Now THIS is a weakened squad (Leinster for Sat).

danthefan

Forwards (13): Ronan McCormack, Brian Blaney, John Fogarty, Jason Harris-Wright, Jamie Hagan, Stephen Knoop, Trevor Hogan, Devin Toner, Cameron Jowitt, Kevin McLaughlin, Paul Ryan, Sean O'Brien, Stephen Keogh

Backs (11): Chris Keane, Paul O'Donohoe, Ian Madigan, Ian McKinley, Rob Kearney, Fergus McFadden, Kyle Tonetti, Simon Keogh, Niall Morris, David Kearney, Girvan Dempsey

Highlighted players would be 3rd choice at best. Arguably no first choice players at all. Going to take a hiding I reckon.

Crash

Jowitt and Keogh wouldn't be 3rd string, they'd be 2nd.

phog

It's NGD their playing, an AIL team should beat them, I be more concerned about the long break in a competitiive game for the team before the HC final but Cheika will be damned if he does and damned if he doean't.

Podge_irl

That is actually kind of hilarious. They're gonna lose something fierce.

Paulw

Not surprised with his decision. He said that they needed a strong win last weekend, to keep the momentum going after the HK Munster game, but that this weekend he was going to rest people, before the HK final.

The result this weekend won't be of any major importance anyway.

danthefan

Crash wrote: »

Jowitt and Keogh wouldn't be 3rd string, they'd be 2nd.

Keogh would be behind Heaslip and Elsom at 8, Jowitt would be behind just about every 2nd row and backrow on a full contract. Neither make a full strength 22.

smurphy29

Anyone got an idea whether David Kearney is set to follow in his brother's footsteps? Someone once told me he was even more talented at underage level, but he doesn't apper to have broken through at all...

sock puppet

Scarlets are under real pressure now. Playing Cardiff tonight and Ulster at the weekend. Don't know what strength team Cardiff will have out though.

danthefan

smurphy29 wrote: »

Anyone got an idea whether David Kearney is set to follow in his brother's footsteps? Someone once told me he was even more talented at underage level, but he doesn't apper to have broken through at all...

He's only 18 or 19 still, not everyone can make the breakthrough that young. Especially with the back at Leinster already.

gcgirl

Give him a bit of time he is not even 20 yet!! I also heard he is better full back than Rob !!

smurphy29 wrote: »

Anyone got an idea whether David Kearney is set to follow in his brother's footsteps? Someone once told me he was even more talented at underage level, but he doesn't apper to have broken through at all...

themont85

smurphy29 wrote: »

Anyone got an idea whether David Kearney is set to follow in his brother's footsteps? Someone once told me he was even more talented at underage level, but he doesn't apper to have broken through at all...

He's class, really quality player, only 19. McKinley is too as is Madigan, those 2 will have a run for the 10 jersey in future years. Leinster has the best young players in the country imo just ahead of Ulster(who have broken a couple through already) and Munster, who have a couple of good youngsters but not in the number of Leinster or Ulster.

danthefan

Young Leinster players are having to leave to get a look in, Keatley, Carr, Willis and now Jones.

chupacabra

Aye Dave has everything Rob does and has more pace and presents a better attacking threat. Im actually really looking forward to this game now with the likes of O'Donohoe and Madigan it should be a glimpse at the future stars of irish rugby.

smurphy29

Cheers guys, didn't realise he was that young. There's a third Kearney somewhere in the mix as well, isn't there?

smurphy29

danthefan wrote: »

Young Leinster players are having to leave to get a look in, Keatley, Carr, Willis and now Jones.

If they're good enough they'll get in - O'Brien, Healy, Toner, Sexton, Fitz and Rob Kearney have all made the grade. And Dempsey, Horgan, D'arce and BOD aren't getting any younger...

danthefan

smurphy29 wrote: »

If they're good enough they'll get in - O'Brien, Healy, Toner, Sexton, Fitz and Rob Kearney have all made the grade. And Dempsey, Horgan, D'arce and BOD aren't getting any younger...

Dempsey has already lost his place in the team, the other 3 still performing well. They're not going to wait around for a few years before those players retire. No young player is going to displace BOD or D'Arcy for a number of years yet.

irishbucsfan

Whose Niall Morris? or Kyle Tonetti?

And wheres Gary Brown?

Podge_irl

Tonetti is a 10/12. Played fro the As a lot and has been in a fair few senior squads (though I dunno if he's played for the senior team yet). Think Morris is a winger, but I don't really know.

Beanmachine

Tonetti is a big lad for his age think he's only 21, He's been playing AIL for Blackrock all season haven't seen him play since schools but he was a good player back then so i presume he's improved even more now.

Really interested to see how Hagan and Harris-Wright get on in the scrum if they come on,Harris wright used to play flanker for Pres Bray i think.

wixfjord

Is Eoin O Malley injured long term?

zAbbo

So much for Cheika saying he wanted to secure 2nd place, but you can understand given the importance of the 23rd

Digifriendly

chupacabra wrote: »

Aye Dave has everything Rob does and has more pace and presents a better attacking threat. Im actually really looking forward to this game now with the likes of O'Donohoe and Madigan it should be a glimpse at the future stars of irish rugby.

Saw younger Kearney play for Ireland under20's in friendly in Belfast just a year ago and was mightily impressed.

ALH-06

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Whose Niall Morris? or Kyle Tonetti?

And wheres Gary Brown?

Niall Morris is a winger / fullback for Blackrock. Strong, fast player but didn't set the world alight underage anyway... Tonetti is apparently a reasonably good prospect at 10, also Blackrock. Should be far behind Madigan in the pecking order though.

As for Gary Brown - the guy is about 28 now and has failed to make the top level. Time to start investing game time in Morris etc to develop them for the future.

And yeah, what happened to O'Malley? I heard him once proclaimed as the new O'Driscoll...

anonymous_joe

Saw both Kearneys playing s's rugby against my school in teh good ol' days. Dave's meant to be better but his year lost.

Tonetti plays with a few lads I was in school with, heard very good things.

It's a really weak squad, similar to the one Llanelli wiped out last year, but it's good experience.

ALH-06

ALH-06 wrote: »

Niall Morris is a winger / fullback for Blackrock. Strong, fast player but didn't set the world alight underage anyway... Tonetti is apparently a reasonably good prospect at 10, also Blackrock. Should be far behind Madigan in the pecking order though.

As for Gary Brown - the guy is about 28 now and has failed to make the top level. Time to start investing game time in Morris etc to develop them for the future.

And yeah, what happened to O'Malley? I heard him once proclaimed as the new O'Driscoll...

Must be injured,hes a class operator.

McKinnley will be interesting to watch,a 19 yr old centre that 6'4 and I think 108kg's or something.
Think Jauzion but bigger.

Podge_irl

Cheika mentioned that O'Malley was injured a few games back. Think I heard it was a season-ending injury so that's obviously why he's not there.

danthefan

Hayden Poor Succotash wrote: »

Must be injured,hes a class operator.

McKinnley will be interesting to watch,a 19 yr old centre that 6'4 and I think 108kg's or something.
Think Jauzion but bigger.

Think you're mixed up with someone else, McKinley is an OH. Sounds like you're describing Sheridan, another academy player.

[Jackass]

danthefan wrote: »

Forwards (13): Ronan McCormack, Brian Blaney, John Fogarty, Jason Harris-Wright, Jamie Hagan, Stephen Knoop, Trevor Hogan, Devin Toner, Cameron Jowitt, Kevin McLaughlin, Paul Ryan, Sean O'Brien, Stephen Keogh

Backs (11): Chris Keane, Paul O'Donohoe, Ian Madigan, Ian McKinley, Rob Kearney, Fergus McFadden, Kyle Tonetti, Simon Keogh, Niall Morris, David Kearney, Girvan Dempsey

Highlighted players would be 3rd choice at best. Arguably no first choice players at all. Going to take a hiding I reckon.

1. McCormack
2. Fogarty
3. Hagan
4. Hogan
5. Toner
6. McLoughlan
7. O'Brien
8. Keogh

9. O'Donohoe
10. Madigan
11. Tonetti
12. McKinley
13. McFadden
14. Kearney
15. Dempsey

Holy sh*t!! Can't wait to see this team play!! :eek: Great to see so many young players getting a run out with 2nd more or less in the bag. And all it took was a Heineken Cup final!!

danthefan

danthefan wrote: »

Think you're mixed up with someone else, McKinley is an OH. Sounds like you're describing Sheridan, another academy player.

Yeah I had him mixed up with Sheridan,interesting he isnt included.He was in a squad a while back.

damselnat

Digifriendly wrote: »

Saw younger Kearney play for Ireland under20's in friendly in Belfast just a year ago and was mightily impressed.

+1
A great prospect
Love to see them playing together

Stev_o

David can't tackle......at all. Seriously not flaming saw him against France and he was woefully in defence.

themont85

anonymous_joe wrote: »

Saw both Kearneys playing s's rugby against my school in teh good ol' days. Dave's meant to be better but his year lost.

Tonetti plays with a few lads I was in school with, heard very good things.

It's a really weak squad, similar to the one Llanelli wiped out last year, but it's good experience.

So did Rob's in the final as well. No luck in that family in SC finals.

anonymous_joe

themont85 wrote: »

So did Rob's in the final as well. No luck in that family in SC finals.

I meant to say his year lost to us.

Rob Kearney was the difference between Clongowes and us when I watched a few years ago. Howitzer of a boot.

Podge_irl

anonymous_joe wrote: »

Rob Kearney was the difference between Clongowes and us when I watched a few years ago. Howitzer of a boot.

Reminds me of the Colours match a few years back. Trinity were in it at half time and then UCD brought on Rob Kearney.....

bamboozle

think its daft that Simon Keogh and Chris Keane get called up to the Churchill Squad when O'Donoghue is left at home. You'd imagine they try to get the younger guys coming through.

anonymous_joe

bamboozle wrote: »

think its daft that Simon Keogh and Chris Keane get called up to the Churchill Squad when O'Donoghue is left at home. You'd imagine they try to get the younger guys coming through.

Well Keogh's actually looked half decent this season.

He's scored a few tries with very limited game time. He's a talented player who deserves some recognition.

Dev7

bamboozle wrote: »

think its daft that Simon Keogh and Chris Keane get called up to the Churchill Squad when O'Donoghue is left at home. You'd imagine they try to get the younger guys coming through.

Chris Keane's not in the Churchill Squad - and i imagine Keogh is there, and rightfully so, as a winger, seen as Boss and F Murphy are ther, O Donohues a rly rly good prospect, but to be fair he's still probably behind even Willis and Marshall up at Ulster so was never going to be picked.

Also lads I'v seen both Kearneys play and Robs definitely better.

crisco10

this game on the box anywhere?

Dev7

15: Girvan Dempsey
14: Simon Keogh
13: Fergus McFadden
12: Kyle Tonetti
11: Rob Kearney
10: Ian McKinley
9: Chris Keane

1: Ronan McCormack
2: John Fogarty
3: Stephen Knoop
4: Trevor Hogan
5: Devin Toner
6: Kevin McLaughlin
7: Sean O’Brien
8: Stephen Keogh CAPTAIN

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Brian Blaney
17: Jamie Hagan
18: Cameron Jowitt
19: Paul Ryan
20: Paul O’Donohoe
21: Ian Madigan
22: David Kearney

Digifriendly

crisco10 wrote: »

this game on the box anywhere?

Dragons vs Leinster live FTA on S4C and also on Setanta Ireland with Scarlets vs Ulster to follow also FTA on S4C and also on Setanta Sports 2.

anonymous_joe

Shame Keogh's not starting at scrum-half.

But really looking forward to this one - Tonetti McFadden's going to be exciting in the centre, I hope their inexperience doesn't get exposed too much, but interested in seeing how they cope.

Podge_irl

I really don't understand the logic behind starting Keane. Should be an interesting match though, lot of players to look out for.

[Jackass]

Yeah willl be great to see a few of the younger players getting a run out.

But Keane ahead of O'Donohoe again baffles the mind. This is an oppertunity for youth and a young player who has already impressed this season is benching behind an older never going to make it player...what's the point?

fifth

C'MON LEINSTER!!

danthefan

Annoyed this game is on at the same time as the GP final. Might watch the first half of Leinster and 2nd half of the GP.

Serenity Now!

Podge_irl wrote: »

I really don't understand the logic behind starting Keane. Should be an interesting match though, lot of players to look out for.

Maybe its just one last 'hurrah' for him? The game is a dead rubber and he'll probably interchange at halftime anyway.

[Jackass]

Serenity Now! wrote: »

Maybe its just one last 'hurrah' for him?

Fair point actually, I think you're dead right! This will apperantly be his last game and I didn't even think of that. Well, in that case I suppose let him have his moment, O'Donohoe will have all of next season as number 2 scrum half to get his oppertunities.

crisco10

22 Irish qualified players for Leinster today. Can't remember that happening before for any province!

Crash

crisco10 wrote: »

22 Irish qualified players for Leinster today. Can't remember that happening before for any province!

It has been pointed out actually, that Leinster were be capable next season of putting out a near full strength 15 - presumably a 22 as well?

1. Healy 2. Jackman 3. Ross
4. Cullen 5. O'Kelly
6. O'Brien 7. Jennings 8. Heaslip
9. Reddan 10. Sexton
11. Fitz 12. Darcy 13. O'Driscoll 14. Horgan 15. Kearney

16. McCormack/Knoop/Hagan
17. Fogarty
18. Toner/Trev Hogan (Dependant on Mal still being around as to who)
19. Keogh/McLaughlin?
20. O'Donohue
21. McFadden/Keogh
22. Dempsey

Not bad, slightly weak in the forwards bench, but more than a useable team. Great to see.

anonymous_joe

And we could have CJ Stan Wright and maybe even Glen Jackson to add some variety.

juvenal

Any score updates? Can't find a stream, GP final is on all the usual channels.