Leinster Academy 2021-22

[curates_egg]

Reasonable spread of positions, apart from the Tector/Prendergast double-up.
Others will know, but Tector looks like a unit. Might be useful at 12 too?

I guess, given the national problems in the front row, it was inevitable McGuire would join Boyle in the academy from that u20 front row.
Haven't heard as much about him as Boyle though. Is he a good prospect? Looks a bit light, but that's maybe because he's tall?

[erskinechilders]

Little surprised Gunne hasn't gone straight in from Michaels but I suppose Leinster don't do that anymore. He's certainly good enough though.

[wixfjord]

That's a pretty solid intake with buckets of potential.

Only qualm I'd have is Prendergast/Tector.

It's a tough one, but do we really need to use two academy slots on two 10s in one intake? Are both that high potential?

Culhane massively impressed me in the U20s 6N I must say. Mangan is very highly rated also isn't he?

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Isn't Tector badly injured? I haven't heard anything since it happened but it sounded like it'd be long term.

From what I've seen of King he's capable of things that most players aren't. There's something quite unorthodox about him, he seems to come up with an unusual bit of skill or even just the way he timed a tackle when a player was looking to gather a bouncing ball close to the line last week wasn't the norm and paid off big time. I'm a bit concerned that he lacks pace for a pro winger but he's a really interesting prospect, can't wait to see how he develops.

[ronk]

King reminds me of someone I played with.

He's a messy player, in the sense that Faz used. Really useful in a winger.

[ronk]

Great news. Lots of good players there https://www.the42.ie/leinster-5-5811558-Jul2022/

[berliner]

Is there a public list of players in the subacademy?

[ronk]

Is there a public list of players in the subacademy?

No. And generally it's for the better. Less pressure.

[berliner]

Is there a public list of players in the subacademy?

No. And generally it's for the better. Less pressure.

I think you're right that it's better they don't announce it. But I wondered, given how often references are made to the subacademy.

[dropkick]

I'm a bit surprised COT didn't make it.

[paddyor]

I'm a bit surprised COT didn't make it.

He's U20 for another year isn't he?

[dropkick]

Reasonable spread of positions, apart from the Tector/Prendergast double-up.
Others will know, but Tector looks like a unit. Might be useful at 12 too?

I guess, given the national problems in the front row, it was inevitable McGuire would join Boyle in the academy from that u20 front row.
Haven't heard as much about him as Boyle though. Is he a good prospect? Looks a bit light, but that's maybe because he's tall?

McGuire is 118kg and 6'4.

[dropkick]

I'm a bit surprised COT didn't make it.

He's U20 for another year isn't he?

Yeah. Maybe they want him to develop a bit more or are limiting the numbers.

[paddyor]

I'm a bit surprised COT didn't make it.

He's U20 for another year isn't he?

Yeah. Maybe they want him to develop a bit more or are limiting the numbers.

We've 6 in the senior squad the last 3 promoted this year.

Molony 28
Jenkins 27?
Ryan 26
C. Ryan 23
MacCarthy 21
Deeny 20

Then Baird(23) as 5.5. Even with injuries that shoud be more than enough as it's only a 22 game regular seasons now.

[hugonaut]

I'm a bit surprised COT didn't make it.

He's U20 for another year isn't he?

Yeah. Maybe they want him to develop a bit more or are limiting the numbers.

There's no real rush on him from a Leinster point of view. Our second row corps is very young and to be frank I don't see any situation where he'd play. He's a good player, so I'd say he was close, but you could make the argument that he is better off with more time in the sub-academy. Leinster training is very intense and academy lads in the past have been given blocks of weeks off rugby training because they were burning too much energy off when they were trying to put muscle mass on.

Brian Deeny [22] and Charlie Ryan [23] each played for the Irish U20s for two seasons. They have both done three years in the academy and would be a lot more pro-ready than COT but realistically they are extremely raw in terms of pro gametime. We'd be trying to get some games into them ahead of COT. Joe McCarthy is 22 and in the Irish squad, Ryan Baird is still 22 and is more than capable of playing in the row, even if he might be viewed as a blindside going forward. James Ryan is 25. I don't know how much rugby we are going to get out of our internationals next season.

Jason Jenkins [26] and Ross Molony [28] will play a lot of rugby for us next season.

[Blue Man]

That’s a very good intake. I think King has Xfactor and could be a really good, physical, industrious winger similar to J Lo.
Tector and Prendergast could be a second row pairing, given their height! I think Sam has better potential and could be a really good player be it’ll be interesting to see how the pair advance.
McGuire has the vital component in a THP, size! He could reach 125kg. Based on the 20s performances that I’ve seen I’d like to see him add a bit of nasty to his game.
Culhane and Mangan are very decent players but I’m not sure they are top grade, I hope they progress well and prove me wrong.
Overall, great to see the talent coming through and I wish them all the very best with their rugby career.

[ronk]

Reasonable spread of positions, apart from the Tector/Prendergast double-up.
Others will know, but Tector looks like a unit. Might be useful at 12 too?

I guess, given the national problems in the front row, it was inevitable McGuire would join Boyle in the academy from that u20 front row.
Haven't heard as much about him as Boyle though. Is he a good prospect? Looks a bit light, but that's maybe because he's tall?

Tector and Prendergast both look like they have potential. We probably lose Sam to Connacht if we don't take him. Both big players who probably need time.

We don't normally expect much gametime from 1st year academy players, there are no 10s in the academy. Sexton retires in a year. Our panel becomes ByrneX2 with Frawley a sometimes option. It might be a while before we get that talent to choose from in that position. By the time they're ready to graduate Ross will be 30 or so. There's room if they're good enough.

Bringing in 7 instead of 6 isn't a huge stretch. Covid disruption made it easier to miss out. Seems worth a shot.

[hugonaut]

Might be looking to convert Tector to a prop. "He is ... a keen farmer, working on the family farm all his life." [source: https://www.irishrugby.ie/2022/07/08/si ... r-academy/ ]

[OTT]

Might be looking to convert Tector to a prop. "He is ... a keen farmer, working on the family farm all his life." [source: https://www.irishrugby.ie/2022/07/08/si ... r-academy/ ]

It seems like a missed opportunity that we don’t have an exhibit at the ploughing championships each year.

[limecat]

Might be looking to convert Tector to a prop. "He is ... a keen farmer, working on the family farm all his life." [source: https://www.irishrugby.ie/2022/07/08/si ... r-academy/ ]

It seems like a missed opportunity that we don’t have an exhibit at the ploughing championships each year.

Route Massey Ferguson?