can sense defeat for Saracens already!

 

[munstermuffin]

It'll be interesting to see what times of year and games the internationals are pulled. I've got a feeling that alot of teams will rest players against the Italian teams and well don't be surprised to see 1 of them have a very decent first season

 

[Logorrhea]

Leinster are so good that I can sense defeat for Saracens already!

Nahhh, Leinster have pedigree but this year of all years you imagine we will underperform. We have a new coaching setup, new philosophy, new rules and an international management team that wont let half our decent players play many games. So we will be competitive at home, but drop points by the bucket load away from home.

If I was a Sarries fan I'd be a lot more worried about Clermont.