Leinster Team Talk Thread (Love you Furlong time)

Podge_irl · 27-03-2026 10:22PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124346101#Comment_124346101

He is (or should be) but he is needed now far, far more at lock. If you have the choice of Deeny or Baird coming on in the second row it is a no contest. I would take Conan or Deegan at 6 every day of the week if it meant Baird at 19 now.

johnh6767 · 28-03-2026 01:49AM

Im not as down as others. A win is a win and it’s nice to get everyone back.Porter interview was very telling he was very emotional which to me is a major positive. Sheehan in that carry at the line was extreme best and shows why he’s the best hooker in the NH. Joe McCarthy 2nd half very impressive despite him being targeted. Tommy O’B & JJ alongside Jamie Osborne were game changers. Checked player ratings and happy to see Sam getting some slack as often it is damaging and ruthless. Gunne is really growing into the roll, Gus was also focused and achieved.

ersatz · 28-03-2026 06:37AM

I liked seeing San try some stuff and put in a couple of grubbers. Nothing much came of it but he was playing heads up confident rugby. Good to see that.

fitz · 28-03-2026 09:47AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124346365#Comment_124346365

Agree, to an extent. I could see an argument for having Baird at 6 and moving him into the row, with another blindside coming on for the lock being subbed off. I'd say if everyone is available, it's a horses-for-courses choice between Conan and Baird for the starting 6 jersey, at least in the short term. Hopefully Soroka and Deeny can kick on.

fitz · 28-03-2026 09:51AM

Yeah, Sam's execution was off and I don't know that I'd have called it a confident display, but at least he didn't seem to be shying away from trying things. Hopefully he can recover some form.

I also remember thinking last night that he could take some pointers on tackling from Kenny, when Kenny made a try-saver of a tackle around the attackers legs out wide in the first half.

johnh6767 · 28-03-2026 09:59AM

To state the obvious Sam is not the perfect tackler by any means but his effort & improvement is up 10x. Agree nice to see him trying innovative stuff again which points to a confidence rebuilding

El_Duderino 09 · 28-03-2026 10:08AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124346846#Comment_124346846

I think that's an exaggeration on the effort or else a damning indictment of his effort in the 6N. I think he was good last night, even if everything didn't work out like the blocked kick and tackle before the kick through. Both were good options.

But the thing is he was playing full back which affords him a little more time. It was unstructured play rather than structured 10 play with a flanker lining him up and limiting his time.

The good play last night is an argument for him at 15, and he already has Osborne and Keenan (and probably JOB) ahead of him. SP might be making a good argument for being a good 23 option.

I don't think we can see him play well (with caveats) at 15 and argue he should be the starting 10.

Podge_irl · 28-03-2026 11:37AM

I don't think there was much difference between what we got from 10 yesterday and last week though.

Heroditas · 28-03-2026 11:55AM

According to the stats we had 43% possession and 39% territory. That's insane

fitz · 29-03-2026 08:59AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124346982#Comment_124346982

Arguably Harry Byrne showed a few times this week why he shouldn't be starting 10.

sydthebeat · 29-03-2026 11:27AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124346846#Comment_124346846

The issue wasn't the "trying innovative stuff"

The issue was game management, considering the score and time left in the game.

Poor decision making from what was supposed to be a key decision maker.

Podge_irl · 29-03-2026 11:58AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124348432#Comment_124348432

He did, but ultimately we have what we have. I don't think it is a particularly close call normally, but Prendergast is obviously in poor enough form. Unsurprisingly I'd start Prendergast, but I suspect it will be Harry. He is just not going to be the answer though.

I don't entirely understand why they put him to 15 when he came on instead of rejigging things to put Osborne there, Harry to 12 and Sam at 10. Obviously it is more moving things around, but Prendergast just isn't a 15 and it seems silly to put him there when there are other options.

PMC83 · 29-03-2026 02:57PM

I watched Edinburgh V Stormers yesterday with an eye on next week. Stormers not great but Edinburgh deffo played better then the final score suggested. Considering where we are ourselves next week could turn into a battle

AbusesToilets · 29-03-2026 02:58PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124348432#Comment_124348432

Don't really follow the logic there, at least in terms of comparison to Prendergast. He made errors, but he also had some very good play. His passing was generally excellent, and he's undoubtedly a better defender and carrier than Prendergast is, and a better kicker. I don't think the "system" is helping either 10 at the moment, but I'd trust Bryne to do better at the moment than Prendergast.

Paddy_Mag · 29-03-2026 03:18PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124349018#Comment_124349018

I dont know. Edinburgh gave up.some poor scores and made some bad errors. Didn't see anything to be concerned about next week

leakyboots · 29-03-2026 07:17PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124348671#Comment_124348671

They don't trust him enough at 10 at the moment?

It's been obvious for a long time that he has some serious and fundamental work-ons

fitz · 29-03-2026 08:41PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124348671#Comment_124348671

Sam to 15 was probably just not have much rejigging, and to keep him out of the firing line a bit, maybe. While I think @leakyboots is overstating the number of work-ons, not throwing him straight in to get physically targeted at 10 is probably a good way to reintroduce him against a team like Glasgow before he has more time to improve on his tackling.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124349019#Comment_124349019

I meant Byrne didn't really show anything new, and had a few of his trademark brainfarts. That missed touch from a penalty was awful. He's not going to be the answer for us long term at this stage, imo. I won't be surprised if he continues to start in big games until Prendergast solidifies his tackling/defense though.

Podge_irl · 29-03-2026 08:45PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124349748#Comment_124349748

He started at 10 against Glasgow! And his tackling was fine while the whole backline around him imploded.

fitz · 29-03-2026 08:49PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124349757#Comment_124349757

Speaking of brainfarts! 😂

That's my wonky brain mixing up the two games. Same applies, though, it could just have been them being happy with how Byrne was going and giving Sam a bit more space and time in the backfield.

AbusesToilets · 29-03-2026 08:50PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124349748#Comment_124349748

If the belief is that Sam can develop and improve, why not also Harry?His kicking from hand was definitely poor yesterday, thought he struggled to get distance with them too. I think with a proper coaching set up, both could flourish, but until that happens, this sort of performance is going to be the norm unfortunately.

fitz · 29-03-2026 08:55PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124349765#Comment_124349765

We've a lot more data-points on Byrne's ability to improve, and it just hasn't materialised the way you'd hope. Who knows, maybe a different coach would make the difference, his stint away last year certainly helped.

Podge_irl · 29-03-2026 09:06PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124349765#Comment_124349765

He is 4 years older? It is a pretty key data point. He basically has 3 times as much of a professional career so far.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124349764#Comment_124349764

Sure. There is a logic to it which I get in that sense but I am somewhat inherently opposed to it. He isn't a 15 and putting him back there semi-regularly (particularly in defence) has been detrimental I think. But sure no one forced him to do some silly things. I actually think he works better with slightly less time tbh.

I am more or less resigned to HB starting the R16, but I have more faith in SP coming out of a slump than I do in HB suddenly becoming a consistently good 10.

fitz · 30-03-2026 01:58AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124349794#Comment_124349794

I'd be pretty much of the same view as you. I'm not advocating for using Prendergast that way, I can just understand it might be how that decision is being made.

El_Duderino 09 · 30-03-2026 05:56AM

I am more or less resigned to HB starting the R16, but I have more faith in SP coming out of a slump than I do in HB suddenly becoming a consistently good 10.

Can SP tackle when he comes out of the slump? He couldn't tackle before the slump so I presume that's a separate development point.

So even when he comes out of the slump, they both still have a major weakness. One is inconsistent and the other can't tackle. You can have your favourite, but I don't think you can argue there's much between them when you aggregate their strengths and weaknesses. They're both good 10s, but not top tier.

Podge_irl · 30-03-2026 08:07AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124350162#Comment_124350162

He can tackle, particularly in a defensive line, at the moment. He's still not great, but he has clearly improved immeasurably. He was absolutely fine defensively against Glasgow - something that can not be said about his colleagues wider out.

I can fairly easily argue there is a lot between them, which is why one of them was starting in the European knockouts last year while the other was surplus to requirements and in England. It is obviously less clear at the moment but we already know that this is basically as good as you get from Harry Byrne.

El_Duderino 09 · 30-03-2026 09:20AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124350207#Comment_124350207

OK. Which one IS better, on current form, right now?

Podge_irl · 30-03-2026 09:50AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124350298#Comment_124350298

Neither? I still prefer the shape on our attack when Prendergast starts, but he is obviously out of form. Had we better coaches I would trust them to get him out of it.

I am not a fan of the "Sam at home, Harry away" strategy they employed this year but obviously it worked after a fashion.

On the balance of play for Leinster only this year, the team have looked better when Prendergast played. Of course they have looked at their best when both Prendergast and Harry or Frawley were on the pitch. I think it is abundantly clear at this point we aren't going to defend our way to any titles.

El_Duderino 09 · 30-03-2026 10:33AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124350341#Comment_124350341

Yeah I don't think there's a clear winner on current form when you consider their strengths, weaknesses and form.

So i don't really mind which one they choose for this weekend. The match probably won't be won or lost on the difference between the 2 options at 10. They might not win the tournament and it could be in large part because they don't have a top tier 10, but this weekend there isn't a clear choice so I won't criticise whichever way they go.

bingobango12 · 30-03-2026 12:04PM

Leinster have registered Jamie Osbourne, Ryan Baird and Cormac Foley to their Champions Cup squad.

Don’t think Foley has been seen at all this season, wonder if there is an injury to JGP, McGrath or Gunne, or it’s just precautionary for the knockout rounds.

For Petes Sake · 30-03-2026 12:09PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124350605#Comment_124350605

Foley's been injured all season. Recently started playing with Lansdowne in the last few weeks.

I'd have him over Gunne personally. I have never, ever been overly impressed by him and I fail to see the hype.

Leinster Team Talk Thread (Love you Furlong time)

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