The Leinster thread

[big ginger 8]

Penny, Bent and Kearney all named on the team of the season.

 

[big ginger 8]

Former u18, u19 and A team centre Karl Martin has signed an academy contract with Montpellier.

 

[big ginger 8]

Abdaladze Back to Full Fitness But Dunne Suffers Ankle Injury - Leinster Rugby

Leinster Rugby Head Coach Leo Cullen has issued a squad update ahead of the trip to Sandy Park this Saturday for the Quarter-Final of the Heineken Champions Cup against Exeter (Kick Off: 5.30pm – live on BT Sport & RTÉ Radio). There was hugely positive news for Vakh Abdaladze who has recovered...

www.leinsterrugby.ie

Vakh finally back after a long time out but Jack Dunne fractured his ankle in training and is out for 16 weeks.

JGP to be further assessed ahead of this week.

Ryan won't be back unfortunately, exactly who you want against Exeter and worryingly has had no update provide on him.

There was no new injury news on a number of other player who remain unavailable for selection:

Scott Penny (hand), Jimmy O'Brien (hamstring), Garry Ringrose (ankle), Will Connors (knee), James Ryan (concussion), Rowan Osborne (hand), Adam Byrne (quad), Caelan Doris (concussion), Dan Leavy (knee), Conor O'Brien (knee) and Max Deegan (knee)

 

[big ginger 8]

Leinster – A Tale of Two Units

For the fourth season in a row, Leinster came out on top of the Pro14. Over the course of those four editions of the tournament, the Blue Machine have won 64 games and lost 13, with only two losses…

dementedmole.com

 

[big ginger 8]

Leinster Rugby 'A' v Connacht Eagles: (Leinster caps in brackets)

15. Chris Cosgrave
14. Niall Comerford
13. Max O'Reilly (7)
12. Jamie Osborne (6)
11. Rob Russell
10. Tim Corkery (2)
9. Ben Murphy

1. Marcus Hanan (3)
2. Dan Sheehan CAPTAIN (10)
3. Vakh Abdaladze (11)
4. Joe McCarthy
5. Alex Soroka (2)
6. Lee Barron
7. Mark Hernan
8. Seán O'Brien (2)

Replacements:

John McKee
Jack Boyle
Greg McGrath (3)
Aaron Coleman
Cormac Foley
Marcus Kiely

 

[irisht]

Leinster Rugby 'A' v Connacht Eagles: (Leinster caps in brackets)

15. Chris Cosgrave
14. Niall Comerford
13. Max O'Reilly (7)
12. Jamie Osborne (6)
11. Rob Russell
10. Tim Corkery (2)
9. Ben Murphy

1. Marcus Hanan (3)
2. Dan Sheehan CAPTAIN (10)
3. Vakh Abdaladze (11)
4. Joe McCarthy
5. Alex Soroka (2)
6. Lee Barron
7. Mark Hernan
8. Seán O'Brien (2)

Replacements:

John McKee
Jack Boyle
Greg McGrath (3)
Aaron Coleman
Cormac Foley
Marcus Kiely

could be a rough result given experience in eagles side.. be interesting to see some of those play though..

 

[big ginger 8]

could be a rough result given experience in eagles side.. be interesting to see some of those play though..

Yeah not expecting a lot in terms of the result. Clearly very stretched as evidenced by our back five and only six on the bench.

On a side note it's really baffling that Connacht are going with Jonny Murphy ahead of DTM for this.

 

[big ginger 8]

 

[Leinster Fan]

Not a surprising result but still a pity.

 

[big ginger 8]

Not a surprising result but still a pity.

1/5 conversions not helping the scoreline. Definitely some positives out if it given the difference in experience and chemistry.

Soroka isn't an injury we can afford at the moment with the lack of backrowers who are fit.

 

[Leinster Fan]

1/5 conversions not helping the scoreline. Definitely some positives out if it given the difference in experience and chemistry.

Soroka isn't an injury we can afford at the moment with the lack of backrowers who are fit.

Bad timing for him too, would have been a real chance. After Josh Murphy the next forward up is Jack Dunne, so we're really stretched.

Could really use Ryan and Doris right now, partially cause two extra international starters is generally a good thing but even more we just need more bodies and manpower.

Situation is almost worse in the backs too, and 9 is disaster waiting to happen with JGP out.

 

[big ginger 8]

Bad timing for him too, would have been a real chance. After Josh Murphy the next forward up is Jack Dunne, so we're really stretched.

Could really use Ryan and Doris right now, partially cause two extra international starters is generally a good thing but even more we just need more bodies and manpower.

Situation is almost worse in the backs too, and 9 is disaster waiting to happen with JGP out.

Pretty sure every fit senior back five player is in the 23 today. Same story with our centres. SOB 4.0 the next one up. Really incredible given our depth there.

Looks like JGP was nearly ok for today so not too worried about 9 outside of today. Even if we really need someone good to come through there soon.

 

[Groundhog]

Leinster Rugby announce plans for Rapid Antigen Testing pilot

Leinster Rugby has this morning announced the submission of detailed plans to Government for a proof of concept test event.

www.leinsterrugby.ie

Interesting stuff. Cliffnotes version: Leinster with IRFU support want to trial spectators back at matches using rapid antigen testing and have submitted a proposal to government. It would have the RDS at 11% capacity for a Rainbow Cup match.

EDIT: Also being reported that elite athletes will be exempt from the hotel quarantine which is probably good news for international tournaments, Lions etc

 

[Leinster Fan]

Worth a shot I suppose.

 

[irisht]

Bad timing for him too, would have been a real chance. After Josh Murphy the next forward up is Jack Dunne, so we're really stretched.

Could really use Ryan and Doris right now, partially cause two extra international starters is generally a good thing but even more we just need more bodies and manpower.

Situation is almost worse in the backs too, and 9 is disaster waiting to happen with JGP out.

Jack Dunne is out until next season with an ankle injury.

 

[irisht]

Pretty sure every fit senior back five player is in the 23 today. Same story with our centres. SOB 4.0 the next one up. Really incredible given our depth there.

Looks like JGP was nearly ok for today so not too worried about 9 outside of today. Even if we really need someone good to come through there soon.

the best hope of a 9 coming through is still in 5th year.

 

[irisht]

Leinster A had two hookers on the field at all times and at one point had three hookers on the field.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

It makes sense that they need to find work elsewhere when living in a city full of studs who don't pay to bone, and @big ginger 8.

 

[big ginger 8]

Michael Alaalatoa signs for Leinster Rugby

Leinster Rugby can this evening confirm the signing of Michael Alaalatoa from the Crusaders.

www.leinsterrugby.ie

 

[irisht]

Tadhg Furlong out of contract this season...