The Leinster thread

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/rabo-direct-pro-12/2013/0828/470828-rte-rugby-on-tv/

The first live RTÉ match of the season, Scarlets v Leinster on Friday 6 September, will be broadcast online and mobile only - this is due to a clash with the Republic of Ireland v Sweden World Cup Qualifier on the same night.

Good news this. I wasn't expecting the game to be shown live at all.

 

[big ginger 8]

It'll also be on BBC Wales and there's an explanation on how to tune your Sky box to it legally.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055520627

Also Leinster fans have been nominated for best fans in Europe if you so want you can vote here.

http://intheloose.com/2013/09/03/the-5-most-passionate-sets-of-club-supporters-in-europe/

I would guess it's slightly biased.

 

[big ginger 8]

If you have some free time available this is a good read going back over the underage intertnational teams focusing on Leinster. Goes all the way back to Cullen's time.

http://dementedmole.com/2013/09/06/transferring-talent/

 

[jcahill1]

If you have some free time available this is a good read going back over the underage intertnational teams focusing on Leinster. Goes all the way back to Cullen's time.

http://dementedmole.com/2013/09/06/transferring-talent/

Good to see another article.

 

[lynam1104]

Good news for Leinster Fitzgerald was taken off as a precaution after feeling a tight hammy and should be good for selection this weekend.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Tuqiri signing confirmed:

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/leinster-confirm-tuqiri-signing-1.1521197

3 month deal. Gives cover if Sideshow Bob is selected for the November internationals and for the rest of TRC. Doubt it will do the likes of Adam Byrne and Darren Hudson any harm to have one of the great wingers of the past 15 years to learn from for a bit.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

I'm coming around to this signing. He hasn't played Union in a long time and is ageing but he had undoubted class which will hopefully rub off on the younger backs in the squad. Also, seeing as he worked with Matt O'Connor in the past, he must rate his coaching skills otherwise there's no way he'd link up with his former Tigers coach again.

 

[munstermuffin]

Snoop he's a very good signing for the reason he was signed - to fill a gap and cover guys. Will also be a decent option for breaking that gain line in backs

 

[Gavin]

Great signing for Leinster. He will bring some quality to the squad and the young fellas will learn a lot, especially jumping for the ball.

 

[nickdnz]

He still looks quick and dangerous from the Tigers games I've seen recently, even considering he's been injured very often (he was electric his first season back in league). Good signing in my opinion.

 

[Feicarsinn]

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

As many have said no a very good performance and we'll need a little more to get out of the pool. Next week we should give Fitzy, Madagin and Reddan starts to see if they can up the tempo which is something that seems to be lacking. Goppert is good at what hes good at and that game management and place kicking, but I think with Madagin we get something more. Along with that I feel that hes being held back for a poor performance against munster with MOC perhaps thinking hes not quite got the cool head game management to run a high pressure game yet, but at the end of last season he showed that he dose and can do it very well. I'd like to see some more faith shown by MOC in players who can make something out of nothing.

I'll post me reply to this in this thread since I'm likely to go off on a tangent.

Next week I think there'll be a lot of changes. I suspect Zane Kirchner, Luke Fitzgerald, Ian Madigan, Eoin Reddan, Jack McGrath, Aaron Dundon, Quinn Roux and Shane Jennings will be in strong contention to start. Cathal Marsh seems to have put in a couple of strong shifts for the A team and could come into contention too.

 

[lucky number 7]

I don't like Gopperth...I think he's a step back for Leinster and Ireland.

Certainly he's solid , and he runs a game very well , but does he have the X_factor in offence that we've come to know from Leinster 10's , no , He provides little or no threat to the line , granted he made one half break making 10 metres today , but the questions posed by Sexton and Madigan of opposition defences I feel were paramount to Leinsters success and brand of rugby over the last few years.

Madigan holds a drift defence fantastically well , as Did Sexton for us , which inevitably opens up much more space out wide and opens up holes. Gopperth won't bring this to us and I reckon he will knock the progress of Madigan massively. Madigan needs Hcup experience at making big calls and game management , not being ****ed around the bench and getting a few Rabo games.


I do like Gopperth though...just not for us at the moment I feel.

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

I don't like Gopperth...I think he's a step back for Leinster and Ireland.

Certainly he's solid , and he runs a game very well , but does he have the X_factor in offence that we've come to know from Leinster 10's , no , He provides little or no threat to the line , granted he made one half break making 10 metres today , but the questions posed by Sexton and Madigan of opposition defences I feel were paramount to Leinsters success and brand of rugby over the last few years.

Madigan holds a drift defence fantastically well , as Did Sexton for us , which inevitably opens up much more space out wide and opens up holes. Gopperth won't bring this to us and I reckon he will knock the progress of Madigan massively. Madigan needs Hcup experience at making big calls and game management , not being ****ed around the bench and getting a few Rabo games.


I do like Gopperth though...just not for us at the moment I feel.

i agree and i was hoping that leinster would play madigan more cause hes young and is capped for ireland while gopperth is not capped for the all blacks and is 30 years old so to me madigan will be better for both leinster and ireland

and im not sure if i like zane kirchner to play for leinster like i know he's good but leinster already have rob kearney like i dont know who starts but i think kirchner was better at the bulls or in a french club

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

With a 3 week break upon us due to the November tests, it's a good time to reflect on the early part of the season. Addressing a couple of points raised at the start of the season:

I hope Martin Moore grabs the chance that's being given to him. By the same token, Michael Bent's injury offers a chance to both Jack O'Connell and Tadhg Furlong. Reports seem to suggest that Bent will be moved back to loosehead prop.

Moore has grabbed his chance and then some. Leinster have played 9 times this season and Moore has taken the field every time getting over 60 minutes in each of his 4 starts. You'd expect a young prop to struggle a bit but Moore has never been humiliated and seems to be getting stronger and more confident. Feicarsinn said before the season that he was a potential international but I doubt anybody could have expected an international squad place for him this early. Leinster have another guaranteed 19 games this season. I hope Moore features in some part in about 15 of these. He's a live contender for caps on the Argentina summer tour.

Indeed Michael Bent did get a start at loosehead and he looked a lot more comfortable there than he did at tighthead last season. To be fair to him, he played okay in his 2 cameos at tighthead this season too. He gets a hard time because of his fast tracking into the Ireland squad and elevated expectations of him. I think/hope he's developing into a useful Leinster squad player who can cover manfully when Cian Healy, Mike Ross and Jack McGrath are on international duty. Bent's ability to switch sides makes him a solid option when rotating the squad. If it were up to me, Cian Healy wouldn't feature in the Pro 12 too much this season to allow him recover fully from a (shortened) Lions tour and various knocks he has picked up.

Jack O'Connell may have taken a step back. I think he's a good player but the coaching staff clearly prefer Healy, McGrath and Bent at loosehead. Perhaps a move is best for him since he'll be 24 next season and needs regular rugby. Edward Byrne can step up to B&I Cup action.

Tadhg Furlong made his debut on Friday and acquitted himself well. B&I Cup action and 5 or 6 Pro 12 appearances for him is what I'd hope for this season. Then next season he begins to step it up before the 2015/16 season when he and Martin Moore duke it out as Mike Ross' successors.

Lastly, I don't know what to make of the Lote Tuqiri rumour. It's hard to argue his pedigree but at nearly 34 and moving to a sport he hasn't played in three years, does he still have what it takes?

Tuqiri has been disappointing. He's flashed his old talent but doesn't look as fast as he did in the past and his hamstring troubles have been well documented.

.............................................

Overall it's been a decent start for Matt O'Connor. Only 2 losses in 9 matches despite Leinster not hitting their straps and trying to get over the player and coaching departures from last season. Attacking play needs a lot of work so hopefully this 3 week break comes at the right time and allows him time to fix these issues. After a fast start, Jimmy Gopperth has regressed a little bit but he's still doing a solid job overall. It'd be nice to see Ian Madigan force his way ahead of him though.

There's plenty to work on but the positives (development of the props and improved defence) outweigh the negatives.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Martin Moore is a better player than Mike Ross under the new scrummaging laws and if Leinster and Ireland want to remain competitive in the short term then he must start in the Heineken Cup and 6 Nations.

Discuss.

 

[big ginger 8]

I think at the moment Moore should start but Ross still has a very sizeable role to play. He has not take as well to the new laws as I'd have hoped but I think his "decline" is been grossly overexaggerated and maybe so has Moore's rise to a more limited extent. Some of Ross' perfromances around the park this season are the best I've ever seen from him.

So basically I'd start Moore but I wouldn't be incredibly annoyed to see Ross start. However I would be ****** if Moore doesn't make the 23 for the 6N which probably does have some possiblity.

 

[lynam1104]

Martin Moore is a better player than Mike Ross under the new scrummaging laws and if Leinster and Ireland want to remain competitive in the short term then he must start in the Heineken Cup and 6 Nations.

Discuss.

I agree with you Ross seems to struggle at times with the new laws where as Moore is thriving, starting Moore needs to be given serious consideration and HEC and International level.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

I think his "decline" is been grossly overexaggerated and maybe so has Moore's rise to a more limited extent. Some of Ross' perfromances around the park this season are the best I've ever seen from him.

That's my view too. Mike Ross isn't as consistent as he was but only about 6 weeks ago he stood toe to toe with New Zealand in an international and came out of it with credit. Martin Moore is learning fast but I don't think his peak performances are on Ross' level yet. I'd start Ross but have no hesitation in bringing Moore on after 50 minutes if needs be.

By the time next season comes around, I think they'll be neck and neck but right now,Ross starts the big games for me. Ross would be my Heineken Cup 3 with Moore getting a ton of Pro 12 starts. Once Moore does move ahead and take the 3 shirt, I'd like to see Ross stick around in a Julian White veteran capacity to close out games and help guide Moore and Tadhg Furlong through.

 

[munstermuffin]

That's my view too. Mike Ross isn't as consistent as he was but only about 6 weeks ago he stood toe to toe with New Zealand in an international and came out of it with credit. Martin Moore is learning fast but I don't think his peak performances are on Ross' level yet. I'd start Ross but have no hesitation in bringing Moore on after 50 minutes if needs be.

By the time next season comes around, I think they'll be neck and neck but right now,Ross starts the big games for me. Ross would be my Heineken Cup 3 with Moore getting a ton of Pro 12 starts. Once Moore does move ahead and take the 3 shirt, I'd like to see Ross stick around in a Julian White veteran capacity to close out games and help guide Moore and Tadhg Furlong through.

Think Ross should remain a starter as in today's game you need 6 very good front rowers and well when margin between Moore and Ross is tight Moore is, in my view, the better of 2 to make impact from bench.