Leinster's Backrow going forward.

[wixfjord]

I sincerely hope one of Ruddock or Heaslip is back before end of the season.

Jordi, Leavy, Conan and SOB staying fit and available is unlikely.
Ruddock in particular would be a big plus.

Alternatively I wonder might we see Fardy pushed into backrow for a few games.

On the plus side Josh Murphy and Max Deegan will get plenty of gametime.

[mildlyinterested]

Updated Backrow for next season

Sean O'Brien(31) - currently injured
Rhys Ruddock(27) - currently injured
Jack Conan(25)
Josh Van Der Flier(25) - currently injured
Dan Leavy(24)
Peadar Timmins(24)
Josh Murphy(23)
Max Deegan(21)
Will Connors(21)
Caelan Doris(20) - currently injured

[LeinsterLeader]

It might be too soon but maybe someone in Leinster could ring the IRFU and ask them could we keep Jordi now!

[Lar]

It might be too soon but maybe someone in Leinster could ring the IRFU and ask them could we keep Jordi now!

Too soon?

Unfortunately I think its too late at this stage....

[Ruckedtobits]

It might be too soon but maybe someone in Leinster could ring the IRFU and ask them could we keep Jordi now!

Jordi fully understood the prospects of Jamie playing next year when he made his decision. Conan, Deegan and Doris are three words that come to mind.

Jordi also had to deal with SO'B, JVdF, Dan L, Rhys R, Josh Murphy, Will Connors. Will I go on?

Jordi made his decision and delivered it with good timing. He's still in the Irish Squad and will be in Australia come June. Objective attained.

[neiliog93]

Updated Backrow for next season

Sean O'Brien(31) - currently injured
Rhys Ruddock(27) - currently injured
Jack Conan(25)
Josh Van Der Flier(25) - currently injured
Dan Leavy(24)
Peadar Timmins(24)
Josh Murphy(23)
Max Deegan(21)
Will Connors(21)
Caelan Doris(20) - currently injured

I still think Timmins might leave.

No.8s: Conan, Deegan, Doris
7s: SOB, Leavy, VDF
6s: Ruddock, Josh Murphy

+ Connors and at least one other new academy entrant. Fardy also covering 6.

[CiaranIrl]

I think Doris will end up as an out and out 6 to be honest. He'll obviously cover 8 too.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

I think Doris will end up as an out and out 6 to be honest. He'll obviously cover 8 too.

Because of how he plays or because of the competition at 8? Can't wait to see more of him anyway, been seriously impressed with the little I've seen.

Once the 6N is over I think I'd be getting Deegan into Ireland squads ASAP. His development has been rapid recently and we don't have many 8s. If CJ or Stander were injured in November then I'd honestly have Deegan starting the lesser games (no idea who we're playing).

Whoops, meant CJ or Conan obviously.

[hugonaut]

Updated Backrow for next season

Sean O'Brien(31) - currently injured
Rhys Ruddock(27) - currently injured
Jack Conan(25)
Josh Van Der Flier(25) - currently injured
Dan Leavy(24)
Peadar Timmins(24)
Josh Murphy(23)
Max Deegan(21)
Will Connors(21)
Caelan Doris(20) - currently injured

I still think Timmins might leave.

No.8s: Conan, Deegan, Doris
7s: SOB, Leavy, VDF
6s: Ruddock, Josh Murphy

+ Connors and at least one other new academy entrant. Fardy also covering 6.

Connors looking really good to me as a flanker – either side. That extra height [he's 195cm tall] makes him look sort of incongruous in the No7 jersey, but he is a technically excellent tackler, and everyone has recently seen how good Tadhg Beirne is as a jackal – and he's even taller than Connors.

[hugonaut]

I think Doris will end up as an out and out 6 to be honest. He'll obviously cover 8 too.

Once the 6N is over I think I'd be getting Deegan into Ireland squads ASAP. His development has been rapid recently and we don't have many 8s. If CJ or Stander were injured in November then I'd honestly have Deegan starting the lesser games (no idea who we're playing).

Whoops, meant CJ or Conan obviously.

Absolutely agree. Deegan is a massive talent and, while he may be a little bit short of the physical strength that his former U20 team-mates Ryan and Porter have shown, he's a really outstanding athlete and a super player. Whether it's in the squad proper or in the apprentice role that the All Blacks like to use, I think that bringing him on the tour to Australia would be a great idea. It's an investment in the future in a guy who looks like a "can't miss" international. It might well be that RWC19 is the proverbial week too soon for him, but there's rugby after that tournament too.

I remember seeing Deegan play live for the first time for an Ireland U18 Schools vs U18 Youths game one Christmas in Ashbourne [having seen him on the box for Michaels in the cup the previous spring] and the comparison that immediately sprung to mind was Harinordoquy. He's a really, really skilful player, but has stepped up his workrate a huge amount this season and has rounded out his game really quickly in comparison to how long I thought it'd take him. I thought he'd have a couple of years of show-ponying around, but he has dug in really quickly and started winning turnovers and putting in double-digit tackle counts.

Jamie's retirement means that he'll have to carry a much heavier load next season than most would have envisioned, but I've no worries about him. I think he's acclimated really well to senior rugby this season.

[simonokeeffe]

Did his dad run on to the pitch?

That is some level of praise though

[mildlyinterested]

I wonder if someone like Oisin Dowling may get some more run at 6.

[neiliog93]

Will Connors' chop tackle technique against the Scarlets was unbelievably good, and he managed to do it in a way where he wrapped, so he couldn't be done for a no-arms tackle (which many chop tackles are now pinged for). As good as Worsley, Moody or Lydiate back in the day at that particular skill.

[Dave Cahill]

With Jamie retiring, Jordi going north and with a considerable number of our backrow players going to be with Ireland (SOB, JvdF, Leavy, Conan and I'd say Deegan will get a run in the game against the Tier 2 nation), we might want to look at an NIQ backrow for next season - someone like Ben McCalman who doesn't have a Super Rugby contract as a result of the Force being disbanded

[Dundalk 1]

With Jamie retiring, Jordi going north and with a considerable number of our backrow players going to be with Ireland (SOB, JvdF, Leavy, Conan and I'd say Deegan will get a run in the game against the Tier 2 nation), we might want to look at an NIQ backrow for next season - someone like Ben McCalman who doesn't have a Super Rugby contract as a result of the Force being disbanded

Is that so we can increase the 2 out of 3 argument to 2 out of 4

Our academy products will have to step up
Given the last 2 years record we should be confident that everything will be grand

[mildlyinterested]

[A16]

7 in particular could become problematic, mainly due to the quality of players we possess in that position. SOB, VDF and Leavy are all international quality, and I imagine at least 1 of them would be injured at any given time. The other two would be in the Ireland squad, which would lead to a very heavy reliance on Connors. Now Connors is a fine player, and I’m comfortable with him playing Pro14 games for us. However, if he became unavailable for whatever reason during the November internationals or Six Nations, we would be in trouble. You’d hope that situation won’t happen but it is a concern.

[jimbobjoe]

7 in particular could become problematic, mainly due to the quality of players we possess in that position. SOB, VDF and Leavy are all international quality, and I imagine at least 1 of them would be injured at any given time. The other two would be in the Ireland squad, which would lead to a very heavy reliance on Connors. Now Connors is a fine player, and I’m comfortable with him playing Pro14 games for us. However, if he became unavailable for whatever reason during the November internationals or Six Nations, we would be in trouble. You’d hope that situation won’t happen but it is a concern.

So you're saying we should have 5 professional standard specialist opensides on the books? The whole of England doesn't even have one

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Did his dad run on to the pitch?

That is some level of praise though

[curates_egg]

Now that James Lowe has made us privy to his real name, I can't believe anyone is calling Porridge anything other than Porridge.