The Leinster Front Row preview 2021/22

[riocard911]

Sheehan looks a better thrower.

I was critical of his throwing after the first test (and I still don't think it's something we rank high enough in ireland), but he was excellent in the last two

Sure was. Very impressive! Between himself and JR we might see an improvement in the Leinster line out this season. Fingers crossed.

[Ruckedtobits]

So both being fit, whose the starting hooker next year? Sheehan has made huge strides over the last 6 months since the French 6N game. Kelleher on the other hand hasn’t had a consistent run since the same game but built up an impressive portfolio of performances in the 12-18 months before that.

Sorry to interject on this and I understand that not everybody has the same take on these discussions, but I hate the question, "But who is the starting hooker / LHP, / THP, 2nd Row etc?

From now till November 2023, the question should be " Is he good enough now to make our RWC panel? For me, both Kelleher & Sheehan will be the correct 1st & 2nd choice hookers against different opponents we are scheduled to face in RWC23. I don't yet have the same certainty in every position in the current Squad. I believe we will have a Squad of 33 and I've previously posted as to how the composition, by position, might vary. However, the key debate on each position should be "Is ^$%&@ good enough for our RWC Squad?

The ideal, and if we reach it there's a real debate, is that we have a locked-in 33 and maybe a further 5 or 6 players who ARE 'good enough' for our RWC Squad. I believe that certainly is where Faz would like to be in 12 months time. But we're not there yet.

[ronk]

It's relevant if we're talking about the Autumn Internationals or the 6N. There's a fair bit of rugby before the RWC.

Also there will be a minimum of 3 hookers going. Barring injury there'd need to a significant jump in form from multiple hookers for it to be possible he misses out.

It's a bit like debating whether Beirne will make the squad.

[mildlyinterested]

Leinster young frontrowers coming through:

Loosehead Prop
Michael Milne(23/Birr RFC-Roscrea/UCD)
Marcus Hanan(22/Clane RFC/Terenure)
Jack Boyle(20/St. Michaels/UCD)
--
George Hadden(U20/Gorey RFC/Clontarf)
George Morris(U20/Gonzaga/Lansdowne)
--
Grant Palmer(U19/Wexford RFC)
James Wyse(U18/Clongowes)
Darragh Brennan(U18/Tullamore RFC)

Tighthead Prop
Tom Clarkson(22/Blackrock/DUFC)
Temi Lasisi(21/Enniscorthy RFC/Lansdowne)
Rory McGuire(20/Blackrock/UCD)
--
Paddy McCarthy(U20/Blackrock/DUFC)
Adam Daey(U19/Tullow RFC/Lansdowne)
--
Andrew Sparrow(U19/St. Marys)
Adam Watchorn(U18/Kilkenny)

Hooker
John McKee(22/Campbell/Terenure)
Lee Barron(21/St. Michaels/DUFC)
--
Gus McCarthy(U20/Blackrock/UCD)
Tom Barry(U20/Gonzaga/Lansdowne)
--
Stephen Smyth(U19/Kilkenny)
Tom Stewart(U18/St. Michaels)
Mikey Yarr(U18/Blackrock)

[backrower8]

Leinster young frontrowers coming through:

Loosehead Prop
Michael Milne(23/Birr RFC-Roscrea/UCD)
Marcus Hanan(22/Clane RFC/Terenure)
Jack Boyle(20/St. Michaels/UCD)
--
George Hadden(U20/Gorey RFC/Clontarf)
--
Grant Palmer(U19/Wexford RFC)
James Wyse(U18/Clongowes)
Darragh Brennan(U18/Tullamore RFC)

Tighthead Prop
Tom Clarkson(22/Blackrock/DUFC)
Temi Lasisi(21/Enniscorthy RFC/Lansdowne)
Rory McGuire(20/Blackrock/UCD)
--
Paddy McCarthy(U20/Blackrock/DUFC)
Adam Daey(U19/Tullow RFC/Lansdowne)
--
Andrew Sparrow(U19/St. Marys)
Adam Watchorn(U18/Kilkenny)

Hooker
John McKee(22/Campbell/Terenure)
Lee Barron(21/St. Michaels/DUFC)
--
Gus McCarthy(U20/Blackrock/UCD)
--
Stephen Smyth(U19/Kilkenny)
Tom Stewart(U18/St. Michaels)
Mikey Yarr(U18/Blackrock)

19 year old Paddy McCarthy's dominant performance at Loose Head (he was Tight Head at SCT) against UCD at the weekend was notable. His opposite number is fairly seasoned (25) but an AIL survivor rather than a strong-scrummager. McCarthy has options, although he may be a bit leggy for loose.

[mildlyinterested]

Id expect McCarthy to start at 3 for irish 20s this season, with Hadden at 1 and McCarthy at 2.

And all three probably to progress to the academy.

[Twist]

Does anyone who knows more about the front row than me think we'll see Jack Boyle in the senior team this season?

[mildlyinterested]

Does anyone who knows more about the front row than me think we'll see Jack Boyle in the senior team this season?

He is currently injured, so it really depends on how quickly he returns.

Given there isnt as many games this season and none during the international breaks...

[LeRouxIsPHat]

I don’t think Milne did much in South Africa to demand selection on his return. He needs games but I’m not really sure when he’ll get them.

I’ve been bigging up Clarkson for this season but he was underwhelming as well. I think he’s shown more in the past though so it doesn’t concern me as much and there isn’t the same need at TH considering we have Big Mike as backup.

[mildlyinterested]

Big Mike will only be around for so long and they need to bringing along his replacement, not sure Clarkson will be the answer to that though given his struggles in the scrum and him not being the biggest around the park.

Same issue for Milne the other side and in fact for many of the props coming through of late. Suppose they are prioritizing other areas over the ability to scrummage and hoping the scrum will come with time..

[mildlyinterested]

Leinster young frontrowers coming through:

Loosehead Prop
Michael Milne(23/Birr RFC-Roscrea/UCD)
Marcus Hanan(22/Clane RFC/Terenure)
Jack Boyle(20/St. Michaels/UCD)
--
George Hadden(U20/Gorey RFC/Clontarf)
George Morris(U20/Gonzaga/Lansdowne)
--
Grant Palmer(U19/Wexford RFC)
James Wyse(U18/Clongowes)
Darragh Brennan(U18/Tullamore RFC)

Tighthead Prop
Tom Clarkson(22/Blackrock/DUFC)
Temi Lasisi(21/Enniscorthy RFC/Lansdowne)
Rory McGuire(20/Blackrock/UCD)
--
Tom Connolly(22/Galwegians/DUFC)
Ben Griffin(20/Coolmine RFC-Castleknock/Clontarf)
Paddy McCarthy(U20/Blackrock/DUFC)
Adam Daey(U19/Tullow RFC/Lansdowne)
--
Andrew Sparrow(U19/St. Marys)
Adam Watchorn(U18/Kilkenny)

Hooker
John McKee(22/Campbell/Terenure)
Lee Barron(21/St. Michaels/DUFC)
--
Gus McCarthy(U20/Blackrock/UCD)
Tom Barry(U20/Gonzaga/Lansdowne)
--
Stephen Smyth(U19/Kilkenny)
Tom Stewart(U18/St. Michaels)
Mikey Yarr(U18/Blackrock)

probably should include Ben Griffin(20) and Tom Connolly(22) at tighthead as they played with the A team this season.