Pre-season friendlies

[curates_egg]

Squad for the Perpignan game:

Leinster Rugby:

15. Jordan Larmour
14. Adam Byrne
13. Jimmy O’Brien
12. Tom Daly
11. Ian Fitzpatrick
10. Cathal Marsh
9. Nick McCarthy
1. Ed Byrne CAPTAIN
2. Bryan Byrne
3. Jeremy Loughman
4. Mick Kearney
5. Ian Nagle
6. Josh Murphy
7. Will Connors
8. Max Deegan

Replacements

16. Sean McNulty
17. Vakh Abdaladze
18. Oisín Heffernan
19. Oisín Dowling
20. Peadar Timmins
21. Charlie Rock
22. Noel Reid
23. Hugo Keenan
24. Barry Daly
25. Peter Dooley

Hard to see this as much more than a pre-season for the B&I team. Not many of that squad will feature regularly in the league this season.
Was tempted to actually go to the game (leaving for South France on holiday tomorrow) but Friday makes it impossible. Not sure why they scheduled it for a Friday?

[Cathalsmart]

Disagree, with how attritional the league is i'd say a lot of this team will get a few caps atleast. Interesting to see that they view Ed Byrne as a leader.

[curates_egg]

Disagree, with how attritional the league is i'd say a lot of this team will get a few caps atleast. Interesting to see that they view Ed Byrne as a leader.

Oh, I'd say more than half will definitely get caps...but only around 7 or 8 will feature more than once or twice, and of them only 3 or 4 will likely play regular squad roles.
It's good for them all to get a hit out and I assume we will see some more central squad players in the other games.

[mildlyinterested]

Leinster Rugby:

15. Jordan Larmour(20)
14. Adam Byrne(23)
13. Jimmy O’Brien(20)
12. Tom Daly(24)
11. Ian Fitzpatrick(22)
10. Cathal Marsh(25)
9. Nick McCarthy(22)
1. Ed Byrne(23) CAPTAIN
2. Bryan Byrne(23)
3. Jeremy Loughman(22)
4. Mick Kearney(26)
5. Ian Nagle(28)
6. Josh Murphy(22)
7. Will Connors(21)
8. Max Deegan(20)

Replacements

16. Sean McNulty(21)
17. Vakh Abdaladze(21)
18. Oisín Heffernan(22)
19. Oisín Dowling(20)
20. Peadar Timmins(23)
21. Charlie Rock(22)
22. Noel Reid(27)
23. Hugo Keenan(21)
24. Barry Daly(24)
25. Peter Dooley(23)

Average age of starting backline is 22.2
Average age of starting pack is 23.1
Average age of 25 man squad: 22.6

Youngest player: Oisin Dowling
Oldest player: Ian Nagle

12 players in the academy, 13 players on senior contracts.

[curates_egg]

Just realised this is - finally - a revenge match for that dark day in 2003.
Suddenly took on a whole new level of importance.

[R-Dog]

Who does anyone reckon will Have a break out season out of this group a la R O'Loughlin last year (Excluding guys with plenty of caps.

Given what opportunities are available Larmour might get a few starts at FB/Wing

[curates_egg]

Who does anyone reckon will Have a break out season out of this group a la R O'Loughlin last year (Excluding guys with plenty of caps.

Given what opportunities are available Larmour might get a few starts at FB/Wing

Daly will have a pretty good opportunity.
Byrne (hooker) and one of the tightheads should have a good opportunity as well.

[Cathalsmart]

Disagree, with how attritional the league is i'd say a lot of this team will get a few caps atleast. Interesting to see that they view Ed Byrne as a leader.

Oh, I'd say more than half will definitely get caps...but only around 7 or 8 will feature more than once or twice, and of them only 3 or 4 will likely play regular squad roles.
It's good for them all to get a hit out and I assume we will see some more central squad players in the other games.

In the pack bar Connors (promising player but needs a little more bulk to play at this level competitively) I think the pack will get game time (J.Murphy being in year 3 I could see getting a few chances during international period, he's 6'5 so he surely could offer the team something granted I cant see him being any more than a Dominic Ryan).

Backline : I honestly could see Nick McCarthy overtaking JGP if he continues on his path, was very impressed with his control, maturity and composure in his appearances last season, could see him going on a very similar path to Luke McGrath (Ironically like him started for the U20's a year before his time and then captained at his time) Marsh at the moment is on borrowed time, could see him getting game time during the internationals but bar that would need injuries to get in. Jimmy I definitely see getting game time, potential the breakout player of the year, Daly will offer something because of his height but this is last chance saloon. The back three all will get game time I'm sure, liked what I saw from Fitz for the Ireland 7's and Larmour imo is a Lion in 2021 if he keeps on improving.

[Cathalsmart]

Im thinking between Deegan,Fitzpatrick,J.O'Brien,Larmour,Loughman they would be my top 5 in random order

[Flash Gordon]

Disagree, with how attritional the league is i'd say a lot of this team will get a few caps atleast. Interesting to see that they view Ed Byrne as a leader.

Oh, I'd say more than half will definitely get caps...but only around 7 or 8 will feature more than once or twice, and of them only 3 or 4 will likely play regular squad roles.
It's good for them all to get a hit out and I assume we will see some more central squad players in the other games.

In the pack bar Connors (promising player but needs a little more bulk to play at this level competitively) I think the pack will get game time (J.Murphy being in year 3 I could see getting a few chances during international period, he's 6'5 so he surely could offer the team something granted I cant see him being any more than a Dominic Ryan).

Backline : I honestly could see Nick McCarthy overtaking JGP if he continues on his path, was very impressed with his control, maturity and composure in his appearances last season, could see him going on a very similar path to Luke McGrath (Ironically like him started for the U20's a year before his time and then captained at his time) Marsh at the moment is on borrowed time, could see him getting game time during the internationals but bar that would need injuries to get in. Jimmy I definitely see getting game time, potential the breakout player of the year, Daly will offer something because of his height but this is last chance saloon. The back three all will get game time I'm sure, liked what I saw from Fitz for the Ireland 7's and Larmour imo is a Lion in 2021 if he keeps on improving.

Excellent post, totally agree with all of it. Larmour could break through, he was the biggest backline talent I've seen at schools level since Luke Fitzgerald. He just needs to mind his body as he's had a couple of serious injuries already and while bulky isn't the tallest.

[arsebiscuits1]

Conor O'Brien conspicuous by his absence. Many pipping to see him play some sort of role with the injuries isn't included

[mildlyinterested]

Conor O'Brien conspicuous by his absence. Many pipping to see him play some sort of role with the injuries isn't included

He is injured afaik

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Bit worried that Jamie, Jordie, and the Kearneys are all missing. After their layoffs I expected some of them to be back for this one. I know we've a big squad and more games to play but would still like a couple of them to have been raring to go already.

Interesting that Larmour is at 15 too. With Rob back soon (I assume) and Lowe not arriving for a while, I thought we'd see him on the wing.

Seriously talented side though, if the front five do their job then the rest of the side is brilliant.

[mildlyinterested]

Seriously talented side though, if the front five do their job then the rest of the side is brilliant.

Marsh leaves a lot to be desired.

[simonokeeffe]

Bit worried that Jamie, Jordie, and the Kearneys are all missing. After their layoffs I expected some of them to be back for this one. I know we've a big squad and more games to play but would still like a couple of them to have been raring to go already.

Interesting that Larmour is at 15 too. With Rob back soon (I assume) and Lowe not arriving for a while, I thought we'd see him on the wing.

Seriously talented side though, if the front five do their job then the rest of the side is brilliant.

That could be with their expected workload in mind

[cormac]

Beaten 42-32. We were leading 32-25 with ten minutes to go. Tries from Ed and Bryan Byrne, Tom Daly and Cathal Marsh. Marsh added two penalties and three conversions.

[alanair]

Beaten 42-32. We were leading 32-25 with ten minutes to go. Tries from Ed and Bryan Byrne, Tom Daly and Cathal Marsh. Marsh added two penalties and three conversions.

Considering such a callow squad, not a bad result... I imaging Perpignan released the 'big guns' for the final quarter

[Ruckedtobits]

Bad result for pre-season.This is ProD2 opposition and not particularly fancied for promotion in that Division. Despite our 'callow youth', handing any opposition two intercept tries does not augur well. Hopefully we didn't just go down there to show off the "style" of Leinster Rugby.

This season has got to be about substance, not style and we should play every match with the view that winning is the first essential and conceding points an absolute no-no. 42 points against is not the season start I wanted.

[Cathalsmart]

Jaysus it was just a run our for the kids relax, their were a lot of issues with structure and alot of mistakes which is what you'd expect from a young team thrown together.

[Morf]

Three tries for three County Carlow FC lads is something I'll be happy about anyway!