The Leinster Outhalf preview 2021/22

[mildlyinterested]

Johnny Sexton(36/St. Marys/St. Marys) - central contract until 2022
Ross Byrne(26/St. Michaels/UCD) - signed contract in 2020
Harry Byrne(22/St. Michaels/Lansdowne) - signed contract in 2020
Ciaran Frawley(23/Skerries RFC/UCD) - signed contract in 2019
David Hawkshaw(22/Belvedere/Clontarf) - signed contract in 2021

At the start of another season, Leinsters outhalf position remains pretty much unchanged, Johnny Sexton remains in situ as club captain, and 1st choice for both his province and Ireland. Unfortunately Sextons concussion issues ended his season early last season, a summer off means Sexton should be available when the season resumes, how much can leinster continue to rely on Sexton? His absence was felt against La Rochelle at the end of last season but how long does he have left at that level? Ross Byrne stepped up last season replacing Sexton in the win against Exeter, but concerns about his ability at the highest level remain due to his lack of athleticism and threat with ball in hand. Many peoples long term successor to Sexton is Harry Byrne who had an injuries interrupt his season at key times will be hoping to start the season strongly, how the leinster coaches balance playing time between these three players will be something to watch. Can Harry step up and push Sexton for his place? Ciaran Frawley had a season to forget last year with it being disrupted massively due to injuries, the outhalf/inside centre will be hoping to stay healthy this year and to show what he is able to do at 10 or 12. Finally David Hawkshaw made his leinster debut last season after a serious knee injury as a u20, the outhalf/centre flashed some exciting ability with ball in hand in his leinster appearances last season, it will be interesting to see if he focuses on one position in particular this upcoming season.



As of now there are no outhalves in the academy with Tim Corkery missing out on an academy place this summer despite appearing for the senior side last season, I expect he will be competing for an academy place over the coming months with Charlie Tector, Fionn O'Hara and Sam Prendergast.

[backrower8]

I don't dispute the rationale, but the previews thus far have a mainly glass half empty feel about them.

[Dave Cahill]

Whats concerning to me is how often MI has had to type some variant of "after missing much of the year through injury" in all the categories

[mildlyinterested]

Whats concerning to me is how often MI has had to type some variant of "after missing much of the year through injury" in all the categories

Not going to get any better with the remaining previews either.

[hugonaut]

Whats concerning to me is how often MI has had to type some variant of "after missing much of the year through injury" in all the categories

Not going to get any better with the remaining previews either.

The outside backs! No games for Conor O'Brien last season, Tommy O'Brien missed five months, Ringrose broke his jaw twice, James Lowe only played five games for Leinster, Adam Byrne missed the whole season, Larmour dislocated his shoulder ... we had a really terrible year with injuries.

[mildlyinterested]

Whats concerning to me is how often MI has had to type some variant of "after missing much of the year through injury" in all the categories

Not going to get any better with the remaining previews either.

The outside backs! No games for Conor O'Brien last season, Tommy O'Brien missed five months, Ringrose broke his jaw twice, James Lowe only played five games for Leinster, Adam Byrne missed the whole season, Larmour dislocated his shoulder ... we had a really terrible year with injuries.

if it persists.. questions surely need to be asked about whats going on.

[backrower8]

Not going to get any better with the remaining previews either.

The outside backs! No games for Conor O'Brien last season, Tommy O'Brien missed five months, Ringrose broke his jaw twice, James Lowe only played five games for Leinster, Adam Byrne missed the whole season, Larmour dislocated his shoulder ... we had a really terrible year with injuries.

if it persists.. questions surely need to be asked about whats going on.

Yes, the evidence of injuries across the squad has been the most striking thing about the (excellent) previews, but is that not a function of where the game is right now? Certainly in the northern hemisphere.

Or do people think that Leinster has a higher incidence rate of injury?

[ronk]

Thanks MI.

Happy with all our players. Liked Frawley when he was fit and I thought his injuries were bad luck more than him being fragile.

[Degz]

I like Frawley a lot and genuinely believe he could be the answer to the second playmaker conundrum and should definitely concentrate on either 12 or 15. I believe the former to be a better fit.

[mildlyinterested]

https://www.the42.ie/johnny-sexton-reti ... 2-Sep2021/

Sexton admits he may retire at the end of the season.

[Avenger]

https://www.the42.ie/johnny-sexton-reti ... 2-Sep2021/

Sexton admits he may retire at the end of the season.

I hope it's not a constant "thing" in the media and they constantly pester him about it.
Ideally he plays the seasons and then BANG - makes his announcement - and thats it.

[erskinechilders]

Getting more and more worried this year will simply pass Harry Byrne by without pretty much any gametime. I thought he would have started against Bath but he was removed from the team ( COVID I'm guessing ). So far he's played 98 minutes of rugby for Leinster and 56 minutes for Ireland. Compare that with his contemporaries in England & France, Smith, Ntamack, Jaliberet. His entire career could just fizzle out.

Harry Byrne :

DATE TEAM MINS
3/12/2021 Connacht Rugby 60
27/11/2021 Ulster Rugby 16
9/10/2021 Zebre Parma 22
Total 98

Ross Byrne :

DATE TEAM POSITION TRIES MINS
11/12/2021 Bath Rugby 59
3/12/2021 Connacht Rugby 20
27/11/2021 Ulster Rugby 64
22/10/2021 Glasgow Warriors 80
16/10/2021 Scarlets 30
3/10/2021 Dragons 80
25/09/2021 Vodacom Bulls22 22
Total 355

Sexton :

16/10/2021 Scarlets 50
9/10/2021 Zebre Parma 58
25/09/2021 Vodacom Bulls 58
Total 166

[mildlyinterested]

not much leinster can do when they haven't played a game in 5 weeks and Harry cant stay healthy/available when we do.

But his career isnt going to fizzle out, its just been some bad luck and covid.

[riocard911]

not much leinster can do when they haven't played a game in 5 weeks and Harry cant stay healthy/available when we do.

But his career isnt going to fizzle out, its just been some bad luck and covid.

Yes, but still it is somewhat exasperating, that after tonight Munster's Crowley will have a Heino start under his belt, while Our Harry is still waiting for his. Grrrhh, gnash, grrrhh....

[Lock9541]

not much leinster can do when they haven't played a game in 5 weeks and Harry cant stay healthy/available when we do.

But his career isnt going to fizzle out, its just been some bad luck and covid.

Yes, but still it is somewhat exasperating, that after tonight Munster's Crowley will have a Heino start under his belt, while Our Harry is still waiting for his. Grrrhh, gnash, grrrhh....

Harry should move to Ulster or Connacht IMO. Would definitely be a consistent starter there.

[erskinechilders]

not much leinster can do when they haven't played a game in 5 weeks and Harry cant stay healthy/available when we do.

But his career isnt going to fizzle out, its just been some bad luck and covid.

Yes, but still it is somewhat exasperating, that after tonight Munster's Crowley will have a Heino start under his belt, while Our Harry is still waiting for his. Grrrhh, gnash, grrrhh....

Harry should move to Ulster or Connacht IMO. Would definitely be a consistent starter there.

Not in Connacht! More than likely would start over Burns though. All depends on what Ross does with his contract!

[curates_egg]

He can’t start anywhere if he keeps getting injured.

[mildlyinterested]

not much leinster can do when they haven't played a game in 5 weeks and Harry cant stay healthy/available when we do.

But his career isnt going to fizzle out, its just been some bad luck and covid.

Yes, but still it is somewhat exasperating, that after tonight Munster's Crowley will have a Heino start under his belt, while Our Harry is still waiting for his. Grrrhh, gnash, grrrhh....

Harry should move to Ulster or Connacht IMO. Would definitely be a consistent starter there.

not if he keeps getting injured

[jezzer]

Nothing much wrong with Ross' performance at the weekend, albeit against relative trash (esp his opposite number).

[nc6000]

Is Harry injured? He wasn't listed as injured in the match preview.