Leinster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread.

accensi0n

Really hope McKinley is considered the number two. Only saw him play twice this season but he seemed much better than Madigan, really comfortable and I think I remember seeing him in in some huge hits.

ambid

accensi0n wrote: »

Really hope McKinley is considered the number two. Only saw him play twice this season but he seemed much better than Madigan, really comfortable and I think I remember seeing him in in some huge hits.

True, but as someone else said a bit more experience at backup 10 would be no harm. Even with this fella, McKinley and Madigan will probably get lots of gametime next year. Agree on McKinley though, he does look promising.

[Jackass]

McKinley could be a massive player in the future alright. He was well ahead of Madigan before his eye injury almost ended his career and slowed his progress.

Seeing as it's a one year deal, I really feel Schmidt is trying to build from Leinster youth and McKinley will certainly be given his opperunity.

Perhaps Madigan is going to Connacht? With this signing I'd say one of them is leaving.

TheRevolution

[Jackass] wrote: »

The second row lad is the disapointment. Hines has been such a massive player for us, and imo it is the major weakness in our squad, second row, so I really expected a marque signing here, a world class proven talent, but he's been signed as a project player and long term solution, so I'm all for that, but still feel we could do with another signing here, and maybe we'll get it. As it stands, we only have 4 NIQ's next season, two of which are project players, so one more NIQ would be acceptable imo, but it's got to be in the second row.

tbh all the proven world class talent have either been snapped up or are tied down. Sykes is a big, strong unit and is a regular in one of the big sides in the S15, no easy feat considering the second rows available in that corner of the world. People were similarly worried about Richardt Strauss and look how that one turned out. Furthermore he'll be Irish qualified by 2014 which is a huge bonus.

It's crucial to me that we keep Maguire and McGrath now though and I still feel Fionn Carr coming back and the adddition of one more second row would wrap up the squad extremely nicely.

McGrath's tied down till 2013, dont know about Maguire.

sock puppet

How can Sykes play for Ireland if he's played for the Emerging Springboks?

CIARAN_BOYLE

Sykes
Has started 6 matches from 6 so far in this years Super 15. He started 13 matches out of 13 in last years Super 14. That is to me a sign that he is decently rated in South Africa.

The sharks website claims that he can play back row as well which I doubt Leinster need.

To be honest I don't know to much about him and am mainly judging him by the amount of game time he gets in Super Rugby but I think that he is a good signing and I hope he stays at Leinster for longer than his current contract.

As for Berquist I don't really rate him as more than a backup and as someoen to hold the fort for a year while McKinley and Madigan become closer to the finished product. For a big game Nacewa would play 10 before either if Sexton was injured and I prefer him available at 15.

sock puppet wrote: »

How can Sykes play for Ireland if he's played for the Emerging Springboks?

SA follow the French and Welsh example of nominating their U20s as their 'next most senior side' I beleive. You will notice that Sykes played for their U19s and for the Emerging Springboks but has no U20 experience.

EDIT I just want to say I could be wrong here

TheRevolution

sock puppet wrote: »

How can Sykes play for Ireland if he's played for the Emerging Springboks?

I don't think its considered a cap against the Lions

sock puppet

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

SA follow the French and Welsh example of nominating their U20s as their 'next most senior side' I beleive. You will notice that Sykes played for their U19s and for the Emerging Springboks but has no U20 experience.

I see.

PhatPiggins

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

Sykes
Has started 6 matches from 6 so far in this years Super 15. He started 13 matches out of 13 in last years Super 14. That is to me a sign that he is decently rated in South Africa.

The sharks website claims that he can play back row as well which I doubt Leinster need.

To be honest I don't know to much about him and am mainly judging him by the amount of game time he gets in Super Rugby but I think that he is a good signing and I hope he stays at Leinster for longer than his current contract.

As for Berquist I don't really rate him as more than a backup and as someoen to hold the fort for a year while McKinley and Madigan become closer to the finished product. For a big game Nacewa would play 10 before either if Sexton was injured and I prefer him available at 15.


SA follow the French and Welsh example of nominating their U20s as their 'next most senior side' I beleive. You will notice that Sykes played for their U19s and for the Emerging Springboks but has no U20 experience.

EDIT I just want to say I could be wrong here

Really really grey area, re:the recent Connacht debacle with signing the 2 Welsh under 20 players as an example.

IRB Regualtions wrote:REGULATION 8. ELIGIBILITY TO PLAY FOR NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE TEAMS

8.3 For the purposes of this Regulation, a Player is deemed to have played for the senior fifteen-a-side National Representative Team or the next senior fifteen-a-side National Representative Team of a Union if:

(a) He is selected for such team to play in an International Match against the senior fifteen-a-side National Representative Team or the next senior fifteen-a-side National Representative Team of another Union (or in a fifteen-a-side international Match against another Union’s senior or next senior Touring Squad during an IRB approved International Tour) and is present at the Match played by that team either as a replacement, substitute or a playing member of that team and has, at the time of the Match, reached the age of majority;

http://www.irb.com/lawregulations/regulations/index.html

Part of the qualification is apparently playing AGAINST rather than FOR an international team that makes you an international.

So if Sykes has played against another senior team while wearing the Emerging Boks jersey then he can't play for anyone other then SA.

I would also like to add that I could be wrong here

TheRevolution

^^^

Thats my take on it also. The opposition he played against for the Emerging Springboks weren't a national side so he is still eligible for Ireland.

PhatPiggins

TheRevolution wrote: »

^^^

Thats my take on it also. The opposition he played against for the Emerging Springboks weren't a national side so he is still eligible for Ireland.

Is it only the one game against the B&I Lions he played for the Emerging Boks?

To be honest I think a lot of NIQ signings spin the "I'd love to play for X country" line as a preemtive for a future contract extensions.

irishbucsfan

Steven Sykes has played more this season than any other 2nd Row in the Super XV, except for 1 Lions player.

I think he's a great signing. Next season I think we'll be very well off if we have him and Kev McLoughlin playing the "enforcer" role, with Cullen and Toner bossing the lineouts. Not as well off as we were with Hines, but to be honest I think it would be a little OTT to expect anything better (except for Richie Gray, who I refuse to accept we aren't signing until I hear some heartbreaking evidence to suggest we aren't.

Berquist is not really expected to contribute much, Hagan is going to be Ross' backup.

Mr.Applepie

Looks like Maguire is going to Connacht for a few years. Hopefully it works out as well for him as it did for Hagan

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2011/0329/1224293297263.html

pajunior

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Steven Sykes has played more this season than any other 2nd Row in the Super XV, except for 1 Lions player.

I think he's a great signing. Next season I think we'll be very well off if we have him and Kev McLoughlin playing the "enforcer" role, with Cullen and Toner bossing the lineouts. Not as well off as we were with Hines, but to be honest I think it would be a little OTT to expect anything better (except for Richie Gray, who I refuse to accept we aren't signing until I hear some heartbreaking evidence to suggest we aren't.

Berquist is not really expected to contribute much, Hagan is going to be Ross' backup.

How sure are you on Richie Gray, because that would be an amazing signing. Although would be disastrous for Toner.

thomond2006

pajunior wrote: »

How sure are you on Richie Gray, because that would be an amazing signing. Although would be disastrous for Toner.

There's no way the PAG will allow Leinster to have two NIQ second rows (although I accept Sykes is effectively a project player but that means he is keeping out an IQ player for three seasons).

Podge_irl

thomond2006 wrote: »

There's no way the PAG will allow Leinster to have two NIQ second rows (although I accept Sykes is effectively a project player but that means he is keeping out an IQ player for three seasons).

You'd think that, but who knows how they really operate. They've let Munster have two NIQ centres and Leinster had a production line of (mostly useless) NIQ front rows in the past.

Edit: Course, the Grey talk is just idle speculation and completely unsupported optimism on some people's parts. There is no indication that he is even possibly coming to Leinster

jolley123

Jennings is a doubt for the Munster game so who would you guys have in the back-row. O'Brien and Heaslip are a given, so the remaining spot is a fight out between McLaughlin, Ryan and Ruddock. I'd be happy with any one of them playing.

McLaughlin probably came out on top out of the 3 of them in Newport, but Ruddock has been playing consistently well in the Magners, as has Dippy.

I see this game being extremely physical, so if I had to choose - Ruddock.

One thing I would like to see Leinster do more often, is use O'Brien at 8 in the scrum. He did in the Clermont games and looked very impressive. He's our best ball-carrier, so it makes sense to use him off the back of a scrum.

WeeBushy

If he doesn't play I'd start Ryan at 7.

Ruddock is a 6/8 and McLaughlin is a 6. We could shift O'Brien to 7 and include either Ruddock or McLaughlin, but O'Brien is such an awesome 6 (and 8) that I don't want to move him to 7. Plus, Ryan is the closest player we have to Jennings and has the makings of a very good 7, he provides superb link play. He started the game in the Aviva earlier in the season and gave a very good account of himself. I also think it gives the best balance to the back row.

In saying that, I'd be happy with any one of the three coming in, such is their talents.

678blehblehbleh.

Back Row Unit. They all play the same game.

Heaslip and SOB do the same job regardless of the numbers on their backs, and SOB has played 678 for Leinster.

The game we play doesn't revolve around the breakdown, so we don't need to have a dedicated breakdown specialist.

Why open doors when you can just knock down the wall?

[Jackass]

Tough call, I'd probably go with McLoughlin at 6 and O'Brien at 7.

Ciaran-Irl

Hines at 6 worked well last year. Either Hines or Locky is a good call so that we can have 4 lineout jumpers putting pressure on. If we can put pressure on the scrum and the lineout, we have a decent chance.

Jemo

Its a tough call. If Jennings is likely to miss the Leicester game then I would go with McLaughlin for lineout expertise and experience. If Jennings is likely to come back in the Ryan is the man for the job. Has the physicality to cause Munster problems and links very well. He also gives the most balance as someone has already said. Despite Ruddock being rated highest by the Irish management, I think he is a step behind Ryan and Kevin.

I don't think its that tough. The two "lads" are definitely ready to play, but I'd still go
6 McLaughlin
7 SOB
8 Heaslip

McLaughlin is a great option at the tail of the lineout, has experience and a serious head on his shoulders. Ryan or Ruddock on the bench won't weaken the team severely either.

ambid

jolley123 wrote: »

Jennings is a doubt for the Munster game so who would you guys have in the back-row. O'Brien and Heaslip are a given, so the remaining spot is a fight out between McLaughlin, Ryan and Ruddock. I'd be happy with any one of them playing.

McLaughlin probably came out on top out of the 3 of them in Newport, but Ruddock has been playing consistently well in the Magners, as has Dippy.

I see this game being extremely physical, so if I had to choose - Ruddock.

One thing I would like to see Leinster do more often, is use O'Brien at 8 in the scrum. He did in the Clermont games and looked very impressive. He's our best ball-carrier, so it makes sense to use him off the back of a scrum.

"Dippy"?

ambid

ambid wrote: »

"Dippy"?

Dom Ryan

WeeBushy

ambid wrote: »

"Dippy"?

Its his nickname from school.

WeeBushy

Deleted User wrote: »

678blehblehbleh.

Back Row Unit. They all play the same game.

Heaslip and SOB do the same job regardless of the numbers on their backs, and SOB has played 678 for Leinster.

The game we play doesn't revolve around the breakdown, so we don't need to have a dedicated breakdown specialist.

Why open doors when you can just knock down the wall?

I very much like the wording of that question

Yeah, that's a good point about 6/7/8. The lines have been blured at the back row, however the jobs to be done are still there, its just not defined by number any more.

I would include Ryan not because of his breakdown ability (I don't think that's particularly his strong point anyway), but because he provides intelligent link play and always seems to be in the right place. Also his defense is awesome, not just tackling, but positioning etc as well. He brings similar qualities to the back row to Jennings, something that the others lack. No slight on them, they have other jobs to do. And do them damn well.

danthefan

8 is still very much a specialised position, the way things are going 6 and 7 can be considered interchangeable though.

swan82

Is Jennings available or or you guys just not picking him in this fantacy backrow?

davidpfitz

TheRevolution wrote: »

Thats my take on it also. The opposition he played against for the Emerging Springboks weren't a national side so he is still eligible for Ireland.

Also, it wasn't a Test match - if that makes any difference.