Ospreys @ Home Nov. 23rd. Friday 19:35

[mildlyinterested]

Same weekend as Ireland v USA & Wales v South Africa.

[molloyjh]

Hard to know what kind of team we'll see for this given that it's 6 days after the NZ game and the day before the USA game. We won't have any of the starters from this weekend available, and likely won't have guys like Ruddock, Conan or Byrne available either due to the USA game. With Tomane now out for the next while we'll also feel the pinch with the foreign player rule. We'll need Lowe on and JGP must start if we don't have either of Sexton or Byrne available. So that means no Fardy. If ROL isn't available either we could be in real trouble here. Anyone know what the story is with Dave Kearney? Came off vs the Kings but haven't seen an update.

Byrne Tracy Bent
Molony Kearney
Murphy Deegan Doris

JGP Reid
Daly COB
Lowe Kearney Byrne

Dooley, Byrne, Abdaladze, ???, Penny, HOS, Frawley, JOB

[molloyjh]

Just had a look at the players likely to be missing from this one. There's possibly 25 players we'll have to make do without. 25! And that assumes Dave K is fit.

Healy, McGrath, Cronin, Furlong, Porter, Toner, Ryan, Fardy, Ruddock, Leavy, VDF, SOB, Conan, Connors, McGrath, Sexton, Byrne, Henshaw, Ringrose, ROL, Larmour, Rob, Tomane, McFadden, Barry Daly.

[LeinsterLeader]

Just had a look at the players likely to be missing from this one. There's possibly 25 players we'll have to make do without. 25! And that assumes Dave K is fit.

Healy, McGrath, Cronin, Furlong, Porter, Toner, Ryan, Fardy, Ruddock, Leavy, VDF, SOB, Conan, Connors, McGrath, Sexton, Byrne, Henshaw, Ringrose, ROL, Larmour, Rob, Tomane, McFadden, Barry Daly.

Jaysus, we must be in 'Medical Joker' territory now

[Blue not red blood]

I met Phillipe at a lunch on Sat.
Still looking fit!!

[Leinsterlunatic]

1 Healy
2 Cronin
3 Furlong
4 Ryan
5 Toner
6 SOB
7 Leavy
8 Conan
9 McGrath
10 Sexton
11 Daly
12 Henshaw
13 Ringrose
14 Larmour
15 Kearney

We're missing a champions cup final starting team

[mildlyinterested]

1 Healy
2 Cronin
3 Furlong
4 Ryan
5 Toner
6 SOB
7 Leavy
8 Conan
9 McGrath
10 Sexton
11 Daly
12 Henshaw
13 Ringrose
14 Larmour
15 Kearney

We're missing a champions cup final starting team

one of them is not like the others.

[Serb]

What is a starting team for this game likely to look like?

1. Bent
2. Byrne
3. Dooley
4. Kearney
5. Moloney
6. Murphy
7. Doris
8. Deegan
9. JGP
10. Frawley
11. Lowe
12. Reid
13. Conor O'Brien
14. Adam Byrne
15. Dave Kearney
16. Tracey
17. Byrne
18. Abeladze
19. Jack Dunne?
20. Will Connors?
21. McCarthy / O'Sullivan
22. Tom Daly
23. Gavin Mullin?

Hard to pick a 23 to be honest, but actually, assuming all those players are fit and available, that's not the worst 15 imaginable. The bench does not look strong at all however. I don't think we have another 10 unless we're going to pick Harry Byrne, so that's an obvious weakness.

[leinsterforever]

If Henshaw is projected to not be back for Europe it might be an idea to play O'Loughlin at 12 if he's fit to get him up to speed there

[Serb]

If Henshaw is projected to not be back for Europe it might be an idea to play O'Loughlin at 12 if he's fit to get him up to speed there

I’m assuming he’s injured for this one. There’s been no update since he twisted his knee vs Kings.

[mildlyinterested]

Following a short break, the Leinster Rugby team reported back for training yesterday at their UCD base ahead of the return of Guinness PRO14 action tomorrow week as they welcome the Ospreys to the RDS Arena (Friday 23rd – kick off: 7.35pm) in Round 9.

As Head Coach Leo Cullen welcomed back his players he also gave a short injury update on two players that picked up injuries in the last game against the Southern Kings.

Unfortunately Joe Tomane had a procedure this week to repair his hamstring injured in that game and he will be out of action for up to five months.

There was also an update on Rory O’Loughlin who sustained a knee ligament injury in the same game and is going through a period of rehabilitation. However the outlook for O’Loughlin is more positive and he is not expected to be out for long and a further update will be provided next week.

[wixfjord]

Good news that ROL isn't too bad.

We'll really need him over next few months.

[Serb]

Good news on ROL, really hope he’s fit for the Ospreys game.

[Dave Cahill]

Lets hope its not a week too soon

[molloyjh]

Jack McGrath, Cronin, Ryan, Rob and Larmour all released back to Leinster. Ryan will be rested this week, but the others could all conceivably be involved against the Ospreys. Things look a bit more positive in that case. We can include Fardy ahead of Lowe (cr@p for Lowe given that his parents are going to be at the game!).

Dooley Tracy Bent
Molony Fardy
Murphy Deegan Doris

JGP Reid
Daly COB
Larmour Dave Byrne

Cronin, McGrath, Abdaladze, Kearney, Penny, HOS, Frawley, Rob

[outcast eddie]

Big performance from Adam Byrne needed here, his career is at a crossroads. Did someone say he was called up to train with the Ireland squad? If so, what is Joe's plan for Adam? Can't see he'd get a look in as a winger in green and I don't see that he has many attributes to change position to centre. Where will Leinster use him, FB perhaps? I hope he makes the most of this opportunity.

[leinsterforever]

I wonder would a switch to left wing help him out a bit. The ball might come his way more in attack and less in defence

[cormac]

Jack McGrath, Cronin, Ryan, Rob and Larmour all released back to Leinster. Ryan will be rested this week, but the others could all conceivably be involved against the Ospreys. Things look a bit more positive in that case. We can include Fardy ahead of Lowe (cr@p for Lowe given that his parents are going to be at the game!).

Dooley Tracy Bent
Molony Fardy
Murphy Deegan Doris

JGP Reid
Daly COB
Larmour Dave Byrne

Cronin, McGrath, Abdaladze, Kearney, Penny, HOS, Frawley, Rob

Would be astounded if Kearney or Ryan featured, especially with Rob going off with a knock on Saturday.

Cronin and Jack could well feature alright. Cronin has five starts and two sub appearances for Leinster but only 327 minutes actual playing time while he got less than 80 minutes combined in his three sub appearances for Ireland.

McGrath only has 2 starts and 2 subs and in terms of minutes has only had approx 260 minutes of playing time between both Leinster and Ireland.

Larmour, on the other hand, has generally played the full 80 minutes when he's started (6 Leinster, 2 Ireland plus one sub). Thought he'd be in line to feature for Ireland this weekend so a little surprised he's been released. Between Leinster and Ireland appearances he has the most minutes played (639 mins) so far this season of any Leinster player.

[Laighin Break]

Jack McGrath, Cronin, Ryan, Rob and Larmour all released back to Leinster. Ryan will be rested this week, but the others could all conceivably be involved against the Ospreys. Things look a bit more positive in that case. We can include Fardy ahead of Lowe (cr@p for Lowe given that his parents are going to be at the game!).

Dooley Tracy Bent
Molony Fardy
Murphy Deegan Doris

JGP Reid
Daly COB
Larmour Dave Byrne

Cronin, McGrath, Abdaladze, Kearney, Penny, HOS, Frawley, Rob

Would be astounded if Kearney or Ryan featured, especially with Rob going off with a knock on Saturday.

Cronin and Jack could well feature alright. Cronin has five starts and two sub appearances for Leinster but only 327 minutes actual playing time while he got less than 80 minutes combined in his three sub appearances for Ireland.

McGrath only has 2 starts and 2 subs and in terms of minutes has only had approx 260 minutes of playing time between both Leinster and Ireland.

Larmour, on the other hand, has generally played the full 80 minutes when he's started (6 Leinster, 2 Ireland plus one sub). Thought he'd be in line to feature for Ireland this weekend so a little surprised he's been released. Between Leinster and Ireland appearances he has the most minutes played (639 mins) so far this season of any Leinster player.

There was an interview recently that seemed to suggest that the minutes played isn't a blanket number, but tailored towards each player. I presume then that Larmour can manage more minutes than others considering his age and position (?)

[curates_egg]

I wonder would a switch to left wing help him out a bit. The ball might come his way more in attack and less in defence

That's a good question. Wonder why it was never looked at. You'd still be able to benefit from his aerial strengths too.