Leinster Squad 2015/2016

[the spoofer]

I'd scan around to see what second rows were left out of world cup squads and try and get one of them. A 27/28 year old second row who hasn't made the squad could be inclined to make a move.

[wixfjord]

Just thinking of late signing options and wonder whether we shouldn't give SA scrum-half Hougaard a call. He must feel fairly pissed off to be ommited from Saffa Squad. Given current and, likely future increasing pressure from ANC and its supporters, there will be even more opposition to selection next season. He is aged 27 and has played wing for country also. Born in Natal and very easy to integrate.

We should ask about him, because somebody in Europe will and we have available an NIQ slot and little depth in reality. (Reds and Boss will not last till 2016-7) and Luke McG has not lit up the stage in any appearances. Nick McCarthy will have time as he is only 20.

Surely that'd just be delaying the problem though?
I'm a McGrath skeptic, but Hougaard would be a 2 year job at most, at which stage you'd be looking for another replacement. We need to give McGrath a good shot now, not stick him behind another 'older' international.

[wixfjord]

Adam Byrne isn't 6'4.

Isaac Boss starting over Luke McGrath would be an awful decision and it would show absolutely no forward thinking. Will be severely disappointed if it happens unless Luke is playing awfully.

He's certainly not far off it.
North is 6'4 and though hard to tell they look fairly close in this. http://www.sportsfile.com/id/904722/

Either way, give or take an inch the lad is a pure beast. Would be a great addition to our options if he could come through, him, Te'o, MCF & Isa in one backline would be nice and physical anyway.

[Fireworks]

Just thinking of late signing options and wonder whether we shouldn't give SA scrum-half Hougaard a call. He must feel fairly pissed off to be ommited from Saffa Squad. Given current and, likely future increasing pressure from ANC and its supporters, there will be even more opposition to selection next season. He is aged 27 and has played wing for country also. Born in Natal and very easy to integrate.

We should ask about him, because somebody in Europe will and we have available an NIQ slot and little depth in reality. (Reds and Boss will not last till 2016-7) and Luke McG has not lit up the stage in any appearances. Nick McCarthy will have time as he is only 20.

Surely that'd just be delaying the problem though?
I'm a McGrath skeptic, but Hougaard would be a 2 year job at most, at which stage you'd be looking for another replacement. We need to give McGrath a good shot now, not stick him behind another 'older' international.

A good idea to look at the fringe guys who lost out. If we needed a wing/fullback I would be on the phone to Israel Dagg.

[simonokeeffe]

Ireland comes first so no way would we be given Bent as a favour, Joe wants him hes in

Team for Edinburgh will be very interesting, admittedly its away and one of the harder ones during RWC window But a telling decision to be made between Molony, McGrath, Reid, Byrne, Ringrose and Kelleher in one bracket and Denton, Boss, Darcy, Fanning and McGrath in the other

[wixfjord]

Ireland comes first so no way would we be given Bent as a favour, Joe wants him hes in

Team for Edinburgh will be very interesting, admittedly its away and one of the harder ones during RWC window But a telling decision to be made between Molony, McGrath, Reid, Byrne, Ringrose and Kelleher in one bracket and Denton, Boss, Darcy, Fanning and McGrath in the other

Are you putting 25 year old Noel Reid in with the young guns and 24 year old Mick McGrath in with the golden oldies?

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Don't see it happening or anything but if we wanted to look at a second row on a short term deal, James Broadhurst missed out on the AB squad.

[simonokeeffe]

Ireland comes first so no way would we be given Bent as a favour, Joe wants him hes in

Team for Edinburgh will be very interesting, admittedly its away and one of the harder ones during RWC window But a telling decision to be made between Molony, McGrath, Reid, Byrne, Ringrose and Kelleher in one bracket and Denton, Boss, Darcy, Fanning and McGrath in the other

Are you putting 25 year old Noel Reid in with the young guns and 24 year old Mick McGrath in with the golden oldies?

Reid is younger than is competition and McGrath is older than his competition

[wixfjord]

Ireland comes first so no way would we be given Bent as a favour, Joe wants him hes in

Team for Edinburgh will be very interesting, admittedly its away and one of the harder ones during RWC window But a telling decision to be made between Molony, McGrath, Reid, Byrne, Ringrose and Kelleher in one bracket and Denton, Boss, Darcy, Fanning and McGrath in the other

Are you putting 25 year old Noel Reid in with the young guns and 24 year old Mick McGrath in with the golden oldies?

Reid is younger than is competition and McGrath is older than his competition

He's 24 with little game time behind him and has looked tasty any time he's played! Pretty arbitrary to put him in that bracket.

[simonokeeffe]

admittedly he was inexperienced but Munster crucified him

IMO Kelleher has more potential

[goreyguy]

McFadden and either McGrath(24)/Byrne(21)/Kelleher(21) on the wing please. Although I believe Kelleher is injured atm.

[hugonaut]

admittedly he was inexperienced but Munster crucified him

IMO Kelleher has more potential

Don't be knocking our cut-price Rene Ranger.

I've got a funny feeling that Mick McGrath is the sort of chap who could score lots of tries for us in the Pro12 this year while not really making a dent in the European team. In any case, now that we've got Isa back at fullback [and Ferg on the other wing] there's buckets of experience and tackling in the back three ... we can totally take a punt in the last position on an excitement machine rather than a steady-as-she-goes type.

[simonokeeffe]

admittedly he was inexperienced but Munster crucified him

IMO Kelleher has more potential

Don't be knocking our cut-price Rene Ranger.

I've got a funny feeling that Mick McGrath is the sort of chap who could score lots of tries for us in the Pro12 this year while not really making a dent in the European team. In any case, now that we've got Isa back at fullback [and Ferg on the other wing] there's buckets of experience and tackling in the back three ... we can totally take a punt in the last position on an excitement machine rather than a steady-as-she-goes type.

[johng]

admittedly he was inexperienced but Munster crucified him

IMO Kelleher has more potential

Don't be knocking our cut-price Rene Ranger.

Ha. I'm just back from recording bt. Where I compared him to a pacific Islander. Wind him up blindfolded and he'll find the tryline. Probably battering someone with a handoff on the way. Stereotypical PI players are not known for their defensive positional play.

[Morf]

Ha. I'm just back from recording bt. Where I compared him to a pacific Islander. Wind him up blindfolded and he'll find the tryline. Probably battering someone with a handoff on the way. Stereotypical PI players are not known for their defensive positional play.

The Clontarf Alessana Tuilagi?

[Dexter]

admittedly he was inexperienced but Munster crucified him

IMO Kelleher has more potential

Don't be knocking our cut-price Rene Ranger.

Ha. I'm just back from recording bt. Where I compared him to a pacific Islander. Wind him up blindfolded and he'll find the tryline. Probably battering someone with a handoff on the way. Stereotypical PI players are not known for their defensive positional play.

Cool, so BluesTalk is back this week?

[johng]

Did I say that out loud?........

[blockhead]

Marty out for up to 6 weeks after foot surgery.

[jezzer]

Don't be knocking our cut-price Rene Ranger.

He looks like a New Zealander alright - an extra from Lord of the Rings.

[simonokeeffe]

Marty out for up to 6 weeks after foot surgery.

4-8 weeks according to RTE, you hedging your bets?