Leinster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread II

Think Heaslip has had a very good season outside the 6 Nations. It is an inherent problem with comparing heaslip and Cawlin, the latter doesn't play international rugby. Heaslip is perfectly capable of good international performances (was v good against Italy) but he would probably have been better off missing the 6N reputation wise (Zebo's injury was a blessing in disguise)

I thought Heaslip had a great game against Munster at the weekend. Thoroughly outplayed his opposite number imo.

Ben Marshall is pretty much the same age as Quinn Roux, really disappointed he hasn't been afforded the same opportunity because he has looked good every time he has got a chance.

McGrath, Moore, Marshall, Ruddock, Murphy.

That's the backbone of a very good Leinster pack aged 23, 22, 22, 22 and 21. Leinster have strongly focused on developing forwards over the past few years in the academy with a lot of work on the front five in particular and it is now paying dividends. The players above have the potential to form the bulk of a solid HEC pack in 3-4 years if they receive the requisite game time and training.

We'll see the focus shift back towards the backs now in the next 2 years, I think. We can already see the likes of Daly, Byrne and Dardis being tipped for professional careers. If Leinster can supplement these players with decent NIQ players and the likes of Madigan, Fitzgerald, Kearney and McFadden then the squad should be in relatively decent shape.

Several players at Leinster are irreplaceable, make no doubt and success doesn't last forever but measures have been taken to try and ensure we don't encounter any sustained period of being also rans in the foreseeable future.

opinionatedfan wrote: »

Most disappointing thing for me was how many guys really had their progress stalled by injury: Ruddock, Ryan, O'Malley, and Kearney.

I wouldn't include Ruddock in that. He was out for the first few months due to surgery over the summer on a hip injury he had been carrying for some time. Once he came back he gradually found form and has been showing real signs of quality. He has 13 appearances for Leinster since November. His work at the breakdown in terms of clearing out and power in the tight is fantastic for a guy that turned 22 last November.

I think he has shown enough this season to have Kevin McLaughlin very nervous for next season.

I think there's a spot on the back row up for grabs alongside Heaslip and SOB next season.

Ryan Ruddock and now Murphy fighting for it IMO.

Locky seems to be fading a bit, maybe it was his injury.

.ak wrote: »

A backrow of Murphy, SOB and Heaslip would mean all 3 can play all positions competently. That's very handy meaning you can put basically whoever on 20 without thinking of cover.

However, none of them are even close to what Locky provides in the tight. He's an absolute nightmare to play against I bet, his clear outs are a thing of beauty. He's at every ruck ensuring quick ball or protected ball, and he wrestles like a crocodile with anyone who tries to poach. Add to that his skill in the air and he's generally as safe as bricks you've got yourself a very useful squad player. Murphy/Ryan, SOB, Heaslip would be a dynamic back row allright, but I wouldn't trust any of them - apart from Heaslip - to get their hands dirty with the breakdown.

I think a backrow of Murphy, SOB and Heaslip would be a nightmare at the breakdown to face and they're all decent ball carriers to boot, SOB showed against Australia and NZ that he's a top class 7 and Heaslip can spoil possession too, Murphy also looked good at 7 versus Cardiff in the RDS. Completely agree with you about Locky being hugely important in the lineouts and generating quick ball for the others to do more carrying. He's criminally underrated at times around here.

Murphy's progress next season is going to be very exciting to watch as he's had some great games this season and you can see aspects of SOB and Heaslip in his play. With Jennings, Ruddock and Ryan competing there too it's a nice predicament over who gets game time. It's not a stretch to say that Leinster probably have the 2nd best backrow strength and depth in Europe after Toulon.