Leinster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread VIII: May the Fourth Star Be With You!

stephen_n · 24-05-2017 10:54AM

We definitely could do with a utility back or a centre, given that Zane filled in there a few times this season. Daly has been a huge disappointment, though Reid is good cover when Henshaws away, an injury to him could cost us dearly.

Buer · 24-05-2017 11:31AM

stephen_n wrote: »

We definitely could do with a utility back or a centre, given that Zane filled in there a few times this season. Daly has been a huge disappointment, though Reid is good cover when Henshaws away, an injury to him could cost us dearly.

I would imagine McFadden will be pressed back into centre duty next season at some point if Reid picks up a knock. We're very short at 12 when Henshaw is away.

Daly has completely underwhelmed me also although I didn't really have significant hopes for him. For a big guy, he seems underpowered and never really stands out. Conor O'Brien would be the academy player looking to make the step up into that spot, I would imagine. He's more of a 10/12 so it would be interesting to see how he'd slot in.

molloyjh · 24-05-2017 11:58AM

Have we not more of a pressing need at 13? Daly may not be a great option, but at least he's an option. ROL is the only back up to Ringrose that we have. If he gets injured......

irishbucsfan · 24-05-2017 11:59AM

Buer wrote: »

I would imagine McFadden will be pressed back into centre duty next season at some point if Reid picks up a knock. We're very short at 12 when Henshaw is away.

Daly has completely underwhelmed me also although I didn't really have significant hopes for him. For a big guy, he seems underpowered and never really stands out. Conor O'Brien would be the academy player looking to make the step up into that spot, I would imagine. He's more of a 10/12 so it would be interesting to see how he'd slot in.

Is Conor O'Brien a 10/12? Didn't know he played that far inside, thought that was Jimmy. Always seem to get multiple guys in the same positions at the same time.

Buer · 24-05-2017 12:02PM

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Is Conor O'Brien a 10/12? Didn't know he played that far inside, thought that was Jimmy. Always seem to get multiple guys in the same positions at the same time.

Played outhalf for Ireland and Leinster clubs at U18 level.

Buer · 24-05-2017 12:12PM

molloyjh wrote: »

Have we not more of a pressing need at 13? Daly may not be a great option, but at least he's an option. ROL is the only back up to Ringrose that we have. If he gets injured......

I'm guessing the other O'Brien (Jimmy) would be hoping to get involved there. Has started at 13 a number of times for the A side.

Jack Kelly started for them too though earlier this season so is obviously rated too.

Short term though, the centre might be a tricky one for us.

whatawaster · 24-05-2017 12:14PM

molloyjh wrote: »

Have we not more of a pressing need at 13? Daly may not be a great option, but at least he's an option. ROL is the only back up to Ringrose that we have. If he gets injured......

Daly is an option (agreed - not a great one, but not terrible either) at both 12 and 13 isn't he? Wouldn't McFadden fall into that category also? Ideally he's a winger, but he can play 12 or 13 in a pinch.

I think we have to continue to trust our academy for any further backup in those positions. We don't want to sign anyone to jump ahead of ROL and hinder his development

molloyjh · 24-05-2017 12:33PM

Buer wrote: »

I could go through the team section by section but it's the same. Very little continuity and consistent chopping and changing of units whether it's in the pack or the backs.

That's going to happen to some degree due to the number of internationals we have plus injuries. I do also wonder where the line is between something like this being a good thing in the longer term and a bad thing. Getting everyone involved to some degree makes them all relatively equally comfortable with what we're trying to do and makes use of our depth well, in theory at least. In the short term that's going to difficult to manage but as time goes on it should get easier. Unless we're doing it too much. In which case knowing where that line is can be very important.

I do think the leadership thing has been crucial for us in the last month too. And I'm as confident as I can be that it will be addressed with time.

molloyjh · 24-05-2017 12:34PM

whatawaster wrote: »

Daly is an option (agreed - not a great one, but not terrible either) at both 12 and 13 isn't he? Wouldn't McFadden fall into that category also? Ideally he's a winger, but he can play 12 or 13 in a pinch.

I think we have to continue to trust our academy for any further backup in those positions. We don't want to sign anyone to jump ahead of ROL and hinder his development

I wouldn't be keen on anyone in there to jump ahead of ROL either. But we need cover in the centre next season, be it from the Academy or recruitment.

whatawaster · 24-05-2017 12:44PM

molloyjh wrote: »

I wouldn't be keen on anyone in there to jump ahead of ROL either. But we need cover in the centre next season, be it from the Academy or recruitment.

I'd bet James Lowe could play 13 in a pinch. We have to think like the Aussies.

He could probably play 10, actually.

Granny15 · 24-05-2017 01:11PM

Buer wrote: »

I find very little to quibble about in that assessment. Very much represents my own thoughts on the vast majority. A lot of good but a lot of falling short when it mattered too.

As you've mentioned, a good number of younger lads will learn and benefit from all of this and I feel we've a stronger squad coming together for next season.

The back row continues to be an area of great debate and, whilst it is a massive strength, it will be something of a weakness if we can't decide on our best unit.

To be honest, I'm slightly unconvinced by Jack Conan. He's a terrific ball carrier and skilled player but he needs to develop a better breakdown game. When the breaks aren't coming, he tends to fade into the background a little bit as he did at the weekend. For all of our flankers, I'd love us to have another out and out 8 to compete with Conan with Heaslip coming to the end. Hopefully Deegan can step into that slot.

I reckon one guy we have really missed and is very much forgotten at this stage is Jordi Murphy. Fantastic work rate and became a very good player at getting his hands dirty and cleaning out. I think he was on his way to becoming a very Jennings type player who followed a similar path having been a No. 8 at underage level.

The other area that needs attention now is outhalf. Sexton is 32 and has a serious amount of hard miles on the clock. It's something of a catch 22. He needs more games to get the full benefit of him but we also need to develop Byrne and Carbery. I hope those two continue to get significant game time next season as we'll need them ready in 2 years.

We also have Conor Dean coming through in the next couple of seasons.

Hopefully he won't be held back and will be given opportunity during that time.

Buer · 24-05-2017 01:23PM

whatawaster wrote: »

I'd bet James Lowe could play 13 in a pinch. We have to think like the Aussies.

Has played there for NZ at underage, actually.

stephen_n · 24-05-2017 01:23PM

Buer wrote: »

I would imagine McFadden will be pressed back into centre duty next season at some point if Reid picks up a knock. We're very short at 12 when Henshaw is away.

Daly has completely underwhelmed me also although I didn't really have significant hopes for him. For a big guy, he seems underpowered and never really stands out. Conor O'Brien would be the academy player looking to make the step up into that spot, I would imagine. He's more of a 10/12 so it would be interesting to see how he'd slot in.

Much as I love Ferg as a winger, his appearances in the center don't fill me with any confidence. The fact that both our first choice centers will be missing for large parts of the season isn't going to help. Then again ROL stepped up nicely this year, so maybe one of the O'Briens will next year. Or we might end up with an Adam Byrne to center a la shaggy type situation :eek:

Buer · 24-05-2017 01:27PM

stephen_n wrote: »

Or we might end up with an Adam Byrne to center a la shaggy type situation :eek:

I really hope not. Easy to forget Horgan was a 13 when he first came through with Leinster....then a 12...and lastly a winger. Byrne is hit and miss on the wing defensively. At 13, things could get ugly.

BoardsMember · 24-05-2017 02:42PM

Buer wrote: »

I really hope not. Easy to forget Horgan was a 13 when he first came through with Leinster....then a 12...and lastly a winger. Byrne is hit and miss on the wing defensively. At 13, things could get ugly.

Adam Byrne can't defend properly at wing, I'd hate to see him try to defend the 13 channel, pretty much the hardest defensive position on the pitch.

typhoony · 24-05-2017 04:09PM

with the doom and gloom over the last few results it might be time to look ahead and show a more optimistic view.

let's start with the pack where Leinster only have 1 weak area and that's at hooker, with the arrival of Fardy and promotion of Ryan as well as the form of Leavy and Conan who should come on again next year certainly the pack looks stronger next year

in the backline you have Lowe arriving as well as a probable flyer in the youngster Larmour, then you have the rise of Ringrose and O'Loughlin who again will come on again next year. the only weak point is at full-back but apart from that the backline also looks stronger next year.

Granny15 · 24-05-2017 04:26PM

typhoony wrote: »

with the doom and gloom over the last few results it might be time to look ahead and show a more optimistic view.

let's start with the pack where Leinster only have 1 weak area and that's at hooker, with the arrival of Fardy and promotion of Ryan as well as the form of Leavy and Conan who should come on again next year certainly the pack looks stronger next year

in the backline you have Lowe arriving as well as a probable flyer in the youngster Larmour, then you have the rise of Ringrose and O'Loughlin who again will come on again next year. the only weak point is at full-back but apart from that the backline also looks stronger next year.

Give Jack Kelly a few run outs next year and see how he goes.

awec · 24-05-2017 07:54PM

Has this been posted?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzfoG9-1P-c

A quite frankly outstanding tribute to Mike Ross from the official Leinster youtube channel. :pac: :pac:

molloyjh · 24-05-2017 08:34PM

That is f-ing awesome!

Neil3030 · 24-05-2017 10:48PM

molloyjh wrote: »

That is f-ing awesome!

It's up there with the greatest videos I've ever watched on the Internet. And yes, I'm including ALL the videos.

25-05-2017 12:18AM

awec wrote: »

Has this been posted?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzfoG9-1P-c

A quite frankly outstanding tribute to Mike Ross from the official Leinster youtube channel. :pac: :pac:

After about 20 seconds I had to close that down and reopen in incognito mode. Unzips pants

KH25 · 25-05-2017 08:39AM

That video is fantastic!

Buer · 25-05-2017 08:47AM

It's amazing what a bit of editing can do. You'd say that Mike Ross is a very good player in the loose after watching that.

errlloyd · 25-05-2017 08:55AM

Buer wrote: »

It's amazing what a bit of editing can do. You'd say that Mike Ross is a very good player in the loose after watching that.

Serious props to whoever put it together. There are some really class touches in that video. I think Big Mike was either very aware of his own carrying limitations, or else just didn't like being at the bottom of rucks. Becuase when you look at that, you see a player who's primary instinct is pass the ball.

DGRulz · 25-05-2017 09:03AM

After seeing that video a couple of times now, I feel very comfortable saying the following two statements:

1. Mike Ross taught Tadhg Furlong everything he knows on loose play.

2. John Hayes = Ligind, Mike Ross > John Hayes, Mike Ross = Above Ligind status. QED.

Buer · 25-05-2017 09:05AM

errlloyd wrote: »

Serious props to whoever put it together. There are some really class touches in that video. I think Big Mike was either very aware of his own carrying limitations, or else just didn't like being at the bottom of rucks. Becuase when you look at that, you see a player who's primary instinct is pass the ball.

I genuinely think it was a little bit of an underrated area for him. He could carry and suck in defenders, particularly if he got his legs pumping. He had a decent leg drive and very rarely spilled possession. Certainly not his primary area but not something I'd look at and say he's a non-entity in that area. There have been other tightheads who were pure scrum merchants who couldn't/wouldn't get their hands on the ball like Julian White. Ross was like that but over the past 7 years he has really developed an ability to handle the ball comfortably.

He's an underrated player in the loose in the same way that Leo Cullen was. Neither were very prominent but, when called upon, they were comfortable handling the ball and it was rare that they were the reason a move broke down.

thomond2006 · 25-05-2017 09:36AM

DGRulz wrote: »

After seeing that video a couple of times now, I feel very comfortable saying the following two statements:

1. Mike Ross taught Tadhg Furlong everything he knows on loose play.

2. John Hayes = Lidgend, Mike Ross > John Hayes, Mike Ross = Above Lidgend status. QED.

What is a "lidgend"?

guapos · 25-05-2017 09:45AM

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/guinness-pro12/williams-hails-great-boost-as-evans-red-card-rescinded-35753279.html

So who is responsible for a player landing in his head? World Rugby need to rethink this one

DGRulz · 25-05-2017 10:04AM

thomond2006 wrote: »

What is a "lidgend"?

Apologies that should say Ligind, I'll fix it now.

blackdog1 · 25-05-2017 10:07AM

Buer wrote:

It's amazing what a bit of editing can do. You'd say that Mike Ross is a very good player in the loose after watching that.

I think what's amazing is he doesn't look like he slowed down speed wise at all. He is a fast man for his size. His problem was never he wasn't fast it was he didn't have that massive acceleration you need to be a good carrier like Healy and Furlong. He definitely had another year or 2 in those legs but I'd say he just didn't want to play for another club.

Leinster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread VIII: May the Fourth Star Be With You!

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