Academy 2017/2018

[cormac]

Is Ronan Kelleher still injured?

[mildlyinterested]

Is Ronan Kelleher still injured?

Think he is close to returning, but hasn't played since doing his shoulder at the end of the 6 nations.

Peter Sullivan & Eoghan Clarke are two other leinster 20's that missed out due to injury.

[mildlyinterested]

Dan Sheehan(Hooker) listed at 6'3, 107kg on u20 world cup website.
Tom Roche(Outside Back) listed at 5'10, 90kg.

[neiliog93]

That's a big hooker, a bit in the Bismarck/Malcolm Marx build (obviously lighter though). Charlie Ryan and Jack Dunne both listed as 202 cm (6'7.5"). Cormac Daly 198 cm (6'6") and Dalton of Ulster 199 cm (6'6.5"); encouraging from a Leinster/Ireland second row perspective. Silvester is listed as 81 kg, given he's 6 foot he needs to bulk up a bit when he joins the academy.

[mildlyinterested]

That's a big hooker, a bit in the Bismarck/Malcolm Marx build (obviously lighter though). Charlie Ryan and Jack Dunne both listed as 202 cm (6'7.5"). Cormac Daly 198 cm (6'6") and Dalton of Ulster 199 cm (6'6.5"); encouraging from a Leinster/Ireland second row perspective. Silvester is listed as 81 kg, given he's 6 foot he needs to bulk up a bit when he joins the academy.

Apparently Cormac Daly and Sean O'Brien might have offers from Connacht depending on performance at JWC, suppose that's true from leinster too.. although maybe not.

[dropkick]

That's a big hooker, a bit in the Bismarck/Malcolm Marx build (obviously lighter though). Charlie Ryan and Jack Dunne both listed as 202 cm (6'7.5"). Cormac Daly 198 cm (6'6") and Dalton of Ulster 199 cm (6'6.5"); encouraging from a Leinster/Ireland second row perspective. Silvester is listed as 81 kg, given he's 6 foot he needs to bulk up a bit when he joins the academy.

Indeed. Usually in times past you would see one 6'6 player, two 6'5 players and a 6'4 player. That was the norm. This group is much taller than usual and there are even more tall players coming through the ranks.

[mildlyinterested]

That's a big hooker, a bit in the Bismarck/Malcolm Marx build (obviously lighter though). Charlie Ryan and Jack Dunne both listed as 202 cm (6'7.5"). Cormac Daly 198 cm (6'6") and Dalton of Ulster 199 cm (6'6.5"); encouraging from a Leinster/Ireland second row perspective. Silvester is listed as 81 kg, given he's 6 foot he needs to bulk up a bit when he joins the academy.

Indeed. Usually in times past you would see one 6'6 player, two 6'5 players and a 6'4 player. That was the norm. This group is much taller than usual and there are even more tall players coming through the ranks.

or its stat inflation..

[mildlyinterested]

Assume Aaron O'Sullivan will be joining the academy from Wasps and not on a development deal.

[the spoofer]

Assume Aaron O'Sullivan will be joining the academy from Wasps and not on a development deal.

Any more info on him?

[mildlyinterested]

Assume Aaron O'Sullivan will be joining the academy from Wasps and not on a development deal.

Any more info on him?

Not really.

[mildlyinterested]

Leinster players in Ireland u20 team for France game:

3. Jack Aungier(St. Marys/Suttonians RFC) - Academy Yr 1
5. Jack Dunne(DUFC/St. Michaels)
8. Caelan Doris(St. Marys/Blackrock) - Academy Yr 1
9. Hugh O'Sullivan(Clontarf/Belvedere) - Academy Yr 1
10. Harry Byrne(UCD/St. Michaels)
13. Tommy O'Brien(UCD/Blackrock) - Academy Yr 1
14. Tom Roche(Lansdowne/Blackrock)
15. Michael Silvester(DUFC/Clongowes)
16. Dan Sheehan(DUFC/Clongowes)
17. Jordan Duggan(Naas/Newbridge)
18. Joe Byrne(DUFC/Blackrock)
19. Charlie Ryan(UCD/Blackrock)
22. Conor Dean(St. Marys/Blackrock)
23. Sean O'Brien(Clontarf/Mullingar RFC)

[mildlyinterested]

any thoughts on u20 academy players at the JWC?

Jack Aungier(TH Prop)
Jack Dunne(2nd Row)
Caelan Doris(Backrow)
Hugh O'Sullivan(Scrumhalf)
Harry Byrne(Outhalf)
Tommy O'Brien(Centre/Wing)
Michael Silvester(Back Three)

[ronk]

Doris is full squad next season

[neiliog93]

any thoughts on u20 academy players at the JWC?

Jack Aungier(TH Prop)
Jack Dunne(2nd Row)
Caelan Doris(Backrow)
Hugh O'Sullivan(Scrumhalf)
Harry Byrne(Outhalf)
Tommy O'Brien(Centre/Wing)
Michael Silvester(Back Three)

Aungier = disappointing relative to expectation.
Dunne = good
Doris = Absolutely outstanding, best player on the pitch in most of the matches he played.
O'Sullivan = Looks good.
Byrne = didn't see enough of him (missed some of the games).
TOB = disappointing relative to expectation/previous performances.
Silvester = disappointing.

[Ruckedtobits]

any thoughts on u20 academy players at the JWC?

Jack Aungier(TH Prop)
Jack Dunne(2nd Row)
Caelan Doris(Backrow)
Hugh O'Sullivan(Scrumhalf)
Harry Byrne(Outhalf)
Tommy O'Brien(Centre/Wing)
Michael Silvester(Back Three)

Whatever Silvester has been coached at, defence has not been part of it. Very poor in reading game and executing one-on-one tackles.

Doris looks as good as suggested before the tour. However, to make the Senior Squad he must become excellent at what he's good at (which is a lot) and very good at his weaknesses. Specifically, try for less 'miracle' plays and watch and copy Kieran Read in everything he does.

O'Sullivan looks a serious contender for a senior slot at scrum-half. But this isn't schools rugby any more and he doesn't need to 'save the team' on his own. Total focus on quick, sharp passing directly off the deck. Spend twice as much time practising passing as box kicking. Secondary focus, getting to every breakdown before ball emerges (no detours to cover others) and scan opposition before ball emerges, not after. Forget about breaks and covering the midfield defensively. Essentially J10 will 'select' the Leinster emerging scrum-halves until he retires. Work on what he wants (which is quick accurate ball in front of him) and nothing else.

Harry Byrne is another player with talent who needs to work on improving his specific-skill set and forget about his broader team contribution for the next 12 months. Passing, tackling and kicking all need work to play at the top level. Learn to kick line-kick penalties at least 45m with both feet and understand the importance of this to your forwards. Learn to tackle his entire body-weight through his left shoulder.
Make his passing target for next season be "every pass 1 mtr in front of mid-fielders and back three.

Tommy O'Brien carries the twin burdens of versatility and captaincy with aplomb. Give him game time at 12 where his mind-set and skills can allow him be a co-Playmaker alongside any of our No 10's. A very good distributor and defender who should pick a position and become expert.

Aungier and Dunne, too early to call. Lots of growing up and into games required over next 12 mths. Forget about the pathways of Porter and Ryan. They were both 'one in a decade' players. Work harder, listen carefully, head down and compete like a b$&%@#d at every opportunity. Nothing comes automatically from here on in.

[the spoofer]

I have been impressed with Tommy O'Brien. He looks a decent player who may blossom when given decent ball and not the rubbish that has been his lot at 20's.

Aungier is a negative surprise but let's not shoot him yet.

Doris looks fabulous. My main concern is which of the other provinces will either he or Deegan be forced to go to.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Disagree with a couple of things there RTB. Passing is the last thing HOS needs to improve IMO. His passing is excellent and don't think he's slow to get the ball away, big improvement since the 6N in terms of how quickly he got to the breakdown and whipped the ball away. I would have said that he needed to add breaks to his game and that his defence needs serious work. Some of his tackling was really poor, not just the yellow card incident. I said during the 6N that his passing was good but that he didn't really look like a scrumhalf. Despite what I just said I do think he looked a lot more comfortable during the JWC, he was far less hesitant but still has a long way to go.

I wouldn't have said Doris went for miracle plays, seems to have a good head on his shoulders to me. I felt we used him poorly outside of the French game but I'm a huge fan of the workrate he has even when he's not getting on the ball. He's very quick to the breakdown and his clearing out is superb, which is why I think he can play 6 alongside Deegan, a lot of his game does suit playing 6 even though he's a very natural number eight.

Sorry, don't mean to be hyper critical of your post, largely agree with the rest.

[leinsterforever]

Doris runs quite upright. If he was playing American football he'd be coached to run with a lower body angle

[Dave Cahill]

Doris runs quite upright. If he was playing American football he'd be coached to run with a lower body angle

Thats true, but Colonial Rugby players don't have to pass or offload very often - their carrying style doesn't have to take that into account

[leinsterforever]

Doris runs quite upright. If he was playing American football he'd be coached to run with a lower body angle

Thats true, but Colonial Rugby players don't have to pass or offload very often - their carrying style doesn't have to take that into account

True