The Leinster thread

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Not sure what the story is on that. We don't really have too many Leinster guys. McCarthy is probably gone back to England anyway. I wouldn't be too surprised to see Marsh go but you never know. Tiimoney, Oliver and O'Conor are all Irish u20s and two of them at least are in line for an academy spot but Peter Smyth was there SCT coach and they're unlikely to be playing senior level every week at other clubs so they should hopefully stay.

Sean McCarthy I presume? How did he get on at Mary's? I heard he didn't cut it at prop and they tried switching him to hooker.

Thanks for the info on Marsh. I thought he looked fantastic at schools level for Michael's and was a step above everyone else for Leinster A any time I saw him. Alas I haven't paid too much attention to the AIL.

 

[munstermuffin]

Sean McCarthy I presume? How did he get on at Mary's? I heard he didn't cut it at prop and they tried switching him to hooker.

Thanks for the info on Marsh. I thought he looked fantastic at schools level for Michael's and was a step above everyone else for Leinster A any time I saw him. Alas I haven't paid too much attention to the AIL.

On that Snoop I'm just basing that on what I heard of Marsh today. Not based on season.

 

[big ginger 8]

Sean McCarthy I presume? How did he get on at Mary's? I heard he didn't cut it at prop and they tried switching him to hooker.

Yeah that's correct. I'd say he was probably too small for prop. He's been pretty useful for Mary's, he's very handy in the loose but as you'd expect from someone who's just converted his throwing isn't up to much. He obviously won't be missed by Leinster but he will by Mary's especially as they're no having to convert another prop to hooker.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

It's rumoured on another forum that Matt O'Connor has told the dressing room that he's gone at the end of the season. Also rumoured that Girvan Dempsey is getting the head coach role in a caretaker capacity until a suitable candidate can be found.

I've no idea if this rumour is credible.

 

[lynam1104]

No evidence to suggest that it is at all true, but if I were MOC/Leinster branch I could definitely see it happening.

 

[munstermuffin]

It's rumoured on another forum that Matt O'Connor has told the dressing room that he's gone at the end of the season. Also rumoured that Girvan Dempsey is getting the head coach role in a caretaker capacity until a suitable candidate can be found.

I've no idea if this rumour is credible.

While all this is understandable in 1 way people have to remember he is going to get his full wage from next year and it will effect the budget slightly when looking for someone new.
A few things I'd add in.
Should Cullen go as he hasn't been any good and should've been made earn stripes with A team or something first?
Would Girv fancy his chances of getting it on permanent basis as I think intensive knowledge of the A's and academy will be beneficial next season.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Assuming the rumour is true, I think Leo Cullen will get another season. There are problems with the pack but by and large they've done well. I think he has earned a second year as has Marco Caputo who has done an excellent job.

I think giving Girvan Dempsey the ***le of interim/caretaker head coach is a face saving exercies. If he's a success, he'll get the job. If he isn't they'll spin it so that it was never their intention of giving him the gig full time.

 

[Peat]

Girvan also has the distinct advantage of being cheap as chips (presumably). I think this is probably a better idea than keeping MOC.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Girvan also has the distinct advantage of being cheap as chips (presumably). I think this is probably a better idea than keeping MOC.

The fact that he's the coach of Leinster A and director of the academy also gives him a great insight into the young players the first team will have to rely on during the 2015 World Cup.

 

[munstermuffin]

I'd still disagree that Cullen should be exempt. Just from here in Munster when Penney went, Mannix got the blunt. Same with McGahan and Fisher. Now it's hard to pinpoint as both Mannix and Fisher have went on to prove they're very shrewd and capable coaches but they're just as involved as head man. MOC can't be the only 1 at fault. Murphy may be excused as he's double jobbing but again that's no use to Leinster either. They need a full time skill coach as that aspect has went south. Forwards I think have been poor for Leinster standards. And Cullen is the leader there. MOC is responsible for poor back play. Caputo deserves credit as scrum has been good but my point being Cullen in my opinion is in to deep and its case of let him learn with As or bring experience on to assist him. Like we aren't talking about a guy who had only a small bit of experience, this is a guy who had no experience and is thrown in to 1 of top roles in Irish rugby.

 

[Amiga500]

Assuming the rumour is true, I think Leo Cullen will get another season.

Given the season they've just had (and the lack of scintillating forward play outside the scrum) I think it would be more beneficial for Leo and Leinster for them to (temporarily) part ways.

Leo goes abroad to see and learn more rather than regurgitate the same ideas in-house so to speak.


Anyhoo, for the D4 goiys, I hope the rumour is true.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Given the season they've just had (and the lack of scintillating forward play outside the scrum) I think it would be more beneficial for Leo and Leinster for them to (temporarily) part ways.

Leo goes abroad to see and learn more rather than regurgitate the same ideas in-house so to speak.

I also think it's for the best that he goes but think he will stay. If he wasn't a Leinster legend, he'd be out of a job I reckon. His history with the team and the fact that they've improved a little up front as the season has gone on will likely see him remain in situ.

 

[Amiga500]

So, finally they decided to confirm Nacewa as coming back.

MOC says "But there is obviously still a feeling that he has unfinished business on the pitch."

WTF?!?! The man won everything there is to win in club rugby with Leinster.


Anyway, while I can see the benefits of the move, I'm not sure its for the long term good of Leinster. To me, it can say one of two things:
A: the current crop in the academy are not very good
B: the head coach doesn't trust the players in the academy enough to give them a chance

 

[Groundhog]

So, finally they decided to confirm Nacewa as coming back.

MOC says "But there is obviously still a feeling that he has unfinished business on the pitch."

WTF?!?! The man won everything there is to win in club rugby with Leinster.


Anyway, while I can see the benefits of the move, I'm not sure its for the long term good of Leinster. To me, it can say one of two things:
A: the current crop in the academy are not very good
B: the head coach doesn't trust the players in the academy enough to give them a chance

I think the logic of bringing in a seasoned head during the World Cup, who will definately put the bums in seats is sound, as most Leinster fans keep a portrait of him in front of their children's communion pictures. Right beside their oil painting of Felipe Contepomi, and below their mural of Rocky Elsom touching fingers with God.

 

[lynam1104]

While I thought this would be the last signing of the season the42's article indicated there may be a few more to come. I would imagine they will be wold cup cover signings, probably in the front five as with the players Leinster will likely be losing I would see it as stretched a little thin.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

So, finally they decided to confirm Nacewa as coming back.

MOC says "But there is obviously still a feeling that he has unfinished business on the pitch."

WTF?!?! The man won everything there is to win in club rugby with Leinster.


Anyway, while I can see the benefits of the move, I'm not sure its for the long term good of Leinster. To me, it can say one of two things:
A: the current crop in the academy are not very good
B: the head coach doesn't trust the players in the academy enough to give them a chance

Isa pretty much raised some of the younger guys in Leinster, he was regularly sent out with a team of equivalent skill levels of Terenure's J4s and won Pro12 games. Guys like Sexton, McFadden, O'Malley , Dave Kearney and Noel Reid learnt a hell of a lot more playing with Isa than what they would have without him. Sooooo even though I think MO'C is awful and doesn't use younger guys anywhere near well enough I don't think you can criticise him here.
@Groundhog, you're forgetting Brad Thorn raising a baby Simba on Pride Rock, Ollie le Roux beating Usain Bolt in a 100m sprint and David Holwell knocking down the Berlin wall.

 

[Groundhog]

I hope this doesn't dreg up one of the bitterist and most hate fueled arguments in the history of Irish rugby



Who wore the ringlets better. Howlett or Nacewa

 

[lynam1104]

Given Howlett savaged them in his final year Isa wins that easily.

 

[Peat]

How long is Cullen's contract for? Money spent on severing coaches' contracts is money that can't be spent on the coaches you actually want after all...

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I wouldn't get rid of Cullen, there have been more promising pack performances than backs performances and the structure of play is ultimately down to the head coach. Cullen shouldn't have been thrown in at the deep end, especially after Jono Gibbes, but Leinster are stuck with either himself or MO'C now, if not both, and I think that given a better gameplan better structure and more obvious direction along with more experience Cullen could do fine.

Just on Jono Gibbes, was he ever offered the head coach position after Schmidt left? If he wasn't and MO'C was ballooned in in front of him it is arguably the worst management decision any of the provinces have ever made... Which says quite a bit!