Babbling 'brook

Roscrea have played exclusively in Leinster schools cups for at least 50 years.

I'd say it's unlikely Larmour will start at 15 with Reid back and Joey/Isa there. I'd be playing our better, heavier pack and McGrath for the second game, as we'll need to dominate the Cheetahs up front and control the pace of the game. (That means no Carbery or JGP please!) Bit surprised at that v...

The split of the teams is now very evident among all the teams in the League. Six teams unbeaten (four in our Conference) and six teams without a win after two games. Nothing yet to suggest the quality of the League has improved at all and the majority of commentators now referring to the SA teams n...

It it systemicallly impossible to play a high tempo, off-loading, game unless both half-backs are excellent fast passers. Discuss.

Conan was truly awesome against Cardiff. Jamie must now get himself into his boots and rev up the engine and see what the appetite is like. Leo has to give him game time and then comes the crunch. Selection against Glasgow and Montpellier and then the Autumn International with Jamie, Stander, PO'M, ...

On 65 mins, remark was made that it would be hard to find 10 mins highlights for the Pro14 package. Them 'Nugget' hits the afterburners from 45m, Barry Daly catches a kick-pass like Michael- Daragh McC and Conan, Porter, Conan, JVDF and Nick McCarthy pass like professional jugglers, to rescue the bo...

But that's some bench!

Remember Bent can (and does) play both sides well. Porter, also, at a stretch, could be selected at 1 or 3, although they'd prefer not to. Four props is plenty. They're not playing both games simultaneously.

This has been writing the headlines in French sports media for the past fortnight and is also dragging in questions about the composition of the Montpellier Squad. Certainly it may impact on the French bid presentation, but it could also cause Bernie & Alrad some serious grief. Using image right...

Good assessments and straight talking. Jamie has given his all for Leinster with truly outstanding appearance numbers, injury free. IMO, he still stacks up as No 1 for the biggest games. Whether he can give 80 mins at his optimum may be the question and I would be happy to see him and Conan nailed i...

Lots of coverage in French rugby media about FFR President Laport in serious potential bother about "forgiving" Montpelier a fine for their abuse of the salary cap / Top14 League Rules. Unlying the media abuse is the implication that he ran roughshod over the same Rules whilst with Toulon....

COYBIB wrote:Will we be able to retain all the talent we bring through, both in the back-row and in general? (thinking Sexton/Carbury/Byrne riches also).

Now that discussion, and its consequences, has been running for a few days on another thread!

I'm not sure this was discussed, maybe others wont share the opinion, but the replacement front row had a rough old time against Dragons replacement front row. Unfortunately for the likes of Porter, as great a player as he is, and he would be an international level loose head in no time, Healy coun...

Maybe they insisted on going Business Class to Cape Town rather than Economy to PE via Jo'berg. Many business travellers flying to Eastern S.Africa pay the supplement for big seats upstairs but no longer travel Business. Cape Town flights are heavily booked this time of year and there is a big premi...

The second elent is understandable. The first fact would be an unusual phenomenon - still growing in height past age 23!

This game should be a slam dunk. The question is who will be selected with an eye towards Munster and European games. Irish tourists to Japan (plus Jamie) appear to be through their formal pre-season preparation with Lions due back by Munster weekend. So who will we get and who do we need to get? Lu...

I would have thought the IRFU's commitment to the Pro 14 with all that that entails and envisages would be predicated upon the Irish provinces being as successful as possible in it as well as in the ERCC. The IRFU doesn't just have its eye on the gate and the TV income from Test rugby but also from...

I think a lot of this debate is driven by a lack of clarity from within the IRFU and provinces. The old Strategic plans had very specific objectives for the provinces in terms of winning Heineken Cups and Celtic Leagues do these documents even exist any more? The other thing playing on my mind is t...

And my answer might be "why did he play in 2016 Pro12 final?". Ambition requires ruthless selection from time to time. Have a look at how ruhless is Gavin from time to time and how Cody has ommited 'big names' when he considered it necessary and rarely failed to get the response he sought....

Disagree with that conclusion @molloyjh. Based on the quantity and quality of our player production and development we should be in League and Cup finals every season. We have provided a higher % of players to our National Squad that any other team in Europe for the past three seasons. Our National ...