Leinster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread.

ambid · 05-06-2012 09:13PM

TomLamp wrote: »

Is Tadgh Furlong at 119kgs the biggest Irish tighthead? Hes only 19..

That's literally more than twice my weight when I was his age

irishbucsfan · 05-06-2012 09:17PM

TomLamp wrote: »

Is Tadgh Furlong at 119kgs the biggest Irish tighthead? Hes only 19..

Stewart Maguire was bigger at 20s level so I assume he still is.

Tony Buckley 130kgs of course. Jamie Hagan listed at 120 on Leinster site. Tom Court 122. Royce Burke Flynn 122 as well.

Michael Bent is 118, so close. John Andress as well. Martin Moore has put on weight this year so he may be heavier than him now (was heavier than him in preseason). Jack OConnell is possibly heavier than that at this stage after this year, hard to tell.

It's certainly not a huge weight for an Irish TH. about where a player of his potential should be.

Fireball07 · 05-06-2012 09:18PM

ambid wrote: »

That's literally more than twice my weight when I was his age

I am that age...and yeah, same.

durkadurka · 05-06-2012 11:27PM

ambid wrote: »

That's literally more than twice my weight when I was his age

Ah but I bet you've done some catching up since though!

tolosenc · 05-06-2012 11:31PM

Given that he will still fill out for another couple of years... Imagine Tony Buckley, only good.

ambid · 05-06-2012 11:56PM

durkadurka wrote: »

ambid wrote: »

That's literally more than twice my weight when I was his age

Ah but I bet you've done some catching up since though!

Yep, and it's all muscle...

On an entirely unrelated issue, I do love anonymous photoless internet forums where outrageous unsubstantiated claims can't be disputed

Fishooks12 · 06-06-2012 12:00AM

ambid wrote: »

Yep, and it's all muscle...

On an entirely unrelated issue, I do love anonymous photoless internet forums where outrageous unsubstantiated claims can't be disputed.

On an unrelated note, here's me topless.....

ryan+gosling+ripped+chest.jpg

tolosenc · 06-06-2012 12:04AM

Fishooks12 wrote: »

On an unrelated note, here's me topless....

OMG! We're twins!

WeeBushy · 06-06-2012 12:26AM

He is extremely muscly but in fairness he has a little giggle on him. But that ok for a tighthead, beneficial sometimes.

molloyjh · 06-06-2012 09:11AM

[Quote=[Jackass];79030371]9 Leinster academy lads started for the Irish U-20 team that beat South Africa and a further 4 came off the bench. Very promising, given it was on their home patch and without doubt the best U20-s win to date.

Best parts being the scrum that not only stood up to the vaunted massive springbok underage packs, but actually got the better of them overall, with two Leinster props in the front row, Coughlan-Murray (the Leinster / Irish Shane Williams to be) playing superbly, and an all Leinster back-row that swarmed them and stopped them from playing.[/Quote]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Beirne. He's a Clontarf man isn't he? I thought he was class. And given our second row woes at the moment it was a welcome sight.

irishbucsfan · 06-06-2012 09:22AM

Beirne was excellent but he could well be too small. Hopefully he'll bulk up in the academy if he's made it.

GerM · 06-06-2012 11:30AM

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Beirne was excellent but he could well be too small. Hopefully he'll bulk up in the academy if he's made it.

Speaking with one of his coaches this week who rates him highly but is convinced his future lies in the back row as a jumping 6. Eats up the yards with ball in hand with his club and has a great engine.

shuffol · 06-06-2012 11:33AM

GerM wrote: »

Speaking with one of his coaches this week who rates him highly but is convinced his future lies in the back row as a jumping 6. Eats up the yards with ball in hand with his club and has a great engine.

Another Dave O'Callaghan so.

Tox56 · 06-06-2012 11:38AM

GerM wrote: »

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Beirne was excellent but he could well be too small. Hopefully he'll bulk up in the academy if he's made it.

Speaking with one of his coaches this week who rates him highly but is convinced his future lies in the back row as a jumping 6. Eats up the yards with ball in hand with his club and has a great engine.

ANOTHER blindside?? How big is he does anyone know?

If it's at all possible for him to play in the second row they should get him in there. We have an abundance of 6's (both Leinster and Ireland) and too few second rows.

padraig.od · 06-06-2012 11:41AM

Still no word on Fitzgeralds contract?

GerM · 06-06-2012 11:54AM

O'Callaghan isn't a bad comparison. He's about 6'5" but only around 16 stone. Obviously he will put on more bulk as time goes on but one of his biggest strengths at the moment is his mobility. He could be a good, rangy blindside. If he wants to be a lock, he needs to start working on it now and have a training plan drawn up accordingly. Big difference in the power stakes between being a lock at U20 and senior level.

thomond2006 · 06-06-2012 12:27PM

padraig.od wrote: »

Still no word on Fitzgeralds contract?

No word in the media anyway.

Hasn't he 'left' Leinster contractually wise at this stage i.e he is now a free agent?

molloyjh · 06-06-2012 12:32PM

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Beirne was excellent but he could well be too small. Hopefully he'll bulk up in the academy if he's made it.

According to the Irish Rugby site he's 6'5" and 16 st compared to Cullen who is 6'6" and 17 st 6 lbs. I'd imagine with the proper training he'd be laughing.

Timothy Bryce · 06-06-2012 01:25PM

padraig.od wrote: »

Still no word on Fitzgeralds contract?

He went for further neck surgery a few weeks ago....a 'double fusion' operation IIRC.

I'm no Columbo, but that sounds serious enough.

I'd imagine this would have an impact on contract negotiations.

profitius · 06-06-2012 11:57PM

Beirne was very good. Didn't get much of a mention but put in a massive workrate and even won a few turnovers. Is he in the Leinster academy?

molloyjh · 07-06-2012 12:48PM

profitius wrote: »

Beirne was very good. Didn't get much of a mention but put in a massive workrate and even won a few turnovers. Is he in the Leinster academy?

Not at the moment AFAIK.

Taco Corp · 07-06-2012 12:59PM

padraig.od wrote: »

Still no word on Fitzgeralds contract?

On a similar note, what's the story with Damien Browne? Would be disappointed if he was let go. Had an excellent season and seriously under rated IMO.

TonyTonga · 07-06-2012 01:01PM

Injured, might not make it back.

WeeBushy · 07-06-2012 01:03PM

Surley wrote: »

On a similar note, what's the story with Damien Browne? Would be disappointed if he was let go. Had an excellent season and seriously under rated IMO.

I think it was in an interview with Richie Murphy where he said they were trying to sign a NIQ second row, so presuming they do they'd have Denton, Toner, Cullen, AN Other and Flanagan. So I presume Browne isn't staying. Pity as I thought he was a hugely important squad player this year.

CIARAN_BOYLE · 07-06-2012 06:01PM

thomond2006 wrote: »

No word in the media anyway.

Hasn't he 'left' Leinster contractually wise at this stage i.e he is now a free agent?

contract runs till end of June because its a central contract covers time that Fitz would be on the summer tour if he was going

[Jackass] · 07-06-2012 06:45PM

Yeah losing Browne would be a bit of a let down, thought he did extremely well when called upon this season. Looks unlikely that he'll be here next season though.

Very interested to see who we recruit as a NIQ second row. Hopefully a top quality player and not another Sykes gamble, as if it doesn't come off again we're pretty thin in that department.

I'm hoping and optimistic that Denton could prove to be a superbly shrewd signing. The more I read about him, the more impressed I am. Seems to be a very aggressive player with great carrying skills and an athletic operator. Precisely the type we need. And big and heavy enough that he will (hopefully) be an effective scrummager also, as God knows we need it.

I can't imagine the Fitz situation not being resolved before next season. It just seem unimaginable to me that Fitz would be let go from Irish and Leinster rugby for whatever reason. Say what you want about his form and injuries, but when he's fit and on form (as he was for a period last season) he's one of the best wingers in the country.

danthefan · 07-06-2012 08:50PM

I think it was mentioned that Fitz's contract negotiations were put on hold due to the injury/surgery.

chancer12 · 07-06-2012 09:25PM

Timothy Bryce wrote: »

He went for further neck surgery a few weeks ago....a 'double fusion' operation IIRC.

I'm no Columbo, but that sounds serious enough.

I'd imagine this would have an impact on contract negotiations.

Did he have an injury or was this 'wear and tear'? I really think they're playing an awful lot of rugby and the winning teams in particular are having very little break from a game that is becoming increasingly more physical each year. Hate to think what their bodies will be like when they reach middle age.

boynesider · 07-06-2012 09:43PM

I would like to see a lot more of Mark Flanagan next year. He seems to be a very athletic, ball playing lock with good footballing skills, and I've been impressed with him whenever I've seen him play. He will need to improve his work in the tight and his general physicality however, but hopefully he will have learned a thing or two from Brad Thorn. A full pre-season of heavy duty strength and power work could make a huge difference to him.

Hagz · 07-06-2012 09:50PM

boynesider wrote: »

I would like to see a lot more of Mark Flanagan next year. He seems to be a very athletic, ball playing lock with good footballing skills, and I've been impressed with him whenever I've seen him play. He will need to improve his work in the tight and his general physicality however, but hopefully he will have learned a thing or two from Brad Thorn. A full pre-season of heavy duty strength and power work could make a huge difference to him.

I was confused as to why he wasn't given more opportunities this season. Perhaps it was because he was only just back into rugby from studies. From the games I did see of him, he looked solid. Hopefully now that his studies have been put to one side, he will make strides on the pitch.

Leinster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread.

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