Leinster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread XI (The Finals Countdown)

mossy464 · 10-05-2019 10:15am

I have 2 tickets free to a good home for tomorrows match. Would rather see them used than go to waste. Not travelling now myself.

They will need to be collected over there. I can provide the email confirmation. First PM can have them.

stephen_n · 10-05-2019 10:41am

arsebiscuits1 wrote: »

I neither think Tomane is the liability that people make him out to be nor do I think he will be featuring primarily on the wing next season.

He hit some very promising performances recently in the exact role that we signed him for. A hard running centre that we can launch some good front foot ball off.

Cian Kelleher is coming back don't forget and I think we will see him feature a good bit. He hasn't lit it up at Connacht but I think he has all the attributes to be a very good player and hopefully can flourish with our attacking structures.

His strike rate is worse than Byrne, Lowe, Larmour and Daly though. Am still hopeful

It wouldn’t be Kellehers attacking potential that would concern me. He has always had that in spades. Hopefully Lancaster can fix the defensive frailties in his game. Otherwise with COB stepping up at 12, I could see Tomane featuring more often on the wing than this season.

prawnsambo · 10-05-2019 10:53am

sydthebeat wrote: »

He has a Samoan passport which makes him exempt

jaansu wrote: »

I think he has a Samoan passport.

Born in NZ but with Samoan parents

Shefwedfan wrote: »

Google is your friend

https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/leinster-rugby/leinster-close-to-signing-joe-tomane-and-heres-why-his-passport-makes-him-an-even-more-desirable-target-36966570.html

My confusion was related to how Syd answered my question. Outside the Kolpak rule means not eligible as a Kolpak player. In other words, the same as JGP, Lowe and Fardy. So saying "He is", but that being born in NZ "was not the reason" had me scratching my head.

sydthebeat · 10-05-2019 11:03am

prawnsambo wrote: »

My confusion was related to how Syd answered my question. Outside the Kolpak rule means not eligible as a Kolpak player. In other words, the same as JGP, Lowe and Fardy. So saying "He is", but that being born in NZ "was not the reason" had me scratching my head.

yeah my bad.... i read what you were asking differently

10-05-2019 11:40am

Tomane has had a very unimpressive season for leinster. I didn't think that was a controversial opinion at all.

sydthebeat · 10-05-2019 11:44am

Deleted User wrote: »

Tomane has had a very unimpressive season for leinster. I didn't think that was a controversial opinion at all.

you could swap Tomane for Lowe, Teo, Triggs, Gopperth, Kirchner, Nacewa, Wright...

as players who didnt set the world alight at the beginning of their leinster careers but turned out good in the end.

Id be a lot more patient with Tomane due to the injury he got and the lack of time to gel with what is basically two different squads in leinster.

Rigor Mortis · 10-05-2019 11:51am

International signings rarely set the world alight in their first season.

Clegg · 10-05-2019 12:02pm

. Rob Kearney (208)
14. Jordan Larmour (36)
13. Garry Ringrose (62)
12. Robbie Henshaw (34)
11. James Lowe (27)
10. Johnny Sexton (157) CAPTAIN
9. Luke McGrath (110)
1. Cian Healy (205)
2. Seán Cronin (170)
3. Tadhg Furlong (99)
4. Devin Toner (229)
5. James Ryan (28)
6. Scott Fardy (41)
7. Seán O’Brien (125)
8. Jack Conan (86)

16. James Tracy (91)
17. Jack McGrath (144)
18. Michael Bent (123)
19. Rhys Ruddock (158)
20. Max Deegan (43)
21. Hugh O’Sullivan (14)
22. Ross Byrne (69)
23. Rory O’Loughlin (60)

troyzer · 10-05-2019 12:04pm

Clegg wrote: »

. Rob Kearney (208)
14. Jordan Larmour (36)
13. Garry Ringrose (62)
12. Robbie Henshaw (34)
11. James Lowe (27)
10. Johnny Sexton (157) CAPTAIN
9. Luke McGrath (110)
1. Cian Healy (205)
2. Seán Cronin (170)
3. Tadhg Furlong (99)
4. Devin Toner (229)
5. James Ryan (28)
6. Scott Fardy (41)
7. Seán O’Brien (125)
8. Jack Conan (86)

16. James Tracy (91)
17. Jack McGrath (144)
18. Michael Bent (123)
19. Rhys Ruddock (158)
20. Max Deegan (43)
21. Hugh O’Sullivan (14)
22. Ross Byrne (69)
23. Rory O’Loughlin (60)

Fifth Star, I can feel it

Exclamation Marc · 10-05-2019 12:05pm

Clegg wrote: »

. Rob Kearney (208)
14. Jordan Larmour (36)
13. Garry Ringrose (62)
12. Robbie Henshaw (34)
11. James Lowe (27)
10. Johnny Sexton (157) CAPTAIN
9. Luke McGrath (110)
1. Cian Healy (205)
2. Seán Cronin (170)
3. Tadhg Furlong (99)
4. Devin Toner (229)
5. James Ryan (28)
6. Scott Fardy (41)
7. Seán O’Brien (125)
8. Jack Conan (86)

16. James Tracy (91)
17. Jack McGrath (144)
18. Michael Bent (123)
19. Rhys Ruddock (158)
20. Max Deegan (43)
21. Hugh O’Sullivan (14)
22. Ross Byrne (69)
23. Rory O’Loughlin (60)

Cronins fitness is brilliant news. Interesting that McGrath is the sub prop. Delighted Lowe made it. X-factor needed badly

arsebiscuits1 · 10-05-2019 12:14pm

Sarries gone for Itoje at 6 and Skelton in the row with Kruis.

Leinster should be looking at targeting that lineout hard with Fardy Ryan and Dev in there

Wegians89 · 10-05-2019 12:27pm

Is porter injured or just behind bent?

10-05-2019 12:28pm

Wegians89 wrote: »

Is porter injured or just behind bent?

Injured afaik

Dravokivich · 10-05-2019 12:36pm

So rob has gone from full back to full stop :pac:

Sangre · 10-05-2019 12:50pm

arsebiscuits1 wrote: »

Sarries gone for Itoje at 6 and Skelton in the row with Kruis.

Leinster should be looking at targeting that lineout hard with Fardy Ryan and Dev in there

Forget the lineout, that backrow can easily be disrupted at the breakdown

BonnieSituation · 10-05-2019 1:45pm

Clegg wrote: »

5. James Ryan (28)

Still outrageous that "that's all" he has played.

Incredible.

salmocab · 10-05-2019 1:52pm

BonnieSituation wrote: »

Still outrageous that "that's all" he has played.

Incredible.

He’s also very polished for a young lad, he did some media during the week and said all the right things without actually saying much.

Dubinusa · 10-05-2019 1:52pm

Leinster have been in transition the last couple of years. A few retirements and some guys moving on. It's amazing the team has been as good as it has.
Rob K is at the stage where he will move on or have to re sign at a lower rate. His age profile works against him and Larmour has been good this season.
It's likely a similar scenario as SOB. With VDF and Leavy being as good as they are and not to mention Penny and Connors, it's unsurprising that SOB was not retained.
I have no idea what will happen with Ferg. I imagine he's going to try to go elsewhere as the influx of wingers coming up and his age makes him expendable.
I hope DK is retained. He's a good player with great experience. I predict Adam B will be in the drivers seat for the 14 jersey and Kelleher will be the back up.
Leinster are producing quality players and the academy lads look fantastic prospects. I think Tommy O Brien will be barging through the door in a couple of years, creating more headaches for Leo.
I think of the lads who have left in recent years and the guys who have come in. The team is still very good and look to be a consistent contender for silverware.

dregin · 10-05-2019 2:44pm

Bought my seats in the Anglesea for the Munster match and then a third ticket through the ST holder pre-sale. The third ticket has arrived, but no sign of the 2 that I bought a couple of days before. Anyone received their Season Ticket seat tickets yet?

molloyjh · 10-05-2019 2:58pm

Not yet.

Henry Ford III · 10-05-2019 3:01pm

He has remarkably big hair.

10-05-2019 5:22pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Injured afaik

He’s fit. Leo said they didn’t want to risk him especially with the injury he got and lack of game time recently.

swiwi_ · 10-05-2019 5:52pm

Wegians89 wrote: »

Is porter injured or just behind bent?

Bent’s a little more stout hence got the nod. Especially as Leinster expect Saracens, with all their SA ex-pats, to show a real lager mentality.

stephen_n · 10-05-2019 6:35pm

Henry Ford III wrote: »

He has remarkably big hair.

Tomane?

jacothelad · 10-05-2019 6:39pm

swiwi_ wrote: »

Bent’s a little more stout hence got the nod. Especially as Leinster expect Saracens, with all their SA ex-pats, to show a real lager mentality.

Laager......unless they're on the razzle early

swiwi_ · 10-05-2019 6:40pm

jacothelad wrote: »

Laager......unless they're on the razzle early

Thats the (grandad) joke jaco

durthacht · 10-05-2019 6:52pm

Shefwedfan wrote: »

Google is your friend

Not if you expect companies to pay their fair share of tax.

Squidgy Black · 11-05-2019 7:20pm

Well, the 5th star has eluded us. Disappointing considering the chances we had, but Saracens were just that bit better and everything swung their way.

Hopefully we keep the head down and put in a big performance next week.

Clegg · 11-05-2019 7:24pm

Posting here as it went to the wrong thread originally.

This one hurts. We were 10 - 0 up and our own errors let Saracens back in at the end of the first half. We played well enough to win I think, especially at the start of teh second, but they kept us out. If we had just kept our heads when it was needed we could've won. Garces made a few howlers, but I don't think that's enough to have turned the game.

Luke Mc and Ringrose were poor, but they had some good moments. SoB was unfortunately anonymous. I think a Leavy or VdF there at openside would've made a more positive contribution.

Clegg · 11-05-2019 7:39pm

We've not been as good this season as were in the last. In big games this year we haven't won the forward collisions like last year. Toulouse away and today's game are the obvious ones. But Bath away was a massive dog fight too. We haven't quite been at that same level of sharpness. Ryan, Healy and Fardy were excellent today. Toned and Conan had good games too. But I just felt that SoB wasn't at the races. Like he knew where to be to make an impact but he couldn't make the big hug or big carry. Hopefully Robyn McBride can give us a bit of an edge.

On top of that I feel our centres were poor as a combination today. Obviously that hasn't been helped by Henshaw's lack of game time through injury. He was decent individually but there wasn't much link. Ringrose was guilty of missing overlaps out wide. Some work needs to be done on that too.

Neil3030 · 11-05-2019 7:45pm

SOB, Fardy, Conan - we sorely missed a quicker presence in the back row today to really choke them at source and build pressure in defense. Much as Sarries were the better side, if VdF is in the team today, we probably go in ahead at half time, at least. And after that, who knows.

baas baa · 11-05-2019 7:47pm

Clegg wrote: »

Posting here as it went to the wrong thread originally.

This one hurts. We were 10 - 0 up and our own errors let Saracens back in at the end of the first half. We played well enough to win I think, especially at the start of teh second, but they kept us out. If we had just kept our heads when it was needed we could've won. Garces made a few howlers, but I don't think that's enough to have turned the game.

Luke Mc and Ringrose were poor, but they had some good moments. SoB was unfortunately anonymous. I think a Leavy or VdF there at openside would've made a more positive contribution.

Didn't see a replay of the Wray break but at the time SOB looked closest to him when he broke through. Delivered some of the finest performances I've seen in a green or blue shirt but didn't look like he could compete with Saracens today. Delighted he secured a great pay day for himself with LI, not sure they're getting the player they imagine though.

Shefwedfan · 11-05-2019 8:12pm

Clegg wrote: »

Posting here as it went to the wrong thread originally.

This one hurts. We were 10 - 0 up and our own errors let Saracens back in at the end of the first half. We played well enough to win I think, especially at the start of teh second, but they kept us out. If we had just kept our heads when it was needed we could've won. Garces made a few howlers, but I don't think that's enough to have turned the game.

Luke Mc and Ringrose were poor, but they had some good moments. SoB was unfortunately anonymous. I think a Leavy or VdF there at openside would've made a more positive contribution.

SOb was playing well and then he got that hit, he should have got taken off after it

PhlegmyMoses · 11-05-2019 8:33pm

baas baa wrote: »

Didn't see a replay of the Wray break but at the time SOB looked closest to him when he broke through. Delivered some of the finest performances I've seen in a green or blue shirt but didn't look like he could compete with Saracens today. Delighted he secured a great pay day for himself with LI, not sure they're getting the player they imagine though.

When you are getting big lads hitting like that time after time, a player with the work rate if VDF is what you want. SOB had a decent game but VDF hits monstrous tackle counts and is always at the ruck fending

Clegg · 11-05-2019 8:34pm

The Munster concern trollers are in full flow in a couple of threads now.

Sad to see the obvious delight they have in another Irish province losing. Obviously the wrong sort tbh.

PhlegmyMoses · 11-05-2019 8:45pm

Clegg wrote: »

The Munster concern trollers are in full in a couple of threads now.

Sad to see the obvious delight they have in another Irish province losing. Obviously the wrong sort tbh.

It also just is not the same thing. Leinster should have been out in front finishing the first half and start of second half they butchered their chances. The Saracens Munster game felt far more one sided.

I really like Munster and support them to do well. But I guess some on both sides don't have the same ethos.

Squidgy Black · 11-05-2019 9:50pm

Clegg wrote: »

The Munster concern trollers are in full flow in a couple of threads now.

Sad to see the obvious delight they have in another Irish province losing. Obviously the wrong sort tbh.

In fairness to some of the Munster posters, there's a couple of Leinster fans posting in every Munster thread trying to rile them up and cause murder constantly over why some of their NIQs were re-signed etc. It's been going both ways recently.

troyzer · 11-05-2019 10:00pm

Squidgy Black wrote: »

Clegg wrote: »

The Munster concern trollers are in full flow in a couple of threads now.

Sad to see the obvious delight they have in another Irish province losing. Obviously the wrong sort tbh.

In fairness to some of the Munster posters, there's a couple of Leinster fans posting in every Munster thread trying to rile them up and cause murder constantly over why some of their NIQs were re-signed etc. It's been going both ways recently.

I'm one of those who is constantly baffled by decisions that the Munster brass take which hurt both them and Irish rugby.

Exclamation Marc · 11-05-2019 10:12pm

Missed Isa a lot today.

Shefwedfan · 11-05-2019 10:59pm

Exclamation Marc wrote: »

Missed Isa a lot today.

I think we missed all of them, Carberry to come on at 15 as a second receiver, Murphy would have been great off bench etc

Exclamation Marc · 11-05-2019 11:13pm

Shefwedfan wrote: »

I think we missed all of them, Carberry to come on at 15 as a second receiver, Murphy would have been great off bench etc

Mmmm fair point.

I wonder if most of the team will survive for Saturday.

Big motivation to get this Pro14 now after today. Obviously they would have always been motivated but avoiding a trophyless season must spur them on a bit more.

Shefwedfan · 11-05-2019 11:25pm

Exclamation Marc wrote: »

Mmmm fair point.

I wonder if most of the team will survive for Saturday.

Big motivation to get this Pro14 now after today. Obviously they would have always been motivated but avoiding a trophyless season must spur them on a bit more.

SOB won’t, Cronin didn’t look great coming off

Apart from that I would expect most of the team want to get back on that pitch tomorrow and show what they can do

Clegg · 12-05-2019 12:00am

Henshaw played well today I think. Looked very powerful when carrying, but also showed good agility to sidestep a few tackles. His partnership with Ringrose didn't go well though. Might be down to his outside man having a thoroughly poor performance though.

One thing I'd like to see more of from Henshaw is passing. He's rarely used as a distributor, but he has that in his locker.

Shefwedfan · 12-05-2019 12:20pm

So onwards and upwards.

Semi next week. Packed RDS.

I would expect as many as possible of the starting team will want to play next week and get the loss behind them. Maybe with a bit of an eye to the future

Starting team potentially?

Leinster: Larmour, Dave Kearney, Ringrose, Henshaw, Lowe; Sexton (Capt), McGrath; Healy, Tracy, Furlong; Toner, Ryan; Fardy, Deegan, Conan.

Potentially bring back in Ruddock and swap out Fardy or drop Fardy into second row. Ryan done a mountain a work yesterday

kingofthekong · 12-05-2019 12:25pm

PhlegmyMoses wrote: »

When you are getting big lads hitting like that time after time, a player with the work rate if VDF is what you want. SOB had a decent game but VDF hits monstrous tackle counts and is always at the ruck fending

Tell you what Will Connors could've been useful yesterday he's one of the best tackle counts and chop tackles I've seen in a while, can't wait to see how he progresses

BoardsMember · 12-05-2019 12:36pm

kingofthekong wrote: »

Tell you what Will Connors could've been useful yesterday he's one of the best tackle counts and chop tackles I've seen in a while, can't wait to see how he progresses

Starting or on the bench? In place of who?

Buer · 12-05-2019 1:20pm

Shefwedfan wrote:

Leinster: Larmour, Dave Kearney, Ringrose, Henshaw, Lowe; Sexton (Capt), McGrath; Healy, Tracy, Furlong; Toner, Ryan; Fardy, Deegan, Conan.

I would expect more changes than that. Sexton looked in a lot of pain. I was surprised he continued but wouldn't be shocked if he doesn't play again this season.

I could see JGP starting if fit as well as SOB (only played 60 minutes), Ruddock, Tracy and possibly Porter. The team will need significant freshening up. The physicality yesterday was massive.

Shefwedfan · 12-05-2019 1:48pm

Buer wrote: »

I would expect more changes than that. Sexton looked in a lot of pain. I was surprised he continued but wouldn't be shocked if he doesn't play again this season.

I could see JGP starting if fit as well as SOB (only played 60 minutes), Ruddock, Tracy and possibly Porter. The team will need significant freshening up. The physicality yesterday was massive.

They have played very little rugby, most of the 15, I know it was a tough match yesterday but they are about to head into a WC which they will be required to play more than 1 match every 3 weeks.

Freshen up but that would be it.....a Pro 14 win would help to close out a good season.

Exclamation Marc · 12-05-2019 2:09pm

Right. Best way to get over yesterday is to book tickets for next year's final.

Ambitious decision but it's what my hangover needs.

Shefwedfan · 12-05-2019 2:35pm

Exclamation Marc wrote: »

Right. Best way to get over yesterday is to book tickets for next year's final.

Ambitious decision but it's what my hangover needs.

Unless they meet Saracens in Semi/Qtr I think it is a good bet Leinster will make final next year....

Well once they can get out of group with so many players at WC

Leinster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread XI (The Finals Countdown)

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