Leinster Team Talk Thread (Love you Furlong time)

Honestly, I did not factor in Luke when gauging RB's performance. So maybe this makes a difference. I'll watch for this on the rewatch.

"Those 8 starts were spread over 7 months, that is not a run of games"

This isn't true.

He started rounds 11,12,13,14,15,16 of the URC with a bench appearance in Europe between rounds 12 and 13.

Not to mention playing in rounds 1,2,6,7,8,9 and another appearance in Europe after round 9 where he had 2 starts in these games

All this includes starting the the friendly against South Africa A (between rounds 7 and 8) too where he was motm.

He ruptured his ACL in round 16. So he appeared in 12/16 URC games that season that he was fit for. Pretty good run of games to me.

But that point is moot. Yes he is 3rd choice in Munster when he's fit. Which is fine. But the point I'm making is YES I do think he played better than McGrath last season and I do think he brings a pace and accuracy in his pass that McGrath sorely lacks especially in recent seasons and there'd be a strong case for him being number 2 here

At this stage, Ringrose, Keenan and Ryan look unlikely for the C.C. I would rest them up if the injuries are persistent. Maybe they're done for the season.

Frawley hasn't exactly a great record of being trusted to come off the bench in finals to win anything. JOB is a far superior player & has pace. If you need a score, a line break or a bit of magic it doesn't have a F in it.

Now all we need is Ringrose back before the final and we are cookin!

I think a lot of the above has to be taken in the context of McGrath's passing game dying a death in the last 2 years. He was a very poor passer when he emerged but he brought that up to an adequate level where he was a European Cup winning scrum half. But since the emergence of JGP as undoubted first choice, he seems to have settled for second best and that's now sliding further.

We didn't keep someone like Cooney because he wasn't anything special at the time. He went to Connacht and was largely third choice behind Marmion and Blade. He went to Ulster who didn't really have anyone and got the starting spot where he developed and became much better. But that was due to game time that we were never going to be in a position to really give him. And he has been far from perfect during that time too, losing his starting spot to Doak for some big games.

Paterson looks like a guy we might have missed the boat on but it's very much guesswork still. He has less than 900 minutes of pro rugby and turns 26 this year. Foley is 1 year younger and they backed him at the time. I don't think that was a terrible call at the time and I don't think we know how it will pan out yet. I'd imagine the gap between them physically probably had an impact with the 75kg, 5'7" Paterson probably always up against it slightly to get the nod.