Leinster exiles, where are they.

[riocard911]

Impressive self-reflection.

Quite. I've always found Macken a very good co-commentator as well as pundit on the various podcasts.

[D4surfer]

Ian Madigan has signed a 2 year extension to his contract in Ulster. Good luck to him.

[Serb]

Brian Byrne having a great game for Bristol at the moment. Sent over for the bonus point try after 35 mins and just got over for his second. His darts have been spot on (9/9 so far). Only blip for me is his carrying, apart from the BP try, has been fairly ineffective.

Probably a bit unlucky to be moved on at Leinster, he’s still pretty good.

[mildlyinterested]

Brian Byrne having a great game for Bristol at the moment. Sent over for the bonus point try after 35 mins and just got over for his second. His darts have been spot on (9/9 so far). Only blip for me is his carrying, apart from the BP try, has been fairly ineffective.

Probably a bit unlucky to be moved on at Leinster, he’s still pretty good.

couldn't ever be consistent with his lineout throwing... if he has fixed that, how did he do it and can he return and teach the skill to the rest of leinsters hookers?

[Serb]

Bath have been absolutely dire in fairness, so quality of opposition could be a factor there, but he’s landed a few at the tail of the lineout, hitting the jumper at the apex of the lift. Has looked very good to me anyway.

[mildlyinterested]

yeah the throws i've seen have been excellent from him...

it really would make you wonder what sort of training leinster do for hookers.

[Keith]

SOB started in London Irish's impressive victory over Newcastle today. Apparently he played well too.

[Serb]

Brian Byrne watch continues. He’s 7/7 on his throws with one try after 20 minutes vs Sale.

[mildlyinterested]

Brian Byrne watch continues. He’s 7/7 on his throws with one try after 20 minutes vs Sale.

[mildlyinterested]

Brian Byrne watch continues. He’s 7/7 on his throws with one try after 20 minutes vs Sale.

quality throw to the tail there, where are leinster going wrong with the skill of lineout throwing.

[Serb]

Yeah, I really have no idea. Who would even be responsible for a hookers throwing? McBride? Leo?

[mildlyinterested]

Yeah, I really have no idea. Who would even be responsible for a hookers throwing? McBride? Leo?

I dunno, we don't have a skills coach.. you'd assume out coaches who used to be hookers would be responsible.. so Fogarty and now McBryde...

But maybe if no one is directly responsible then it's not being prioritized. It's certainly an area that can be improved upon. Byrne struggled with his throwing since u20 level while at leinster, now he is an excellent thrower once he got out of the leinster system.

You'd like to think leinster are very well coached but something is certainly lacking in the current setup when it comes to lineout throwing/skill development at the very least.

[Gearzbox2]

Leinster line out currently operating at 89%
4th best in the league
I’m not saying we’re perfect but I think it’s over the top with the level of criticism being put on our hookers

[mildlyinterested]

Leinster line out currently operating at 89%
4th best in the league
I’m not saying we’re perfect but I think it’s over the top with the level of criticism being put on our hookers

it's clearly an area that can be improved..if Kelleher's lineout throwing was consistent and reliable he'd be 1st choice for Leinster and Ireland, but it's not, so he isn't.

Cronin/Tracy have been inconsistent for years with it, as was Byrne when he was here.

it's an issue that leinster have dealt and struggled to overcome for years.

[Gearzbox2]

Leinster line out currently operating at 89%
4th best in the league
I’m not saying we’re perfect but I think it’s over the top with the level of criticism being put on our hookers

it's clearly an area that can be improved..if Kelleher's lineout throwing was reliable he'd be 1st choice for Leinster and Ireland, but it's not.

Cronin/Tracy have been inconsistent for years with it, as was Byrne when he was here.

it's an issue that leinster have dealt with for years.

Just throwing out facts/stats to put some degree of reality on the situation
Can it be better yes, but I’m what I’m saying is that a function line out isn’t all on the thrower
Lifting, calling, jumping and set up all critical along with the throw

[Serb]

Byrne putting in a good 70 minute shift. 16/16 according to the official stats (which I think is generous — Sale won one of their throws but fumbled on the way down). At least 25 successful throws in a row from him!

Our stats might be ok in the league, but remember that the league is basically 9 shite teams, two decent ones and then us.

Having said that, our lineout was excellent in our biggest recent test against Munster, 100% from us and we won or disrupted 5/14 on their throw.

The real problem with the stats is quite often, even for lineouts that go in the W column, we get disrupted and can’t set out maul or run our strike plays. I do agree that it’s probably a bit better than the doom and gloom here, but I definitely don’t think it’s as good as it should be.

[Gearzbox2]

Byrne putting in a good 70 minute shift. 16/16 according to the official stats (which I think is generous — Sale won one of their throws but fumbled on the way down). At least 25 successful throws in a row from him!

Our stats might be ok in the league, but remember that the league is basically 9 shite teams, two decent ones and then us.

Having said that, our lineout was excellent in our biggest recent test against Munster, 100% from us and we won or disrupted 5/14 on their throw.

The real problem with the stats is quite often, even for lineouts that go in the W column, we get disrupted and can’t set out maul or run our strike plays. I do agree that it’s probably a bit better than the doom and gloom here, but I definitely don’t think it’s as good as it should be.

Agree....can definitely be better in a number of aspects
From observation it’s going in the right direction, especially maul and contesting defence which had been very poor

Hookers have a huge role no doubt but way too much doom and gloom on here just because Brian Bryne has thrown well in his last 2 games (delighted to see him go well too!!!)

[blockhead]

Leinster hookers don't throw straight!
That's just the way it is.

[erskinechilders]

Byrne putting in a good 70 minute shift. 16/16 according to the official stats (which I think is generous — Sale won one of their throws but fumbled on the way down). At least 25 successful throws in a row from him!

Our stats might be ok in the league, but remember that the league is basically 9 shite teams, two decent ones and then us.

Having said that, our lineout was excellent in our biggest recent test against Munster, 100% from us and we won or disrupted 5/14 on their throw.

The real problem with the stats is quite often, even for lineouts that go in the W column, we get disrupted and can’t set out maul or run our strike plays. I do agree that it’s probably a bit better than the doom and gloom here, but I definitely don’t think it’s as good as it should be.

Bristol had 16 lineouts ?

[Serb]

Byrne putting in a good 70 minute shift. 16/16 according to the official stats (which I think is generous — Sale won one of their throws but fumbled on the way down). At least 25 successful throws in a row from him!

Our stats might be ok in the league, but remember that the league is basically 9 shite teams, two decent ones and then us.

Having said that, our lineout was excellent in our biggest recent test against Munster, 100% from us and we won or disrupted 5/14 on their throw.

The real problem with the stats is quite often, even for lineouts that go in the W column, we get disrupted and can’t set out maul or run our strike plays. I do agree that it’s probably a bit better than the doom and gloom here, but I definitely don’t think it’s as good as it should be.

Bristol had 16 lineouts ?

They had 17 in total, one after Byrne left. They were up to 7 lineouts by the 15th minute.

Is that a surprising number? Connacht had 19 last night, Dragons had 21 for example.