Leinster's Back Three options going forward

[dburns199]

What are people's thoughts on switching Byrne to left wing to mitigate some of his defensive issues? Has it ever been tried. If not, why not?

Of course, if we have Daly, Lowe and (potentially) Dave there, it is a bit moot.

Relatively new to rugby and so not 100% on how switching wings would mitigate his defensive issues? Sorry for being a noob but care to elaborate please?

[Oldschool]

What are people's thoughts on switching Byrne to left wing to mitigate some of his defensive issues? Has it ever been tried. If not, why not?

Of course, if we have Daly, Lowe and (potentially) Dave there, it is a bit moot.

Relatively new to rugby and so not 100% on how switching wings would mitigate his defensive issues? Sorry for being a noob but care to elaborate please?

I don't know what the answer is either but there are a number of possibilities.
Most people are right handed so this would impact on the speed of pass in one direction over the other.
Most people are right footed and would naturally kick longer and more accurately to one side of the pitch than the other. Ease of box kicking for example.
If you think about the lineout, the team whose right hand shoulder is on the inside has an advantage both in defence and attack.
The ball goes into the scrum on the loose head side so this would be a factor also.

[Ruckedtobits]

What are people's thoughts on switching Byrne to left wing to mitigate some of his defensive issues? Has it ever been tried. If not, why not?

Of course, if we have Daly, Lowe and (potentially) Dave there, it is a bit moot.

Relatively new to rugby and so not 100% on how switching wings would mitigate his defensive issues? Sorry for being a noob but care to elaborate please?

I don't know what the answer is either but there are a number of possibilities.
Most people are right handed so this would impact on the speed of pass in one direction over the other.
Most people are right footed and would naturally kick longer and more accurately to one side of the pitch than the other. Ease of box kicking for example.
If you think about the lineout, the team whose right hand shoulder is on the inside has an advantage both in defence and attack.
The ball goes into the scrum on the loose head side so this would be a factor also.

One of the most discretionary decisions which can influence play is the mid-field penalty to touch. Admittedly, in our NH season, the wind may have a strong influence to which touch line the penalty kicker aims. But consider the following:

1. If his main line-out jumper(s) are left handed, they will benefit significantly jumping at line-outs on right touch-line;
2. If the majority of his backline are right-handed, passing from right to left willl usually be more fluent;
3. However, a penalty kick to the right touch-line by a right footer will usually be 5-15m shorter than to the left touch-line because of the natural arc of kick.

There are few obvious rules of thumb as to which side of the pitch is more beneficial to attack. As the examples above show, the specific skills of the players in each team can have a particular bearing on execution and opportunity.

That's why good out-halves are usually smart cookies.

[mildlyinterested]

Kelleher rumour interesting, given Rob K(33) out of contract post RWC.

Dave K(30) has struggled to remain healthy and may move on.

[arsebiscuits1]

Kelleher rumour interesting, given Rob K(33) out of contract post RWC.

Dave K(30) has struggled to remain healthy and may move on.

Dave could get himself a pretty tidy contract with Leicester or Northampton or the like and is the type of winger I think could thrive in the premiership

[curates_egg]

What are people's thoughts on switching Byrne to left wing to mitigate some of his defensive issues? Has it ever been tried. If not, why not?

Of course, if we have Daly, Lowe and (potentially) Dave there, it is a bit moot.

Relatively new to rugby and so not 100% on how switching wings would mitigate his defensive issues? Sorry for being a noob but care to elaborate please?

Just seeing this now, sorry.
As mentioned above, due to the predominance of right handers, and passing from right to left therefore being easier, traditionally, more backline moves attacking out wide go right to left. Traditionally, right wingers have more defending to do.
Lots of defensive systems use shooters out wide to counter these type of moves, who try to get an intercept or cut-off or disrupt the move.
Byrne has not seemed to be very good at shooting, often getting caught out of position and leaving gaps.

The in-vogue kick-passing to wingers (which Byrne to Byrne is very good at) is not so direction restricted, so he should be able to still be effective at that on the left wing.

As posted in another thread, but also relevant here. Ferg is back running.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BsKvqx_nxwm ... t1g3g6fl4g

[ronk]

Keenan had surgery for his collarbone. Out for 6 weeks.

[curates_egg]

Kelleher signing seems to be confirmed.
It is reported in the paper of repute today.
https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/ ... -1.3750487

[mildlyinterested]

hardly a surprise, the indo didn't just make it up.

[curates_egg]

hardly a surprise, the indo didn't just make it up.

Not like that would ever happen!

[mildlyinterested]

Ages as of start of next season:

Rob Kearney(33) - Signed central contract until 2019 WC.
Fergus McFadden(33) - Signed contract in 2018.
Dave Kearney(30) - Signed contract in 2018.
Joe Tomane(29) - Signed 2yr contract in 2018.
James Lowe(27) - Signed 3yr contract in 2017.
Barry Daly(26) - Signed contract in 2017.
Adam Byrne(25) - Signed contract in 2017.
Cian Kelleher(25) - Signing this summer.
Hugo Keenan(23) - Academy Yr 3.
Jordan Larmour(22) - Signed contract in 2018.
Jack Kelly(21) - Academy Yr 3.

Could this be the final season at Leinster for the Kearney brothers?

[leinster23]

Ages as of start of next season:

Rob Kearney(33) - Signed central contract until 2019 WC.
Fergus McFadden(33) - Signed contract in 2018.
Dave Kearney(30) - Signed contract in 2018.
Joe Tomane(29) - Signed 2yr contract in 2018.
James Lowe(27) - Signed 3yr contract in 2017.
Barry Daly(26) - Signed contract in 2017.
Adam Byrne(25) - Signed contract in 2017.
Cian Kelleher(25) - Signing this summer.
Hugo Keenan(23) - Academy Yr 3.
Jordan Larmour(22) - Signed contract in 2018.
Jack Kelly(21) - Academy Yr 3.

Could this be the final season at Leinster for the Kearney brothers?

Wouldn't be surprised at all, Rob Kearney has had a glittering career and no one could begrudge him if he left for a massive contract in France, while Dave is good enough to start in a lot of teams, it just hasn't worked out for him in the last while and a move would be good for him.

Ferg is the kind of asset you can't buy, you'd imagine he'll be kept around.

[mildlyinterested]

Jack Kelly and Michael Silvester playing irish 7's last weekend.

[mildlyinterested]

Peter Sullivan, who was in the sub-academy last season and played some for Ireland u20, appears to be having one hell of a season on the wing for Lansdowne. Scored a hat-trick at the weekend. Doesn't turn 21 until June. One of the provinces should be looking at him again.

[Oldschool]

Ages as of start of next season:

Rob Kearney(33) - Signed central contract until 2019 WC.
Fergus McFadden(33) - Signed contract in 2018.
Dave Kearney(30) - Signed contract in 2018.
Joe Tomane(29) - Signed 2yr contract in 2018.
James Lowe(27) - Signed 3yr contract in 2017.
Barry Daly(26) - Signed contract in 2017.
Adam Byrne(25) - Signed contract in 2017.
Cian Kelleher(25) - Signing this summer.
Hugo Keenan(23) - Academy Yr 3.
Jordan Larmour(22) - Signed contract in 2018.
Jack Kelly(21) - Academy Yr 3.

Could this be the final season at Leinster for the Kearney brothers?

Wouldn't be surprised at all, Rob Kearney has had a glittering career and no one could begrudge him if he left for a massive contract in France, while Dave is good enough to start in a lot of teams, it just hasn't worked out for him in the last while and a move would be good for him.

Ferg is the kind of asset you can't buy, you'd imagine he'll be kept around.

If we win the HEC this season and are therefore going for a hat trick then RK and every one else will want to be around for the attempt.
Or dare I say it, a Grand Slam hat trick is on the menu.

[suisse]

No chance they'll wait until May when the Cup is potentially won before making a decision. Clubs will want theor squads for next season finalised long before then.

[riocard911]

Ages as of start of next season:

Rob Kearney(33) - Signed central contract until 2019 WC.
Fergus McFadden(33) - Signed contract in 2018.
Dave Kearney(30) - Signed contract in 2018.
Joe Tomane(29) - Signed 2yr contract in 2018.
James Lowe(27) - Signed 3yr contract in 2017.
Barry Daly(26) - Signed contract in 2017.
Adam Byrne(25) - Signed contract in 2017.
Cian Kelleher(25) - Signing this summer.
Hugo Keenan(23) - Academy Yr 3.
Jordan Larmour(22) - Signed contract in 2018.
Jack Kelly(21) - Academy Yr 3.

Could this be the final season at Leinster for the Kearney brothers?

Wouldn't be surprised at all, Rob Kearney has had a glittering career and no one could begrudge him if he left for a massive contract in France, while Dave is good enough to start in a lot of teams, it just hasn't worked out for him in the last while and a move would be good for him.

Ferg is the kind of asset you can't buy, you'd imagine he'll be kept around.

If we win the HEC this season and are therefore going for a hat trick then RK and every one else will want to be around for the attempt.
Or dare I say it, a Grand Slam hat trick is on the menu.

Tóg go bog é, in ainm Dé!

[Oldschool]

No chance they'll wait until May when the Cup is potentially won before making a decision. Clubs will want theor squads for next season finalised long before then.

Well they'll have a fair idea of how things are looking in about three weeks time.
Throw in a bit of optimism and sign on the dotted line.
Some of them might even take a pay cut or some sort of performance related deal, based on the number of cups that are won as opposed to games played.

[Serb]

Or dare I say it, a Grand Slam hat trick is on the menu.

I think Leinster could do back to back European cups, but there’s zero chance we’re going to win back to back grand slams. It’s a much bigger ask, I think England will do us in the first game.

[Jonny tight lips]

His take back to back champions cups o er a back to back grand slam .... is like both but if I had to choose