Leinster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread.

thomond2006

Has Ciaran Ruddock been released?


Leinster
Michael Bent (PR, Hurricanes), Tom Denton (LK, Leeds)
Nathan White (PR, Connacht), Brad Thorn (LK, Fukuoka Sanix Blues, return from loan), Ciaran Ruddock (LK), Matt Berquist (FH, Biarritz), Eamonn Sheridan (CT, Rotherham)

http://www.therugbyforum.com/forum/showthread.php?25134-Transfers-2012-13

totallegend

thomond2006 wrote: »

Has Ciaran Ruddock been released?

Think it was more that he got to the end of his Academy deal and just wasn't offered pro terms. He's 23 now and has never looked like making a move into the senior team, so...

CIARAN_BOYLE

I hope he gets a job in the second tier in England, Glad to see Sheridan to Rotterham as I thought he didn't have a club for next season.

C Ruddock wasn't going to break through at leinster, the backrow is too competitive and he is too short for the second row.

.ak

Looking at that transfer list... We seem to be a bit light on the signings compared to the out goings? Are we leaving it a bit late to get the said NIQ lock there's been murmurings about?

promote from within.

GerM

There'll be signings according to LR. Definitely a lock and rumours that they're speaking to some significant names from the southern hemisphere. If I had to venture a guess, I wouldn't be surprised if someone like Tom Donnelly (who has lost his spot and is out of contract) or Anthony Boric (out of contract) is approached.

justsomebloke

Still no word what so ever on Browne then

danthefan

A 2nd row is desperately needed. Not sure Cullen has another season left in him tbh, physically he's not at the races anymore imo, though he remains one of the most intelligent players in the country.

tolosenc

GerM wrote: »

There'll be signings according to LR. Definitely a lock and rumours that they're speaking to some significant names from the southern hemisphere. If I had to venture a guess, I wouldn't be surprised if someone like Tom Donnelly (who has lost his spot and is out of contract) or Anthony Boric (out of contract) is approached.

I'm quite a fan of Boric. Would be a great signing.

Morf

I had a keen eye on Etzebeth, hoped we could have signed him as a project player. His promise wasn't missed by the SA selectors though .. .

chupacabra

Morf wrote: »

I had a keen eye on Etzebeth, hoped we could have signed him as a project player. His promise wasn't missed by the SA selectors though .. .

He's been groomed for the national side since school. Not a chance they would have let him go.

Podge_irl

Leinster essentially need another Hines/Thorn, or at the very least a better version of Browne. I think Toner is going to be Leinster's primary lock next season and even if Cullen starts beside him I doubt he'll end the season there. He just looks to be physically gone at this stage. He would still bring a lot of intelligence and graft to the team from the bench though. Also he can retire next year as the HEC's most successful captain of all time which isn't too bad. But Toner really needs to be partnered with a beefy, aggressive player.

Swan Curry

Podge_irl wrote: »

Leinster essentially need another Hines/Thorn, or at the very least a better version of Browne. I think Toner is going to be Leinster's primary lock next season and even if Cullen starts beside him I doubt he'll end the season there. He just looks to be physically gone at this stage. He would still bring a lot of intelligence and graft to the team from the bench though. Also he can retire next year as the HEC's most successful captain of all time which isn't too bad. But Toner really needs to be partnered with a beefy, aggressive player.

I'd hate to see Toner miss out on big matches just because he's not enough of a stereotypical "enforcer".

Podge_irl

Swan Curry wrote: »

I'd hate to see Toner miss out on big matches just because he's not enough of a stereotypical "enforcer".

As would I. Because the issue is that Cullen is no longer an enforcer type (and while he never was in the Thorn mould, he was effective in rucks and mauls). But I'm pretty convinced that Toner will be the mainstay in the Leinster pack next year - Cullen unfortunately is on the way out. He lacks the physicality at the top end and was getting pinged an awful lot last season which is indicative of him slowing down a bit I think.

Browne/Toner was actually a decent enough combo, and while it would remain Leinster's weakest position, I wouldn't be totally averse to them getting another shot next year. The whole Browne situation confuses me - I thought he did a great job. I can only assume its injury related.

[Jackass]

GerM wrote: »

There'll be signings according to LR. Definitely a lock and rumours that they're speaking to some significant names from the southern hemisphere. If I had to venture a guess, I wouldn't be surprised if someone like Tom Donnelly (who has lost his spot and is out of contract) or Anthony Boric (out of contract) is approached.

I'd be amazed if it wasn't one of them, I'd take both! If I had to choose, it'd have to be Boric though. Beast of a man. Young enough that we could get 5 years or so out of him.

Regarding second row next season, I'm really interested to see how Schmidt goes about it.

In my opinion, the new signing (assuming of the quality mentioned above) and Toner should be the starting partnership. So this will be the test of Schmidt, not only does he have the balls to change captain by naming presumably Heaslip as the new Leinster captain, but also to drop the old gaurd also.

I really hope he does, and that is out of no disrespect to Cullen, but I'd certainly prefer to see him as an old head coming off the bench than a nailed on starter from next season.

I also have extremely high hopes for Denton. I think he could end up being an extremely shrewd signing and hopefully long term big player at Leinster. Admitedly, I haven't seen him play, but have read about him from various sources and everything seems to be extremely positive and just what we're looking for. I get the impression that he's similar to Ryan at Munster, strong agressive play, good in the lineout, breadown & tackle area, who's also mobile, athletic and can carry. If it proves to be the case, and given his age and being IQ, he could be superb signing. Fingers crossed anyway.

Also, regarding Damien Browne, I saw him coming out of Brownes in Sandymount the other day and stopping at Bennets window looking at property. Thought to myself that can only be a good sign that he's still here AND perhaps looking to put down roots :pac: Didn't want to bother the man by asking him though!

If we did sign one of those kiwi lads, we'd be in pretty decent shape though, with say Boric, Toner, Cullen, Denton, Browne & Flanagan.

Swiwi

GerM wrote: »

There'll be signings according to LR. Definitely a lock and rumours that they're speaking to some significant names from the southern hemisphere. If I had to venture a guess, I wouldn't be surprised if someone like Tom Donnelly (who has lost his spot and is out of contract) or Anthony Boric (out of contract) is approached.

Jason Eaton, Tom Donnelly? Boric remains an AB prospect, I don't see him bolting yet. You can have Ali Williams if you want

WeeBushy

[Jackass] wrote: »

I'd be amazed if it wasn't one of them, I'd take both! If I had to choose, it'd have to be Boric though. Beast of a man. Young enough that we could get 5 years or so out of him.

Thanks to the new IRFU rules, unless he signs a 5 year contract he wouldn't be able to stay that long.

Time for Dippy to shine.

McLaughlin, Jennings, Heaslip
Dom Ryan

will be our HEC back row for the first two games.

SOB and Ruddock both out.

GerM

Swiwi wrote: »

Jason Eaton, Tom Donnelly? Boric remains an AB prospect, I don't see him bolting yet. You can have Ali Williams if you want

Pass! No crocks with discipline issues, please!

I'd have to say Donnelly looks the most likely from NZ. It has been previously raised in the press in NZ about his future being up in the air and he hasn't ruled out a move abroad with a decision to be made at the end of the S15 season. Boric is the one I'd want. He has never been a front line international for NZ and with the emergence of Romano and Retallick, he could hopefully be persuaded that his ship has sailed and it's time to boost the pension fund.

With that all said, it will probably be some lock from SA now!

justsomebloke

Anyone know how good Jordi Murphy is as presumably he'll be the bench option for the start of the Rabo at least now.

justsomebloke

justsomebloke wrote: »

Anyone know how good Jordi Murphy is as presumably he'll be the bench option for the start of the Rabo at least now.

he's good for his age. But not ready to be a regular imo.

Wouldn't mind him proving me wrong.

Auv'aa is still there too lest we forget!

justsomebloke

Deleted User wrote: »

Auv'aa is still there too lest we forget!

I'm not but at the start of the season it will be Ryan, Jennings and Auv'aa, but after that Jordi would have to be the bench option as there is nobody else

Might see some of Ben Marshall too, a lock/number 8.

Swiwi

GerM wrote: »

Pass! No crocks with discipline issues, please!

I'd have to say Donnelly looks the most likely from NZ. It has been previously raised in the press in NZ about his future being up in the air and he hasn't ruled out a move abroad with a decision to be made at the end of the S15 season. Boric is the one I'd want. He has never been a front line international for NZ and with the emergence of Romano and Retallick, he could hopefully be persuaded that his ship has sailed and it's time to boost the pension fund.

With that all said, it will probably be some lock from SA now!

Donnelly does the core duties well, but lacks a bit of athleticism around the field these days, hence out of ABs frame. Eaton was being touted a bit for an ABs recall, he certainly has had a good season with Hurricanes. Could imagine he is the kind of player that would standout in the HC. Boric has been out pretty much all season with a neck injury, but every time an AB squad is named, he is mentioned as being not considered due to injury, which means he's very much in the AB frame. I don't see Ali Williams making 2015, and I think he is still quite young, so I would be surprised if Boric left.

CIARAN_BOYLE

Deleted User wrote: »

Might see some of Ben Marshall too, a lock/number 8.

at 6"4 he is an 8 man and not a lock not tall enough

[Jackass]

Deleted User wrote: »

SOB and Ruddock both out.

Arse. What's the injury / prognoses on O'Brien?

.ak

[Jackass] wrote: »

Arse. What's the injury / prognoses on O'Brien?

Hip surgery - keyhole type to repair cartilage damage. Will probably be out until November.

I think there's a big opportunity for some of our backrow depth here. I hope SOB has a speedy recovery, he's my favorite forward and I always feel privileged watching him play, but the silver lining is he'll get a rest and hopefully recover a better man.

It'd be good to see the likes of Jordi, Gilly and Conan getting some senior starts. I was impressed with Jordi last year, he didn't set the world alight but didn't make any mistakes or miss any tackles on his senior starts last season and you can't ask any more of that.

Gilly might bulk up in time, I think he's another Locky type character that really relishes on a massive work rate but has the skillset to play openside. Having said that he's least likely to get a senior start, still needs a lot of weight and bulking up.

Conan's probably the nearest thing to a senior specialist 8 from the A team. He's learned a lot from the RWC and has adapted his style to suit a dynamic powerful 8 role. With Rhys out of the picture for the next while that leaves Auva'a as our only specialist 8. Conan could be handy in a squeeze...

Scioch

Just thinking about Fionn Carr today and the difference in his play for Connacht and Leinster. Although he has improved all round his attack hasnt been as sharp.

Is it a case of Connacht's attack being simply get the ball to Fionn and let him do his thing every single time which made him look better than he was over there and slightly less so when he's in a team with a lot more options ?

Or did Leinster under utilise him last season ? In most games he got shag all ball, with Leinster happy to keep in in the middle or use the opposite wing more often than not. I did note however Madigan when on made a real effort to use him. I think it would be best for all invloved if Carr was used as they used him at Connacht, tell him to stay on the wing and wait to pounce.

Should Leinster trust Fionn this season and use his potent attack ? Or keep using the more experienced players instead and make Carr work for scraps ?

[Jackass]

[Jackass] wrote: »

Arse. What's the injury / prognoses on O'Brien?

Not good - December?

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056682776

.ak

.ak wrote: »

Conan's probably the nearest thing to a senior specialist 8 from the A team. He's learned a lot from the RWC and has adapted his style to suit a dynamic powerful 8 role. With Rhys out of the picture for the next while that leaves Auva'a as our only specialist 8. Conan could be handy in a squeeze...

Ben Marshall.

He's a tank.