Leinster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread II

shuffol

When does BOD's current deal run till?

GerM

shuffol wrote: »

When does BOD's current deal run till?

Summer.

bamboozle

totallegend wrote: »

Could we add Collie O'Shea to the 'ready for Pro12' list?

he had an op back in oct, not due back till march. Good dependable ball playing 12, not the biggest though.

CIARAN_BOYLE

GerM wrote: »

EOM needs a full season of uninterrupted rugby before Leinster can count on him. He has one of the worst injury records of a professional player in Ireland. Macken has steadily improved this season and is still 21. If Macken grabs his opportunity during the 6N, EOM could find himself level pegging and fighting it out to get the 13 jersey next season.

I think Macken is ready to be used as HEC back up next season. He has shown an aptitude for learning and developing as a player. His defence is improving and hopefully it will be better again next season. Interesting times ahead given BOD will either retire this summer or probably phased out over the next season.

I've heard of Macken being spectacular at A level. At Rabo level I've seen a mixed bag. If he is at 13 outside of Darcy BOD or McFadden he has done well. If he is outside someone else he disappoints.

My judgement is that he is an inexperienced young player that needs an experienced hand inside him to offer advice and almost talk him through the game. I hope that he gets over it in the next year because with Darcy and BOD coming to the end of their careers Macken (if he gets ahead of EOM) will have to be a leader in the backline at 13 when the internationals are away.

[Jackass]

I'd like to see combinations of McFadden, O'Malley and Macken been given a lot more game time in the P12, simply as a bedding in process. Between those 3, they are the current future in centre. Some other decent options coming through too, like O'Shea, possibly Reid, but it would be nice to look at new combinations over the remainder of the season.

Options such as Fitz, I think he's good in the centre, but doesn't have the passing ability imo.

eire4

GerM wrote: »

Currently, Leinster have 4 NIQ players on their books. This is going to go down to 3 with the departure of VDM and possibly 1 if Roux and Goodman hit the road. Those vacant spots need to be filled by a couple of genuinely top class players if Leinster want to be back in contention. Nacewa is currently the only NIQ player who makes the starting side.

Compare that with Ulster who are performing to a high level this season. They've recruited wonderfully and these guys have formed the core of their side. Afoa, Williams, Pienaar, Payne and Muller are all massive players for them. Take them out and they're half the side. Leinster will now need to take a leaf out of their book and identify a top class lock, a top class centre and possibly a top class scrum half to fit into the side. If we had a pack of Healy, Strauss, Ross, McCarthy, Bekker, McLaughlin, SOB and Heaslip we could be contenders again.

We need to lock down Healy and Kearney though. Healy's contract is up this summer. At only 25, I think he might hold fire on moving yet if he ever is going to. I'd be more worried about Kearney whose contract is also expiring. He turns 27 shortly and is in a very, very similar position to Sexton. If he wants that big contract abroad, now is the time. He'll want to make his money and get a strong contract in Ireland again to bring him through to his later years.

I would agree with that. It is vital we keep Healy and Kearney for starters. But with Sexton gone now if we want to be contenders next season we need to bring in a couple of big international signings. Roux and Goodman leaving would open up 3 spots but if we had at least 2 spots open that might be enough with the right signings.

P.Walnuts

If possible I think Roux should be kept on, potentially just the type of player we need.

No idea what the whole contract situation is though, or if he even wants to stay.

Tim Robbins

[Jackass] wrote: »

Options such as Fitz, I think he's good in the centre, but doesn't have the passing ability imo.

+1

Another thing about Fitz is he is briliant at stopping his stride and than taking massive step all in a split second. This works really well on the wing where someone is drifting over to cover the winger and the winger cuts back in.

However, I don't think it works as well in the center as the center's should never stop the stride but more sort of swerve without ever losing forward pace.

Fitz is no more a center than Earls.

.ak

Ah dunno about that, look at Darcy, especially in the 08/09 season. He does exactly what you described and used it to devastating effect - for me the inside centre should have nothing to do with pace. It's all about getting over that gain line, either by bashing through it or stepping around it. The key is to get the defensive line turning, and link up with the outside channel. That's why a 13 needs pace, or rather acceleration. Fitz makes a fine 12 IMO.

[Jackass]

It's not something often commented on, but D'Arcys distribution from 12 is superb. I don't think Fitz has those skills for midfield.

I think it's similar in Earls' game too, great runner but can't pass (and doesn't seem to even try any more). I'm not talking about offloading btw, I'm talking about spraying the ball around in the back line.

tolosenc

[Jackass] wrote: »

I think it's similar in Earls' game too, great runner but can't pass (and doesn't seem to even try any more). I'm not talking about offloading btw, I'm talking about spraying the ball around in the back line.

He does. They wind up in touch a few times a game, but he does pass.

Tim Robbins

[Jackass] wrote: »

It's not something often commented on, but D'Arcys distribution from 12 is superb. I don't think Fitz has those skills for midfield.

I think it's similar in Earls' game too, great runner but can't pass (and doesn't seem to even try any more). I'm not talking about offloading btw, I'm talking about spraying the ball around in the back line.

Absolutely. He has a brilliant Rugby brain and understands the tiny space there is in that 12 channel.

justsomebloke

So has leinstergeddon stopped yet

ssaye

So the next 5 Leinsters games we should get to see a load of Madigan at 10 during 6N and all those games are pretty winnable even with missing the Internationals so I am hoping for a big push to hopefully get a home semi in the playoffs.

Blues Away
Treviso Home
Scarlets Home
Dragons Away
Glasgow Home

A big 8 pointer is Ulster the following week and the full team will probably play this.

fanki na pengin

All seems quiet, but I'm still anxious about Healy, Kearney and Fitz...

CatFromHue

"The exodus will get under way now, however. From front of house we have Sexton leaving, followed, you'd suspect, at the end of the season by Isa Nacewa and Heinke van der Merwe."

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/heineken-cup/deal-is-a-double-edged-sword-for-club-and-country-3367848.html

Isn't Nacewa signed on until the end of next season?

"Isa Nacewa is renewing his contract to extend his stay with the province by a further year until the end of the 2013-14 season."
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2012/0426/1224315192700.html

Hagz

Nope Isa's contract is up this season AFAIK

CIARAN_BOYLE

Hagz wrote: »

Nope Isa's contract is up this season AFAIK

end of 13/14
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2012/0426/1224315192700.html

Hagz

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

end of 13/14
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2012/0426/1224315192700.html

Ah right you are. I have him down as 2013 in my contract list for some reason. Fanning must have been using my list as a reference.

Podge_irl

CatFromHue wrote: »

"The exodus will get under way now, however. From front of house we have Sexton leaving, followed, you'd suspect, at the end of the season by Isa Nacewa and Heinke van der Merwe."

VDM is hardly part of an exodus. He was almost certainly always going to be leaving regardless.

Fooker

I have to say the breaking bad reference in that article is really bad..

tolosenc

Podge_irl wrote: »

VDM is hardly part of an exodus. He was almost certainly always going to be leaving regardless.

He was probably going to go, and then with it looking like he may be back in the Springbok fold, it was a certainty.

Swiwi

I see a Tom Sexton has decided to return home to play for the Melbourne Rebels - this fact, and that I don't recognise his name makes me think he isn't up to much. Any comment Leinster fans?

edit: here's the link

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/rebels/irishman-inks-super-rugby-deal-with-rebels-20130123-2d7c9.html

Tox56

Swiwi wrote: »

I see a Tom Sexton has decided to return home to play for the Melbourne Rebels - this fact, and that I don't recognise his name makes me think he isn't up to much. Any comment Leinster fans?

4th choice hooker, senior cup winning captain while in school but that's pretty much all I know about him, hasn't got much of a look in with the senior team

durkadurka

He's played for Leinster a few times. I'd put him down as a Rabo player but you never know I suppose.

Good luck to him in Oz.

Although he's been In Ireland since he was four, I wouldn't really call it a home coming. But fair play to him I presume he'll have no difficulty with visas and the like.

Hagz

He's looked good this season. It was always difficult for him when Leinster had not only two of the best hookers in the country, but an experienced and reliable back up in Aaron Dundon.

jamiedav2011

Swiwi wrote: »

I see a Tom Sexton has decided to return home to play for the Melbourne Rebels - this fact, and that I don't recognise his name makes me think he isn't up to much. Any comment Leinster fans?

Has played well any times I've seen him for Senior or As. Great thrower. Little bit light, but shouldn't make a huge difference.

Swiwi

jamiedav2011 wrote: »

Has played well any times I've seen him for Senior or As. Great thrower. Little bit light, but shouldn't make a huge difference.

Well, I will keep a wee eye on the Rebels, so. There should be a bit of Irish interest - the Aussie franchises given the upcoming Lions series, Gareth Anscombe playing for the Chiefs etc. There are also a few players who might take up overseas options if they can't crack the ABs this year - Andy Ellis at halfback, Robbie Freuan in the midfield, Rene Ranger on the wing for example. Looking quite forward to it actually.

CatFromHue

Swiwi wrote: »

I see a Tom Sexton has decided to return home to play for the Melbourne Rebels - this fact, and that I don't recognise his name makes me think he isn't up to much. Any comment Leinster fans?

His underage record is unbeatable anyway!


Leinster 'A' Caps: 7 (v Munster x3, Connacht x3, Ulster)
British & Irish Cup Caps: 17 (v Gael Force, Newport, Cornish Pirates, Worcester Warriors, Currie, Bedford Blues, Esher, Llanelli, London Welsh, Pontypridd x3, Munster, Leeds Carnegie x2, Jersey x2)

Ireland Under-20 Caps: 9 (v Wales x2, France, Italy, England, Scotland, Argentina, New Zealand, Samoa)
Leinster Under-20 Caps: 4 (v Ulster, Munster, Connacht, English Counties)
Ireland Under-19 Caps: 2 (v Italy, France)
Ireland Schools Caps: 3 (v Japan, Italy, England)
Leinster Schools (Under-19) Caps: 3 (v Munster, Connacht, Ulster)
Leinster Schools (Under-18) Caps: 9 (v RFU Academy, Connacht, Ulster, Munster, all 5 appearances on 2006/07 South African tour)

*Leinster Schools Junior Cup winner (2005) and Senior Cup winning captain (2008)

Swiwi

CatFromHue wrote: »

His underage record is unbeatable anyway!


Leinster 'A' Caps: 7 (v Munster x3, Connacht x3, Ulster)
British & Irish Cup Caps: 17 (v Gael Force, Newport, Cornish Pirates, Worcester Warriors, Currie, Bedford Blues, Esher, Llanelli, London Welsh, Pontypridd x3, Munster, Leeds Carnegie x2, Jersey x2)

Ireland Under-20 Caps: 9 (v Wales x2, France, Italy, England, Scotland, Argentina, New Zealand, Samoa)
Leinster Under-20 Caps: 4 (v Ulster, Munster, Connacht, English Counties)
Ireland Under-19 Caps: 2 (v Italy, France)
Ireland Schools Caps: 3 (v Japan, Italy, England)
Leinster Schools (Under-19) Caps: 3 (v Munster, Connacht, Ulster)
Leinster Schools (Under-18) Caps: 9 (v RFU Academy, Connacht, Ulster, Munster, all 5 appearances on 2006/07 South African tour)

*Leinster Schools Junior Cup winner (2005) and Senior Cup winning captain (2008)

So was mine when I was a wee lad...sadly it never came to much...I just stayed a skinny white fulla.