Leinster End of Season Review

smurphy29

All in all, the usual rollercoaster that Leinster fans are well used to. We had our good days (beating Munster three times, clinching a home QF in the HEC) but we came up short a couple of times in big matches, which cost us silverware, notably against London Irish, Toulouse and most recently Ospreys.

It’s going to be strange without Mal and Girve, and also Birch, and next season will be fascinating with a new management team taking over. Hopefully they’ll bring some new ideas and some freshness to a team that looked tired and a bit stale at times, but has enough quality in every unit to make for a seamless transition.

The positives:

• The back row: we all worried after Life After Rocky but Heaslip brought his game to a whole new level to emerge as an elite player, and Locky came from nowhere – let’s hope his injury isn’t too bad. We have two excellent sevens who were both a bit unlucky with injury and suspension respectively, and we got a glimpse of some young talent coming through.
• Big match mentality – Leinster have learned how to win and proved again that when matches are tight they are able to find a way of ekeing out the win, especially against Clermont, in Thomond and at home to Connacht.
• Jonny Sexton – still some kinks to be ironed out, but it was a terrific first season as frontline 10 for Jonny. Will continue to improve, and should be a mainstay for years to come
• RDS – the ground generates a fantastic atmosphere on big matchdays now, which is great for fans and the team

The negatives:

• Try count – in the Magners especially, Leinster struggled to score tries. We lack pace in the back division. For all Isa’s quality he is not a natural finisher, wile Shaggy has slowed up considerably. Luke is back next season, Conway will be given more opportunities, but some fresh ideas are needed. Joe Schmidt being a backs coach is probably no harm at all.
• Passive starts to games – Leinster rarely go all out and take the game to teams from the off. The only time I can recall us doing so was away to Llanelli Scarlets, with spectacular results. We need to get a more aggressive mentality towards the opening 20 minutes.
• Injuries – increasingly a factor in the modern game, Leinster’s squad was threadbare by the end of the season. Some signings may be needed to offer squad dept

Best player: Jamie Heaslip by miles. Now an elite player, and surely the next captain. Honourable mentions to Isa Nacewa and Stan Wright

Worst player: it was one year too many for Jackers. The Carlow man is all heart, but injuries finally caught up with him.

Best signing: Nathan Hines brought the pack enforcer mentality that was required in Rocky’s absence, and bedded in easily. Shaun Berne also proved a capable stand in at 10 when required.

Best performance: 30-0 v Munster. Our most complete performance.

Worst performance: 9-12 v London Irish. Awful in every respect, particularly the match-losing penalty and Reddan kicking the ball away with the last play.

Best try: BOD vs. Brive. A classic set-piece try to secure the bonus point. You somehow knew it would be crucial.

Best match: 29-28 vs. Clermont. A special night for all who were there. We rode our luck for sure, but it was an unforgettable night.

shawpower

Agree with most of that. On the injuries/Squad depth, the proposed cut in players wages might signal reduced squad depth being the future rather than bigger depth. Plus we might lose some of those big Irish names? But with so many retiring/moving, you'd imagine they'll have to bring in a couple more names other than Boss and EOD.

billybigunz

Reddan was our worst player. Useless decision making in every game. In the final he was kicking ball after ball on the full or just setting it up nice for Byrne.

anonymous_joe

billybigunz wrote: »

Reddan was our worst player. Useless decision making in every game. In the final he was kicking ball after ball on the full or just setting it up nice for Byrne.

Nah, that's unfair.

ALH-06

billybigunz wrote: »

Reddan was our worst player. Useless decision making in every game. In the final he was kicking ball after ball on the full or just setting it up nice for Byrne.

I'd disagree. Reddan's box-kicking in the final, while persistent, was not ineffective. And it must have been part of Cheika's gameplan in any case.

I think Reddan has brought some much needed pace and urgency to Leinster's backline this season. Those that think he was our worst player have short memories - remember the days of Whits, Keane and Easterby?

anonymous_joe

Whits was a good player, very good, just had meh delivery. Bit like O'Leary really. Only older.

Mr.Applepie

smurphy29 wrote: »

Try count – in the Magners especially, Leinster struggled to score tries. We lack pace in the back division. For all Isa’s quality he is not a natural finisher, wile Shaggy has slowed up considerably.

I think this has been one of Leinsters main problems this season. They have the hands and eye for a gap but are lacking out and out pace. They broke the line plenty of times but were always clawed back. Conway looks quick, not Hickie quick but close. I'm looking forward to next season when Fitzy and hopefully Conway inject some speed into what is a very skillful backline

Ciaran-Irl

Mr.Applepie wrote: »

I think this has been one of Leinsters main problems this season. They have the hands and eye for a gap but are lacking out and out pace. They broke the line plenty of times but were always clawed back. Conway looks quick, not Hickie quick but close. I'm looking forward to next season when Fitzy and hopefully Conway inject some speed into what is a very skillful backline

Yeah, I agree with this.

I'm not certain that Shaggy fully recovered from injury, so he might come back next year an improved player. If he keeps playing the way he played the last 3 months of the season, and not closer to the way he played the first 3 months of the season, then he should not make the 22 for HEC squads.

shawpower

billybigunz wrote: »

Reddan was our worst player. Useless decision making in every game. In the final he was kicking ball after ball on the full or just setting it up nice for Byrne.

Disagree with this. If you're talking about the "final" then Byrne wasn't playing. His kicking wasn't great v Ospreys, but it was a team tactic that failed across the board. Sexton and Kearney were equally as bad. If you're talking about the semi v Toulouse then I thought Reddan actually had a very good game. His passing was good in the wet, he oh-so nearly scored a beaut of a try, and his defence was very solid all day.

He certainly made a bad decision against London Irish at the death, but that's one (expensive) mistake out of a season. To say he was making bad decisions in every game is very harsh.

Overall, his range of passing has been a big improvement this season for Leinster. He can shuffle at times like Whits, but can equally spin it quickly away from a ruck when needed. The shuffle can sometimes keep the defence honest, as he's got a good break in him too.

This video shows it perfectly. He has the ball at the base of a ruck twice. The first one he shuffles to the side, which keeps the two defenders honest and looking at him, which helps to create the overlap for Luke to break away. The second one has to be quick and it is, as he flick passes to Johnny who sets up a try out of it. Just because he's sometimes slow, isn't reason to write him off imho. (Video also shows clearly how much we missed Luke and SOB through injury in the 2nd half of the year. )

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMJLoCKe668

Overall his kicking can be poor at times, but unfair to target him as our worst player because of this.

Ciaran-Irl wrote: »

I'm not certain that Shaggy fully recovered from injury, so he might come back next year an improved player. If he keeps playing the way he played the last 3 months of the season, and not closer to the way he played the first 3 months of the season, then he should not make the 22 for HEC squads.

I agree that he wasn't the same after injury. He had to come back early from that injury and play through the pain v Clermont, and I think that set him back for the rest of the season. His form in the first half of the season was very good, so hopefully with a full pre-season he'll get back to that.

A good way of showing the difference is the breakaway try he scored against the Scarlets in December when he outpaced a 10 and a full back, and the total failure of a breakaway v Ospreys when he was caught by Ryan Jones. I can't find a video of the second piece, but here's his speed back in the Autumn... I don't accept that he's slowed down so much, so quickly, so suspect he'll be back playing well next year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMCHj8I3GiY

danthefan

Horgan for me has been pretty rubbish since he returned from injury. Having said that he was excellent before he got injured.

And that try against Cardiff up there really shows how badly we missed Fitzgerald this season. Has that pace and ability to beat defenders we really missed this season.

Mr.Applepie

shawpower wrote: »

A good way of showing the difference is the breakaway try he scored against the Scarlets in December when he outpaced a 10 and a full back, and the total failure of a breakaway v Ospreys when he was caught by Ryan Jones. I can't find a video of the second piece, but here's his speed back in the Autumn... I don't accept that he's slowed down so much, so quickly, so suspect he'll be back playing well next year.

Didn't he injure is knee/foot though? If he didn't let that heal properly he could well have lost some pace permanently. Shaggy is quick but really only in a straight line. we need a wing who can step or at least run at pace in a gentle curve

I've been saying it for months to anyone who will listen and a few who have started to ignore me... we are really missing Fitzgerald. Dempsey could have filled that gap 1 or 2 seasons ago but his top line gas was gone by this season.

shawpower

Mr.Applepie wrote: »

Didn't he injure is knee/foot though? If he didn't let that heal properly he could well have lost some pace permanently. Shaggy is quick but really only in a straight line. we need a wing who can step or at least run at pace in a gentle curve .

I've always thought that your 11 fills the role of the elusive runner with a step, while the 14 is normally a bigger stronger runner. Look at Ospreys with Williams and Bowe. Both excellent players, but you can't really say Tommy has a big step. I think the mix of Luke (or Isa) and Shaggy when both on form is excellent. The problem has been that Shaggy just hasn't gotten back to good form since his injury.

Maybe the question is whether Isa is ideal to fill in at 14 next year in place of Shaggy? If not, where else will he slot in? He's a fantastic player, so you'd think he'll be in the team, particularly because I thought Schmidt was a fan?

On the question of whether the injury has had a permanent knock-on for Shaggy, I guess we'll just have to wait till next year to see. I certainly wouldn't rule him out of featuring in the HEC squad anyway, particularly when you see some of his layoffs & passes this year. Remember the one for BOD against Brive in the HEC? What a pass. Love the Shaggy, Shaggy chants as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW7HgpvlLFs

chupacabra

shawpower wrote: »

I've always thought that your 11 fills the role of the elusive runner with a step, while the 14 is normally a bigger stronger runner. Look at Ospreys with Williams and Bowe. Both excellent players, but you can't really say Tommy has a big step. I think the mix of Luke (or Isa) and Shaggy when both on form is excellent. The problem has been that Shaggy just hasn't gotten back to good form since his injury.

Maybe the question is whether Isa is ideal to fill in at 14 next year in place of Shaggy? If not, where else will he slot in? He's a fantastic player, so you'd think he'll be in the team, particularly because I thought Schmidt was a fan?

On the question of whether the injury has had a permanent knock-on for Shaggy, I guess we'll just have to wait till next year to see. I certainly wouldn't rule him out of featuring in the HEC squad anyway, particularly when you see some of his layoffs & passes this year. Remember the one for BOD against Brive in the HEC? What a pass. Love the Shaggy, Shaggy chants as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW7HgpvlLFs

That pass sends shivers down my spine whenever i watch it.

As for Shaggys replacement. Isa has no pace whatsoever it seems so i dont think he will just slot right in there. Looks more likely that Conway is being groomed to take that wing spot but then you are swapping the physical presence and aerial superiority that Shaggy had for a player who relies primarily on his pace to make an impact. I would prefer the Shaggy mold any day of the week tbf.

anonymous_joe

shawpower wrote: »

I've always thought that your 11 fills the role of the elusive runner with a step, while the 14 is normally a bigger stronger runner. Look at Ospreys with Williams and Bowe. Both excellent players, but you can't really say Tommy has a big step. I think the mix of Luke (or Isa) and Shaggy when both on form is excellent. The problem has been that Shaggy just hasn't gotten back to good form since his injury.

Maybe the question is whether Isa is ideal to fill in at 14 next year in place of Shaggy? If not, where else will he slot in? He's a fantastic player, so you'd think he'll be in the team, particularly because I thought Schmidt was a fan?

On the question of whether the injury has had a permanent knock-on for Shaggy, I guess we'll just have to wait till next year to see. I certainly wouldn't rule him out of featuring in the HEC squad anyway, particularly when you see some of his layoffs & passes this year. Remember the one for BOD against Brive in the HEC? What a pass. Love the Shaggy, Shaggy chants as well.

World Cup players are not going to play much next season. That will probably amount to Kearney, D'Arcy, O'Driscoll and Fitzgerald for us. Nacewa can cover at least three probably all of their positions in a pinch.

Third_Echelon

WOW! i'd forgotten about that pass from shaggy for that try! fantastic stuff

I think the summary by the OP is pretty fair...

For me anyway, the glaring hole is backup for Johnny Sexton at 10.

I don't know what it is about Shaun Berne, but I get nervous whenever he has the ball. I think we need a better quality replacement... having said that he did have a decent game against Toulouse. Like any of the high profile positions, you can get rusty if you aren't playing every match... Also there is Isa who can deputise there, but he seems to be deputising all over the backs

I thought overall Reddan had a good season. The London Irish incident was mind boggling to say the least, but I think since then he has been pretty solid.

Fitzgerald back for next season is a big bonus. It will be like signing a new player. Shaggy since coming back from injury has been dodgy. Some cringe moments with hospital passes and kicks etc where he was compensating for the loss of pace at times.... He is a good player, so hopefully the summer will give him time to get his fitness back to what it was pre-injury.

This summer as well will be quite interesting in a number of ways. Firstly, who is going to come into the squad to cover the retirees? I'd imagine there will be numbers within the academy/fringe players ranks, but there are some very big boots to fill.

Secondly, how will the new coaching staff fit in? Will it take a while to get the team playing in their style? I don't think they are going to make any drastic changes, but you never know how these things work out. We could well see the first few matches of the season being tough games to watch....

And a final point... Now that the season is over, does this mean I won't be having a crap pint of Heineken in the Horse Show House until September?

profitius

I disagree about the lack of speed. Theres a few reasons why the backs have not functioned at 100%. The main is they were just happy to play a tight game, play for territory and kick their penalties. No ambition was needed and Leinster were praised for winning alot of tight matches while "not playing well".

I think next season a better balance of back play and forward play would help.

Third_Echelon wrote: »

For me anyway, the glaring hole is backup for Johnny Sexton at 10.

I don't know what it is about Shaun Berne, but I get nervous whenever he has the ball.

How about the McKinley lad? Is he any good?

randomname2005

profitius wrote: »

How about the McKinley lad? Is he any good?

The age old arguement of game time comes in here. If memory serves me correctly he did well for the U20s, so he has potential, but he needs to get a lot more game time.

shawpower

Third_Echelon wrote: »

And a final point... Now that the season is over, does this mean I won't be having a crap pint of Heineken in the Horse Show House until September?

Do you still get the supporters club prices during the summer? Or did Heineken fall under that offer??

Cypher_sounds

Shaggy should hang up the boots soon imo, Ok hes good for the odd try but how many times has he lapsed in concentration in contact and knocked the ball on when in a promising position its really annoying, hopefully some of the younger fellas can step up to the mark.

ALH-06

chupacabra wrote: »

Looks more likely that Conway is being groomed to take that wing spot but then you are swapping the physical presence and aerial superiority that Shaggy had for a player who relies primarily on his pace to make an impact. I would prefer the Shaggy mold any day of the week tbf.

Few players would match Shaggy in the air but to be honest it's not a massive part of the wingers game. Look at the best wingers in the world - Habana, Williams etc; a lot of them aren't particularly big units, or famed for their aerial prowess.

Conway will bring an all-round game to Leinster's back three play; pace, footwork, passing, all-round footballing skills... I have confidence that Leinster will develop him well and that we'll be left with an absolutely world class winger in a few years.