The Leinster thread

[profitius]

I'm inclined to agree with you here, he's been on a upward trend the last couple of seasons - I feel his profile is slightly overshadowed by VdF in the popular conscience though, despite consistently delivering performances on par with, and sometimes exceeding VdF last season.

Don't get me wrong I'm a fan of VdF and think he's excellent but I'd have him and Leavy on about the same level whereas a lot of people I'd speak to still seem to rate VdF a lot more highly.

They're different type of players but I'd rate Leavy higher. He is better at the breakdown, lineout, he is more skillful and is a future captain of Leinster and possibly Ireland.

Its a nice position for Leinster to be in alright!

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Leinster Rugby Squad to Tour South Africa – Leinster Caps in Brackets:

1. Michael Bent (89)
2. Adam Byrne (26)
3. Ed Byrne (9)
4. Ross Byrne (25)
5. Joey Carbery (23)
6. Jack Conan (53)
7. Seán Cronin (130)
8. Barry Daly (12)
9. Max Deegan (4)
10. Peter Dooley (38)
11. Dave Kearney (111)
12. Jamison Gibson-Park (30)
13. Cian Healy (174)
14. Mick Kearney (22)
15. Jordan Larmour (2)
16. Cathal Marsh (20)
17. Ross Molony (45)
18. Jordi Murphy (86)
19. Rory O'Loughlin (23)
20. Fergus McFadden (152)
21. Luke McGrath (76)
22. Isa Nacewa (172)
23. Andrew Porter (10)
24. Noel Reid (82)
25. Rhys Ruddock (132)
26. James Ryan (1)
27. James Tracy (44)
28. Josh van der Flier (48)

 

[Groundhog]

Cian Healy ejected from a flight to Cape Town for a misunderstanding about using a laptop before takeoff......... Someone check if Healy follows Arron Smith on social media will they.

 

[Amiga500]

Cian Healy ejected from a flight to Cape Town for a misunderstanding about using a laptop before takeoff......... Someone check if Healy follows Arron Smith on social media will they.

He was trying to do a DJ Church remix of "The Launch"...

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

I had to have a laugh at the use of the term 'misunderstanding'. Implying Healy did not understand what was required of him when everyone were asked to turn off electronic equipment prior to take off and again when he was asked personally to turn off his laptop.

I don't know about the rest of you but I'd prefer to be called a ... erm, a you know.. over an idiot. What's the deal with Leinster personnel and travelling in SA!? Should be 10 easy log points and no drama for a team of their resources. Are they maybe intentionally doing these silly things in order to generate media cover?

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I had to have a laugh at the use of the term 'misunderstanding'. Implying Healy did not understand what was required of him when everyone were asked to turn off electronic equipment prior to take off and again when he was asked personally to turn off his laptop.

I don't know about the rest of you but I'd prefer to be called a ... erm, a you know.. over an idiot. What's the deal with Leinster personnel and travelling in SA!? Should be 10 easy log points and no drama for a team of their resources. Are they maybe intentionally doing these silly things in order to generate media cover?

Not at all! It was someone in the Leinster branch being stupid for JGP and Is a and then Cian Healy probably thinking he's above the rules. Doesn't make the organisation look great but another bp win this weekend and no one will care, if they fail to get that there might be a small investigation. Teething problems and an ego is what I'd put it down to more than anything else.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Not at all! It was someone in the Leinster branch being stupid for JGP and Is a and then Cian Healy probably thinking he's above the rules. Doesn't make the organisation look great but another bp win this weekend and no one will care, if they fail to get that there might be a small investigation. Teething problems and an ego is what I'd put it down to more than anything else.

Probably. But then its not like traveling to SA is any different to travelling elsewhere. I'm not being serious though.

Leinster will get the 5 no worries. In fact I would be more surprised if the Cheetahs take a win here than I was when Japan beat us in 2015.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Probably. But then its not like traveling to SA is any different to travelling elsewhere. I'm not being serious though.

Leinster will get the 5 no worries. In fact I would be more surprised if the Cheetahs take a win here than I was when Japan beat us in 2015.

The Leinster branch has the poor excuse of having never travelled outside the EU before, can't think of anything to condone Mr. Healy!

 

[munstermuffin]

The Leinster branch has the poor excuse of having never travelled outside the EU before, can't think of anything to condone Mr. Healy!

He thought he was on the DORT to Ballsbridge

In fairness it's all a mountain out of hill.

 

[Amiga500]

He thought he was on the DORT to Ballsbridge

You mean Bolsbrodge for a few Heinos with Ross, JP and the goys?

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

So, with 4 games gone this season, the squad should be back to full strength now.

A few things I've taken about the strength of the squad based on what we've seen so far:

Excellent depth at loosehead. Jack McGrath to come back. Cian Healy was poor on Friday but has started the season well. Peter Dooley is a future international. Ed Byrne may need to move to further his career.

Sean Cronin is clearly the best hooker. Richardt Strauss is injury prone. Not convinced by James Tracy as more than a good 3rd choice player. Bryan Byrne hasn't stepped up. Would like to see Sean McNulty and Ronan Kelleher used heavily for the A team. May need to recruit someone.

Tadhg Furlong has no competition as first string tighthead. Michael Bent is a solid, unspectacular player. Andrew Porter needs to work on his scrummaging but is good around the field. Would get Porter as many minutes as possible for the As and in the Pro14.

Devin Toner and Scott Fardy has started the season strongly. James Ryan needs to be managed but looks comfortably better than the other options. Ross Molony hasn't kicked on as hoped. Mick Kearney has struggled. Ian Nagle isn't getting a look in. Need to recruit another lock.

Backrow is in great shape.

Luke McGrath is best scrumhalf by a long way. Jamison Gibson Park gets a lot of undeserved criticism but can be improved upon. Have liked what I've seen of Nick McCarthy and he could push ahead of JGP before long.

No question that Jonny Sexton is the top 10. Ross Byrne hasn't been great this season but in general is developing well. Would like to see Joey Carbery here but most important thing is getting him on the field in any position. Cathal Marsh is a solid 4th choice option. No point investing game time in him at A level though where Conor Dean should get chances to impress.

Beyond Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose, depth in the centre is a real worry. Noel Reid and Rory O'Loughlin are serviceable. O'Loughlin appears to be a better winger though. Isa Nacewa is okay at 12. Hope to see Tommy O'Brien get a chance to shine for the As at 13 but a new 12 needs to be recruited.

Plenty of depth at wing and full back once James Lowe comes on board. Barry Daly has made strides this season. Dave Kearney's form is a worry. Need to get Jordan Larmour on the field more.

Overall, recruitment at hooker, second row and inside centre would have the squad in fantastic shape.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

So, with 4 games gone this season, the squad should be back to full strength now.

A few things I've taken about the strength of the squad based on what we've seen so far:

Excellent depth at loosehead. Jack McGrath to come back. Cian Healy was poor on Friday but has started the season well. Peter Dooley is a future international. Ed Byrne may need to move to further his career.

Sean Cronin is clearly the best hooker. Richardt Strauss is injury prone. Not convinced by James Tracy as more than a good 3rd choice player. Bryan Byrne hasn't stepped up. Would like to see Sean McNulty and Ronan Kelleher used heavily for the A team. May need to recruit someone.

Tadhg Furlong has no competition as first string tighthead. Michael Bent is a solid, unspectacular player. Andrew Porter needs to work on his scrummaging but is good around the field. Would get Porter as many minutes as possible for the As and in the Pro14.

Devin Toner and Scott Fardy has started the season strongly. James Ryan needs to be managed but looks comfortably better than the other options. Ross Molony hasn't kicked on as hoped. Mick Kearney has struggled. Ian Nagle isn't getting a look in. Need to recruit another lock.

Backrow is in great shape.

Luke McGrath is best scrumhalf by a long way. Jamison Gibson Park gets a lot of undeserved criticism but can be improved upon. Have liked what I've seen of Nick McCarthy and he could push ahead of JGP before long.

No question that Jonny Sexton is the top 10. Ross Byrne hasn't been great this season but in general is developing well. Would like to see Joey Carbery here but most important thing is getting him on the field in any position. Cathal Marsh is a solid 4th choice option. No point investing game time in him at A level though where Conor Dean should get chances to impress.

Beyond Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose, depth in the centre is a real worry. Noel Reid and Rory O'Loughlin are serviceable. O'Loughlin appears to be a better winger though. Isa Nacewa is okay at 12. Hope to see Tommy O'Brien get a chance to shine for the As at 13 but a new 12 needs to be recruited.

Plenty of depth at wing and full back once James Lowe comes on board. Barry Daly has made strides this season. Dave Kearney's form is a worry. Need to get Jordan Larmour on the field more.

Overall, recruitment at hooker, second row and inside centre would have the squad in fantastic shape.

Can't disagree much here apart from Cathal Marsh, the fact that in reality he's our 3rd choice 10 behind a very inconsistent player in Byrne and a rarely available Sexton means that he is a liability to me. On Friday when Byrne was both injured and struggling (He needs McGrath to take a lot of pressure off him when it comes to running the game because JGP isn't as smart) and Marsh wasn't trusted to come on really shows how limited he is. Hopefully when Lowe comes in and our centres are back it pushes Carbery back to second choice 10 but I think he has a claim as the best 15 in the squad too so there's a conflict of interests there. A 12 who can also play 10 would be an ideal recruitment in my opinion because I see Marsh as a waste of a contract.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Marsh is useful to have for the moment. He's a stopgap while Conor Dean develops. There's also a seriously talented 6th year in the schools game but I don't want to put pressure on a schoolboy by naming him in a forum.

I too would love to see Joey Carbery as a 10. There's a lot of nonsense being written recently on forums about how he's not a good 10. These people must not have seen his early season performances for Leinster last year against Treviso, Glasgow and Castres in particular when he was absolutely dominant. He needs work on his kicking and game management but offers passing, running and attacking skills far above the level of Ross Byrne (who I also rate highly). He's being written off as a 10 based on 30 minutes for a weakened Ireland team against the USA during the summer which is utterly insane.

If Carbery moves to 10, he'll still get plenty of game time as a 15 while Jonny Sexton is around. I'd love to see Jordan Larmour get a shot at 15 too and think he could give Leinster an added attacking dimension to that which Rob Kearney brings.

 

[Groundhog]

Carberry's future is at 10 for me. The need for a decent stand in and possible heir to Sexy is a lot larger than the need for back three players, even specialist 15s (of which there are relatively fewer than bright spark wings) for Leinster and Ireland. I agree Larmour should be viewed as a 15 going forward, Stockdale in Ulster has the size and skills I'd like in a 15, we have Kelleher in Connacht as another guy who's played a lot of 15 coming up and Conway and O'Halloran are very established specialist 15s too, not to mention a whole rake of guys who could be converted if needs be in Leinster and the country. Carberry is a very raw 10, makes plenty of mistakes, but the fundamentals are there. I'd like to see him play outside a 9 that took some more kicking pressure off him and let him run. I wouldn't like to see him constantly switiching between positions, because no great 10 was made like that.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Carberry's future is at 10 for me. The need for a decent stand in and possible heir to Sexy is a lot larger than the need for back three players, even specialist 15s (of which there are relatively fewer than bright spark wings) for Leinster and Ireland. I agree Larmour should be viewed as a 15 going forward, Stockdale in Ulster has the size and skills I'd like in a 15, we have Kelleher in Connacht as another guy who's played a lot of 15 coming up and Conway and O'Halloran are very established specialist 15s too, not to mention a whole rake of guys who could be converted if needs be in Leinster and the country. Carberry is a very raw 10, makes plenty of mistakes, but the fundamentals are there. I'd like to see him play outside a 9 that took some more kicking pressure off him and let him run. I wouldn't like to see him constantly switiching between positions, because no great 10 was made like that.

... Beauden.

 

[Groundhog]

... Beauden.

Who?

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Who?

Johnny Sexton's *****... Brilliant player.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

The ultra prestigious B&I Cup kicks off this weekend. Leinster A lineup below:

15. Jordan Larmour
14. Hugo Keenan
13. Jimmy O'Brien
12. Ciarán Frawley
11. Ian Fitzpatrick
10. Conor Dean
9. Hugh O'Sullivan
1. Ed Byrne CAPTAIN
2. Bryan Byrne
3. Vakh Abdaladze
4. Mick Kearney
5. Josh Murphy
6. Peadar Timmins
7. Will Connors
8. Max Deegan

16. Richardt Strauss
17. Peter Dooley
18. Jeremy Loughman
19. Oisín Dowling
20. Nick McCarthy
21. Harry Byrne
22. Michael Silvester

Relatively experienced pack for this level with the Byrne twins, Kearney, Timmins and Deegan having played a number of times for the full team. Interesting to see Hugh O'Sullivan get the start at 9 and Vakh Abdaladze at 3 over more experienced players.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

17-41 win for the A team in the B&I Cup opener away to Doncaster Knights. Tries for Max Deegan, Will Connors, Peter Dooley, Jeremy Loughman and Jordan Larmour.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Leinster A team to play Cardiff Blues select. Lots of changes from the team that beat Doncaster.

Leinster 'A'

15. Jordan Larmour
14. Michael Silvester
13. Conor O'Brien
12. Ciarán Frawley
11. Tommy O'Brien
10. Cathal Marsh
9. Nick McCarthy
1. Peter Dooley
2. Bryan Byrne
3. Vakh Abdaladze
4. Mick Kearney
5. Ross Molony CAPTAIN
6. Josh Murphy
7. Richard Dunne
8. Peadar Timmins

16. Ronan Kelleher
17. Ed Byrne
18. Jeremy Loughman
19. Óisín Dowling
20. Charlie Rock
21. Conor Dean
22. Hugh O'Sullivan