Leinster team vs Nice 6pm k/o

chupacabra

LEINSTER (v Rugby Nice Cote d'Azur) - Niall Morris; Shane Monahan, Brendan Macken, Isa Nacewa, Simon Keogh; Shaun Berne, Paul O'Donohoe; Stan Wright, John Fogarty, Mike Ross, Trevor Hogan, Malcolm O'Kelly, Stephen Keogh (capt), Shane Jennings, Kevin McLaughlin.

Replacements: Jason Harris-Wright, Ronan McCormack, Leo Cullen, Eoin Sheriff, Paul Ryan, Chris Keane, David Moore, Shane Horgan, Billy Ngawini.

So sign of Sexton.

ktulu123

Does anyone know if this will be watchable anywhere? Is there a Live stream?

anonymous_joe

Hoping for a stream or something later too.

No sign of Sexton or a whole host of other lads who played internationally this summer.

Think Mike Ross is the only to have played internationally this summer and be starting.

Four-Percent

Can't wait to see Mike Ross playing, hopefully he will be a good challenger for CJ's place. Might even be 1st choice depending on how CJ's toe is.

Nacewa at 12 looks interesting too.

Davie_m

is o'brien still injured?
haven't heard anything but taught he would be included.

i suppose some will be given a run out tonight and others giving a go against the exiles next week.

Tim Robbins

Davie_m wrote: »

is o'brien still injured?
haven't heard anything but taught he would be included.

i suppose some will be given a run out tonight and others giving a go against the exiles next week.

Anyone know much of Macken?

Stev_o

Tim Robbins wrote: »

Anyone know much of Macken?

Just another bash'em up centre.

ktulu123

Any hint of a stream yet?

themont85

Stev_o wrote: »

Just another bash'em up centre.

For an 18/19 year old its more impressive if he's a bash em up centre playing with the likes of Jennings, however, he is more than just a bash em up guy-good player with lovely hands for Rock last year.

Stev_o

themont85 wrote: »

For an 18/19 year old its more impressive if he's a bash em up centre playing with the likes of Jennings, however, he is more than just a bash em up guy-good player with lovely hands for Rock last year.

From what iv been told he's the same mold as Trimble, personally i dislike bash' em up 13's as it requires very little talent other then serious gym work. But that's just my own opinion.

ALH-06

Stev_o wrote: »

From what iv been told he's the same mold as Trimble, personally i dislike bash' em up 13's as it requires very little talent other then serious gym work. But that's just my own opinion.

Can be very effective though when combined with good hands and vision. ie. Mortlock, Bastardo for France etc

Stev_o

ALH-06 wrote: »

Can be very effective though when combined with good hands and vision. ie. Mortlock, Bastardo for France etc

Ah i dunno i think if your going for a crash ball midfield it should be at 12 and not 13, 13 should be trying to find space not run into defenders in my own view but then again there's very few teams that play the classic playmaker at 12 and cutting edge centre at 13 anymore mainly because there is a serious lack of cutting edge centres these days.

anonymous_joe

Stev_o wrote: »

Ah i dunno i think if your going for a crash ball midfield it should be at 12 and not 13, 13 should be trying to find space not run into defenders in my own view but then again there's very few teams that play the class playmaker at 12 and cutting edge centre at 13 anymore mainly because there is a serious lack of cutting edge centres these days.

I don't think it's that there's less cutting edge centres so much as defences are much much harder to break.

Nilther

From leinsterfans.

17 - 3. Leinster

Tries from Beirne, Simon Keogh and an other.

Stev_o

anonymous_joe wrote: »

I don't think it's that there's less cutting edge centres so much as defences are much much harder to break.

Sort of, coaches now know that the gain line is key to success thus you ll see alot more emphasis on centres being able to get over it rather then getting around defenders. Mean when i think of a OC i think a player that beat the midfield opposition infront of him, mean the likes of BOD and James Simpson Daniel seem more and more rare. Mean the only two centres at the moment i can think of that are cutting edge are McFadden and Delon Armtiage.

NU8

Final Score: Nice 10 v 38 Leinster

From: http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/newsroom/3710.php

One of the tries was from 'trialist' Billy Ngawini. Does anyone know anything about this guy? This is the first I've heard about him.

ALH-06

NU8 wrote: »

One of the tries was 'trialist' from Billy Ngawini. Does anyone know anything about this guy? This is the first I've heard about him.

Good question, I've no idea.

Here's a few more questions for the experts:

Why weren't Leinster playing in their new kit? It was released over a month ago now...

Why was O'Donoghue subsituted on only 32 minutes? (and for the dreaded Chris Keane no less)

Why was Dave Moore in the squad as well as aforementioned two SHs?

LeeroyJones

If wikipedia is to be believed Billy Ngawini is a 27 year old kiwi who converted from rugby league

and youtube offers the following video montage of him...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vd0sN-PN5Is

wixfjord

LeeroyJones wrote: »

If wikipedia is to be believed Billy Ngawini is a 27 year old kiwi who converted from rugby league

and youtube offers the following video montage of him...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vd0sN-PN5Is

Wow you reallt sleuth your ass off on that one!

Yeah hes a rugby league convert with a great step, but hasnt played anywhere near Heineken level yet it seems. Can play 9 and 11-15 it seems. Might be worth a year contract.

GymJim

wixfjord wrote: »

Wow you reallt sleuth your ass off on that one!

Yeah hes a rugby league convert with a great step, but hasnt played anywhere near Heineken level yet it seems. Can play 9 and 11-15 it seems. Might be worth a year contract.

That's more than a great step, his upper and lower body are completely separate in that video...it's like he's got springs in his heels and can start running a different direction without turning his body. Looks very similar mould to Jason Robinson doesn't he?!

RuggieBear

GymJim wrote: »

That's more than a great step, his upper and lower body are completely separate in that video...it's like he's got springs in his heels and can start running a different direction without turning his body. Looks very similar mould to Jason Robinson doesn't he?!

but look at how many clubs (and some of them not top grade) he has had...that would worry me.

anonymous_joe

RuggieBear wrote: »

but look at how many clubs (and some of them not top grade) he has had...that would worry me.

I've heard rumours of 'attitude' problems.

funky penguin

I've also heard rumours of a terrible defence as well.

That would make two foreign utility backs in our squad, one of which as far as I can tell, is actually just a full back (and an excellent one at that, mind you).

pisslips

Well, 'attitude' problems and defense can be worked on but at least he looks like he has talent and a good attitude when it comes to playing the game. better than picking up a 6ft 3" 17 stone brute to play as an outside back.

danthefan

Stev_o wrote: »

Just another bash'em up centre.

Stev_o wrote: »

From what iv been told he's the same mold as Trimble, personally i dislike bash' em up 13's as it requires very little talent other then serious gym work. But that's just my own opinion.

Have you ever seen Macken play?

ironingbored

I think it was Ngawini i saw training in Malahide last week. Didn't know who he was.

Looked very quick and nice hands.

SpAcEd OuT

Stev_o wrote: »

Just another bash'em up centre.

I think its pretty clear you have never seen Macken play. He is incredible, just out of school and already starting for Leinster. He got a straight up academy contract and is considered to be one of the biggest prospects in Ireland. I also heard that he was excellent and ran half the pitch to score a try only to have it disallowed for a leg in touch (which wasnt apparently)

Tell me what games did you see him in by the way?

danthefan

SpAcEd OuT wrote: »

I think its pretty clear you have never seen Macken play. He is incredible, just out of school and already starting for Leinster. He got a straight up academy contract and is considered to be one of the biggest prospects in Ireland. I also heard that he was excellent and ran half the pitch to score a try only to have it disallowed for a leg in touch (which wasnt apparently)

Tell me what games did you see him in by the way?

Apparently one of the academy coaches said over the summer that he'd almost be immediately ready to join the first team and was very close to be offered a full contract. Not bad for a talentless bash-em-up centre eh?

The difference between now and a couple of years ago when Fitz and Kearney broke through is it's now a lot harder to break into the backline.

[Jackass]

Also the last time we saw a player go straight from schools into Leinster senior squad pre-season, it was by a young Lion called Luke Fitzgerald. So fingers crossed! (also, Fitzgerald was offered the same contract as this guy straight after schools, academy contract, but to feature in senior squad, but with Munster sniffing around and Luke's father threatening to move Luke if he didn't get a full contract, Cheiks immediatley skipped the academy and gave him a full senior pro contract.)

anonymous_joe

Macken and Conway are both meant to be quality.

Macken isn't the son of the lad who teaches maths fairly indifferently, and has been known to coach the odd schools team?

irishbucsfan

GymJim wrote: »

That's more than a great step, his upper and lower body are completely separate in that video...it's like he's got springs in his heels and can start running a different direction without turning his body. Looks very similar mould to Jason Robinson doesn't he?!

I played with him before I left for Oz, he's ridiculously steppy. I can't tell you if he's got an attitude problem, but he's got a sense of humour at least! Seemed to

The most agile person I've ever had the luck to play with, it got to the stage at the end of the sessions where people were falling over (very tired pre-pre-season legs!) trying to tackle him. Also his passing is great, so I guess that's where his ability to play 9 shows.


Great to see the guy scoring in that run-out, hopefully he can grab a contract.

danthefan

danthefan wrote: »

Apparently one of the academy coaches said over the summer that he'd almost be immediately ready to join the first team and was very close to be offered a full contract. Not bad for a talentless bash-em-up centre eh?

The difference between now and a couple of years ago when Fitz and Kearney broke through is it's now a lot harder to break into the backline.

I agree he is class but his development is ridiculous

He is 6 foot and 95kg's,that would have alot to do with it.

[Jackass]

Stev_o wrote: »

Just another bash'em up centre.

Ah I don't know about that, he is certainly being hyped as a special player anyway. It's not often a schools player makes such an impact straight away or is ear marked for "greatness"...the last couple of players to get that kind of hype were Luke Fitzgerald and slightly later Keith Earls...if he's anywhere near that level then the hype will be justified...

Sunday Independent wrote:

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/nice-introduction-for-macken-shows-leinster-academy-graduate-has-talent-to-make-the-grade-1867339.html

Nice introduction for Macken shows Leinster Academy graduate has talent to make the grade

Peter Bills was in the south of France on Friday night to watch the Heineken Cup champions kick off their season

Sunday August 23 2009

H e ended last season playing for Ireland's U18 Schools side and has only just been announced as a member of the Leinster Academy for the 2009/10 season.

But the boy dubbed the 'next big thing' in Irish rugby, former Blackrock College centre Brendan Macken, found himself in the company of a former All Black and playing in front of a prince on a balmy night in the south of France on Friday evening. For Macken, the learning curve is starting to climb rapidly.

The youngster was one of three Academy kids given a run-out in Leinster's first pre-season warm-up game against Nice. In temperatures still in the high 20s, even at 9.0 at night and playing alongside former New Zealand international Isa Nacewa, Macken looked a serious prospect, a very promising youngster who can only get better.

Training with the senior squad in Nice last week, including Lions such as Brian O'Driscoll, Gordon D'Arcy, Luke Fitzgerald and Nathan Hines, youngsters like Macken, plus fellow Academy kids Niall Morris and Shane Monahan, will learn a lot. Macken's skills were admired by many, not least Prince Albert of Monaco, a keen rugby fan, who was in the stand together with around 3,000 other rugby devotees.

It was one of those old-fashioned, delightful rugby occasions when friendships were made or renewed and everyone enjoyed themselves without the pressures of the professional game. Nice, French Championship finalists back in 1993, have slipped in recent years but are now ambitious and on the way back. They offered a spirited challenge.

Leinster, who changed much of their side at half-time, eventually ran out 38-10 winners, the impact of senior pros like captain Leo Cullen, Shaun Berne and others very obvious in the second period.

New Zealand-born wing Billy Ngawini, the former Canterbury Bulldogs rugby league player currently on trial with Leinster, scored a couple of tries with bursts of real speed and clever footwork.

Leinster coach Michael Cheika acknowledged Ngawini's footwork and Macken's promise. But the Australian admitted his main priority for the night had been met. "The first game of the year, I like us just to get bashed up a little bit," he grinned. "You know it's not going to go well but it gives you the starting base. You see all the mistakes you are making, we get them on video and start working from there.

"What you get out of occasions like these is competition. You know they (the opposition) are going to be very combative; they will want to try and bash us around and lift their game. That is why I pick these types of matches. I knew they would be quite a fervent, strong pack and they gave us a lot of trouble in the pick and drive. It was also a strong contest in the maul and scrums but that is what we needed.

"If we look at the corresponding game we played last year, I would say we are perhaps a bit ahead of where we were then. We have a little more confidence in ourselves now, that little bit more self-belief. Our skill levels are a little bit better. Sure, tonight under the heat, some of our skills broke down. But we got out of it what we wanted."

Cheika is more than aware that there are such high hopes in Ireland for Macken but he refuses to get carried away. "Macken only came out of school at Blackrock last year but he is a very nice player," said the Australian. "Players make their own level but what we have to do is present good opportunities to guys to play well and then we can see what they have to offer. If they get to play with our best guys, we will see what they can really do. Macken is a good lad but I have only known him for the last couple of weeks in training.

"He has definitely got the right attitude and right temperament. There is a long, long way to go, both for him and the others. But a big part of what we are trying to do is blend old and new, young and older."

On Ngawini, Cheika was also cautious. "He has got beautiful footwork obviously but then he has played Sevens so he's got all that. He made some nice manoeuvres but as the level goes up you need more than just footwork. So we will have more of a look at him as we go along. He has been training with us for about six weeks and has done well. But it's way too early to know whether he will join us."

Stev_o

[Jackass] wrote: »

Ah I don't know about that, he is certainly being hyped as a special player anyway. It's not often a schools player makes such an impact straight away or is ear marked for "greatness"...the last couple of players to get that kind of hype were Luke Fitzgerald and slightly later Keith Earls...if he's anywhere near that level then the hype will be justified...

It was against Nice people are getting completely carried away here. Gavin Duffy is said to be one of the greatest schools players to have played yet we all know what happened to him.

Stev_o

Stev_o wrote: »

It was against Nice people are getting completely carried away here. Gavin Duffy is said to be one of the greatest schools players to have played yet we all know what happened to him.

Gavin Duffy played in the Connacht senior cup,a good player from the Leinster snr cup or Ulster would look a class above in that league.
You cant use that as a judge of talent if the other players are crap.

danthefan

Stev_o wrote: »

It was against Nice people are getting completely carried away here. Gavin Duffy is said to be one of the greatest schools players to have played yet we all know what happened to him.

Have you ever seen him play?

bamboozle

Lilith Rapid Viper wrote: »

Gavin Duffy played in the Connacht senior cup,a good player from the Leinster snr cup or Ulster would look a class above in that league.
You cant use that as a judge of talent if the other players are crap.

Gavin Duffy played from Roscrea in the Leinster Senior Cup

anonymous_joe

bamboozle wrote: »

Gavin Duffy played from Roscrea in the Leinster Senior Cup

What year?

nosco

Duffy was on the Roscrea side that lost to rock in the final of 99, i think.

Saw all the rock cup games last year and macken certainly looked likely to make the step up at some stage. Very surprised it happened so quickly. Didn't do anything overly impressive in their cup campaign but you could see he has all the skills.

Conway, the rock full back looked the real star. Would be very surprised if he didn't make it.

Amazotheamazing

Lilith Rapid Viper wrote: »

Gavin Duffy played in the Connacht senior cup,a good player from the Leinster snr cup or Ulster would look a class above in that league.
You cant use that as a judge of talent if the other players are crap.

Gavin Duffy was in the Irish schools side for three years back when he played for Roscrea, back then that didn't happen very often. It's an awful shame that his career never justified the hype, same as Staunton, Dillon, etc.