Leinster's season expectations.

electric69

Ok...The new season has kicked off,the Lions players are not back playing yet but Leinster have made an impressive enough start.

Do you guy's think that they have much of a chance of making any impact in the Celtic league or more importantly in the European Cup?

Also what do you think of the new coach Mike Cheika?Can he turn Leinster's fortunes and bring them to the top of european rugby where they belong?

RuggieBear

i reckon leinster will get out of the erc group but get knocked quickly in the quarters.

I reckon leinster will finish in the top 5 of the celtic league.


There are flashes of brilliance from the players but the team isn't firing yet.

few issues:

lineouts are a mess....jackman can't throw

restarts are a mess....potts can't catch and no protection offered to the fielders

defence is appalling especially from kicks....people missing catches and others just watching them do it instead of sweeping around behind in case it happens.

imo, these are all issues caused by having a new coaching ticket....players still learning the new patterns and coaches working out what the players are capable of.

electric69

i think it is going to be at least 2 or 3 years until they can really test the top sides.They have the best centre partnership in the world imo and they have other world class players but they arent playing as a team yet...maybe they just need a good coach to gel them together....Cheika could be him...he comes in with a proven record and I hope he does well with them.

angry

I have a feeling that that centre partnership wont last beyond the end of the the year. It's looking likely that O'Driscoll will move to Biarritz from a story I read on the Beeb...

RuggieBear

angry wrote:

I have a feeling that that centre partnership wont last beyond the end of the the year. It's looking likely that O'Driscoll will move to Biarritz from a story I read on the Beeb...

and good ****ing riddance.....he really is taking up too many irish resources. How many decent contracts could younger players get if he wasn't paid so ****ing much?

Steffano2002

I'd like to see O'Driscoll play in the Top 14... He is of course, a very good centre but I don't think he's THAT good! To me it's all hype when it comes to him...

KnowItAll

Steffano2002 wrote:

I'd like to see O'Driscoll play in the Top 14... He is of course, a very good centre but I don't think he's THAT good! To me it's all hype when it comes to him...

He's the best centre in the world easily and maybe the best player.

I wouldn't be sorry to see him leave though because it would free up places for others and he dosn't play at his best for leinster anyway.

RuggieBear

he has won games singlehandedly for leinster....but then again he hardly ever plays for us anymore....my girlfriend has been to about 10 games and has never seen him play

And she keeps asking me if he does actually play for Leinster :rolleyes:

Sundy

i feel the exact same about him, hes a great player but only plays a hand full of games for leinster, so the money mite be better spent else where.