Leinster Squad 18-19

[mildlyinterested]

I didnt see A game. If he's not ready for that level hes probably not ready for senior squad.

Kelly doesn't have the option of having Isa steer him from the wing. Best is to just work on his game and get ready for later.

It was 1 game. Let's not overreact.

[ronk]

Hang on, you said he needs to have a big preseason, I'm suggesting that he needs time.

[mildlyinterested]

He is going into his final year in the academy, he does need a big preseason where he doesn't look out of place with senior players.

[mildlyinterested]

JVDF back running.
Tommy O'Brien in a sling.

[Peg Leg]

JVDF back running.
Tommy O'Brien in a sling.

One event unrelated to the other I assume?

[mildlyinterested]

JVDF back running.
Tommy O'Brien in a sling.

One event unrelated to the other I assume?

Yeah, just posting some injury observations via social media.

[Peg Leg]

JVDF back running.
Tommy O'Brien in a sling.

One event unrelated to the other I assume?

Yeah, just posting some injury observations via social media.

You da bomb MI always appreciated.

[BlueBlue]

JVDF back running.
Tommy O'Brien in a sling.

[the spoofer]

JVDF back running.
Tommy O'Brien in a sling.

JDVF looks considerably bigger.

[Oldschool]

JVDF back running.
Tommy O'Brien in a sling.

JDVF looks considerably bigger.

O'Brien is quite small alright.

[wixfjord]

Just thinking we'll be very light at FB for the start of the season.

Presumably the plan is for Barry Daly or DK to step in?

For me Larmour is more of a winger than a 15, but he'll probably get a good bit of gametime in the latter jersey this year.

[hugonaut]

Just thinking we'll be very light at FB for the start of the season.

Presumably the plan is for Barry Daly or DK to step in?

For me Larmour is more of a winger than a 15, but he'll probably get a good bit of gametime in the latter jersey this year.

DK's last three starts of the season [Feb-Mar] were all at fullback. I see him getting a lot of games there this year.

[Leinsterlunatic]

JVF looks huge, it will be interesting to see his physical stats pre/post injury

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Similarly, I reckon SOB has slimmed down.

[neiliog93]

Maybe SOB will be able to stay fit longer with less weight (including muscle)? I know some athletes are almost too big and powerful for their ligaments, tendons, connective tissue etc to keep up, and they're left injury prone. Others find the extra muscle almost has a buffering protective effect on their bodies. But it's definitely worth a try for SOB to slim down a bit.

[wixfjord]

Slimming down seemed to work for Healy last year.

[Leinsterlunatic]

Slimming down seemed to work for Healy last year.

Healy was fat in all honesty.

Beast now.

[johng]

Fat? The guy has always been one of the few props with abs. While his already low fat percentage probably went down a little, a lot of what he lost was probably muscle.

[hugonaut]

Maybe SOB will be able to stay fit longer with less weight (including muscle)? I know some athletes are almost too big and powerful for their ligaments, tendons, connective tissue etc to keep up, and they're left injury prone. Others find the extra muscle almost has a buffering protective effect on their bodies. But it's definitely worth a try for SOB to slim down a bit.

Maybe, but I doubt it. He has put his body through the wringer. He has always played a very confrontational, collision-heavy style of rugby and has had a lot of surgical repair done at this stage. It all adds up.

There's an interesting little mention in one of Pat McCarry's articles from two years ago [source: https://www.sportsjoe.ie/rugby/sean-obr ... jury-65057 ] where the journalist relates Stephen Ferris' comments on O'Brien having had almost 20 surgeries by the time he was 28. He has almost certainly broken that barrier now.

SOB himself has spoken before about 'burning the candle at both ends':

'I would say a few years ago I was burning the candle at both ends. For the likes of coaches seeing you coming down here (Tullow), for instance, once a week, or going to coach a team on a Sunday, it's probably not the best thing to do with your body in their eyes. I look at it in two ways. It's my release from rugby, coming down and going for a walk with the dogs or going shooting or whatever it might be.

Even getting down and farming, they don't want you working. Your job is rugby obviously, and that's the most important thing ... when you're at a young age, mid-twenties, you think you can do all this stuff. Then as you go year on year and you've picked up a few injuries and knocks, you're going 'Well, what's contributing to all this?' Maybe I was on my feet too long or I didn't recover properly or I wasn't doing the right things, and you get smarter.'

[source: https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/ ... 54046.html ]

In any case, he's a centrally-contracted player and in a World Cup year I doubt we'll see him more than 11 times in a season even if he's fully fit all the way through.

[riocard911]

Maybe SOB will be able to stay fit longer with less weight (including muscle)? I know some athletes are almost too big and powerful for their ligaments, tendons, connective tissue etc to keep up, and they're left injury prone. Others find the extra muscle almost has a buffering protective effect on their bodies. But it's definitely worth a try for SOB to slim down a bit.

Maybe, but I doubt it. He has put his body through the wringer. He has always played a very confrontational, collision-heavy style of rugby and has had a lot of surgical repair done at this stage. It all adds up.

There's an interesting little mention in one of Pat McCarry's articles from two years ago [source: https://www.sportsjoe.ie/rugby/sean-obr ... jury-65057 ] where the journalist relates Stephen Ferris' comments on O'Brien having had almost 20 surgeries by the time he was 28. He has almost certainly broken that barrier now.

SOB himself has spoken before about 'burning the candle at both ends':

'I would say a few years ago I was burning the candle at both ends. For the likes of coaches seeing you coming down here (Tullow), for instance, once a week, or going to coach a team on a Sunday, it's probably not the best thing to do with your body in their eyes. I look at it in two ways. It's my release from rugby, coming down and going for a walk with the dogs or going shooting or whatever it might be.

Even getting down and farming, they don't want you working. Your job is rugby obviously, and that's the most important thing ... when you're at a young age, mid-twenties, you think you can do all this stuff. Then as you go year on year and you've picked up a few injuries and knocks, you're going 'Well, what's contributing to all this?' Maybe I was on my feet too long or I didn't recover properly or I wasn't doing the right things, and you get smarter.'

[source: https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/ ... 54046.html ]

In any case, he's a centrally-contracted player and in a World Cup year I doubt we'll see him more than 11 times in a season even if he's fully fit all the way through.

I still blame Kaino's cheap shoulder shot in the ruck for Seanie missing most of last season.....