The first 2008 / 2009 Leinster Youth Squad

[bluerugbyrules]

The first 2008 / 2009 Leinster Youth Squad has been announced:
Full-backs; Joe Taylor(Barnhall, Stuart Flynn (Mullingar). Centres; Andrew Boyle(St.Bridgets) Graham McQuilan (Boyne), Daniel Pimm(Enniscorthy),Dave Lynch(Naas). Wings; Paul Dean(DLSP), Aaron Connolly(Mullingar), Brandan Perkins(Enniscorthy), Cormac Meyer(N.Kildare), Neill Nolan(Clondalkin). 10s; Paul O'Loughlin(Skerries), Gearoid mcDonnell(Dundalk), Bran Croke(Portlaoise). 9s; Andrew Roberts(Greystones), Gavin Kennedy(Ashbourne), Adam Denvir(Naas). Loose-heads; Matt Burke (Boyne), Gerard Moloney(Longford), Ciaran Sutherland(Wexford), Martin Mulligan(N.Kildare). Hookers; Kev White(Barnhall), Hugh Connolly(Longford), John Sutton(New Ross), Jarod owens. Tight-heads; Emmet Byrne(Clontarf), Cathal Gaughran(Boyne), Paddy Gilsenan(Navan), Eddie Downes(Wicklow). Locks; Michael Kearney(Clontarf), John O'Brien(Sutton), Conor McDermott(Dundalk), John Cribbin(Mullingar), Fionn McSweeney(Naas). Blind-side flankers; Thomas McGuirk(Barnhall), Tony Ryan(Enniscorthy), Open-side flankers; Barry Murphy(Skerries), Brendan Doyle(Enniscorthy), David O'Brien(Naas). No:8s; Ciaran Smith(Boyne), Liam Phelan(Kilkenny).

[jaybyrne]

fionn plays for enniscorty and tony ryans a prop

[bluerugbyrules]

Any views on predicting a team. A few are dead certs:
A.Boyle (St.Bridgets) & D.Lynch (Naas)at centre for starters. Also G.Kennedy (Ashbourne) at scrum half, although he'll be pushed hard by A.Roberts (Greystones)
I'd hazard a guess at B. Murphy (Skerries) in the back row, J.Cribbin (Mullingar) as a lock & P.Dean (DLSP) on the wing.
What's peoples opinions on the above and who'll play at 1,2,3,5,6,8,14,15 ???

[TheRedHurricane]

When is d squad being cut? They hardly need 41 players for the inter pros.

[Leinsterman]

Paul Dean(DLSP), Matt Burke (Boyne),Emmet Byrne(Clontarf), Thomas McGuirk(Barnhall),Barry Murphy(Skerries),

All those lads are a bit old to be playing youth rugby aren't they?

[bluerugbyrules]

The Red Hurrican..... I' think they start to cut some players shortly, probably front rows as they have twelve of them. At the end of August / start September (if it follows the pattern of last year) a squad of 26 will be selected to go on tour and play some friendlies, probably in the UK. Any views on the team this season?

[bluerugbyrules]

Any news on the cut. I did hear the squad will only be 24

[Belvo Boy]

Who won the game between Newbridge U20's and the Leinster Youths played during the week? Score?

[jaybyrne]

they made the cut and have picked a squad to play against Leeds

[Belvo Boy]

Who won the game? Who did or didn't make the cut?

[jimmy the bone]

Newbridge 10 Youths 8. Very scrapy first half from both sides as you would expect this time of year. Leinster made a significant amount of changes at half time looked alot better in the 2nd half. Was 3 all at half time Leinster missed a conversion last play of the game for a draw.

[bluerugbyrules]

I think the U18s squad is now as follows:-
Burke 1; Sutherland 1; White 2, Sutton 2, Owens 2/3, Gilsenan 3, Downes 3, Kearney 4/5, McDermott 4/5, Cribbin 4/5, A.N.Other 4/5, Ryan 6, Murphy 7, Smith 6/8, O'Connor 7/8, Phelan 8, Roberts 9, Denvir 9, Holt 9, Croke 10, McDonnell 10/12, Lynch 12, McQuillan 12/15, Boyle 13, Nolan 13/14, Dean 11, Meyer 11/14, Taylor 15/13.
This might be cut slightly

What's peoples predcions on the starting XV ???

[jaybyrne]

does anybody know when the u16s squad will be decide (mix of schools and clubs)

[TheRedHurricane]

Has the team played any more friendlies?
How are they looking for the inter pros?

[jaybyrne]

they lost 10-8 to newbridge u-20s and were in England last week but i'm not sure how it went

[pulldownthemaul]

They have lost to Newbridge U20s, Leeds U18s & Naas U20s. They are playing Newbridge Colleg SCT on Saturday. The backs are a shocking waste of potential. They have two fantastic centres that are let down by a scrum half who cannot pass to his right and even his left is dodgy. This is tough critisism as he plays centre for our club and is a makeshift 9. They dropped the 9 that was there for the last two years ???? The ten seems to change every game between four of them !!!! so there is no sign of a "partnership" at all. The back three are very suspect in defence. Although I didn't see the Leeds game I heard all the back three missed easy tackles to concede tries. The full back is arguably the best wing prospect in the country and his confidence must be destroyed playing out of position and making mistakes that he would not have to deal with on the wing, and nor is he adept at passing at full pace when he hits the line. The pack is average at times and excellent at others but seems like they are all so nervous they cannot perform. Some lovely back row players and second rows. On the whole, they look like a team that has not come together at all. If they persist in leaving some of their best players on the bench or not in the squad and plauing people out of position then they will probably pay the price in the inter pros.

[jaybyrne]

the fullback has always played fullback does anyone know how the Edenderry scrumhalves doing?

[pulldownthemaul]

Which full back are you talking about?

[pulldownthemaul]

The full back from the Newbridge game (Taylor, Barnhall) was dropped ???? and replaced with Paul Dean (DLSP) who has always played wing. Wing with club, Metro, last seasons Ireland squad and the T.I.P programme.

[pulldownthemaul]

The Edenderry scrum half is in fact an out half. Arguably he will become a good scrum half in time, he is a year too young. he played all his rugby at 10 for club and I heard he was very much a kicking ten rather than a running / passing ten. he's a good prospect for next season but another of the STRANGE selection policy. Three nines and only 1 played there before !!! The best one was apparently injured (badly) in Leeds so he's out and the 4th choice is called back in who every one says is the best