Leinster Team Talk Thread (Love you Furlong time)

bayern wrote: »

Ryan's lack of athleticism will be his biggest issue.

Deleted User wrote: »

Leinster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread XII Too good for the Pro 14

Richie_Rich89 wrote: »

Is a Friday game? They're probably naming the team today if so. I think I would go with something like:

1. Peter Dooley
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Thomas Clarkson
4. Jack Dunne
5. Ross Molony
6. Josh Murphy
7. Scott Penny
8. Alexis Soroka
9. Luke McGrath
10. Harry Byrne
11. Rory O'Loughlin
12. Jamie Osborne
13. Max O'Reilly
14. David Kearney
15. Jimmy O'Brien

16. James Tracy
17. Marcus Hanan
18. Greg McGrath
19. Devin Toner
20. Sean O'Brien
21. Paddy Patterson
22. Tim Corkery
23. Cian Kelleher

Don't know if Frawley or Hawkshaw will be available. I think centre partnerships in order of preference would be: 12. Frawley, 13. Osborne; 12. Hawkshaw, 13. Osborne; 12. Osborne, 13. O'Reilly. I think it's better JOB gets the minutes at 15 to get comfortable there because he'll likely be needed in that position.

If the rumours of Patterson getting a contract next season are true I think they should recall him from Munster and get him involved. There's little point in investing minutes in Rowan Osborne if he won't be here long term. Maybe once Leinster and Munster can't meet each other in the league or Heineken Cup they should facilitate an early swap of Osborne and McCarthy.

It'd be good to see O'Loughlin getting in some space on the wing. Seeing Baloucoune in full flight makes me wonder where ROL could have got to if they had backed him in his better (I think) position of left wing rather than poaching Lowe from the Chiefs with a big money offer. He got capped after just one season playing with the senior Leinster side. You wonder would a NZ franchise have backed a freshly-capped AB as first choice to see where he could get to.

I think if he was playing wing you'd be more likely to get runs like that try against Ulster out of him (2:11 mark in below video).

Squidgy Black wrote: »

SOB is a decent prospect, has really good handling skills and seems to be focusing on openside at the moment. Little bit on the shorter side similar to Penney, listed at 6 foot. Back row is ultra competitive as always so time will tell if he'll break through but he's only Year 1 academy so plenty of time, and I'm sure he'll get a fair few opportunities.

Corkery was behind Crowley for the Irish U20s so it's a bit harder to gauge how he'll go, he played well for UCD in the senior cup last year and his A game performances have been solid enough.

Tim Corkery is rom Kilkenny RFC, he was starting outhalf of very talented u18 club side in 2018, but didn't make an irish u18 sides that season. He failed to make the Leinster u19 summer training squad after initial selection but was brought in as an alternative after injury ruled out an outhalf, he went on to be the starting outhalf for the leinster 19's in the interpros over highly rated schools outhalves, one of whom played for ireland u18. He played minor hurling for Kilkenny and went to St. Kierans College. He played towns cup for Kilkenny while still in school, starting at scrumhalf for the club before moving to UCD where he is currently on scholarship, having started games for them at 10 and 12.

He earned a sub-academy place after his time with the 19's and a Leinster 'A' appearance while still only 18, He made last season irish 20's a year young and was the bench outhalf in the three games they played. He faces strong competition for this seasons 20's 10 jersey but he would have to be favourite for it now. Finally he is very young for his age grade, not turning 20 until December.