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Leinster Team Talk Thread (Love you Furlong time)

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Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 909 ✭✭✭johnh6767


    another one of my favourite young players coming through, great news . How long do these contracts lock them down? 2 years I’m guessing



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,218 ✭✭✭Serbian


    Totally agree. Players never improve and are born at a specific level. We should do one year contracts and sign a new squad each season.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 27,222 ✭✭✭✭phog


    Climbed down?? Are you for real?

    Sorry now, I seldom post on this thread but this has to be corrected.

    Bleuler at Munster was a short term, medical joker signing, by all accounts Munster wanted to extend it and permission was refused

    Slimani at Leinster is getting an extension to what was a full contract.

    There never was any similarity in their contracts



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 396 ✭✭El Vino


    I guess to only comment I have on it is that the Prop who benched for Ireland during 6 Nations is unlikely to make Leinster's Champions Cup Squad with everyone fit.



  • Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 32,765 Mod ✭✭✭✭Podge_irl


    While true, the prop who benched for Ireland was only benching for Ireland precisely because everyone wasn't fit.

    Anyway, DH had already pretty strongly rolled back on having hard and fast rules on NIQs in his speech.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,567 ✭✭✭niallm77


    Was it not a case of the sharks wanted Blueler back? Costello said something about it in January that the sharks wanted him back anyway



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 396 ✭✭El Vino


    Certainly not losing our **** about Silmani, reserving that for when Leinster sign a superstar NIQ Outhalf next season :)



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,972 ✭✭✭✭Clegg


    Iirc Jackman said the same thing on the 42 a few weeks before it was officially confirmed that Bleuler was returning to the Sharks. I think he's a blow hard, but he is very well connected with journalists and agents.

    There's even a snippet in the Irish Examiner about it. Munster had special dispensation to sign Bleuler despite the moratorium on signing NIQ front rows and the Sharks were insisting on his return once the initial loan period expired.

    The IRFU clearly departed from it's own stated goals on props to sanction an emergency loan. It shouldn't be controversial at all to say that.

    Post edited by Clegg on


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,972 ✭✭✭✭Clegg


    At a guess we're probably looking at signing a NIQ back three. Probably a wing. It's the only area of relative weakness in the squad. Arguable that it's even a weak point really.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 13,942 ✭✭✭✭AbusesToilets


    You're right, but from an Irish perspective, of rather we managed to develop one of our own. Should try and tempt Baloucoune away from Ulster. He's wasted there



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,253 ✭✭✭Hey_Ho_Lets_Go_3


    Balacoune can't stay healthy and has attitude concerns.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 13,942 ✭✭✭✭AbusesToilets


    What attitude issues? Never anything about that before.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,172 ✭✭✭bingobango12


    If any back 3 player is to be tempted away from another province I would love Bolton at Connacht. Looks a great player.

    Think Baloucoune will be destroyed pretty soon with the amount of injuries he seems to pick up.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 712 ✭✭✭jonok28


    I think Baloucoune could be a good signing, the writing does seem to be on the wall at Ulster with him with Werner Kok playing on the right wing all season. The injury history is worrying but if he does get injured we are still in the same situation as we are now so it could be worth a shot. I can't see the IRFU letting it happen unless Ulster well and truly said they don't want him back.

    There is still rumblings about Shaun Stevenson but he seems to be off the list as he keeps banging on about wanting to sign a multi year deal in Japan. If Leinster can turn his head, that would be an unreal signing. He can cover the back 3 and is lightning quick and would be amazing on the right wing.

    I just am so convinced that with Slimani re-signing and Snyman seemingly closing in on a new contract with Leinster for at least one more season, that a right winger with a serious turn of pace takes the Leinster attack up another notch.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,218 ✭✭✭Serbian


    I think Baloucoune could be a good signing, the writing does seem to be on the wall at Ulster with him with Werner Kok playing on the right wing all season. The injury history is worrying but if he does get injured we are still in the same situation as we are now so it could be worth a shot.

    I don't really agree with this part — if we signed him and he was injured the whole time, we've wasted space in our squad at a time where squad size is shrinking and cost ourselves a chunk of change in the process. We wouldn't be in any place to complain either — he's perennially injured so we should have seen it coming.

    We need to up the quality on the wing. Players like Larmour, Jimmy O'Brien and Russell aren't good enough. Tommy O'Brien possibly could become good enough, but his body isn't resilient enough so we'll probably never know.

    I'm sure we've looked at many wingers over the past 12 months and I'm hopeful we'll sign someone who can stay fit and be a level up on the wingers we have in the squad already. It sounds like Russell will be making way for whoever we do bring in, so that's the bar. We should be looking to comfortably clear that.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,712 ✭✭✭Former Former Former


    There’s no scenario where Baloucoune joins Leinster, but we’re already well stocked for pacy but injury prone right wingers.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 712 ✭✭✭jonok28


    What I meant by it is worth a shot is that we would sign him on a one year deal and if it didn't pan out we could cut ties with him at the end of the season, we would still have the same players we have now and while it does take up a squad space it would be for just one season.

    I think Larmour, JO'B and Russell are good players and I do think TO'B could be really good but other than James Lowe, I can't say with much confidence that we have a winger who is a true X Factor. Leinster have been crying out for speed on the right winger for the longest time, it would be fantastic if we add a speedster but at this stage and with no real rumors swirling around regarding it, I'm not gonna hold my breath.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 1,836 ✭✭✭Ben Bailey


    Yep, agree on Bolton. Would the IRFU support a 'swap' deal where Harry goes west & Bolton comes east ?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 14,018 ✭✭✭✭Exclamation Marc


    I would imagine Harry wouldn't have any interest in going west and ultimately, the player can't be moved without his agreement.

    I assume that he still has ambitions of breaking into the Leinster team and with Ross gone and Sam and Frawley internationals, he will likely get some gametime next season.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 1,836 ✭✭✭Ben Bailey


    Agree. Harry prob wouldn't want to move & is also a multi capped international, as opposed to Bolton, who isn't. So not a straight swap. Who in Leinster would benefit from going west in a swap for Bolton ?.

    (Andrew Smith not getting game time at Connacht, would he come back. He has real speed & could be coached out of 'larmouring' cross field).

    Edit : see Andrew Smith gone on a loan to Munster & is named in the squad for Munster v Leicester

    Post edited by Ben Bailey on


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,656 ✭✭✭realhorrorshow


    I thought either Bolton or Kilgallen would have been a good punt for Leinster last season, given they both have the athletic profile ye may be looking for. Kilgallen was probably a bullet dodged given the injury issues, and Bolton's now contracted through to 2026.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 14,018 ✭✭✭✭Exclamation Marc


    I'd wonder if Penny or Connors or similar would get regular game-time there and tear it up. I know that they make sporadic appearances here-and-there when the full Leinster team is available (Connors v LAR as an example) but they'll realistically never make the Ireland team where they are now as VdF, Doris, Baird, Conan and perhaps even Culhane now are in the mix for those spots. I'll stress that I'd hate to lose them as its a squad game but they might benefit starting more often? Connors is nearly 29 and only an average of 7/8 games a year for Leinster so I could really see it for him.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 6,415 ✭✭✭P.Walnuts


    New contract for Luke McGrath



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 712 ✭✭✭jonok28


    Well deserved, he has had a strong year. I really thought he was spent last season but has looked strong this season.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,172 ✭✭✭bingobango12


    Didn’t think we would be seeing that this time last year but he has been great this season. Seems to be hugely popular around the group aswell.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,635 ✭✭✭✭El_Duderino 09


    I was wrong in hindsight too. I thought he was on a downward trajectory.

    I think I forgot he's actually a year younger than JGP. He had that period in the Ireland squad and then battling with GJP and then losing out in the end. I discounted the fact that he's young enough for a revivalbas I thought he was maybe a year younger than Conor Murray.

    Fair play to him. Happy to be proven wrong. I think his improvement has been mostly in defence which is nice but I'd prefer if his improvement was quick accurate passing. His passing was really poor at times last year and that's improved to an extent. I'll take it.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,065 ✭✭✭arsebiscuits1


    Luke has stepped it up when it mattered this season. Possibly with a contract renewal incoming.

    As one of his more vocal critics I am delighted to see the obvious improvement he's shown this season. Well earned.

    He is Leinsters most senior player also in terms of his first cap for Leinster. I don't think we should overlook how significant that is. Particularly given that Healy and Byrne are gone at the end of this season with their 287 and 178 respective Leinster caps.

    A squad needs senior players who've been through it.



  • Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 32,765 Mod ✭✭✭✭Podge_irl


    I'm not a big fan of the "he proved people wrong" angle, as he absolutely deserved the criticism he got and I don't think anything about it was wrong. But he has really stepped it up this season and long may it continue.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,065 ✭✭✭arsebiscuits1


    I agree.

    I wont apologise for the criticism I extended to Luke in the past because I think my criticism was objective.

    No player should be above criticism. But every player should be recognised for obviously improving on facets that were being criticised



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 14,018 ✭✭✭✭Exclamation Marc


    In the more-curious-than-most former player watch, Rocky Elsom's retrial has resulted in his initial five year prison sentence being overruled. He has been given a suspended sentenced of two-years in prison plus a €330k fine (albeit with €50k suspended). He has ten days to appeal.



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