Leinster Team Talk Thread (Love you Furlong time)

JeanRasczak · 27-05-2026 02:38PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124503679#Comment_124503679

Is it based on his consistent performances at 10 for Leinster?

People seem to think he is the answer but when he came on against Toulouse he had a kick to put the game level.

The hyperbole which is been pushed by some in media and in other outlets is based on what exactly?

typhoony · 27-05-2026 02:45PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124503559#Comment_124503559

People seem to forget he's put in some poor even dismal performances at 10 for Leinster and Ireland, not convinced he can play there in crunch games

JeanRasczak · 27-05-2026 02:49PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124503767#Comment_124503767

I have asked the question many times and have yet been given a body of work from Frawley at 10 for Ireland or Leinster which seems to have him rated so highly

The original NZ tour he only went on because he was excellent that season at 12, in those two games they lost one and won one against the Maori, the aggregate over the two games Ireland lost

Maybe I am wrong but I have yet to see it, I do see him as a quality 12/15

revth1990 · 27-05-2026 02:49PM

That final should be henshaws last game for Leinster, it wont be because of his contract but hes simply not good enough to be starting for one of the best clubs in europe.

Because of the increase in competitiveness of the URC Leinsters development of some of the younger talent has slowed along with some dissaponting injuries. Missing Lancaster also doesnt help with the younger player development.

Leinster really need some of the younger players to step up to the next level theres a few players in the current squad that are rapidly fading forces.

hold my beer · 27-05-2026 02:50PM

Frawley and Harry Byrne proved multiple times they're not international quality 10s. I really hope Sam can improve his tackling and defence over the next 12 months, or he'll be going the same way.

JeanRasczak · 27-05-2026 02:53PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124503797#Comment_124503797

Harry Byrne is only hitting his peak, from 27-30+ is typically the peak for players. Not sure why people are so quick to write him off

Former Former Former · 27-05-2026 03:05PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124503813#Comment_124503813

It's because there isn't a progressive improvement that leads you to believe his peak will be good enough. Unfortunately, Saturday was not a blip.

Yes, he might still improve, he might even be going on Ireland tour this summer, but a significant step up is needed if he's a long-term solution for either province or country.

AbusesToilets · 27-05-2026 03:06PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124503797#Comment_124503797

I don't think Prendergast will ever be good enough to be an elite international 10. Not because of his defense, but because he's so lacking in explosiveness. He's marginally quicker than Ross, and has no power in his carries. He can be an excellent distributor, but that's not enough.

We're just far too slow as a team, and lacking game breakers in the backs. Henshaw and Ringrose are past it, and a dud as a partnership. TOB is McFadden esque, a good workhorse winger, but the gap between him and an elite finisher like LBB or even Baloucoune is stark. Keenan is our only truly elite outside back.

Heroditas · 27-05-2026 03:10PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124503592#Comment_124503592

I always remember Cullen saying in an I terview with a few select guests/invitees that he thought SA winning the 2019 RWC was bad because every team would then start to play like that and if they won again in '23 it would be worse again. He also said that the SA style was completely against Leinster's philosophy of how they played rugby. Three years later ... in walks JN 🤷

The Iron Giant · 27-05-2026 03:13PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124503738#Comment_124503738

Did you misread my post or something?

It's based on the game last weekend. It was said in response to someone else's post on his performance last weekend. All it shows is that most outlets rated his performance highly and as one of, if not our best performer in that game. It's a fairly factual statement that's hard to argue.

ionadnapóca · 27-05-2026 03:30PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124503797#Comment_124503797

I think its very important to caveat this with the quality of coaching they have been getting and the gameplan they are been forced to implement.

Added to all of that it is clear that the 10 situation has been grossly mismanaged by Leo.

El_Duderino 09 · 27-05-2026 03:41PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124503797#Comment_124503797

I think management had three 10s with strengths and weaknesses, but no obvious first choice. They picked two to fight it out and cut Frawley as an option. It's not feasible to give three options enough consistent time in big games to get a handle on their effectiveness and form. I don't hink there's a huge gap between Frawley and Byrne, but they had to cut someone and they cut Frawley.

I wouldn't be a bit surprised if Frawley gets some consistent time at 10 for Connacht and improves to be at least the level of Byrne, but probably not a lot higher.

I don't necessarily blame Leinster for choosing two players instead of splitting big games between the three of them. I also don'tthink the fact they they cut Frawley from the 10 battle means he's a long way behind the other two. I think it was a pragmatic decision.

aloooof · 27-05-2026 04:03PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124503957#Comment_124503957

It'll be interesting to see what happens next year with Carbery's return.

He's more versatile than Sam or Harry, so potentially a perfect fit for the 22 jersey, but I think its possible he could make himself starter with a few good performances, in the short-term at least. Remains to be seen how he'll fare coming back, and with futher injuries, mind.

JeanRasczak · 27-05-2026 04:30PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124503846#Comment_124503846

I disagree, I think this season he has shown massive improvement

johnh6767 · 27-05-2026 05:14PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124503920#Comment_124503920

let’s not rewrite history Andy Farrell mismanaged Sam not Leo. Sam was starting for Ireland as he was 2nd choice for Leinster, maybe even 3rd, his hand was forced from that point on and there were many in the cheerleading box claiming Leo was behind the ball

Podge_irl · 27-05-2026 05:24PM

No one mismanaged Sam. He had a good first season and has struggled in his second. It has happened to thousands of players.

He also categorically was not 3rd choice and ended up as 1st choice for Leinster entirely on merit and had actually a very good season.

For Petes Sake · 27-05-2026 05:35PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124503767#Comment_124503767

People also completely ignore that he came on with 35 minutes to go when Leinster were 28 points down.

Completely different circumstances to what he would have faced if he started the game. Much easier to put a highlight reel together when the game is nowhere near in the balance.

typhoony · 27-05-2026 05:55PM

Started 12 in a lot of games and has done well enough

AbusesToilets · 27-05-2026 06:09PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124504287#Comment_124504287

Folks are heaping praise on him, without actually pointing to anything that he did well in the role of a 10. He wasn't distributing or marshaling the attack in any noticeably different way to Byrne. His kicking was arguably worse, the few times he did. Missed conversion, missed touch for a penalty.

accensi0n · 27-05-2026 06:50PM

My god, what is with all the revisionist articles and podcasts saying Leinster have stupidly let a Sexton/Carter go…

Frawley is a fantastic rugby player, but he's clearly a 12 who needs less responsibility/pressure to thrive.

TRC10 · 27-05-2026 06:55PM

Agree that the whole “Leinster are letting their best 10 go!” is very much an easy narrative for the media to push. It will sell with a lot of casuals who probably watched the game and saw Harry Byrne have a stinker and then Frawley come on and make one or two decent carries. But as others have pointed out, any 10 would look good coming on in a game that was over as a contest and the opposition are saving themselves for tougher games to come.

Frawley will start next season as Connacht’s starting 10, but I’m 90% sure he won’t finish it as their starting 10.

Knowall1 · 27-05-2026 08:40PM

Interesting to hear Drico on OTB. Says the defensive system doesn't work and can't work with the Leinster players. That the players are not playing to the level they can. That Harry has not reached the heights he thought he would and if you don't do it on the big stage ( his last 2 games in Europe ) probably never going to do it. And saying that although rugby doesn't normally get rid of coaches, that if a really good coach is available it would be foolish not to go get him.

AbusesToilets · 27-05-2026 08:55PM

Watching it again, in my misery, Reiko had a very solid game, one of our best players. Pretty consistently made ground in the carry, looked fast. He did get burned for their 2nd try, but I wouldn't hold him solely responsible for that, given the defensive alignment. We should've played him at 13 imo. Ringrose was his all too frequently anonymous self.

Former Former Former · 27-05-2026 09:09PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124504111#Comment_124504111

Byrne has had a good season but as the games have got bigger, his performances have not. That’s my concern. He did not have a good day against Toulon and it got worse against UBB.

Podge_irl · 27-05-2026 09:34PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124504780#Comment_124504780

I think both this is true and "he have shown improvement" is true. I just get the feeling his level of improvement has basically hit its natural ceiling.

He responded poorly to being dropped for Ross Byrne a couple years ago, and he has responded poorly to being backed as number 1 at the pointy end of the season.

AbusesToilets · 27-05-2026 09:56PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124504848#Comment_124504848

Thought he didn't organise the attacking shape well on Sat, we became far too 1 dimensional in their 22, although this wasn't helped by JGP's slow passing from the ruck. His tactical kicking wasn't great, but at the same time, we spent almost the majority of the half defending. For the 2nd time running, LBB comfortably outplayed TOB in the aerial game. Not sure why we never sent Keenan to contest a kick. Byrne did get the ball wide well, both in terms of his passing accuracy, and timing it to get around their rush, which we made a lot of ground from. We needed a 10 who could play off the cuff more, in the way Jailbert can. We posed no questions of the Bordeaux defense. Frawley did well playing the role that our centres should've been doing, and made some nice breaks in the outside channel.

None of our tens are commanding enough, and let JGP dictate things too much. He was at his best when Sexton was the general in behind him, whereas now I think it's slowing his game down having to take on more of the burden for decision making. Our pack was struggling for gainline success in Bordeaux's 22 enough as it was, and he just slowed things down even more. We desperately missed having a 2nd playmaker in the backline as well. Some of Henshaw's passes were so laboured and telegraphed, and outside of TOB's try, Ringrose just did his usual stuff of cutting back against the grain with his carries.

johnh6767 · 27-05-2026 10:34PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124504897#Comment_124504897

The best French teams, club & national, play off their 9’s but have serious play makers also at 10

JeanRasczak · 27-05-2026 10:41PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124504780#Comment_124504780

Season isnt over yet

People wanted to throw Prendergast off the team last year and he had a great final

Byrne having a better game was not changing that result

Podge_irl · 27-05-2026 10:44PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124504988#Comment_124504988

This is fair, but as FFF says he wasn't good against Toulon either and was abysmal (along with the rest of the team) against Benetton. He was given the reigns post 6N with a lot of backing and probably his only good game has been against the Sharks.

Former Former Former · 28-05-2026 06:58AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124504988#Comment_124504988

Byrne having a better game was not changing that result

it absolutely wasn't, but it certainly didn't help, and if the topic is "is Harry Byrne good enough?", then it was far from reassuring. The team had a very good performance against Toulon, but Byrne was well off the pace.

I honestly don't know what we should do at 10 this weekend. Personally, I would pick Prendergast.

Leinster Team Talk Thread (Love you Furlong time)

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