Leinster Squad 22-23

[cormac]

Scarlets don’t play on a 4G pitch

[mildlyinterested]

Culhane is injured afaik

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Sexton and Josh up against Am and Dupont for WPOTY.

It's not just bias to say that I think the Irish lads have been way ahead of the other two this year. Personally I'd go for Josh but hard to argue with either, some achievement to even be nominated. I'm reminded again of how lucky we are to have these guys on our doorstep!

[ronk]

Am hasn't played all that much and some small games: Wales ×3, Scotland. Beaten by Australia, England, New Zealand. + a win against NZ. There has to be a SH name and it makes sense to be him.

Dupont good player, great record with France. Coming into a RWC, and he's the holder. But that red card could come back to bite him and his form hasn't been all that good (not bad obviously) when I've seen him.

Sexton was injured again France, we won the triple crown with him back. The first test against NZ was his other loss. He has a series win in NZ which is amazing, and if we beat Australia it's a full house against the southern big 3 in 6 months. The whole team just play so well together and it's such good rugby to watch.

JvdF is a great candidate too, but the way Sexton has us playing is special.

[cormac]

Hard to believe that Ardie Savea hasn’t been nominated. He’s been superb in an ordinary team.

[hugonaut]

Hard to believe that Ardie Savea hasn’t been nominated. He’s been superb in an ordinary team.

He has been super. The All Blacks won the Rugby Championship on his back. He deserved a nomination without a shadow of a doubt.

Aldritt had a good shout, but he had a holiday this summer while JVDF and Sexton were winning a test series in NZ.

Am played five tests in 2022, won three [two of them against Wales, who won one game in the Six Nations] and lost two. He's a very good player, but in terms of his 2022? Woop-de-f*cking doo. It's not an award on what you might have done if you weren't injured.

[hugonaut]

Sorry, strayed off topic there.

Interesting to see Trinity's Tom Connolly back at training today, this time wearing protective goggles of the type pioneered by Ian McKinley: https://www.sportsfile.com/id/2379272/

[riocard911]

Hard to believe that Ardie Savea hasn’t been nominated. He’s been superb in an ordinary team.

Alone the dummy he sold the Welsh D in Cardiff! Outrageous!!!

[blockhead]

Am hasn't played all that much and some small games: Wales ×3, Scotland. Beaten by Australia, England, New Zealand. + a win against NZ. There has to be a SH name and it makes sense to be him.

Dupont good player, great record with France. Coming into a RWC, and he's the holder. But that red card could come back to bite him and his form hasn't been all that good (not bad obviously) when I've seen him.

Sexton was injured again France, we won the triple crown with him back. The first test against NZ was his other loss. He has a series win in NZ which is amazing, and if we beat Australia it's a full house against the southern big 3 in 6 months. The whole team just play so well together and it's such good rugby to watch.

JvdF is a great candidate too, but the way Sexton has us playing is special.

JvdF was a very good 7 for a long time, amazing that he went up 2-3 levels of performance after that and stayed there. It's rare to see that in any sport.

[mildlyinterested]

Ross Byrne called upto Irish squad.

[ronk]

Ross Byrne called upto Irish squad.

Makes sense. Not much point having a 36 man squad with 2 people who can cover outhalf. Especially with such an inexperienced backup.

I think they'll stick with Crowley, but it makes also sense to go with a proven player if they end up doing that.

[Serb]

Jason Jenkins picked for South Africa A again to start against Bristol Bears on Thursday night.

[mildlyinterested]

Jason Jenkins picked for South Africa A again to start against Bristol Bears on Thursday night.

Not surprising

[Serb]

Jimmy O’Brien staking a decent claim for a World Cup squad spot, filling in at 13 two weeks ago, starting at 15 last week and now starting at 11 this week.

Joe McCarthy likely making his debut off the bench vs Australia too.

[ronk]

Henshaw out until Jan with wrist surgery.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/63786193

Injuries are mounting up at centre but we still have a few options and a strong team if we don't get more.

Ringrose has a lot of minutes so I'd still be inclined to try and rest him against Ulster. Seems like a good time to let Turner try and step up.

[wixfjord]

Brilliant to hear that Will Connors 'hopes to be back playing before Christmas.'

https://www.the42.ie/will-connors-leins ... 9-Nov2022/

For some reason I thought it was going to be a far longer absence than that.

[mildlyinterested]

Interesting to see darcy on OTB question the quality of backs being produced by leinster.

[naraic]

Interesting to see darcy on OTB question the quality of backs being produced by leinster.

Its worth noting that his point seemed to be that none of them had forced their way into a first choice 23. Being in a first choice 23 in big games is where players prove themselves a certain way. Thats a fair point. The younger backs in our first choice 23 are Frawley (24) Jimmy O'Brien (26) and Keenan (26).

I think Osbourne might get a run with a first choice 23 now with injuries so I think he might get a big chance to put down a marker.

[Serb]

Interesting to see darcy on OTB question the quality of backs being produced by leinster.

I can kind of see his point, but you have to account for the quality ahead of them too. Our first 15 only really has room for disruption on the wing realistically.

We have some of the best players in the world at 10, 12, 13 and 15, and very solid 9 and 11 in JGP and Lowe. I think 14 isn’t nailed down with O’Brien, Larmour or Kearney, if a real talent popped up there, they’d take the spot.

If we’re talking the full 23, then all spots are up for grabs really. Foley is pushing McGrath, no-one is really pushing Ross realistically, 23 is pretty open however, with Frawley, Osbourne and Jimmy O’Brien if he’s not picked to start.

[mildlyinterested]

25 and under back through the academy and still on leinsters books:

Scrumhalf
Cormac Foley(23/St. Gerards/Lansdowne) - 9 leinster caps
--
Ben Murphy(21/Pres Bray/Old Wesley) - Academy Yr 2/1 leinster cap

Outhalf
Ciaran Frawley(24/Skerries RFC/UCD) - 60 leinster caps
Harry Byrne(23/St. Michaels/Lansdowne) - 37 leinster caps
--
Charlie Tector(20/Kilkenny/Lansdowne) - Academy Yr 1/1 leinster cap
Sam Prendergast(19/Newbridge/Lansdowne) - Academy Yr 1

Centre
Liam Turner(23/Blackrock/DUFC) - 9 leinster caps
Jamie Osborne(21/Naas RFC/Naas) - 22 leinster caps
--
Ben Brownlee(20/Blackrock/UCD) - Academy Yr 1/1 leinster cap

Back Three
Jordan Larmour(25/St. Andrews/St. Marys) - 77 leinster caps
Tommy O'Brien(24/Blackrock/UCD) - 21 leinster caps
--
Rob Russell(23/St. Michaels/DUFC) - Academy Yr 2/11 leinster caps
Andrew Smith(22/St. Michaels/Clontarf) - Academy Yr 3/2 leinster caps
Max O'Reilly(22/St. Gerards/DUFC) - Academy Yr 3/10 leinster caps
Chris Cosgrave(21/St. Michaels/UCD) - Academy Yr 2/4 leinster caps
Aitzol King(20/Balbriggan RFC/Clontarf) - Academy Yr 1