Leinster v Saracens

[riocard911]

Nacewa is a bit of a step down from Henshaw certainly

No he isn't, and particularly not at 12.

I'd second that. Isa mightn'd have the gas for the wing anymore, but defensively and in terms of nous, he's as good as any 12 around, IMO.

[molloyjh]

Nacewa is a bit of a step down from Henshaw certainly

No he isn't, and particularly not at 12.

I don't think he quite has the physicality or work rate of Henshaw. That's not a poor reflection on Isa, it's a ringing endorsement of Henshaw. Very, very few players come close to him there. Isa, as I mentioned, does bring an element of creativity that Robbie doesn't though too. Either way I'm not all that worried.

[mildlyinterested]

IRELAND rugby update: Robbie Henshaw underwent procedure today on injured shoulder and has been ruled out of the remainder of the Six Nations. Better news though on Tadhg Furlong, whose hamstring scan revealed a minor injury which should not rule him out of Wales game in 2 wks.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Nacewa is a bit of a step down from Henshaw certainly

No he isn't, and particularly not at 12.

I don't think he quite has the physicality or work rate of Henshaw. That's not a poor reflection on Isa, it's a ringing endorsement of Henshaw. Very, very few players come close to him there. Isa, as I mentioned, does bring an element of creativity that Robbie doesn't though too. Either way I'm not all that worried.

Yeah, remember the tackle and flying steal that Robbie managed in the home game against Montpellier? With no disrespect to Isa, he's not capable of that.

[wixfjord]

You reckon that Ferg will drop out of the 23 completely? No chance of that!

Depends on how Adam Byrne fares over the next few weeks. Possibly in the XV in place of him I suppose.

Against a team like Sarries, I think playing Lowe or A Byrne would be asking for trouble.

Also Ferg is probably our most in form winger.

[artaneboy]

Nacewa is a bit of a step down from Henshaw certainly

No he isn't, and particularly not at 12.

I agree. Isa is different, but every bit as good as Robbie at 12. The issue is will Gary be back to form/ fitness for 13.

Actually if Henshaw was available there’d have been a strong case for he moving to 13 and Isa holding the inside centre berth.

[Icarus]

Unavailability for the rest of the Six Nations does not necessarily mean unavailability for the rest of the ECC.

[Dave Cahill]

Nacewa is a bit of a step down from Henshaw certainly

No he isn't, and particularly not at 12.

I agree. Isa is different, but every bit as good as Robbie at 12. The issue is will Gary be back to form/ fitness for 13.

Actually if Henshaw was available there’d have been a strong case for he moving to 13 and Isa holding the inside centre berth.

I think that Robbie is a brilliant player - in big games, in particular, he is always one of the top performers. I agree and I also think that our best centre partnership, with everyone fit and well, is Isa at 12 and Henshaw at 13

[Dave Cahill]

Though I think the whole point is moot anyways as "Leinster have not given up on having Henshaw back before the end of the season" - which seems pretty ominous to me.

[artaneboy]

Though I think the whole point is moot anyways as "Leinster have not given up on having Henshaw back before the end of the season" - which seems pretty ominous to me.

Well- let's put it this way; we won't be in a position to argue on practical grounds on the 'perm 2 from three' of the centre candidates for that quarter-final anyway- and probably a lot longer too.

[molloyjh]

Though I think the whole point is moot anyways as "Leinster have not given up on having Henshaw back before the end of the season" - which seems pretty ominous to me.

In relative terms, how far is that away from "a week too soon"? Do they have varying degrees of meaningless, overly optimistic phrases?

"He's selected to start" means it's 50:50 he'll actually start this week.
"He'll play this week" means it's 50:50 for selection this week.
"He's in consideration for this week" means he's at least 2 weeks away.
"It's a week too soon" means it's at least 3 too soon.
"We are monitoring him and will make a call during the week" means he's at least a month away.
"He's making good progress" means at least 6 weeks away.
"We have not given up" means he's f*ked.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

He could actually be fine and Joe is just saving him for the Saracens game.

[Dave Cahill]

Though I think the whole point is moot anyways as "Leinster have not given up on having Henshaw back before the end of the season" - which seems pretty ominous to me.

In relative terms, how far is that away from "a week too soon"? Do they have varying degrees of meaningless, overly optimistic phrases?

"He's selected to start" means it's 50:50 he'll actually start this week.
"He'll play this week" means it's 50:50 for selection this week.
"He's in consideration for this week" means he's at least 2 weeks away.
"It's a week too soon" means it's at least 3 too soon.
"We are monitoring him and will make a call during the week" means he's at least a month away.
"He's making good progress" means at least 6 weeks away.
"We have not given up" means he's f*ked.

I think that pretty much nails it alright!

[Oldschool]

Though I think the whole point is moot anyways as "Leinster have not given up on having Henshaw back before the end of the season" - which seems pretty ominous to me.

In relative terms, how far is that away from "a week too soon"? Do they have varying degrees of meaningless, overly optimistic phrases?

"He's selected to start" means it's 50:50 he'll actually start this week.
"He'll play this week" means it's 50:50 for selection this week.
"He's in consideration for this week" means he's at least 2 weeks away.
"It's a week too soon" means it's at least 3 too soon.
"We are monitoring him and will make a call during the week" means he's at least a month away.
"He's making good progress" means at least 6 weeks away.
"We have not given up" means he's f*ked.

All subject to Joe's approval, of course.

[Icarus]

Speaking as a doc -- albeit one who is not specialized in sports medicine -- I would say that if Leinster get past Saracens he should be Ok for the semi.
Incidentally a lot of people are blaming the 6N. It could just as easily have happened against Edinburgh.

[Flash Gordon]

I agree. Isa is different, but every bit as good as Robbie at 12. The issue is will Gary be back to form/ fitness for 13.

Actually if Henshaw was available there’d have been a strong case for he moving to 13 and Isa holding the inside centre berth.

I think that Robbie is a brilliant player - in big games, in particular, he is always one of the top performers. I agree and I also think that our best centre partnership, with everyone fit and well, is Isa at 12 and Henshaw at 13

Over Henshaw and Ringrose? That's quite a statement! Thing for me is that we're probably going to drop a couple of extra players during the remainder of the tournament. Irish teams always faced allegations from England in particular that our provincial players had an unfair advantage because of the way the national team protects players. However no club, with the possible exception of the Scarlets, are more vulnerable to a lack of physical wellbeing than Leinster.

[simonokeeffe]

Isa is a notch below Henshaw but a whole bedpost above Reid

[Oldschool]

Isa is a notch below Henshaw but a whole bedpost above Reid

@LRIP thought everyone who might go expected strong sales

Good appraisal.
IE Isa is the next best 12 to Henshaw, on our books.
Could Lowe convert to 12?

[simonokeeffe]

Isa is a notch below Henshaw but a whole bedpost above Reid

@LRIP thought everyone who might go expected strong sales

Good appraisal.
IE Isa is the next best 12 to Henshaw, on our books.
Could Lowe convert to 12?

Havent seen enough of his passing tbh but Im not sure he has the composure in general or the enthusiasm & dsicipline in defence

[hugonaut]

"He's selected to start" means it's 50:50 he'll actually start this week.
"He'll play this week" means it's 50:50 for selection this week.
"He's in consideration for this week" means he's at least 2 weeks away.
"It's a week too soon" means it's at least 3 too soon.
"We are monitoring him and will make a call during the week" means he's at least a month away.
"He's making good progress" means at least 6 weeks away.
"We have not given up" means he's f*ked.

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