Leinster Team Talk Thread (Love you Furlong time)

Ross was always ideal as the back up fly half, He in so solid across the board but I really struggle to pick one thing he does at the highest level needed. I would have said his place kicking was a strength of his in the past but it seems to have dropped off quite a bit the past 12 months. I was at the game at the weekend and his head was completely gone when he missed that kick in front of the post from 30 metres out. It seems to be a confidence issue for Ross, he should have been able to run in that intercept but straight away was looking for help. Your fly half has to have irrational and supreme confidence that they are going to make every kick and every time the ball leaves their boot, something good is gonna happen and if it doesn't, try, try and try again.

Prendergast has these traits in abundance as well as a killer instinct to finish teams off. Harry does have upside but injuries might cause him to miss out on getting a consistent shot at the 10 shirt.

Deegan staying is good for Leinster. Clearly he's in a comfort zone being a URC guy and he's happy for it, but it's a bit of a waste.

He's happy.

He might have the self confidence to think he'll dethrone one of the current incumbents in blue or green.

He might be content with being a professional player with his favoured team for as long as possible.

Either way a Leinster contract appears to be what he wants and what he has got! Fair play to him, there are hundreds that fail to get that far.

I think you are onto something there. Leinster tried for Tom O'Toole, Finley Bealham and supposedly Jack Aungier before they all signed new deals. They clearly wanted to keep a NIQ available for a different position. Luke just isn't the same player he once was anymore. A fantastic servant to Leinster but his time of playing quality rugby seem to be coming to an end.

That self confidence would be highly misplaced; Cullen is going nowhere and many many attack coaches (Lancaster, Goodman, Nienbar, etc) have failed to recognise him as being a top 23 player.

Obviously can't hold anything against him, but you can't help but think things could be so much bigger for him. IIRC he and Doris were both called up to the same 6N squad for the first time and you'll find comments from me saying back then that I rated Deegan higher than Doris (shows what I know :P lol).

Obvious caveat as well is that I'd much prefer he stays in the country than go abroad (and he may well be the same), so if that's with Leinster then so be it!

We maybe crap, but we till managed to beat Leinster the last time we played

Big show of faith in him, himself and Boyle will have a right tussle.

Presumably Usanov will come in on an Academy deal?

And presumably the two of them moving onto senior deals = no NIQ prop?