Leinster vs Ospreys Friday September 23rd

[Ruckedtobits]

If Mike Mc or Kearney are at tight-head lock with either Ross or Furlong, we don't have a scrum issue. If Dev switches to tight-head and Molony comes in, we do have a scrum problem, even with Rossy at THP. Playing Rhys behind Rossy or Tadgh minimises the damage, but not the issue. IMO, this is a major selection headache for Leo and why Kearney and Mike Mc continue to get gametime ahead of Molony, who has been excellent in everything else.

Was somewhat surprised by initial reports of Munster scrum success last weekend but E'berg had no WP Nel or first choice LHP Dickenson last weekend, so no valid comparison with our game.

Have been reasonably impressed with Cronin & Ryan thus far for Munster, but certainly don't believe they will live with McGrath / Healy & Ross / Furlong and expect us to dominate second-half scrums, especially when Killer arrives on the scene. They possibly have the edge at hooker, but Nugget has scrummed well for us so far.

BTW, would concur with goreyguy view on our scrum coach.

[jezzer]

Is there a danger that Moloney gets a bump up the 'Brook rankings for good angry face? Does he get POM points?

[leinsterforever]

If Mike Mc or Kearney are at tight-head lock with either Ross or Furlong, we don't have a scrum issue. If Dev switches to tight-head and Molony comes in, we do have a scrum problem, even with Rossy at THP. Playing Rhys behind Rossy or Tadgh minimises the damage, but not the issue. IMO, this is a major selection headache for Leo and why Kearney and Mike Mc continue to get gametime ahead of Molony, who has been excellent in everything else.

Was somewhat surprised by initial reports of Munster scrum success last weekend but E'berg had no WP Nel or first choice LHP Dickenson last weekend, so no valid comparison with our game.

Have been reasonably impressed with Cronin & Ryan thus far for Munster, but certainly don't believe they will live with McGrath / Healy & Ross / Furlong and expect us to dominate second-half scrums, especially when Killer arrives on the scene. They possibly have the edge at hooker, but Nugget has scrummed well for us so far.

BTW, would concur with goreyguy view on our scrum coach.

There's more to scrummaging than having good individuals. I think we could easily see Munster dominate in the scrum because they're a more cohesive unit

[wixfjord]

If we start in the Aviva with McGrath, Cronin, Ross, Dev, Mike Mac, Rhys, VDF and Heaslip then we'll have no problem at scrum time.
However, if we start with Furlong, Molony and anyone instead of Rhys we might be in a slight bit of bother. Molony in particular does seem to be a weak link scrum wise, but a fit Rhys always starts at 6 for me too.

[simonokeeffe]

Think the two Michaels would have to be injured for Moloney to start with Toner

[wixfjord]

Think the two Michaels would have to be injured for Moloney to start with Toner

Yeah I agree, though he may come on. Leo seems to like him from the bench. Did a good job in Thomond last Xmas too iirc.

Mick K would be my starter beside Dev at the moment. Had a cracker of a first 40 the other night.

[simonokeeffe]

Think the two Michaels would have to be injured for Moloney to start with Toner

Yeah I agree, though he may come on. Leo seems to like him from the bench. Did a good job in Thomond last Xmas too iirc.

Mick K would be my starter beside Dev at the moment. Had a cracker of a first 40 the other night.

a fully fit MK would be a behemoth

Furlongs physicality is getting very impressive too

[Ruckedtobits]

Think the two Michaels would have to be injured for Moloney to start with Toner

Yeah I agree, though he may come on. Leo seems to like him from the bench. Did a good job in Thomond last Xmas too iirc.

Mick K would be my starter beside Dev at the moment. Had a cracker of a first 40 the other night.

a fully fit MK would be a behemoth

Furlongs physicality is getting very impressive too

The gap between Ross and Furlong, at scrum time, has reduced very markedly in the past 4 months. Furlong's experience in SA, coupled with the intensive technical work possible on Tour and a really competitive pre-season (just figure out how competitive a scrumaging session in Leinster can be, between one eight and another) have provided him with the opportunity to become a very different, harder, tight-head than previously.

In specific terms, he now looks like an NZ Super Rugby THP. He scrums as if his first objective is to ensure the right side of the scrum is secure and stable; his second objective appears to be to provide the platform through which the power of his second-row and back-row can be directed, through him, towards the opposition Loose Head.

IMO, he is now scrumaging like John Afoa and that's a very respectable standard. We haven't had a THP with that outlook for many years. Let's hope it continues.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Furlong looks a lot fitter these days IMO.

[goreyguy]

The gap between Ross and Furlong, at scrum time, has reduced very markedly in the past 4 months. Furlong's experience in SA, coupled with the intensive technical work possible on Tour and a really competitive pre-season (just figure out how competitive a scrumaging session in Leinster can be, between one eight and another) have provided him with the opportunity to become a very different, harder, tight-head than previously.

In specific terms, he now looks like an NZ Super Rugby THP. He scrums as if his first objective is to ensure the right side of the scrum is secure and stable; his second objective appears to be to provide the platform through which the power of his second-row and back-row can be directed, through him, towards the opposition Loose Head.

IMO, he is now scrumaging like John Afoa and that's a very respectable standard. We haven't had a THP with that outlook for many years. Let's hope it continues.

Getting day to day coaching from Feek again would've helped. Shame our young props in the academy don't get that anymore.

[wixfjord]

Furlong looks a lot fitter these days IMO.

This. He looks like he's carrying a lot more muscle and less fat.
Always looked like he was struggling for breath at the start of his career, even when he came on.

It's mental how quickly a props body can change shape, Hagan and Healy are two good examples. Healy literally looks like a different player to last season, when it appeared as if someone had pumped him up before coming onto the pitch.

[simonokeeffe]

Losing muscle is one of the few things its easy to do fairly quickly on purpose

POC, Locky, Healy, all being examples