Scarlets at home, 25/01 7.35pm

[Barry]

Looking forward to seeing more of Conor O'Brien, the return of James Lowe, Frawley at 10, Deegan/Doris in the backrow.

And maybe a debut or two, off the bench.

can't see both O'Sullivan & Frawley starting - assume it will be O'Sullivan / Reid or JGP/Frawley.
we'll know in an hour.

9. Jamison Gibson Park(65)
10. Ciaran Frawley(9)

the "Leo out" campaign starts here

[Jonny tight lips]

It’s Roman Kellehers birthday ..... a spot on the bench would of been a lovely present

[mildlyinterested]

It’s Roman Kellehers birthday ..... a spot on the bench would of been a lovely present

24th man no doubt, but yeah thought he might make the bench along with Dunne.

was apparently excellent last weekend for Lansdowne, when up against fellow academy hooker Dan Sheehan.

[mildlyinterested]

Can't see Kearney playing full game, interested to see who plays 15 when he goes off.

[limecat]

Match Preview

Leinster completed their task of European qualification with a business-like win over Wasps last weekend. A home quarter-final against Ulster in the Aviva awaits at the end of March and Leinster this week waved goodbye to most of their internationals until then.

Read more...

[johng]

Can't see Kearney playing full game, interested to see who plays 15 when he goes off.

Lowe

[wixfjord]

Or Daly possibly?

[mildlyinterested]

Or Daly possibly?

Daly would be guess, with JOB on the wing.

Frawley could move to 15 and Reid comes on at 10.

[colster]

Can't see Kearney playing full game, interested to see who plays 15 when he goes off.

Frawley surely?

[backrower8]

playing Deegan at 6 has its benefits as he needs to round out his game.

I think he is a stellar player, a rare talent with game changing abilities. His skill-set is especially good - hands, feet, lines of running, athleticism, decision-making and all round rugby brain.

He needs to add some size to ramp up his physicality by c.20% and make sure he is always switched on and doesn't coast in games (I don't see it happening myself but apparently it could be a feature when he was a schoolboy)

What do you think his game needs ?

[hugonaut]

playing Deegan at 6 has its benefits as he needs to round out his game.

I think he is a stellar player, a rare talent with game changing abilities. His skill-set is especially good - hands, feet, lines of running, athleticism, decision-making and all round rugby brain.

He needs to add some size to ramp up his physicality by c.20% and make sure he is always switched on and doesn't coast in games (I don't see it happening myself but apparently it could be a feature when he was a schoolboy)

What do you think his game needs ?

I'm a big fan too. Not missing much, but he could do with more abrasiveness in contact, both with and without the ball, i.e. carrying and tackling. He's a good tackler, but it'd be great to see him line up a guy and smash him backwards once in a while.

I think he's very like Harinordoquy in many regards, but Harinordoquy had a lot of edge to him that Deegan hasn't shown yet.

[riocard911]

"it'd be great to see him line up a guy and smash him backwards once in a while." - that's the bit I'm waiting to see from Adam Byrne!!!!!

[wwed]

is Josh Murphy injured?

[the spoofer]

is Josh Murphy injured?

Exams?

[ronk]

playing Deegan at 6 has its benefits as he needs to round out his game.

I think he is a stellar player, a rare talent with game changing abilities. His skill-set is especially good - hands, feet, lines of running, athleticism, decision-making and all round rugby brain.

He needs to add some size to ramp up his physicality by c.20% and make sure he is always switched on and doesn't coast in games (I don't see it happening myself but apparently it could be a feature when he was a schoolboy)

What do you think his game needs ?

I'm a big fan too. Not missing much, but he could do with more abrasiveness in contact, both with and without the ball, i.e. carrying and tackling. He's a good tackler, but it'd be great to see him line up a guy and smash him backwards once in a while.

I think he's very like Harinordoquy in many regards, but Harinordoquy had a lot of edge to him that Deegan hasn't shown yet.

I’m not sure, most players will never have the accuracy he has carrying and chop tackling. There are benefits to smashing into rucks and big late hits on halfbacks but I wouldn’t want him to go too far in the other direction.

He’s a very different player from Stander and will not be better if he tries to copy him.

One thing he could develop is Beirne style ruck poaching. He has the quickness, footwork and accuracy to be more of a threat there.

[mildlyinterested]

is Josh Murphy injured?

Exams?

Nope, picked up an injury in the recent A game I believe.

[curates_egg]

Or Daly possibly?

Daly would be guess, with JOB on the wing.

Frawley could move to 15 and Reid comes on at 10.

In terms of time played in positions, another possible logical switch would be to bring on a centre (O'Brien or Reid, depending on the game) for Kearney and put Daly to 15 (where he was tried last season) and ROL to the wing.
People on this board were still pushing for ROL on the wing at the beginning of the season, which I never really got but anyhoo.

[hugonaut]

I’m not sure, most players will never have the accuracy he has carrying and chop tackling. There are benefits to smashing into rucks and big late hits on halfbacks but I wouldn’t want him to go too far in the other direction.

He’s a very different player from Stander and will not be better if he tries to copy him.

One thing he could develop is Beirne style ruck poaching. He has the quickness, footwork and accuracy to be more of a threat there.

He doesn't have to completely try and change his game, just add something to it. If you're a No8 defended by a scrum-half, trying to evade him can play to the defender's strengths ... he's going to be quicker than you, lower than you and you can end up giving him a side-on tackle where you can't bring your strength to bear.

Sometimes it's just better to try and run through a guy. It's the other side of the mismatch - backs running around forwards, forwards running over backs.

[Oldschool]

I’m not sure, most players will never have the accuracy he has carrying and chop tackling. There are benefits to smashing into rucks and big late hits on halfbacks but I wouldn’t want him to go too far in the other direction.

He’s a very different player from Stander and will not be better if he tries to copy him.

One thing he could develop is Beirne style ruck poaching. He has the quickness, footwork and accuracy to be more of a threat there.

He doesn't have to completely try and change his game, just add something to it. If you're a No8 defended by a scrum-half, trying to evade him can play to the defender's strengths ... he's going to be quicker than you, lower than you and you can end up giving him a side-on tackle where you can't bring your strength to bear.

Sometimes it's just better to try and run through a guy. It's the other side of the mismatch - backs running around forwards, forwards running over backs.

I'd be in Ronk's camp on Deegan.
Deegan is a Rolls Royce fresh off the assembly requiring a few minor adjustments and some customisation.
As Jezzer might put it "He's not the second coming of Heaslip but he is the first coming of Deegan".
Jamie wasn't the finished article at the age Deegan is and look how that worked out.
Mention of Jezzer, he hasn't posted here in a while.

[the spoofer]

I’m not sure, most players will never have the accuracy he has carrying and chop tackling. There are benefits to smashing into rucks and big late hits on halfbacks but I wouldn’t want him to go too far in the other direction.

He’s a very different player from Stander and will not be better if he tries to copy him.

One thing he could develop is Beirne style ruck poaching. He has the quickness, footwork and accuracy to be more of a threat there.

He doesn't have to completely try and change his game, just add something to it. If you're a No8 defended by a scrum-half, trying to evade him can play to the defender's strengths ... he's going to be quicker than you, lower than you and you can end up giving him a side-on tackle where you can't bring your strength to bear.

Sometimes it's just better to try and run through a guy. It's the other side of the mismatch - backs running around forwards, forwards running over backs.

Nothing I like to see more.