While Quinn Roux isn't who I'd be looking to recruit, he's the same age as Bundee in a position which mitigates the impact of getting older. He put 1400 minutes of rugby under his belt for Bath last season, starting 22 games, and has played another 9 since September. Think it's safe to say he has a couple of seasons left in him.
Yeah he is playing the most consistent rugby of his whole career. Going 80 minutes lots of games as well.
Not sure we appreciated Quinn enough when we had him. He wasn’t flashy but bloody effective.
Not sure he would come back or maybe more importantly, if he would be the right idea for what we need?
We could also do with a bit of a leader in that pack. A Craig Clarke or Andrew Farley type character in a huge body. One can always dream eh. Was probably the idea with Joe Joyce but hasn’t quite hit imho.
I think Daniel is a tight head. Otherwise a great shout.
The 42 reports that while the surgery on Mack's foot went well, Lancaster couldn't offer a timeline for his return:
https://www.the42.ie/mack-hansen-ankle-injury-surgery-6915481-Dec2025/
We're missing him badly.
He was on the beer in O'Connells the night of the Ulster game, had the leg up on one of those scooter things for it.
Team v Leinster:
15. Sam Gilbert (5) 14. Chay Mullins (14) 13. David Hawkshaw (48) 12. Bundee Aki (156) 11. Finn Treacy (12) 10. Josh Ioane (20) 9. Matthew Devine (25) 1. Denis Buckley (270) 2. Dylan Tierney-Martin (63) 3. Finlay Bealham (225) 4. Joe Joyce (44) 5. David O’Connor (15) 6. Josh Murphy (47) 7. Cian Prendergast (92) (C) 8. Sean Jansen (34)
16. Eoin de Buitlear (18) 17. Billy Bohan (1) 18. Fiachna Barrett (5) 19. Darragh Murray (47) 20. Paul Boyle (122) 21. Ben Murphy (23) 22. Harry West (3) 23. Cathal Forde (59)
Same issues as normal, front and second row. We really need to do something about that.
We need improvement there. Could we not get a couple of the young Leinster lads on loan?
Maybe a second row from Ulster, they seem stacked there.
It's nice to see Bohan on the bench, hopefully he turns into a great one for us. I don't know if Barrett can make it as a prop, he's a giant, 6'4".
Your issues in the second row are just you don’t like the ones you have available - Connacht probably have more healthy senior locks right now than Leinster do.
Murray and who else?
I've no personal issues with anybody. I don't dislike any Connacht player.
Did you watch our recent games? Front row and second row are the big issues.
And one of the front row comes from my own club, Denis Buckley. I don't think he should be starting anymore, he's a great bit of stuff but 25 minutes at the end of the game is what he should be doing now. We need somebody to start there, we need a whole new starting front row.
A few creamers in Paddy Cullens before the match tomorrow?
Yeah, but my point is all of your senior contracted locks are healthy except Oisín Dowling, and yet you’re here asking for Leinster players to be sent there. It’s not because of injury need, just you don’t especially rate the guys you have.
Yeah quality is the issue.
If connacht thought they would use the likes of Spicer or COT every other game, then they'd be much better off on loan to Connacht. If they could get actual gametime then it would be win-win for a season or 2.
It's like this, any sport I ever played I wanted to win and every team I support I want to win.
I've coached two different sports at senior level and I'll drop players if they are not performing. I'll give them opportunities and if it's not working out I'll talk to them about it and if it's still not working I'll drop them and that's out of the squad not to sit on the bench.
To be successful you have to be ruthless, there's no room for pity. If you are not good enough you don't get to play.
Bealham notwithstanding: we're very much outpowered in the front five tomorrow. DTM and Buckley are likely to struggle both in the scrum and the loose, and I'm sure a new loose head and hooker will be top of Lancaster's shopping list for next season. If we can win any ball, and it's a big if, Devine and Ioane could do something creative with it. We're weak in defence out wide and desperately short of fit back 3 players.
Yeah, I’ve no issue with any of this and would agree with a lot of it; but my point is it’s not really Leinster’s problem to solve.
Big difference between amateur sport and pro.
You have to pay for the guys you use and the ones you don't use as well and they may be guys that were contracted by previous coaches not your choices. Ohh and you've no money left. Now what ya going to do?
There's always clauses in contracts where you can get out of them and save some money. Contracts are not fully guaranteed in most instances.
You then put those savings up for the current time and use it.
Of course if the player doesn't want to leave then you are stuck.
Sometimes you have to pick the best of a bad bunch. You really are stuck.
Tough match ahead. We are only at about 50% strength. Lots of injuries sadly.
Be interesting how Ioane and Devine go. Will we get enough ball to play?
This morning's Indo has this at 38-12 to Leinster.
No.
Blocking by Leinster no5 for the first try?
Yes. But you need a competent non IRFU ref to get those decisions.
That aged well
Doesn't mean it wasn't correct.
It seems to me that brace is not his usual consistent self. Penalised Connacht for swinging around the side, but doesn't seem to care about Leinster coming in the side at the tackle area.
But fair play on the quick yellow card
He literally pinged will connors TWICE for the same thing
Cian Prendercast has had a good half
Ryle Nugents voice keeps popping into my head, like the ghost of Christmas past.
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