The Leinster thread

[Feicarsinn]

Of the new lads taken in, the two Byrne brothers are fantastic prospects. They were both monster in the Senior Cup. Dan Leavy has been talked up to high heavens, so it'll be interesting to see how he gets on. I was pleasantly surprised with Beirne at the JWC, so I'm happy he managed to get himself into the academy. At 6'6 he's probably just what's needed down the line in terms of second rows.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Two players depart the academy, Eamonn Sheridan (Rotherham) and Ciaran Ruddock (unknown). The squad is getting fairly bloated but there's a lot of quality there, especially among those in years 1 and 2.

What I know of the first years:
Edward Byrne (Loosehead Prop) 1
Beast. Cian Healy with leadership ability and without the brain farts. Good scrummager at schoolboy level but remains to be see how he stacks up as a senior player.

Brian Byrne (Hooker) 1
Not quite as dynamic as his brother but doesn't have as much in his way when it comes to breaking into the Leinster setup.

Gavin Thornbury (2nd Row) 1
Don't know a great deal about him but not many make the academy straight out of school. As he plays in a problem position, he could be one to watch.

Tadgh Beirne (2nd Row) 1
Very impressive for the u20s even though he's been overshadowed by Ulster's Iain Henderson. I don't think he has future international quality but could earn a good career for the province as a Mike McCarthy, Damien Browne or Bob Casey level player.

Dan Leavy (Flanker) 1
Scarily talented. Good carrier, lineout option, tackler, leader, passer. He has the lot.

Josh Van Der Flier (Openside Flanker) 1
Other than him having a great name, I know nothing about him. That said, he's still u19 and in the Ireland u20 squad so he must have something about him.

Jack Conan (Number Eight) 1
He's probably outshone Jordan Coughlan who's already in the academy. Always gets over the gain line and was highly rated in school. Could have a future as backup number 8 but I don't see him reaching Jamie Heaslip's level. Perhaps more around the level of a Roger Wilson or James Coughlan.

Cathal Marsh (Out-half) 1
Brilliant passerand very exciting to watch. He's probably a bit on the small side which could count against him.As talented a flyhalf as I've seen at schools level.

I'm slightly surprised Des Merrey didn't make the cut but he's probably not on the level of other looseheads Cian Healy, Jack McGrath and Edward Byrne. There's not much to seperate him from James Tracy or Jack O'Connell though. Merrey is good enough to make the provincial academy of one of the other provinces in my opinion and earn a good living from the game.

Less surprising are the ommissions of Barry Daly, Foster Horan, Jake Cawley, Alan O'Connor and Peter Reilly. They just have too many good players in front of them.

 

[big ginger 8]

I am delighted for Tadgh he'll need to bulk up a bit but he's got the whole dog about him.

Thornbury is basically a lanky ****. He's already 6'7" and still growing. Rugby World described him as the next PO'C but that's a lot of hyperbole. I played against him last season and saw a few of his matches including one for Ireland u19's. He could be very good but at the moment essentially he's a lineout man. Decent carrier and makes his tackles. I'm sure he will now go and prove me completely wrong.

 

[big ginger 8]

So according to Tadgh Beirne Gilsenan's injury at the JWC was misdiagnosed and is actually a hip problem so he's in a bit of bother. Tadgh Furlong however is back in training.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Yeah, Schmidt said as much at the press conference before the Glos game. It's a blow to Gilsenan, but I doubt he would have seen much game time in any case. He still should be ready for the second half of the B&I cup if required.

 

[big ginger 8]

Well with O'Brien only coming back late November at the earliest he might have got some game time at the start of the season. Any news on Hudson we're a bit short on outside backs at the moment.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

The Leinster team to face Northampton Saints in Saturday's pre-season friendly in Franklin's Gardens (KO: 3pm) has been named...
There are several changes to the line-up for the province as it steps up its preparations ahead of the start of the new competitive season.

Last weekend's 33-22 victory over Gloucester saw plenty of young players given the opportunity to gain first team minutes and again this week the team has a youthful look but with the added experience of Captain Leo Cullen and fellow Ireland internationals Isaac Boss and Devin Toner.

Leo Auva'a is joined in the back-row by Jordi Murphy and Dominic Ryan who both featured off the bench in Tallaght Stadium last weekend.

Jack McGrath is joined in the front row by a mix of youth and experience in the shape of Academy prop Martin Moore and double Heineken Cup winning hooker Richardt Strauss.

In the backline, Boss links up with Noel Reid – one of six Academy products - at half back while Jordan Coghlan makes his first start at inside centre alongside Brendan Macken.

South African loose-head prop Heinke van der Merwe is included on the bench after the recent birth of his second Irish-born son, Eli.

LEINSTER:

15: Andrew Conway
14: Andrew Boyle
13: Brendan Macken
12: Jordan Coghlan
11: Sam Coghlan-Murray
10: Noel Reid
9: Isaac Boss

1: Jack McGrath
2: Richardt Strauss
3: Martin Moore
4: Leo Cullen CAPTAIN
5: Devin Toner
6: Dominic Ryan
7: Jordi Murphy
8: Leo Auva'a

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Tom Sexton
17: Heinke van der Merwe
18: Jamie Hagan
19: Tom Denton
20: Ben Marshall
21: John Cooney
22: Ian Madigan
23: Collie O'Shea
24: Fionn Carr
25: Jack O'Connell

SAINTS TEAM TO PLAY LEINSTER
Pre-Season Friendly
Franklin's Gardens
Saturday, August 18th, 2012
Kick off 3pm
15 Ben FODEN
14 Vasily ARTEMYEV
13 George PISI
12 Dom WALDOUCK
11 Paul DIGGIN
10 Ryan LAMB
9 Lee DICKSON
1 Soane TONGA'UIHA
2 Dylan HARTLEY (capt)
3 Brian MUJATI
4 Mark SORENSON
5 Christian DAY
6 Samu MANOA
7 Teimana HARRISON
8 Phil DOWSON
Replacements
Scott ARMSTRONG, Luther BURRELL, Noah CATO, Paul DORAN JONES, Mike HAYWOOD, Tom HICKS, Mark HOPLEY, Tom MAY, Ross MCMILLAN, Tom MERCEY, Stephen MYLER, Ben NUTLEY, Rhys OAKLEY, Ken PISI, Martin ROBERTS, Alex WALLER, James WILSON, Tom WOOD

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Jordan Coghlan in the centre. Interesting. I wonder if it's a long term thing or simply that Leinster have backrows coming out of their ears and want to get him game time somewhere.

That Northampton team should rape Leinster. I think the scrums could get ugly for the away team.

 

[lucky number 7]

We're definitly going to get ****ed in the arse...

 

[big ginger 8]

Well that's going to be strange. Coghlan at centre is very strange. Thought Quinn Roux would be involved in this one.

 

[Teh Mite]

I expect there will be a completely different Saints side in the 2nd half. Wouldn't be surprised if they deliberately drop to 14 or even 13 men late in the 2nd half.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Are you going to it?

Can't read much into pre-season other that hoping a couple of younger players push on and everyone gets games to bring them up to speed for the season ahead. I'm hoping for decent showings from Conway, Boyle, Macken, Reid and Moore. All five could feature early in the season.

 

[Teh Mite]

I am indeed. Freebe on the season ticket. Academy game beforehand too (again Saints v Leinster).

 

[King_D'Arcy]

Ah christ we're playing an academy backrow in the centre against a full strength Saints team. Scmidt's just having a laugh.

 

[Feicarsinn]

That's a sizable centre pairing anyway. I would fupping love if Coughlan became a useful 12. Will be interested to hear how Moore gets on, this could potentially be a big year for him.

 

[big ginger 8]

Anyone got any idea what the academy team looks like. The u18's are starting the inter-pros soon so I doubt it's them.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

It's the u19s. This is the squad:

LEINSTER UNDER-19: 15: Cian Kelleher (St Michael's College)
14: Jack Keating (Presentation College Bray)
13: Adam Byrne (Naas RFC)
12: Stephen O'Neill (Terenure College)
11: Ian Fitzpatrick (The King's Hospital)
10: Conor McKeon (Gonzaga College SJ)
9: Dermot Lavelle (Gonzaga College SJ)
1: Peter Dooley (Birr RFC)
2: Dylan Donnellan (Clongowes Wood College SJ)
3: Shane Delahunt (Kilkenny College)
4: Ross Molony (St. Michael's College)
5: Robert Somerville (Terenure College)
6: Stephen Keelan (Clongowes Wood College SJ)
7: Jack O'Neill (Castleknock College) CAPTAIN
8: Sean Coughlan (Blackrock College)

REPLACEMENTS:
16: Matthew Lowe (Gonzaga College SJ)
17: Eoghan McKeever (CBC Monkstown)
18: Brian Cunningham (Navan RFC)
19: Diarmuid Hickey (Kilkenny RFC)
20: Dermot O'Flynn (Blackrock College)
21: Darragh Henry (Castleknock College)
22: Sam Sterling (Kilkenny College)
23: Daniel Jordan (CBC Monkstown)

Kelleher, O'Neill, McKeon, Somerville and O'Neill are the players to watch in my opinion. Dooley comes with a good reputation from youths rugby.

 

[big ginger 8]

Some good players but not the best youth team we've had.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Jack O'Neill is the younger brother of one of my friends in college. Absolute beast of a young lad.

 

[lucky number 7]

It's the u19s. This is the squad:

LEINSTER UNDER-19: 15: Cian Kelleher (St Michael's College)
14: Jack Keating (Presentation College Bray)
13: Adam Byrne (Naas RFC)
12: Stephen O'Neill (Terenure College)
11: Ian Fitzpatrick (The King's Hospital)
10: Conor McKeon (Gonzaga College SJ)
9: Dermot Lavelle (Gonzaga College SJ)
1: Peter Dooley (Birr RFC)
2: Dylan Donnellan (Clongowes Wood College SJ)
3: Shane Delahunt (Kilkenny College)
4: Ross Molony (St. Michael's College)
5: Robert Somerville (Terenure College)
6: Stephen Keelan (Clongowes Wood College SJ)
7: Jack O'Neill (Castleknock College) CAPTAIN
8: Sean Coughlan (Blackrock College)

REPLACEMENTS:
16: Matthew Lowe (Gonzaga College SJ)
17: Eoghan McKeever (CBC Monkstown)
18: Brian Cunningham (Navan RFC)
19: Diarmuid Hickey (Kilkenny RFC)
20: Dermot O'Flynn (Blackrock College)
21: Darragh Henry (Castleknock College)
22: Sam Sterling (Kilkenny College)
23: Daniel Jordan (CBC Monkstown)

Kelleher, O'Neill, McKeon, Somerville and O'Neill are the players to watch in my opinion. Dooley comes with a good reputation from youths rugby.

**** no sign of Billy there ...May ask him what's up