Leinster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread IV

Tim Robbins · 22-02-2014 11:01PM

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience wrote: »

Good post Jackass but I think you might be putting a slightly positive spin on the above. Hudson aside, I just don't see Macken or Reid making it at top level rugby unless there's a massive change in their defensive abilities.

Have Leinster any other decent centres coming up thru the academy?

Hagz · 22-02-2014 11:12PM

Tim Robbins wrote: »

Have Leinster any other decent centres coming up thru the academy?

Tom Daly is a decent 12. Big unit at 6'4.
Jordan Coghlan is another big 6'4 12, but I'm not convinced by him. He was converted from 6/8 to centre and I think they should have left him alone. He was a really athletic and promising back-rower.
Tom Farrell is a really promising 13.

Some decent guys just beneath the Academy. u20 inside centre Peter Robb played well tonight and is a big big lad. Harrison Brewer also came off the bench and is a very highly rated young player. Then you have Rory O'Loughlin who would have been starting at 13 for the u20s but is currently injured. He's a really promising player. A couple other guys too.

P.Walnuts · 23-02-2014 12:55AM

Chances of Robb going into the academy?

The Lost Sheep · 23-02-2014 01:00AM

P.Walnuts wrote: »

Chances of Robb going into the academy?

Not really with Daly there and if the Coghlan experiment continues. And then you have the players in senior set up who play 12

Hagz · 23-02-2014 01:10AM

P.Walnuts wrote: »

Chances of Robb going into the academy?

I think he's in with a chance. If he puts in an impressive display in the JWC I think he has a very good chance. Leinster will have two centres in the Academy next season - Tom Daly and Tom Farrell. One of them is an inside centre. We'll have three 12s in the senior squad - an ageing D'Arcy, Reid and Jordan Coghlan who is still pretty unproven as a 12.

8 players will be graduating from the Academy at the end of this season, possibly 9 if the rumours of Conan are true. That leaves a lot of room for new recruits. Of course Cleary is in with a good shout straight out of school, so Robb might miss out because of him. Then there is the possibility that Leinster will give Coghlan another year in the Academy due to the positional switch and his injury woes.

drohanzy · 23-02-2014 02:57AM

Hagz wrote: »

Jordan Coghlan is another big 6'4 12, but I'm not convinced by him. He was converted from 6/8 to centre and I think they should have left him alone. He was a really athletic and promising back-rower

Yeah don't understand this move by leinster, even with the depth they have in the backrow. Just because a backrow player is athletic doesn't mean he will be a good back or centre. Sometimes backs are converted to backrow forwards but this is probably an easier transition where as the skill set for a back is learned at an earlier stage of your rugby life. Was he not confident of making the leinster backrow or has he made a choice that could hamper the rest of his career if he doesn't make it as a centre does he go back to the forwards where he has missed out on a year or 2 of development in his backrow position?

thebaz · 23-02-2014 03:31AM

Tim Robbins wrote: »

Have Leinster any other decent centres coming up thru the academy?

I'd like to see McFadden given a decent run in midfield , or Madigan - no one else is anywhere near the level of D'Arcy and BOD - they are grand defensivly , but going forward are options are pretty limited now, and for the future - could Dave Kearney be converted ?

Hagz · 23-02-2014 04:02AM

thebaz wrote: »

I'd like to see McFadden given a decent run in midfield , or Madigan - no one else is anywhere near the level of D'Arcy and BOD - they are grand defensivly , but going forward are options are pretty limited now, and for the future - could Dave Kearney be converted ?

Dave Kearney simply wouldn't be suited to outside centre. He wouldn't cope defensively, and he's developing into a strong winger. I'd like to see McFadden at 13 too, at least to plug the hole short-term, but I fear we'll se Fitzgerald there instead.

Heroditas · 23-02-2014 11:12AM

thebaz wrote: »

I'd like to see McFadden given a decent run in midfield , or Madigan - no one else is anywhere near the level of D'Arcy and BOD - they are grand defensivly , but going forward are options are pretty limited now, and for the future - could Dave Kearney be converted ?

A couple of seasons ago I actually thought Dave could make a great fist of converting to a 12 but based on the last year or so, he's becoming a smashing wing so perhaps best to leave him there.

Tim Robbins · 23-02-2014 07:58PM

Hagz wrote: »

Tom Daly is a decent 12. Big unit at 6'4.
Jordan Coghlan is another big 6'4 12, but I'm not convinced by him. He was converted from 6/8 to centre and I think they should have left him alone. He was a really athletic and promising back-rower.
Tom Farrell is a really promising 13.

Some decent guys just beneath the Academy. u20 inside centre Peter Robb played well tonight and is a big big lad. Harrison Brewer also came off the bench and is a very highly rated young player. Then you have Rory O'Loughlin who would have been starting at 13 for the u20s but is currently injured. He's a really promising player. A couple other guys too.

What about your man Penrose? Any good?

Hagz · 23-02-2014 08:02PM

Tim Robbins wrote: »

What about your man Penrose? Any good?

Ringrose? He's an outside centre. Don't know a lot about him. He was picked for the u20s but didn't do much to impress and has been dropped from the squad now. He's eligible for u20s next year so I think we'll get a better understanding of his quality next season.

funtime93 · 23-02-2014 08:04PM

Hagz wrote: »

Ringrose? He's an outside centre. Don't know a lot about him. He was picked for the u20s but didn't do much to impress and has been dropped from the squad now. He's eligible for u20s next year so I think we'll get a better understanding of his quality next season.

I agree,wait a year and see where he is then.He's far too small at the moment.

Zeebs · 23-02-2014 09:06PM

Is the big news that Hudson has signed for Bristol?

Hardly big news...

.ak · 24-02-2014 11:20AM

Ironically we have scored the most try bonus point wins this year so far.

justsomebloke · 24-02-2014 11:21AM

.ak wrote: »

Ironically we have scored the most try bonus point wins this year so far.

it really has been bit of a bizarre season

.ak · 24-02-2014 11:24AM

Yeah, hard to look back on it with fond memories like 2010/11/12, but if we win silverware it'll probably be remembered as the season we won against the odds. :P

[Jackass] · 24-02-2014 11:33AM

Regarding centres, next season our existing centres from this season will be, D'Arcy, Reid & Macken

With Goodman and BOD both gone, and I think we can safely consider McFadden as a winger who can play centre now, rather than vice versa, ditto Fitzgerald. Madigan another centre option at 12 maybe. Plus we will promote, which would leave us with:

D'Arcy
Reid
Macken
Coughlin
O'Shea

With cover from Madigan, McFadden & Fitzgerald.

You'd think that we'd either need to sign a NIQ centre or a NIQ wing and play McFadden or Fitz in the centre.

I do think the Reid / Macken axis has come along a lot, they look good together, but they're a long way off being Heineken Cup level just yet.

.ak · 24-02-2014 11:36AM

I reckon a NIQ 13 is, and has been in the works.

Tox56 · 24-02-2014 11:39AM

.ak wrote: »

I reckon a NIQ 13 is, and has been in the works.

Did you hear that? The sound of Jared Payne zipping shut his suitcase..

Honestly if Ulster co-operated there is a good IQ centre for the taking up there. Not necessarily Payne but Cave if they're thinking of moving Payne or Olding to 13, or even Chris Farrell if we want to improve our depth and options

[Jackass] · 24-02-2014 11:49AM

Normally I hate discussing "taking" players off other provinces, but the reaction the Payne to Leinster talk gets, I can't help but encourage it. :pac:

Realistically though, it would be a great move for him and for Leinster, but it would be terrible for Ulster so shouldn't happen.

There's plenty of fish in the sea, I don't think you need to go rooting around your neighbours.

It's a bit of a conundrum though. It will be interesting to see if Fitz or McFadden get much game time in the centre for the remainder of the season. There aren't really many other options at this moment in time. We'll also need to sign a second row imo.

awec · 24-02-2014 12:28PM

Why would it be a great move for him?

As you said though, Leinster could easily find someone just as good.

[Jackass] · 24-02-2014 12:59PM

Well a great move as I think he would do superbly well at Leinster and would be playing at one of the best teams in Europe, but he already has that at Ulster, so it mightn't be better, but I still think he'd thrive and love it.

I sort of compare Payne to Nacewa. Nacewa going to another province would have been equally as outrageous, so I don't endorse it! I think it's a wind up rumour at this stage anyhow.

As for getting someone just as good, it's a long shot, very tough to find that kind of talent or even how they do when over here. I'd like to see us maybe go for a young southern hemisphere centre as a project player, but those can be hit and miss and I reckon 3 out of 4 project players (if not more) end up being duds. There's a lot of luck involved.

awec · 24-02-2014 01:22PM

Who is Leinster's current project player. Roux is it?

How's he looking?

.ak · 24-02-2014 01:23PM

awec wrote: »

Who is Leinster's current project player. Roux is it?

How's he looking?

I must be on my own but I thought he looked good against Cardiff. He made some pretty glaring defensive errors but I'm looking at the raw material, he's got lots of potential, a great athlete and very physical.

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience · 24-02-2014 01:23PM

awec wrote: »

Who is Leinster's current project player. Roux is it?

How's he looking?

Looks completely windy tbh. Had a big chance last Thursday and didn't take it, Denton was far better

ssaye2 · 24-02-2014 01:24PM

awec wrote: »

Who is Leinster's current project player. Roux is it?

How's he looking?

Doesnt get too many chances, and doesnt stand out when he plays. He needs gametime and needs to use his physicality but I feel he is holding back due to the amount of injuries he got when he does get on.

Short answer - average

former legend · 24-02-2014 01:25PM

.ak wrote: »

I must be on my own but I thought he looked good against Cardiff. He made some pretty glaring defensive errors but I'm looking at the raw material, he's got lots of potential, a great athlete and very physical.

I agree with all of that, I'm pretty convinced that something has gone on behind the scenes. OK, Roux isn't the finished specimen by any means but no way is he that bad to be totally out of the picture like he has been the last few months.

molloyjh · 24-02-2014 01:26PM

.ak wrote: »

I must be on my own but I thought he looked good against Cardiff. He made some pretty glaring defensive errors but I'm looking at the raw material, he's got lots of potential, a great athlete and very physical.

He started well, but faded as the game went on. Now that could be a lack of match fitness at this level, but I don't think he did enough before he faded to force MOCs hand in any way. Denton is deservedly ahead of him now. And I had been questioning that until I saw the Cardiff game last night.

ssaye2 · 24-02-2014 01:27PM

Mad to think he was held in the same regard as Eben Etzebeth back home 3 years ago. Hugely different careers now

.ak · 24-02-2014 01:31PM

Yeah, don't get me wrong, technically speaking he had a poor game, but how much is that down to him not actually playing any rugby in months? I think he has the skillset and the physicality, just think he needs game time.

Leinster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread IV

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