I've been thinking about how Leinster stand for next season. I've been thinking about how to judge the current squad and I feel the best way to do it is to compare it to what we had in 2011-2012, arguably the best Leinster side and squad.
Tighthead: I'd imagine we're going to lose someone out of our current crop. Even so, we'll still be okay. Ross ppears to be a bit on the wain, but in Furlong and Moore we have two fine prospects. Hagan and Bent should be fine for the league, but I wouldn't like to be starting with them in the European Cup. In terms of the 2012 side which had a younger Mike Ross and the excellent Nathan White, we've gone backwards here.
Hooker: Everyone is staying by the looks of it, except Tom Sexton, who is off to the Rebels. We're well set here, Cronin and Strauss are both excellent, and Aaron Dundon is one of the most underrated players in Irish rugby. As far as I'm concerned we're stonger here than we were two years ago.
Loosehead: Healy is clearly going to be top dog here. I guess we'll be weaker for not having HVDM, although he wasn't great this year in my opinion. That said, capped Springbok props don't grow on trees and if ever there was a man for a tough away game in a bog he was it. It's about time we started trusting Jack McGrath in my mind. Yes, he'll never be as good as Cian Healy, but there are very few loosies who are. The point of the provincial game is to supply IQ players for the national team however, so if he is in any way good enough, he should be given preference over an import. Jack O'Connell will also get a lot of game time.
Lock: Well, at least you can say that we'll have enough of them. The sounds are the Cullen is looking to stay on another year, and Dev has been offered a new deal too by all accounts. Roux is hanging around, Ben Marshall has been offered a senior deal, Mark Flanagan is still floating around, as is Tom Denton, and obviously we're bringing in Mike McCarthy. Damien Browne may be on his way out, but it's no huge loss. I like Browne, he's a tough nut, but he's simply not of the required quality. If Roux can stay fit this season he'll be a serious asset, while McCarthy will be a definite starter. Cullen will probably be used in a role similar to that of Mick O'Driscoll in his last few years at Munster, captaining the second team, but not really a starter unless injuries are an issue. My one worry would be that Roux and McCarthy will probably be our best options, but neither are over 6'5. This may give Toner a lot of game time, or more will be expected out of the back row. In any case, we're probably not as good as we were with Thorne and Cullen, but we'll be a damn sight better off than we were this season.
Blindside Flanker: Spoiled for choice doesn't do it justice. O'Brien is obviously the best of the bunch, but Ruddock, Ryan, Murphy, McLaughlin and a few other younger guys can all play here too. We'll be as strong as ever in this position.
Openside Flanker: See above. Lots of those guys are happy enough in the 7 jersey too. I'd like to see Dom Ryan get a lot of game time here, but I feel it's more likely to either go to Jordi Murphy, or Jennings and O'Brien will share the duty. We're just as good here too.
Number 8: Heaslip, O'Brien and Murphy are our primary options. Auva'a has gone right off the boil. We'll be fine though. Same position as two seasons ago.
Scrumhalf: This is where the team starts to show it's age. Boss and Reddan have been the perfect foil for eachother. One for the tough physical days away, another to speed up the pace and put the opposition on the back foot. No clear starter. However, they're both pushing on into their 30's now. Reddan obviously suffered that horrible injury, but his form had been up and down this season. Boss hadn't reached the heights of previous seasons either. What it means is that it's really time for John Cooney to step up. I think he has what it takes, as does young Luke McGrath behind him. The two are both good enough to play for a team with serious European aspirations, it's just that we may have a few tough years before they're 100% ready. We're weaker here, but we wont stay that way long.
Outhalf: Obviously weaker. Johnny Sexton is still comfortably the best 10 in Europe. There's no getting around the fact that he's a huge, huge loss. In Ian Madigan we have an immensley talented player. Great eye for a gap, good passer, good from the tee, and a solid defender. All that being said, I still have huge doubts about his game management. His kicking for touch simply isn't good enough, and he doesn't really know when to pin the opposition back and when to run at them. A season as starting 10 will no doubt help him iron the creases in his game out, but Leinster will suffer as a result. Jimmy Gopperth may find himself used in the away games in Europe, where an old head who has slogged it out at the bottom end of the premiership for years will be handy. So we're weaker here, but between the two of them we can still be competitive in Europe.
Inside Centre: Much remains to be seen here. Even if D'arcy goes, we'll still be in good shape. McFadden, Fitzgerald, and Eoin O'Malley have all played here in the past, so trusting one of them with the starting jersey shouldn't be too much. They're all good enough. Goodman will provide an experienced back up too. I'm not worried here, I'd have us somewhere around the same level we were at 2 years ago.
Outside Centre: If Brian decides to call it a day it'll be a blow. Macken, O'Malley, McFadden and Fitzgerald would be the replacements, but none are of the same class obviously. Fitz would be my preference, but we'll have to wait and see. I certainly wouldn't be opposed to bringing in a high quality NIQ.
Back Three: Lots of options. The Kearneys, Fitzgerald, McFadden and Nacewa are a high quality 6 to have, all having been capped internationally. That young Byrne lad looks to have something about him too. Hudson will probably get a lot of league time next season. Can't say I'm overly fussed here. We're probably about the same level as 2012.
