The Leinster thread

[big ginger 8]

What channel is the Treviso match on? TG4 is showing the hurling.

They're showing highlights later on and are showing it live online.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Lots of underage fixtures and results.

The u18 schools team beat Connacht by 61-3. In their three games this season, they've outscored Connacht, Ulster and Munster by 23 tries to 1. Seems a special group of players.

The u18s club team to play Ulster this weekend has been announced.

The u19s blue team to play Ulster has also been named. For some reason Leinster split their u19s into blue and white teams. The blues seem to be the stronger of the two.

The u20s beat Connacht in the Sportsground by 48-10. Should Ulster beat Munster, the northern province will win the interpro series.

 

[MattyEdgeworth]

Lots of underage fixtures and results.

The u18 schools team beat Connacht by 61-3. In their three games this season, they've outscored Connacht, Ulster and Munster by 23 tries to 1. Seems a special group of players.

The u18s club team to play Ulster this weekend has been announced.

The u19s blue team to play Ulster has also been named. For some reason Leinster split their u19s into blue and white teams. The blues seem to be the stronger of the two.

The u20s beat Connacht in the Sportsground by 48-10. Should Ulster beat Munster, the northern province will win the interpro series.

I was gutted to hear that because I know some of the guys in the Ulster U19 squad. They go to my school although I think one might have been injured.

 

[coonor]

So far from the start of this season, it appears that we have some real weakness in terms of backups in certain position. I'll leave second row out of it as we always knew that was a weak point but what concerns me is the outside backs. I was always under the impression that Leinster have a real great depth of outside backs but it would a appear that question marks hang over the compliance of Carr, Macken and Reid at this level in terms of the class of Leinster. I would argue that some players that HVDM and Auva'a are simply just off form in comparison to last season and hopefully that will change but the it seems like we lack choice in positions at outside back. Are our academy players coming through well in outside back positions? Is there anyone that could be called upon?

 

[big ginger 8]

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2012/1024/1224325625948.html

​****!!!

 

[coonor]

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2012/1024/1224325625948.html

​****!!!

I saw this on Leinster Fans Forum today and almost cried!

The problem is that without Kearney our back line becomes completely mixed up. So far this season our first choice back three (i.e last Saturday) has been with a centre at wing (McFadden), a fly half at fullback (Madigan) and a fullback at wing (Nacewa, who I think plays best at fullback).

We need to get Nacewa some game time at fullback, but with his hand that will be difficult. We really need Fitzgerald and Kearney Jnr back fully fit and on form for Clermont!

Possible back three starting the Clermont game (depending on form and fitness):

11- Fitzgerald
14- McFadden/Kearney
15- Nacewa

That's not to shabby at all but it is relying on Fitzgerald and Kearney coming straight back to form.

 

[lynam1104]

Nacewa is also out for 6 weeks so it looks like Madigan will be at 15 for the next few rounds.

 

[coonor]

Nacewa is also out for 6 weeks so it looks like Madigan will be at 15 for the next few rounds.

Insider knowledge on the Fans Forum suggests that he will be fine in 4 weeks.

 

[lynam1104]

Well i hope thats true.

 

[big ginger 8]

SO'B and Fitzy to be back for next Friday!

 

[lucky number 7]

SO'B and Fitzy to be back for next Friday!

Bahahahaah yeeeesssssssss!!!!!!


FUUUCKB YEEESSSSSS

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Certainly welcome. With Clermont away coming up and Leinster likely to be without O'Driscoll, Kearney and possibly Nacewa, O'Brien's ball carrying and Fitzgerald, eh, over running the ball will be much needed additions to the current squad.

Leinster A lost to Munster A yesterday. The positives are that Jack McGrath, Jamie Hagan, Jack O'Connell and Martin Moore thoroughly outscrummaged their opponents and Noel Reid was electric in attack. Munster had Ireland squad member Stephen Archer as their replacement tighthead and he was destroyed by McGrath and O'Connell. How on earth is Archer in the Ireland extended squad?! All the gametime in the world won't make him a good player. He's not even a poor man's Tony Buckley, he's a poor man's Ronan Loughney.

With Mike Ross, Michael Bent and Jamie Hagan all experienced full squad members and Martin Moore, Tadhg Furlong and Edward Byrne all up and coming options at 3 (I suspect Byrne will eventually find a home at 1), in Ireland's interest, one of that number should look to move to Munster. A swap of Ian Nagle for Jamie Hagan could be an option. Nagle sees his path blocked at Munster by Ireland internationals Paul O'Connell, Donncha O'Callaghan and Donnacha Ryan while Hagan's opportunities will be limited by Ross and Bent. Both players would see significantly more gametime if they moved province. They have the potential to be full internationals but are being wasted where the currently are.

 

[jcahill1]

Hope the Fitzgerald we get back is 2009 Fitzgerald.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

God that was an awful game in Scotstoun. 6-0 to Leinster. Positives for me were that Sean O'Brien and Isa Nacewa came back from injury, the 3rd (McGrath, Dundon, Hagan) and 4th (O'Connell, Sexton, Moore) choice front rows held up well, Leo Cullen came back into some form and it closes the gap in the playoff race. With Scarlets facing Munster today and Leinster at home to Zebre next week, Leinster should be in the top 4 by the time the next batch of Heineken Cup games come around. It's possible that Luke Fitzgerald, Dominic Ryan and Eoin O'Malley will be in contention for those games too.

Another positive note is the As win in the Sportsground over Connacht Eagles. Leinster put out a very callow team with Adam Byrne, Max McFarland, Rory O'Loughlin, Luke McGrath and Bryan Byrne all still eligible for the u20s. Subs Jamie Lawless, Josh van der Flier, Steve Crosby, Eoghan Quinn and Eoin Masterson are also u20 eligible. From twitter feeds, it seems as though Tadhg Furlong has Brett Wilkinson in his pocket at scrum time. That's very encouraging. Wilkinson is no world beater but he was in Ireland squads last year and is a competent Heineken Cup level prop.

 

[Peat]

From twitter feeds, it seems as though Tadhg Furlong has Brett Wilkinson in his pocket at scrum time. That's very encouraging. Wilkinson is no world beater but he was in Ireland squads last year and is a competent Heineken Cup level prop.

That should surprise no one, for that lad is going to be the dog's ********.

 

[Draggs]

Realised that I didn't make a Pro12 thread this week, cock.
Didn't really miss anything, except for a brutal win for the MEN OF GWENT.

Been caught up a bit this week, should be back to normal soon.
Apologies for the hijack:
Leinster away lads, Leinster away.

 

[lucky number 7]

God that was an awful game in Scotstoun. 6-0 to Leinster. Positives for me were that Sean O'Brien and Isa Nacewa came back from injury, the 3rd (McGrath, Dundon, Hagan) and 4th (O'Connell, Sexton, Moore) choice front rows held up well, Leo Cullen came back into some form and it closes the gap in the playoff race. With Scarlets facing Munster today and Leinster at home to Zebre next week, Leinster should be in the top 4 by the time the next batch of Heineken Cup games come around. It's possible that Luke Fitzgerald, Dominic Ryan and Eoin O'Malley will be in contention for those games too.

Another positive note is the As win in the Sportsground over Connacht Eagles. Leinster put out a very callow team with Adam Byrne, Max McFarland, Rory O'Loughlin, Luke McGrath and Bryan Byrne all still eligible for the u20s. Subs Jamie Lawless, Josh van der Flier, Steve Crosby, Eoghan Quinn and Eoin Masterson are also u20 eligible. From twitter feeds, it seems as though Tadhg Furlong has Brett Wilkinson in his pocket at scrum time. That's very encouraging. Wilkinson is no world beater but he was in Ireland squads last year and is a competent Heineken Cup level prop.

It's actually depressing seeing the names of so many blokes I've played with and against on these teams

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Best I answer this here than hijack the Rumours thread.

In all seriousness though, it's shocking that the IRFU allowed Bent to sign for Leinster. As is we've got an international class IQ prop, a capable stand in and two incredibly promising talents on the tight head side without him. Munster on the other hand have BJ Botha and then a huge gulf in class till Stephen Archer, who in my mind should be behind John Ryan. Bent would have been perfect for them. They should definitely take Hagan though if the chance comes up.

Michael Bent was scouted by Leinster rather than the IRFU and seeing as though he wasn't brought in on an international contract, the IRFU couldn't place him with Munster. That Munster didn't have the scouting network in place to find an Irish qualified tighthead like Bent when they badly need one reflects badly on them in this instance. Leinster were equally proactive in scouting the (rubbish) Ben Prescott and Tom Denton, each of whom are also Ireland qualified.

Bent staying at Leinster could benefit both him and Mike Ross if used correctly. Neither will be overworked and they can rotate liberally like Healy/van der Merwe, Strauss/Cronin and Reddan/Boss. It does create a problem for Jamie Hagan though. Hagan is a good player but he now has two Ireland internationals ahead of him in the queue at his province. It's conceivable that Hagan's only significant game time will be during international periods which will do nothing to develop his game. Factor in the up and coming Martin Moore and Tadhg Furlong and Hagan could be squeezed out.

At 25, Hagan has buckets of experience and needs to play to improve. That's why I think a move to Munster would help him, Ireland and Rob Penney's team. Stephen Archer is woefully inadequate as backup to BJ Botha. A one year extension to Botha's contract and Hagan moving south on a 2 year deal would be a good situation to land himself in.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Sorry, I should have said it was poor on Munster's part not to have exhausted all possibilites when examining their tight head prop options. Similar complaints should be levelled at them for not looking into John Andress, who is now starting regularly for Worcester in the Premiership.

Quite frankly, given the resources at their disposal, Munster's management of the front row has been nothing short of abysmal. They're in a situation where their only decent tight head is NIQ, and before the emergence of James Kilcoyne this season they only had Wian Du Preez as a viable option on the LH side. Contrast that with what Leinster have managed to do with their front row. We currently boast 5 Irish internationals, despite having only produced one of them, as well as very good prop replacements in Hagan and Van Der Merwe. I don't mean to brag, but that's the kind of resource management Munster need to aspire to.

Hagan would be a good fit for Munster. Solid in the scrum which would be a huge advantage for themm, and he'd get a lot of game time. Everyone wins.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Quite frankly, given the resources at their disposal, Munster's management of the front row has been nothing short of abysmal. They're in a situation where their only decent tight head is NIQ, and before the emergence of James Kilcoyne this season they only had Wian Du Preez as a viable option on the LH side. Contrast that with what Leinster have managed to do with their front row. We currently boast 5 Irish internationals, despite having only produced one of them, as well as very good prop replacements in Hagan and Van Der Merwe. I don't mean to brag, but that's the kind of resource management Munster need to aspire to.

You're 100% right here. Both Sean Cronin and Mike Ross who are on Leinster's books are Munster bred and would start for Munster. Leinster identified problem areas and sought about fixing them. They didn't merely settle on a quick fix because there are a number of Leinster born and bred props coming through the system to take over from the "imports".

They're trying to do the same in the second row. Quinn Roux and Steven Sykes were similar signings to Richardt Strauss - up and comers who could be long term options. Mike McCarthy would be a similar signing to Mike Ross - at his prime and fills the jersey competently for a few years until younger players develop. Tom Denton was signed to bridge a gap between players in their early 20s and 30somethings. He's a younger Damian Browne or Nathan White - a role player. For Martin Moore and Tadhg Furlong (up and coming props) read Mark Flanagan and Tadgh Beirne. It's a good example of succession planning.

I do feel Munster were victims of circumstance in a way. Since both John Hayes and Tony Buckle were on international contracts, Mike Ross was never going to return there. Likewise Jerry Flannery's international contract would have influenced Sean Cronin's decision to move to Leinster. Signing BJ Botha was a step in the right direction in terms of a quick fix solution but in persisting with Steven Archer, they'll soon be in an awkward position. Botha's 33 years old at the beginning of next season and Munster still don't have an adequate successor in place. They need to be pro-active in trying to sign one of Jamie Hagan or Declan Fitzpatrick to compete with Botha or either Martin Moore or John Andress to backup the Springbok international.