Leinster Squad 21-22

[CiaranIrl]

Ross Byrne isn't a huge risk, I don't think. The other two definitely are.

[mildlyinterested]

LH Prop
Ed Byrne(28/Clongowes/UCD)
Peter Dooley(27/Birr RFC/Lansdowne)
Michael Milne(22/Birr RFC-Roscrea/UCD) - injured
Marcus Hanan(21/Clane RFC/Old Belvedere) - injured
Temi Lasisi(20/Enniscorthy/Lansdowne) - injured
Jack Boyle(19/St. Michaels/UCD)

would be surprised if either Byrne or Dooley play AIL.

TH Prop
Michael Alaalatoa(30)
Vakh Abdaladze(25/Coolmine RFC/Clontarf)
Tom Clarkson(21/Blackrock/DUFC) - injured

assume Vakh will continue with AIL

Hooker
Sean Cronin(35)
James Tracy(30/Newbridge/UCD)
John McKee(21/Campbell/Old Belvedere)
Lee Barron(20/St. Michaels/DUFC) - injured

assume McKee will continue with AIL

Lock
Devin Toner(35/Castleknock/Lansdowne)
Ross Molony(27/St. Michaels/UCD)
Jack Dunne(22/St. Michaels/DUFC)
Charlie Ryan(22/Blackrock/UCD) - injured
Brian Deeny(21/Wexford RFC/Clontarf)
Joe McCarthy(20/Blackrock/DUFC) - injured

assume Dunne & Deeny will continue with AIL

Backrow
Rhys Ruddock(30/Exile/St. Marys)
Dan Leavy(27/St. Michaels/UCD)
Josh Murphy(26/St. Michaels/UCD)
Will Connors(25/Clongowes/UCD) - injured
Max Deegan(24/St. Michaels/Lansdowne)
Scott Penny(22/St. Michaels/UCD)
Martin Moloney(22/Athy RFC/Old Belvedere)
Sean O'Brien(21/Blackrock/UCD)
Alex Soroka(20/Belvedere/Clontarf) - injured
Mark Hernan(21/St. Michaels/Lansdowne) - injured

Will be interesting to see if Josh Murphy gets a run out for UCD, same with Penny.. can't see Deegan dropping down, assume Moloney & O'Brien will continue with AIL

Scrumhalf
Luke McGrath(28/St. Michaels/UCD)
Nick McCarthy(26/St. Michaels/UCD)
Cormac Foley(22/St. Gerards/Lansdowne)
Ben Murphy(20/Pres Bray/Old Wesley) - injured

Assume Foley will continue with AIL, might McCarthy get a run out with UCD?

Outhalf
Ross Byrne(26/St. Michaels/UCD)
David Hawkshaw(22/Belvedere/Clontarf)

Assume Hawkshaw will continue with AIL

Centre
Robbie Henshaw(28) - injured
Rory O'Loughlin(27/St. Michaels/UCD)
Conor O'Brien(25/Mullingar RFC/Clontarf)
Liam Turner(22/Blackrock/DUFC)

Interested to see if O'Brien gets a run out with Clontarf, assume Turner will continue with AIL.

Back Three
Dave Kearney(32/Clongowes/Lansdowne)
Adam Byrne(27/Naas RFC/UCD)
Jimmy O'Brien(24/Newbridge/UCD)
Tommy O'Brien(23/Blackrock/UCD)
Andrew Smith(21/St. Michaels/Clontarf) - injured
Niall Comerford(21/Blackrock/UCD) - 7's
Max O'Reilly(21/St. Gerards/DUFC) - injured
Rob Russell(22/St. Michaels/DUFC)
Chris Cosgrave(20/St. Michaels/UCD) - 7's

Might the O'Briens get a run out with UCD?

[mildlyinterested]

Minutes so far this season:

LH Prop
Andrew Porter(25/St. Andrews/UCD) - 3 + 0 = 154 mins
Ed Byrne(28/Clongowes/UCD) - 1 + 3 = 138 mins
Cian Healy(33/Belvedere/Clontarf) - 1 + 1 = 78 mins
Peter Dooley(27/Birr RFC/Lansdowne) - 0 + 1 = 30 mins

TH Prop
Michael Alaalatoa(30) - 3 + 2 = 214 mins
Tadhg Furlong(28/New Ross RFC/Clontarf) - 2 + 0 = 109 mins
Cian Healy(33/Belvedere/Clontarf) - 0 + 3 = 77 mins

Hooker
Dan Sheehan(23/Clongowes/Lansdowne) - 2 + 2 = 156 mins
Ronan Kelleher(23/St. Michaels/Lansdowne) - 2 + 1 = 139 mins
James Tracy(30/Newbridge/UCD) - 0 + 2 = 55 mins
Sean Cronin(35) - 1 + 0 = 50 mins

Lock
Ross Molony(27/St. Michaels/UCD) - 4 + 1 = 322 mins
James Ryan(25/St. Michaels/UCD) - 3 + 0 = 217 mins
Ryan Baird(22/St. Michaels/DUFC) - 2 + 3 = 178 mins
Devin Toner(35/Castleknock/Lansdowne) - 1 + 1 = 110 mins

Backrow
Josh Van Der Flier(28/Wesley/UCD) - 3 + 1 = 270 mins
Rhys Ruddock(30/Exile/St. Marys) - 3 + 2 = 246 mins
Caelan Doris(23/Blackrock/DUFC) - 3 +0 = 170 mins
Jack Conan(29/St. Gerards/Old Belvedere) - 2 + 0 = 149 mins
Max Deegan(25/St. Michaels/Lansdowne) - 1 + 2 = 132 mins
Dan Leavy(27/St. Michaels/UCD) - 2 + 1 = 125 mins
Scott Penny(22/St. Michaels/UCD) - 1 + 0 = 70 mins

Scrumhalf
Luke McGrath(28/St. Michaels/UCD) - 3 + 1 = 193 mins
Jamie Gibson Park(29) - 2 + 2 = 161 mins
Nick McCarthy(26/St. Michaels/UCD) - 0 + 2 = 44 mins

Outhalf
Ross Byrne(26/St. Michaels/UCD) - 2 + 2 = 212 mins
Jonathan Sexton(36/St. Marys/St. Marys) - 2+ 1 = 166 mins
Harry Byrne(22/St. Michaels/Lansdowne) - 0 +1 = 22 mins

Centre
Garry Ringrose(26/Blackrock/UCD) - 4 + 0 = 309 mins
Ciaran Frawley(23/Skerries RFC/UCD) - 4 + 1 = 291 mins
Jamie Osborne(19/Naas RFC/Naas) - 1 + 2 = 103 mins
Conor O'Brien(25/Mullingar RFC/Clontarf) - 1 + 0 = 66 mins
Tommy O'Brien(23/Blackrock/UCD) - 0 + 1 = 23 mins

Back Three
Hugo Keenan(25/Blackrock/UCD) - 4 + 0 = 320 mins
James Lowe(29) - 3 + 0 = 228 mins
Jordan Larmour(24/St. Andrews/St. Marys) - 2 + 0 = 160 mins
Adam Byrne(27/Naas RFC/UCD) - 2 + 0 = 160 mins
Rory O'Loughlin(27/St. Michaels/UCD) - 2 + 0 = 146 mins
Rob Russell(22/St. Michaels/DUFC) - 1 + 1 = 110 mins
Jimmy O'Brien(24/Newbridge/UCD) - 0 + 1 = 80 mins

[backrower8]

15 out of 48 players listed as injured. Almost 1 in 3. 13 of the 15 injured players are aged 22 or under.

What is going on?

[hugonaut]

15 out of 48 players listed as injured. Almost 1 in 3. 13 of the 15 injured players are aged 22 or under.

What is going on?

For as far back as I can remember [say 13-14 seasons or so], lads in the academy have picked up injuries and missed more time than senior players.

I think it would make an exceptionally interesting academic study/thesis for a S&C or even medical student. I cannot speak with any authority on it, but my reading of the evidence is that their S&C training load goes through the roof and at the same time they are playing a collision sport with extremely taxing demands on the CV system.

They need to go through it in that relatively short period in order to get where they are going in enough time to have a career, but its a tough stint. So much of the physical development is frontloaded to the academy because it has to be, but it's still a huge stressor.

Tom Clarkson now weighs 118kg [source: https://www.leinsterrugby.ie/player?PlayGuid=TC943743]; I think he weighed 108kg in his first year as an Irish U20, two years ago. He has put on 10kg in two years. I'd be surprised if he put on 5kg more in the next ten years. That is a massive increase in muscle mass over a short period of time ... and he has to play a pretty high standard of rugby while going through that process. It's a lot of stress on the body.

[mildlyinterested]

Will Connors(knee) got injured in ireland training last season.

Tom Clarkson(hamstring) got injured in training last season.

Charlie Ryan got injured playing for Leinster A last season.

Lee Barron, Joe McCarthy and Ben Murphy got injured in the warmups for the irish 20's.

Alex Soroka(shoulder), Temi Lasisi(shoulder) and Jack Boyle got injured playing in the irish 20's 6 nations.

Robbie Henshaw(foot), Andrew Smith, Max O'Reilly, Micheal Milne(calf) and Marcus Hanan got injured in preseason.

Mark Hernan got injured playing for Lansdowne in the AIL.

i'd be hopeful that quite a few of those injured for the irish 20's are nearing a return. Same goes for Connors and Clarkson.

[Ruckedtobits]

With the exception of stats from SA, the 5-7 yr assessment (up to September 2018) of injury (unavailability) levels in Professional Rugby Squads suggested that c. 22% of all professional Squads were unavailable for selection due to injury or illness at all times throughout the Rugby Season.

My memory is that this data / research was compiled by a NZ University on behalf of the NZ Union. At the time when this data first became available, Leinster 7-yr history indicated an unavailability level below 17% and more probably 15% if the definitions (of injuries) were slightly amended.

It is therefore possible that Leinster's injury profile has disimproved since that date and that we are now closer to the international average. This was predicted to Leinster by a consultancy report which reviewed our injury stats against available information from other countries.

[Lock9541]

Will Connors(knee) got injured in ireland training last season.

Tom Clarkson(hamstring) got injured in training last season.

Charlie Ryan got injured playing for Leinster A last season.

Lee Barron, Joe McCarthy and Ben Murphy got injured in the warmups for the irish 20's.

Alex Soroka(shoulder), Temi Lasisi(shoulder) and Jack Boyle got injured playing in the irish 20's 6 nations.

Robbie Henshaw(foot), Andrew Smith, Max O'Reilly, Micheal Milne(calf) and Marcus Hanan got injured in preseason.

Mark Hernan got injured playing for Lansdowne in the AIL.

i'd be hopeful that quite a few of those injured for the irish 20's are nearing a return. Same goes for Connors and Clarkson.

Jack Boyle isn’t injured anymore he’s not playing because Leinster put him on a bulking programme. He’s focusing on gym and putting in weight instead of playing rugby for now.

[Morf]

I think it would make an exceptionally interesting academic study/thesis for a S&C or even medical student. I cannot speak with any authority on it, but my reading of the evidence is that their S&C training load goes through the roof and at the same time they are playing a collision sport with extremely taxing demands on the CV system.

From memory this was largely covered by Dr Bryan Cullen while he completed his PhD before taking up his role with Dublin GAA.

Interesting to see a) how essential Michael Alaalatoa has been at TH b) how spread the minutes are at SR c) how much Penny has struggled for minutes so far

[ronk]

Will Connors(knee) got injured in ireland training last season.

Tom Clarkson(hamstring) got injured in training last season.

Charlie Ryan got injured playing for Leinster A last season.

Lee Barron, Joe McCarthy and Ben Murphy got injured in the warmups for the irish 20's.

Alex Soroka(shoulder), Temi Lasisi(shoulder) and Jack Boyle got injured playing in the irish 20's 6 nations.

Robbie Henshaw(foot), Andrew Smith, Max O'Reilly, Micheal Milne(calf) and Marcus Hanan got injured in preseason.

Mark Hernan got injured playing for Lansdowne in the AIL.

i'd be hopeful that quite a few of those injured for the irish 20's are nearing a return. Same goes for Connors and Clarkson.

Jack Boyle isn’t injured anymore he’s not playing because Leinster put him on a bulking programme. He’s focusing on gym and putting in weight instead of playing rugby for now.

Are they converting him to tighthead yet?

[mildlyinterested]

Will Connors(knee) got injured in ireland training last season.

Tom Clarkson(hamstring) got injured in training last season.

Charlie Ryan got injured playing for Leinster A last season.

Lee Barron, Joe McCarthy and Ben Murphy got injured in the warmups for the irish 20's.

Alex Soroka(shoulder), Temi Lasisi(shoulder) and Jack Boyle got injured playing in the irish 20's 6 nations.

Robbie Henshaw(foot), Andrew Smith, Max O'Reilly, Micheal Milne(calf) and Marcus Hanan got injured in preseason.

Mark Hernan got injured playing for Lansdowne in the AIL.

i'd be hopeful that quite a few of those injured for the irish 20's are nearing a return. Same goes for Connors and Clarkson.

Jack Boyle isn’t injured anymore he’s not playing because Leinster put him on a bulking programme. He’s focusing on gym and putting in weight instead of playing rugby for now.

Are they converting him to tighthead yet?

I imagine if anyones getting converted its lasisi.

[mildlyinterested]

Peter Dooley on the bench for Lansdowne this weekend, as is Cormac Foley.

John McKee starting for Old Belvo.

Chris Cosgrave and Sean O'Brien starting for UCD, Jack Boyle on the bench.

Jack Dunne and Rob Russell starting for Trinity.

[backrower8]

15 out of 48 players listed as injured. Almost 1 in 3. 13 of the 15 injured players are aged 22 or under.

What is going on?

For as far back as I can remember [say 13-14 seasons or so], lads in the academy have picked up injuries and missed more time than senior players.

I think it would make an exceptionally interesting academic study/thesis for a S&C or even medical student. I cannot speak with any authority on it, but my reading of the evidence is that their S&C training load goes through the roof and at the same time they are playing a collision sport with extremely taxing demands on the CV system.

They need to go through it in that relatively short period in order to get where they are going in enough time to have a career, but its a tough stint. So much of the physical development is frontloaded to the academy because it has to be, but it's still a huge stressor.

Tom Clarkson now weighs 118kg [source: https://www.leinsterrugby.ie/player?PlayGuid=TC943743]; I think he weighed 108kg in his first year as an Irish U20, two years ago. He has put on 10kg in two years. I'd be surprised if he put on 5kg more in the next ten years. That is a massive increase in muscle mass over a short period of time ... and he has to play a pretty high standard of rugby while going through that process. It's a lot of stress on the body.

Thank you

[backrower8]

Will Connors(knee) got injured in ireland training last season.

Tom Clarkson(hamstring) got injured in training last season.

Charlie Ryan got injured playing for Leinster A last season.

Lee Barron, Joe McCarthy and Ben Murphy got injured in the warmups for the irish 20's.

Alex Soroka(shoulder), Temi Lasisi(shoulder) and Jack Boyle got injured playing in the irish 20's 6 nations.

Robbie Henshaw(foot), Andrew Smith, Max O'Reilly, Micheal Milne(calf) and Marcus Hanan got injured in preseason.

Mark Hernan got injured playing for Lansdowne in the AIL.

i'd be hopeful that quite a few of those injured for the irish 20's are nearing a return. Same goes for Connors and Clarkson.

Thank you. Exceptional tracking.

[mildlyinterested]

Josh Murphy & Jack Boyle on the bench for UCD this weekend, Chris Cosgrave(15) and Sean O'Brien(7) start.

John McKee(2) starts for Old Belvo.

[mildlyinterested]

Peter Dooley and Cormac Foley start for Lansdowne.

Martin Moloney starts for Clontarf. No Brian Deeny or Vakh who have been fixtures in the AIL so far.

no players released to play for Trinity, very odd.

[Xanthippe]

Peter Dooley and Cormac Foley start for Lansdowne.

Martin Moloney starts for Clontarf. No Brian Deeny or Vakh who have been fixtures in the AIL so far.

no players released to play for Trinity, very odd.

If his insta is to believed Vakh is in Germany at the moment - he was at the Bayern v Benfica match this week

[mildlyinterested]

I imagine Dooley, Connors, Deegan, Penny, Sheehan and Frawley will all be targeted by the other provinces for moves at the end of the season.

[ronk]

I imagine Dooley, Connors, Deegan, Penny, Sheehan and Frawley will all be targeted by the other provinces for moves at the end of the season.

All good players. Most of them getting good gametime here and rising stocks.

Dooley dropping to 4th choice with Boyle in the system will be a tough one. But there isn't that great a move either. Connacht is one way, Ulster have O'Sullivan and McGrath and wouldn't be a good prospect. Munster are the best on paper and Limerick is close to his family home, but I don't feel it. They have Kilcoyne and a few other players. A provincial move would be one of convenience rather than ambition, and some players do that. Dooley is solid but he's not destructive enough to really get their attention or a big package from them.

Given he's now probably dropped off the bottom of the (main) Irish depth chart it would make most sense for him to see what he can get overseas.

But if Healy sticks with tighthead more or there's an injury it might look better as Porter's international minutes bite.

[elephantman]

I imagine Dooley, Connors, Deegan, Penny, Sheehan and Frawley will all be targeted by the other provinces for moves at the end of the season.

Having no URC games during the international window is probably going to cost us one or two players.