Leinster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread VII: The Fan-base Awakens

.ak · 28-03-2016 11:27PM

Looked like Fitz and Healy trained today, so hopefully they're okay for the weekend.

The Rape of Lucretia · 28-03-2016 11:35PM

.ak wrote: »

Looked like Fitz and Healy trained today, so hopefully they're okay for the weekend.

Hopefully they're OK allright, and would like to see Fitz at the weekend. Healy, no sure he is bringing anything to the party these days.

former total · 28-03-2016 11:40PM

Rob K and Moore back training again, would be good to see them involved soon.

Even better to see McCarthy training, even if he's not going to play again this season.

29-03-2016 12:32AM

The Rape of Lucretia wrote: »

Hopefully they're OK allright, and would like to see Fitz at the weekend. Healy, no sure he is bringing anything to the party these days.

Anytime I've seen Healy scrum of late he has been quite destructive. He still isn't easy to stop and when he tackles the tackled player goes to ground, no question.

He isn't putting Richie McCaw on his back, nor is he making mid field brakes that set up tries for the backs. But he's doing a lot of the other stuff that made him world class in the first place and I think the rest will come. Even if it doesn't, he's still a bloody good player and much better than he's given credit because of his perceived "lack of form".

So many are wishing for him to take a break when it's clear his biggest issue right now is a lack of match fitness.

Billysays no · 29-03-2016 01:42AM

Deleted User wrote: »

Anytime I've seen Healy scrum of late he has been quite destructive. He still isn't easy to stop and when he tackles the tackled player goes to ground, no question.

He isn't putting Richie McCaw on his back, nor is he making mid field brakes that set up tries for the backs. But he's doing a lot of the other stuff that made him world class in the first place and I think the rest will come. Even if it doesn't, he's still a bloody good player and much better than he's given credit because of his perceived "lack of form".

So many are wishing for him to take a break when it's clear his biggest issue right now is a lack of match fitness.

bealham sorted him. game time? Unless he wants to play with teddy bears cian is not hanging in there

ArmchairQB · 29-03-2016 09:32AM

Rob K & Healy two of the most disappointing players for Leinster this season hope they snap out of it soon!

former total · 29-03-2016 09:52AM

ArmchairQB wrote: »

Rob K & Healy two of the most disappointing players for Leinster this season hope they snap out of it soon!

Rob Kearney has only played 6 games for Leinster this season, and he's played well in most of them.

Healy has been pretty rubbish alright.

CMOTDibbler · 29-03-2016 09:58AM

ArmchairQB wrote: »

Rob K & Healy two of the most disappointing players for Leinster this season hope they snap out of it soon!

Kearney had some good showings for Leinster before the 6N. Against Connacht in the RDS, he made something like three or four clean breaks and had the most metres run of any player on the pitch. He continued that form against the Ospreys. As somebody else pointed out, Cian Healy below his best form is still a Pro12 level prop. He just hasn't been able to get a good run of games to come back to form. He's never really had such a long layoff before, so it's tougher for him to get back to his normal self. Some seem to be suggesting that he's finished which is ridiculous. He's still only 27.

brokenhooker · 29-03-2016 10:07AM

Healy looked injured when he was walking to the dressing room after the game on saturday. Visibly hobbling.

LostArt · 29-03-2016 10:15AM

He trained yesterday though

brokenhooker · 29-03-2016 10:17AM

LostArt wrote: »

He trained yesterday though

really? thats some impressive recovery because he looked in bits

CMOTDibbler · 29-03-2016 10:33AM

brokenhooker wrote: »

really? thats some impressive recovery because he looked in bits

It could have been a dead leg or a stinger.

CMOTDibbler · 29-03-2016 10:35AM

Billysays no wrote: »

bealham sorted him. game time? Unless he wants to play with teddy bears cian is not hanging in there

I'm not sure anyone got 'sorted' in the scrums. If anything I suspect that the Leinster second row was a bit underpowered with Triggs and Molony. There's a lot more to scrums than the front row.

LostArt · 29-03-2016 10:36AM

brokenhooker wrote: »

really? thats some impressive recovery because he looked in bits

few pics here - http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/news/14782.php

former total · 29-03-2016 11:29AM

Team for Saturday then?

McGrath Strauss Ross - might see Cronin start but I'd pick Strauss
Toner Kearney - Triggs is underwhelming me these days, Kearney looks like a good signing
Ruddock Heaslip VDF - I'm assuming O'Brien is still out, even if he is back training
Reddan Sexton - McGrath did well (kicking aside) against Connacht but I'd still play Reddan
Te'o Ringrose - Ringrose has been quiet against Connacht and Glasgow, needs a big game
DK Zane Isa - I would drop Isa based on from but being captain etc it's unlikely. Kirchner has been in great form and has to play.

Bench: Cronin Healy Furlong Triggs Ryan McGrath Madigan McFadden.

I'm assuming Rob K, Moore and Luke are still out.

brokenhooker · 29-03-2016 11:32AM

McGrath over Reddan.

29-03-2016 11:47AM

brokenhooker wrote: »

McGrath over Reddan.

Marmion showed to me that he has more to his game currently on Saturday and had a couple of occasions where he rattled McGrath. I'd start Reddan against Murray who is a clear step up from Marmion.

Hagz · 29-03-2016 11:53AM

I'd definitley continue with McGrath. As long as there isn't a horrific wind the RDS there shouldn't be any issues.

irishbucsfan · 29-03-2016 11:56AM

Yeah, definitely would go with McGrath. Contributes in more areas. Anyone who thinks McGrath had any issues last weekend should think back to how Reddan was playing at this time last season.

whatawaster · 29-03-2016 12:40PM

former total wrote: »

Te'o Ringrose - Ringrose has been quiet against Connacht and Glasgow, needs a big game

Ringrose has been quiet, but he is not getting enough of the ball because Te'o isn't passing the ball enough. He is crashing into contact every time, and while it can be very effective, it is extremely one-dimensional and predictable. It's one area where Henshaw will be a big upgrade imo.

The Pheasant2 · 29-03-2016 12:59PM

whatawaster wrote: »

Ringrose has been quiet, but he is not getting enough of the ball because Te'o isn't passing the ball enough. He is crashing into contact every time, and while it can be very effective, it is extremely one-dimensional and predictable. It's one area where Henshaw will be a big upgrade imo.

I thought he was a bit quiet against Connacht, but then again the conditions weren't exactly conducive to good back play.

Thought he was "loud" enough against Glasgow though :P

stephen_n · 29-03-2016 02:00PM

former total wrote: »

Toner Kearney - Triggs is underwhelming me these days, Kearney looks like a good signing

Is Kearney fit?

former total · 29-03-2016 02:06PM

stephen_n wrote: »

Is Kearney fit?

I think so? He trained yesterday anyway.

.ak · 29-03-2016 02:48PM

I'd start Reddan. McGrath just has so many timing issues, he was on a different wavelength to our pack on Saturday, between himself and Madigan I felt they really contributed to our loss. I think Reddan has been playing well, I'd start him.

LostArt · 29-03-2016 02:49PM

I'd go with McGrath too, he was poor Saturday but he has been consistently good this season. However I think Leo might want to start Reddan for this one.

.ak · 29-03-2016 02:51PM

former total wrote: »

Team for Saturday then?

McGrath Strauss Ross - might see Cronin start but I'd pick Strauss
Toner Kearney - Triggs is underwhelming me these days, Kearney looks like a good signing
Ruddock Heaslip VDF - I'm assuming O'Brien is still out, even if he is back training
Reddan Sexton - McGrath did well (kicking aside) against Connacht but I'd still play Reddan
Te'o Ringrose - Ringrose has been quiet against Connacht and Glasgow, needs a big game
DK Zane Isa - I would drop Isa based on from but being captain etc it's unlikely. Kirchner has been in great form and has to play.

Bench: Cronin Healy Furlong Triggs Ryan McGrath Madigan McFadden.

I'm assuming Rob K, Moore and Luke are still out.

That's a fairly good team. Fitz or RK would really bolster it. I think isa has been playing well? He's dealing rescued us a good few times, his read of the game even from a back three position is impressive.

I'd be tempted to drop Madigan, although I can't see how that'd help anyone.

neelia11 · 29-03-2016 03:00PM

.ak wrote: »

I'd start Reddan. McGrath just has so many timing issues, he was on a different wavelength to our pack on Saturday, between himself and Madigan I felt they really contributed to our loss. I think Reddan has been playing well, I'd start him.

I think McGrath would benefit from a run of games with Heaslip at 8 and Sexton at 10. Sexton would control the game far greater then Madigan which takes a lot of the game management off the 9.

irishbucsfan · 29-03-2016 03:03PM

.ak wrote: »

I'd start Reddan. McGrath just has so many timing issues, he was on a different wavelength to our pack on Saturday, between himself and Madigan I felt they really contributed to our loss. I think Reddan has been playing well, I'd start him.

What timing issues exactly are you seeing? I just don't see it. I think McGrath was better last weekend than Reddan has been in those types of games for pretty much his whole career. The only place I'd really worry about Munster is their ability to carry around the fringes through Murray and their back row and I'd also see McGrath as a much better option for combatting that. I'd also see Reddan as a much better bench option than McGrath.

I could see them going for Reddan because of his experience, but I'd disagree with it for those reasons.

29-03-2016 03:13PM

irishbucsfan wrote: »

What timing issues exactly are you seeing? I just don't see it. I think McGrath was better last weekend than Reddan has been in those types of games for pretty much his whole career. The only place I'd really worry about Munster is their ability to carry around the fringes through Murray and their back row and I'd also see McGrath as a much better option for combatting that. I'd also see Reddan as a much better bench option than McGrath.

I could see them going for Reddan because of his experience, but I'd disagree with it for those reasons.

The main issues I saw were at the set piece and his lack of communication (or poor communication) with Ruddock at the back. Marmion read this and got in on top of him twice.

He also hung around at the breakdown and either got caught or landed the first receiver in hot water because of indecisiveness. Honestly, Reddan was guilty of some of the above, but I would rather he there for this game, it's an important match even more so now that we only managed a LBP last weekend.

Edit: Just to add to this, Munster couldn't deal with the speed of ball we produced in Thomond, they gave away penalties trying to slow up our ball and Reddan is still a faster dictator of play than McGrath. I presume we'll look to do similar this weekend.

former total · 29-03-2016 03:17PM

McGrath played against Glasgow, Connacht and then Munster would be three weeks in a row. Reddan has had hardly any game time in recent weeks, so he could use a run out.

McGrath is much improved but Reddan is still the better SH, and damn it all I want us to win this match.

Leinster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread VII: The Fan-base Awakens

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