The Leinster thread

[munstermuffin]

Probably wrong place to post but seen as he is an ex Leinster player congratulations to Mr Rolland who will ref the HEC final and also break the record for European games previously set by Alan Lewis.
Also Nigel Owen will do the Amlin game and both refs will be using ref cam

 

[Amiga500]

Probably wrong place to post but seen as he is an ex Leinster player congratulations to Mr Rolland

To be honest its hard to tell if he is an ex-Leinster player or not at times when reffing us... :lol:

 

[Gavin]

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_8700824,00.html

More fool the IRFU, seeing as Sexton would prefer to be with Leinster next year.

"If me and Leinster sat down I'm sure I would be there next year but that's not the way it works'

 

[lynam1104]

The IRFU are as bad as ****ing Kidney someone needs to sit down and sort them out.

 

[munstermuffin]

The IRFU are as bad as ****ing Kidney someone needs to sit down and sort them out.

Lads while I agree in some aspects the simple fact is that there isn't the kind of money there. Leinster can't outbid IRFU so they're caught there. Then IRFU just put basically a take it or leave it offer. Which seems to me like IRFU said you leaving is good for us as we have less expense and more fly halves playing regularly

 

[profitius]

Lads while I agree in some aspects the simple fact is that there isn't the kind of money there. Leinster can't outbid IRFU so they're caught there. Then IRFU just put basically a take it or leave it offer. Which seems to me like IRFU said you leaving is good for us as we have less expense and more fly halves playing regularly

This.

The IRFU have a player off the wage bill and another potential international player (Madigan) has more games now.

Theres such a thing as supply and demand. If Madigan wasn't there the IRFU would have bidded higher.

 

[lynam1104]

You make a valid point didn't think about it from an Ireland perspective I was looking at it more form how it effects Leinster.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

20 year old flyhalf Peter Lydon who plays in the AIL for Seapoint has signed for Stade Francais for next season. It's a terrific move for him. He'll be way down the depth chart but it'll expose him to a different rugby culture. I've never seen him play but apparently he has a massive kicking game. He'll be the second former Kilkenny College flyhalf to earn a pro contract recently after Craig Ronaldson signed for Connacht. That's some achievement for a school which wouldn't be among the powerhouses in the Leinster schools competitions.

Scrum half James Hart who went to Belvedere signed for Grenoble a while back and has played a few times in the Top 14 this season. I wonder if young players like Hart and Lydon moving to France will happen more frequently? The money is over there and it's surely a better standard of rugby than the Championship in England where a lot of youngsters who don't make their provincial academies end up.

 

[profitius]

I wonder if young players like Hart and Lydon moving to France will happen more frequently? The money is over there and it's surely a better standard of rugby than the Championship in England where a lot of youngsters who don't make their provincial academies end up.

Yes it will. Pathways for young players have been created but its getting a little crowded in Irish rugby for young players to make the breakthrough.

Its been happening for a few years now. Firstly players went to Connacht but now they they've boosted their squad theres nowhere else to go in Ireland to play professional rugby;.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

@profitius
I just find it interesting how French clubs are now coming in for young Irish players who wouldn't be considered among the elite at their age group. In decades past that would have been inconceivable. They must hold the system here in high enough regard.

There's a rumour on MF.com that Greg O'Shea has accepted a Leinster academy place. If true, it's a blow to Munster since he's schooled in Crescent. He's an absolute flyer.

 

[big ginger 8]

@profitius
I just find it interesting how French clubs are now coming in for young Irish players who wouldn't be considered among the elite at their age group. In decades past that would have been inconceivable. They must hold the system here in high enough regard.

There's a rumour on MF.com that Greg O'Shea has accepted a Leinster academy place. If true, it's a blow to Munster since he's schooled in Crescent. He's an absolute flyer.

10.8 100m if that can be anyway be trusted. Some steal by Leinster if true.

 

[profitius]

@profitius
I just find it interesting how French clubs are now coming in for young Irish players who wouldn't be considered among the elite at their age group. In decades past that would have been inconceivable. They must hold the system here in high enough regard.

There's a rumour on MF.com that Greg O'Shea has accepted a Leinster academy place. If true, it's a blow to Munster since he's schooled in Crescent. He's an absolute flyer.

He combined with Dardis superbly in a recent U18 competition. He is lightening quick alright and I'd like to see his times over 10m. If he is off to Leinster it would be a loss to Munster but no province has ownership on players so we can only wish his luck.

When Munster split into 2 there might be a few more available spaces to fill for these young guns!

 

[munstermuffin]

@profitius
I just find it interesting how French clubs are now coming in for young Irish players who wouldn't be considered among the elite at their age group. In decades past that would have been inconceivable. They must hold the system here in high enough regard.

There's a rumour on MF.com that Greg O'Shea has accepted a Leinster academy place. If true, it's a blow to Munster since he's schooled in Crescent. He's an absolute flyer.

O'Shea has Leinster connections and it is possibly truthful.
As for French connection they are really looking at Ireland now especially the Pro2 clubs and they are looking at coaches too

 

[big ginger 8]

SO'B out of Rabo final.

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/international/warren-gatland-rules-se%C3%A1n-o-brien-out-of-pro12-final-1.1400280

 

[UlsterRugby2012]

Don't know whether to be happy he's out for the Rabo final or sad that he could miss the tour.

 

[Amiga500]

Question for the D4heads/goys.

Are you happy at the sacrifices/"adjustments" Heaslip has to make to his game when SOB is played at 7?


Looking at it from a distance, SOB @ 6 with some else... anyone else... (Jordi Murphy? Shane Jennings?) at 7 leaves Heaslip free to get involved in more open play, adding more fluidity to the Leinster backrow.

 

[lynam1104]

Question for the D4heads/goys.

Are you happy at the sacrifices/"adjustments" Heaslip has to make to his game when SOB is played at 7?


Looking at it from a distance, SOB @ 6 with some else... anyone else... (Jordi Murphy? Shane Jennings?) at 7 leaves Heaslip free to get involved in more open play, adding more fluidity to the Leinster backrow.

It's certainly interesting, I think that it really shows what a quality player Heaslip is that he can adapt to role that isn't natural for him or his position. I'm not sure if i'm happy with it tbh, particularly when SOB isn't quite as effective atm due to this injury he appears to have been carrying. Having said that the solution isn't dropping SOB hes to good, I think he needs to be moved back 6 and have a proper 7 along side himself and Heaslip. The problem with that is it mean we have to drop Kevin McLaughlin who is an important part of bolsering our lineout due to the fact our locks aren't the best jumpers and are apart from toner, who has other weaknesses, a tad short. So having considered that I think it's a is necessary evil. Ideally I'd like to see a Leinster back row where a proper 6, 7 and 8 work well together but I can't see that happing unless we sure up our lineout with some good lineout Locks.

 

[munstermuffin]

Best I seen from Ulster ha
"The final isn't in the RDS for the Rabo it's Our DS"

 

[Feicarsinn]

I had a go at making a side of Leinster products playing outside of the province next season. Can anyone improve?


15) Felix Jones - Munster
14) Niall Morris - Leicester Tigers
13) Eamon Sheridan - London Irish
12) Ian Keatley - Munster
11) Andrew Conway - Munster
10) Johnny Sexton - Racing Metro
9) Cillian Willis - Sale Sharks

8) Michael Noone - Leicester Tigers
7) Niall Ronan - Munster
6) Robin Copeland - Cardiff Blues
5) Eoin Sheriff - Saracens
4) ????
3) Jamie Hagan - London Irish
2) Tom Sexton - Melbourne Rebels
1) Shane Cahill - Rotherham ***ans

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Leinster Academy 2013/14:

Year 1: Adam Byrne, Steve Crosbie, Thomas Daly, Billy Dardis, Peter Dooley, Ross Molony
Year 2: Bryan Byrne, Ed Byrne, Tadhg Beirne, Jack Conan, Dan Leavy, Cathal Marsh, Gavin Thornbury, Josh van der Flier
Year 3: Andrew Boyle, Jordan Coghlan, Sam Coghlan-Murray, Tadhg Furlong, Conor Gilsenan, Luke McGrath, Colm O'Shea, James Tracy

Darren Hudson, Ben Marshall, Martin Moore, Jordi Murphy, Jack O'Connell and Noel Reid have all graduated from the academy and signed pro contracts with Leinster. David Doyle has retired.

Of the six year one entrants, three came from club rugby and three from schools rugby. Perhaps another sign that the club scene is growing in strength?