Leinster's Backrow going forward.

[Dave Cahill]

Theres an extra international this autumn and - if fit - Ruddock, JVDF, Leavy, SOB, Conan could all reasonably expect to be in some or more matchday squads never mind training during the week, and Deegan would have aspirations in that direction next season also. Add in injury overhead of between 12 - 15 % and you soon find yourself with few enough players and callow too.

[curates_egg]

if for instance next season leinster are down Ruddock/JVDF/SOB due to injury:

6. Fardy or Murphy or Doris
7. Leavy or Connors
8. Conan or Deegan

Which would be totally fine for one or two games (even if you remove Fardy).
But add the international windows and managed gametime of Irish players into your injury list (and then you're also removing Dev and Ryan), and this is what you've potentially got as a squad for a few consecutive matches:

4. Fardy, Kearney (if he stays)
5. Molony, Nagle (if he stays)
6. Murphy or Doris
7. Connors
8. Deegan

Now, I am as excited as you are about Deegan and Doris (and Murphy and Connors look great too), but I don't want to HAVE to rely on them.

[mildlyinterested]

if for instance next season leinster are down Ruddock/JVDF/SOB due to injury:

6. Fardy or Murphy or Doris
7. Leavy or Connors
8. Conan or Deegan

Which would be totally fine for one or two games (even if you remove Fardy).
But add the international windows and managed gametime of Irish players into your injury list (and then you're also removing Dev and Ryan), and this is what you've potentially got as a squad for a few consecutive matches:

4. Fardy, Kearney (if he stays)
5. Molony, Nagle (if he stays)
6. Murphy or Doris
7. Connors
8. Deegan

Now, I am as excited as you are about Deegan and Doris (and Murphy and Connors look great too), but I don't want to HAVE to rely on them.

well that's just the nature of leinster rugby.. we have to rely on young players stepping up to play during international windows etc.

[backrower8]

Great analysis all round

[mildlyinterested]

Ronan Foley could be a player who makes a last push for an academy place.. had a few appearances for Ireland u20 during the 6 nations.

[Oldschool]

He played 18 games last season, started 20 games in 15-16 and he played 23 games in 13-14.

That's me told.

Ah I think he has been very unfortunate with injuries at big times in his career. Think he has missed a lot of Irish games because of injury just when he looks like he is gonna nick yer mans jersey . November Internationals, 6 Nations, the World Cup (then he got back in at the end because of injuries to others). He definitely has been unlucky with injuries from an Irish context and that has sometimes knocked back to then being out of the Leinster 15 because others have taken their chance.

I also think we need another body or two in the back row next season just from a sheer numbers pov when you take in players minutes/Nov internationals/6 Nations. If we don't need them great but I would like to know we have options if we have 3, 4 or 5 away with Ireland at any given time. Then hopefully only the odd injury to deal with. It wont stop the young lads development it would just mean we can have a match day 23 with 4 back row forwards at all stages of the season.

Put away that salt, "yer man" is suffering enough at the moment as it is.

[Oldschool]

if for instance next season leinster are down Ruddock/JVDF/SOB due to injury:

6. Fardy or Murphy or Doris
7. Leavy or Connors
8. Conan or Deegan

Which would be totally fine for one or two games (even if you remove Fardy).
But add the international windows and managed gametime of Irish players into your injury list (and then you're also removing Dev and Ryan), and this is what you've potentially got as a squad for a few consecutive matches:

4. Fardy, Kearney (if he stays)
5. Molony, Nagle (if he stays)
6. Murphy or Doris
7. Connors
8. Deegan

Now, I am as excited as you are about Deegan and Doris (and Murphy and Connors look great too), but I don't want to HAVE to rely on them.

well that's just the nature of leinster rugby.. we have to rely on young players stepping up to play during international windows etc.

Could Murphy ir Doris play emergency SR cos Nagle/Kearney seem to be injury prone too.

[mildlyinterested]

Could Murphy ir Doris play emergency SR cos Nagle/Kearney seem to be injury prone too.

Murphy has experience of it.

I'd assume Dowling might get some gametime next season at lock..

[curates_egg]

Connors off to Connacht.

But stop scaremongering, everything is fine. The revised list:


4. Fardy, Kearney (if he stays)
5. Molony, Nagle (if he stays)
6. Murphy or Doris
7.
8. Deegan

[mildlyinterested]

where would kearney/nagle be going exactly?

obviously if connors leaves they need to bring in some cover.

[arsebiscuits1]

where would kearney/nagle be going exactly?

obviously if connors leaves they need to bring in some cover.

What cover though. Not a chance in hell they will be NIQ.

Someone like Oliver? He'd be going from 3rd choice in Munster to 3rd choice here. Can't see that happening.

Someone mentioned Gilsenan?

[mildlyinterested]

AIL cover be my guess.

Ronan Foley get an academy contract and Scott Penny gets fast tracked.

Maybe Max Kearney gets another chance..

shame richard dunne quit after they released him.

Oliver under contract.

the other provinces already have several ex-leinster players might have been options - timoney, oliver, connolly, mastersons x2, boyle

[neiliog93]

Timoney looks good but with Ulster struggling and having already signed a Leinster back row for next season I can't see him leaving them.

[curates_egg]

where would kearney/nagle be going exactly?

obviously if connors leaves they need to bring in some cover.

I don't know but you've been wishing them gone for some time.

[mildlyinterested]

where would kearney/nagle be going exactly?

obviously if connors leaves they need to bring in some cover.

I don't know but you've been wishing them gone for some time.

not sure what that has to do with anything..

[mildlyinterested]

Jack Conan was very honest in assessing the areas of his game that needed to be improved a little and one of those he highlighted was his work-rate in defence. He honoured this commitment leading the team in tackles (86) despite starting only six matches.

[riocard911]

Jack was magnificent in his cameo off the bench vs Racing!!!

[mildlyinterested]

Leinster Professional Backrows next season:

Sean O'Brien(1987/Tullow RFC) - Leinster & Ireland
Robin Copeland(1987/Kilkenny College) - Connacht & Ireland
Dominic Ryan(1990/Gonzaga) -Worcester
Rhys Ruddock(1990/Exile) - Leinster & Ireland
Jordi Murphy(1991/Blackrock) - Ulster & Ireland
Conor Gilsenan(1992/Clongowes) - London Irish
Jack Conan(1992/St.Gerards) - Leinster & Ireland
Jordan Coghlan(1992/Clongowes) - Nottingham
Josh Van Der Flier(1993/Wesely) - Leinster & Ireland
James Connolly(1993/Newbridge) - Connacht
Eoghan Masterson(1993/Portloaise RFC) - Connacht
Dan Leavy(1994/St. Michaels) - Leinster & Ireland
Josh Murphy(1995/St. Michaels) - Leinster
Nick Timoney(1995/Blackrock) - Ulster
Conor Oliver(1995/Blackrock) - Munster
Max Deegan(1996/St. Michaels) - Leinster
Will Connors(1996/Clongowes) - Leinster Academy
Greg Jones(1996/St. Andrews) - Ulster Academy
Paul Boyle(1997/Gorey RFC) - Connacht Academy
Sean Masterson(1998/Portloaise RFC) - Connacht Academy
Caelan Doris(1998/Blackrock) - Leinster
Patrick Ryan(1998/Newbridge) - Nottingham Academy
Scott Penny(1999/St. Michaels) - Leinster Academy

[mildlyinterested]

Sean O'Brien(31) - 6 starts, 2 at 8, 3 at 7, 1 at 6(343 minutes); missed most of last season with a various injuries, a bit part player for leinster these days, whose contribution on the field has to be seen as a unexpected bonus unfortunately.
Rhys Ruddock(27) - 9 starts, 2 sub appearances all at 6(635 minutes); was having an excellent season until injury nearly ended it in the second half of the season, managed to return for end of the season games.
Jack Conan(26) - 18 starts, 5 sub appearances all at 8(1465 minutes); was having a very good season until injury distributed it some in the second half of the season, unlucky to lose first choice place in european run-in.
Josh Van Der Flier(25) - 11 starts, 3 sub appearances all at 7(893 minutes); was having a very good season until injury ended it during 6 nations.
Dan Leavy(24) - 10 starts, 5 sub appearances split between 6 and 7(831 minutes); had an outstanding season, reaching his potential as a dominant backrow at the highest level in the second half of the season.
Josh Murphy(23) - 8 starts, 1 sub appearance all at 6(582 minutes); made a good impression in his debut season in Pro 14, can he make step up to higher level rugby?
Will Connors(22) - 2 starts, 1 sub appearance all at 7(130 minutes); made a good impression in limited appearances in his debut season in Pro 14, can he make step up to higher level rugby?
Max Deegan(21) - 10 starts, 8 sub appearances the vast majority at 8(860 minutes); had a very promising season that slowed somewhat post 6 nations, but confirmed his potential at highest level.
Caelan Doris(20) - 1 sub appearance(19 minutes); was a lone bright spot in his debut game versus Connacht. Big things expected of him.
Scott Penny(18/19) - will be focusing on Ireland under-20 duty this season.

Left:
Jordi Murphy(27) - 17 starts, 4 sub appearances(1310 minutes)
Peadar Timmins(24) - 1 start, 4 sub appearance(186 minutes)

[outcast eddie]

And just like that Jordi Murphy was erased from Leinster rugby.