The Leinster Centre preview 2021/22

[mildlyinterested]

Robbie Henshaw(28) - central contact until 2022
Rory O'Loughlin(27/St. Michaels/UCD) - signed contract in 2020
Garry Ringrose(26/Blackrock/UCD) - central contact until 2022
Conor O'Brien(25/Mullingar RFC/Clontarf) - signed contract in 2019
Ciaran Frawley(23/Skerries RFC/UCD) - signed contract in 2019
Tommy O'Brien(23/Blackrock/UCD) - signed contract in 2020
David Hawkshaw(22/Belvedere/Clontarf) - signed contract in 2021

With most if not all of the options at centre out of contract at the end of the season there is a lot to play for and some places up for grabs. Someone who has no worries will be Robbie Henshaw who is coming off his best season as a professional playing both 12 and 13 to a very high level, given his lions commitments this summer and the upcoming irish internationals in October when he will next play for leinster remains unclear. Rory O'Loughlin has a solid but unspectacular season last year playing both 12 and 13, he was relied upon a lot due to injuries but failed to score a try. Might he look for a move abroad given his age profile? Garry Ringrose has a rather disastrous season with injury interrupting him quite a few times, his current health status is unknown and when he will return to the field is to be determined. When he does he will be hoping to re-discover some form. Conor O'Brien didn't play last season due to injury, the centre who could line up at 12 or 13 looks to have returned to training in the preseason, he will be hoping for an injury free season. Ciaran Frawley featured at 12 last season when he was absent with injury, his current health status is unknown after finishing last season injured. Tommy O'Brien has experience at 12 and 13, but could also feature on the wing, O'Brien was another outside back who struggled with injury last season but impressed whenever he got on the field. David Hawkshaw could play 10, 12 or 13 this season it will be interesting to following which he focuses on.



Academy
Liam Turner(22/Blackrock/DUFC) - Academy Yr 3
Jamie Osborne(19/Naas RFC/Naas) - Academy Yr 2

Liam Turner made his leinster debut last season at 13, he also missed time with injury. The short centre will be hoping to add to his leinster caps in the upcoming season, but can an 5'8 centre survive in the modern pro game? Jamie Osborne was the surprise of last season, making his debut at 19 for leinster and generally impressing in his appearances in blue, a strong irish u20 campaign at 15, opens the option of him playing there for leinster but given his size, i'd be surprised if he didn't settle at either 12 or 13.

[wixfjord]

A potential career defining season for COB coming up I think. Hope he gets opportunities at the start of the year with Henshaw not there.

[riocard911]

A potential career defining season for COB coming up I think. Hope he gets opportunities at the start of the year with Henshaw not there.

+1! Would love to see CO'B be able to fulfill his promise!!!

[hugonaut]

A potential career defining season for COB coming up I think. Hope he gets opportunities at the start of the year with Henshaw not there.

+1! Would love to see CO'B be able to fulfill his promise!!!

Another +1 here. He's got a lot of natural ability – height, strength, enough pace to have played on the wing for the Irish U20s, a great left foot ... I think for him this season it's a case of staying injury free and being available for selection. We really could have used him last season, we were all over the place looking for centres.

I think he's equally capable of playing No12 and No13 and would be a good fit as a No13 outside Frawley at No12. Alternatively as Wixfjord as said above, a like-for-like swap with Henshaw for the opening months of the season would be a good fit for him.

[wixfjord]

I want to see a backline with
12 O'Brien
13 O'Brien
15 O'Brien

next year.

With maybe Byrne at 10 and Byrne at 14.

Can Ross do a job at 11?

[hugonaut]

I want to see a backline with
12 O'Brien
13 O'Brien
15 O'Brien

next year.

With maybe Byrne at 10 and Byrne at 14.

Can Ross do a job at 11?

Possibly

10. Byrne
11. Byrne
12. Byrne
13. O'Brien
14. O'Brien
15. O'Brien

although

10. Byrne
11. O'Brien
12. Byrne
13. O'Brien
14. Byrne
15. O'Brien

is also viable.

[Barry]

I want to see a backline with
12 O'Brien
13 O'Brien
15 O'Brien

next year.

With maybe Byrne at 10 and Byrne at 14.

Can Ross do a job at 11?

Possibly

10. Byrne
11. Byrne
12. Byrne
13. O'Brien
14. O'Brien
15. O'Brien

although

10. Byrne
11. O'Brien
12. Byrne
13. O'Brien
14. Byrne
15. O'Brien

is also viable.

We all dream......

Sent from my VOG-L09 using Tapatalk

[wixfjord]

10. Byrne
11. O'Brien
12. Byrne
13. O'Brien
14. Byrne
15. O'Brien

Actually that one is the most likely of the lot!

I would happily put up with playing lads out of position to see it.

[Laighin Break]

10. Byrne
11. O'Brien
12. Byrne
13. O'Brien
14. Byrne
15. O'Brien

Maybe they could choose that lineup against Zebre or Dragons, for the laugh


Actually that one is the most likely of the lot!

I would happily put up with playing lads out of position to see it.

[joooooe]

There was a time when we had 4 Kearneys. If you add Beirnes and Bernes you could nearly have a whole backline of homonymous Leinster players.

[Oldschool]

I want to see a backline with
12 O'Brien
13 O'Brien
15 O'Brien

next year.

With maybe Byrne at 10 and Byrne at 14.

Can Ross do a job at 11?

Possibly

10. Byrne
11. Byrne
12. Byrne
13. O'Brien
14. O'Brien
15. O'Brien

although

10. Byrne
11. O'Brien
12. Byrne
13. O'Brien
14. Byrne
15. O'Brien

is also viable.

Not for the commentators.
Not to mention the post match analysis.
It would be a great angle for an Apres Match type skit.
Bring it On

[ronk]

We have 1 more in the pack and 2 more ex Leinster in England.