Leinster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread XII (The Byrne Supremacy)

pickarooney

One good game in South Africa, a rousing Slava Ukraini and lovely hair.

Jump_In_Jack

I watched Soroka when he was a star player in the Irish U20’s, and he was adept at switching between lock and blind side then, but I’m not sure the step up to senior rugby was a success, I think it’s still a wait and see situation.

He wouldn’t be an enforcer and not a very tall lock, so he probably is closer to between Baird and Prendergast as a specialist blind side that could cover lock. He’s maybe better in the line out than either of Baird/Prendergast, but not as heavy, though he has plenty of time to develop. We’d welcome him to Munster as a blind side, as was said already, we have a few good 6’2-6’3 players but nobody taller with the same aggression and the mobility which we would like. O’Mahony will surely be winding down soon, and we have O’Donoghue, and a few lads in the academy, but Soroka would be closer to be ready for the step up.

One thing he has going for him is I get the impression he creates a good bond with his teammates, I think any time I’ve seen him play he always gees up his players and there’s always a good deal of congratulating good effort etc, I think he’s a good influence, he’d fit in nicely to the type of squad Munster are attempting to build.

ulsteru20s

Did Leinster pick Soroka over Prendergast?

In retrospect that might have been a mistake. I guess O Brien and Moloney are different types of players but also not to Prendergast’s level.

However, i think Soroka is what I’d classify as a good bet. Only 22 and in an area of the leinster team where there is serious quality. You are way more likely to get something worthwhile shopping there than getting a 28 year old who has washed out of Leinster for whatever reason.

He’s a good age profile and i think he is a type of player that Munster are missing. You could see some interesting pack builds in a few years ..

soroka-edogbo

Quinn-Gleeson-Hodnett

or

Ahern-Edogbo

Soroka-Kendellan-Quinn

I’m not saying that these would be first choice even in a few years but he balances out alot of different options. 6 seems by far the most likely spot for him though.

I especially think that Munster will need a hybrid lock type at 6 regularly so they can play kendellan and hodnett next to that guy. This gives them another way to do that, the same way Coombes at 8 facilitates light back rows around him.

FrannoFan

People getting pretty heated on saroka.

He's a decent prospect but wouldn't be overly worried if he moved on.

Looked good at 20's and he got a bit of a token man of the match in SA which felt more political than performance related (ruddock had been excellent in the same game)

A lot to like about him as a character but he's nothing different to the archetype back row Leinster churn out. I don't see a USP to him

ulsteru20s

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120226961#Comment_120226961

Who are the other hybrid locks? Baird, Mangan, Ruddock?

I’d also say the leinster back row production line has kind of slowed down recently, although in fairness the front row production line seems to be getting into high gear.

Podge_irl

I’m not gonna lose too much sleep over losing our 8th/9th back row player.

If he wants more game time there is absolutely nothing Leinster can do to stop him leaving so no point worrying about it.

Dave_The_Sheep

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120226961#Comment_120226961

'People' is a bit of a stretch about Saroka (sic).

FrannoFan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120227333#Comment_120227333

Leinster aren't trying to pick a world cup squad of 33. We don't really need a hybrid lock/6

We have Baird, we have Conan/dorris combo

Culhane coming through and a pretty young age profile of established players. Don't think we have to worry about production slowing down

ulsteru20s

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120227519#Comment_120227519

Interesting. Yea if leinster aren’t going to play a hybrid lock at 6, then yea that vastly reduces the need for someone like soroka. He’d be better with a team that wanted that role in their pack build going forward.

CIARAN_BOYLE

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120227333#Comment_120227333

I think theres a roadblock when it comes to gametime and player numbers that isn't being managed with the decrease in the length of the regular season.

Penney and Baird are 23, Soroka and Sean O'Brien are 21.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120225515#Comment_120225515

Leinster didn't offer Prendergast an academy spot. Soroka and Sean O'Brien joined the academy in that year. Soroka was just out of school while Sean O'Brien and Prendergast had done a year in the sub academy.

Clegg

Larmour, McCarthy, Milne, JOB & Osborne have all been released from the Ireland squad. Should hopefully see some of them play this weekend.

Dubinusa

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120235817#Comment_120235817

That's good. Should have a strong selection to chose from.

CORMACREYN

Jenkins "increasing his training load" this week according to the latest bulletin from Leinster. Should be ready for the Edinburgh game in early March, don't think we'll see him on the pitch at the RDS this weekend.

Cormac Foley picked up a hamstring injury in training last week.

Suspect we'll see a team along these lines.

Jimmy O'Brien; Jordan Larmour, Liam Turner, Jamie Osborne, Dave Kearney; Harry Byrne, Luke McGrath; Michael Milne, John McKee, Mike Ala'alatoa; Joe McCarthy, Ross Molony; Rhys Ruddock, Will Connors, Max Deegan

Tadhg McElroy (signed an extension until end of season), Marcus Hanan, Tom Clarkson, Brian Deeny, Scott Penny, Nick McCarthy, Charlie Tector, Rob Russell

May be room for some rotation in some positions.

redlough

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120236413#Comment_120236413

Jenkins is required for Europe at this stage, URC only if getting his fitness up

LRind2008

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120227333#Comment_120227333

Less than one year ago it produced a six nations player of the year in Culhane, I'd say it hasnt remotely slowed down

Dubinusa

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120238555#Comment_120238555

There weren't any Leinster back rows in 2021? Soroka is seen as a hybrid? Lock and blindside, not a pure back rower.

This year there's none. Unless there's someone injured that I don't know?

I do think there's a bit of a slowdown of Leinster backrows. Mark Hernan being the last that comes to mind. He's since retired due to injury.

Munster and Ulster have provided more back rows lately.

Serbian

That's how the academy works really, we have limited slots and plan based on where we see issues with our depth in the next 3 to 5 years. We have an absolute rake of back rowers at every stage of their career, so it doesn't make sense to pull someone into the academy in that area for the next couple of years unless they are really exceptional.

salmocab

It must be time to to close the academy it hasn’t produced a quality back row in a few months now. I think it’s time to start panicking.

Former Former Former

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120240123#Comment_120240123

I'm glad you can be so blase about it. Doris is 24, Penny is 23, Baird is 23, Soroka is 21. We have a yawning gap looming in 2031.

Dubinusa

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120240433#Comment_120240433

Aye

Dubinusa

I think we'll have a surprisingly strong team this week. This is great timing for the squad. The next fixture after this week could be a tough one in Edinburgh. I think if we take 5 pts this week, we are assured of a top 2 finish?

ulsteru20s

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120238555#Comment_120238555

Compared to a few years ago it absolutely has. I don’t see how there is any way to dispute that.

‘slowed down’ is a relative term.

In comparison to the Doris, Deegan, Connors, Timoney group, almost anything is slowing down. And, this year and last year Leinster’s numbers in the back row have been lower than normal in the under 20s. Even if you count Mangan as one.

CIARAN_BOYLE

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120240500#Comment_120240500

It's going to be a strong team.

Let's put it this way. One of Penney Ruddock Connors or Deegan will be on the bench probably.

Dubinusa

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120240690#Comment_120240690

I would have thought that Liam Molony was going to be selected.

ulsteru20s

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120240773#Comment_120240773

Possibly, but who knows. The current back row seems one of the strongest in recent memory at under 20s level.

I think people are equating slowing down with bad. It doesn’t mean that.

Front row seems to be at a point of acceleration in Leinster. Every year, there are a couple of guys and this year the whole front row look like real real prospects. I think in other provinces, some of Leinster’s front row prospects would be back rowers.

CIARAN_BOYLE

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120240773#Comment_120240773

He is still only first year out of school isn't he.

Could be picked up for next year.

sydthebeat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120240433#Comment_120240433

A 16 year old now, will be 24 in 2031.

I don't think it's time to push the panic button. Like the center issue we had after Eoin o malley, sometimes production lines are disjointed by injury, meaning we may have to supplement for a few years.

Alternatively, the development pathway for Leinster players is changing/ progressing to a point where game time for a few years at a different province before a return to leinster is seen as viable pathway option

stephen_n

We are talking about letting young back rows go because we can’t give them game time. Though our production line is slowing down because one year, we have no starters in the U20’s?

pickarooney

Obviously

FrannoFan

Lads wouldn't be worried about a "slow down" unless there is a change of government that shuts down private schools.

Can't stand hyping school boys (and think there are rules against it) but anyone worried just needs to watch the SCT on next week. Plenty of talent on show