Leinster 2013/2014 & Ireland Under 20s

With next season in mind, is it possible that Leavy, Daly or Mcgrath could get some valuable game time in a new Leinster side with a new coach. As there isn't much point in continuing with Darcy at twelve and with Goodman proving to be ineffective, could Daly actually be given some experience domestically or elsewhere. Dan Leavy may get some gametime as Shane Jennings is nearing the end of his career while I hope Luke Mcgrath, an immensely talented scrum-half can get some regular game in both the heino and the Rabo. What do you think?

McGrath will hopefully kick on,he's the next big thing if he can fulfil his potential.Daly and Leavy should see some gametime but I wouldn't be pushing them too much we have a lot of depth in the backrow and both 7 and are such phsyical positions that you don't want to throw a young lad in too early.That said if they look like they're up to it then I'd love to see them grab their chance.

Daly looks an interesting prospect,it's a long time since we've had a big 12 and he has some serious footballing skills too so isn't just a head down basher.

Does anyone know much about Cathal Marsh,he's our 3rd choice 10 (maybe 4th if Reid is still considered a 10) can he step up to the top level?

Is Scannel not part of Leinster?

Scannell is with Munster. 

To the OP I find it bizarre you say that there is no point continuing to play with Darcy.

I have no doubt there will be ample opportunities for new faces at Leinster. There has been a big clear out with Sexton, Nacewa, Carr, Hagan, Conway, van der Merwe and Browne all leaving.

Then you have the international players whose regular departures will allow others to come through - Healy, Strauss, Ross, Heaslip, O'Brien, O'Driscoll and Kearney are likely to be absent for stretches at a time.

To me it looks like there are lots of players already getting a chance and the biggest bright spark will be the core of the B&I winning team starting to move up to the senior team.

Ledge the ledgebag wrote:With next season in mind, is it possible that Leavy, Daly or Mcgrath could get some valuable game time in a new Leinster side with a new coach. As there isn't much point in continuing with Darcy at twelve and with Goodman proving to be ineffective, could Daly actually be given some experience domestically or elsewhere. Dan Leavy may get some gametime as Shane Jennings is nearing the end of his career while I hope Luke Mcgrath, an immensely talented scrum-half can get some regular game in both the heino and the Rabo. What do you think?

wow!

I'll start with the bit I agree with. McGrath is a wonderful prospect. Magnificent game v the Ospreys in May.
The fact that he started it shows how highly he is rated by the management.
Hope he gets plenty of gametime.

The rest of the post?

Darce is still the best 12 in the country. whether he still will be in a year is another matter. Goodman is a solid and classy player
perhaps not at the top level of the HC but way up there at rabo level. He can even play 10 in a pinch.N ever has for Leinster yet. You have Project Coughlan in there too. he has a season at 12 for b&i.

Jennings is in great form and could play up to 4 more seasons. The back row competition is white hot. Between O'Brien/Jennings and Leavy/ van der Flier lie Ryan and Jordie Murphy to name just guys who can play 7 alone.

Leavy has another year in u20s, and while he is a phenominal talent, he ain't going to pass all those in a seaaon.

asoreleftshoulder wrote:McGrath will hopefully kick on,he's the next big thing if he can fulfil his potential.Daly and Leavy should see some gametime but I wouldn't be pushing them too much we have a lot of depth in the backrow and both 7 and are such phsyical positions that you don't want to throw a young lad in too early.That said if they look like they're up to it then I'd love to see them grab their chance.

Daly looks an interesting prospect,it's a long time since we've had a big 12 and he has some serious footballing skills too so isn't just a head down basher.

Does anyone know much about Cathal Marsh,he's our 3rd choice 10 (maybe 4th if Reid is still considered a 10) can he step up to the top level?

for big 12s see jordan coughlan. goodman is a serious lump too.

Marsh went from looking unfit and a little out of his depth at the begining of the season to winning b&i cup at the end.

Daly I am not yet convinced by, but having said that, he is only entering the academy proper now. re assess in a year.

Reid is one of those players that can mix the sublime and the ridiculous. he has another year. hopefully he will be even more sublime and a better tackler at the end of it. abillity to play 10 and 15 as well as 12 may help him.

Who are the best 3 Irish young players that us muggles should be looking out for this year. And why? And you're not allowed to pick JJ because I know about him already.

George Carlin wrote:Who are the best 3 Irish young players that us muggles should be looking out for this year. And why? And you're not allowed to pick JJ because I know about him already.

Have a look at this blog. The guy is "The Guvnor" when it comes to such things.

http://dementedmole.com/2013/04/08/5-up-2012-year-1/

and

http://dementedmole.com/2013/04/15/4-up-2013/

You could also have a look at the u20 squad and use the dropdown year menu to go back a few years and see how many names you recognise.

http://www.irishrugby.ie/squads/ireland_u20.php

If of course you have time on your hands.


Apologies to the OP if my comments above seem dismissive. I suppose the points are:

1/ All young talent is just potential, until it has proved itself at the highest level.

2/ It takes (and should take) more than a good showing at u20 level to displace a proven player.

3/ There are only so many opportunities to give young players a chance, and so many players with potential (thankfully). Some will not make it due simply to lack of "the breaks" whether due to injury or just luck.

4/ You must "blend" younger players into experienced teams rather than send them all out together in the Rabo to get slaughtered.

This is why guys like Boss and Ross (to take 2 examples) are needed on an Irish tour of America. When you give young players a chance with a strong team you can better judge their ability.

I have to say Darcy must be used to bring in other players. We have lost a lot of quality and experience this year. We are going to need new guys and there is no point in bringing in loads of newbies without some experience around them. Darcy is crucial to this (I can't see him being involved in Ireland next year)

Daly does look good though.

McGrath could get in ahead of Cooney and that should get him some gametime. 

Leavy will have to wait a bit yet, again it goes with the, we have far too much backrow talent, it has to go somewhere

It makes sense to play other 12s and prepare to phase D'Arcy out the way we've seen Paddy Wallace being slowly phased out over the last year at Ulster as Luke Marshall and Stuart Olding come through- but to just ditch him entirely?

Last year Paddy Wallace started as first choice 12 for Ulster and was doing well but as Luke Marshall was given chances off the bench and as he was doing well too he was given more and more chances... Stuart Olding was just an emergency pick in that after February both PW and LM were basically ruled out for the season and he did brilliantly but Leinster should do the same as Ulster did initially with Wallace and Marshall.

Ledge the ledgebag wrote: As there isn't much point in continuing with Darcy at twelve

Apart from the 200k in euros the IRFU are shelling out on him that is.  

At the start of the season some people said Anscombe was being over-conservative by still having Paddy Wallace as first choice yet we didn't lose a game until December and by the end of the season Olding and Marshall had both been capped by Ireland so...

It's not always wise to rush change. Just relax and let it happen at its natural pace.

George Carlin wrote:Who are the best 3 Irish young players that us muggles should be looking out for this year. And why? And you're not allowed to pick JJ because I know about him already.

Picking players that have played fewer than 5 competitive games for their provinces I'll go with Shane Layden (Fullback Connacht), Chris Farrell (Center Ulster), Jack Conan (No 8. Leinster) and James Cronin (Prop Munster), one from each of the 4 provinces. Its partly down to guess work and partly down to what I have seen. Layden was the best fullback for Ireland U20s last year but got injured, Farrell is a big center with good hands but missed last season through injury too. Conan is a more traditional ball carrying 8 and was good for Ireland U20s and James Cronin is a ball carrying prop - mainly loosehead - who has been promoted quickly by Munster.


Cronin and Farrell should see some gametime. I'm not sure about Layden and Conan.

Looking through the positions, scrum half is a very strong area. Boss and Reddan are veteran starters, Cooney is adequate Rabo leve while Luke is capable of overtaking them all.

Flyhalf feels weak, but that might be as I don't know how gopperth will settle.  I'm not the greatest fan of Reid or his attitude/ego.  Really hope one of the academy lads kicks on.

Good work there band.

You were let down by the Leinster website in a few places though.

These 2 lads missing from the Academy

"St. Michael's College SCT captain and Ireland Under-19 second row Ross Molony is joined by another Schools player, Terenure College full-back and Ireland Under-18 Schools international Billy Dardis."

Bit pi$$ed off that they did not credit Luke McGrath with his senior game v the Ospreys in May because he had a cracker.

In other news the 6'5" Jordan Coughlan made the switch to Centre a year ago and in fact played there several times in the B&I plus he had a run there with the senior side.

Same with Tracy and his switch from loose head to hooker. (Run there in B&I and 1 game in Rabo)

Finally Reid. Has not been played much at 10 and is now seen as a 12 and sometimes 15. (He could feature at 15 in pre season friendlies as there are not a lot of options there)

Sorry meant to add. We have 2 less in the Academy this year. 6 in, 6 promoted, but Mikey Sherlock and Dave Doyle retired.

Senior team still 40 players 9 out, 3 in, and 6 promoted from Academy

Hows Coughlan getting on after making the switch to center?

Lads what has happened Eoin O'Malley? Last year I thought he was gonna come through. Think I remember him being in an Irish training squad and now he's not even getting mentioned as a footnote in possible centre options at Leinster?

Coughlan went well at 12. Played in the last 4 pool games of the B&I there. (Having played back row in the 1st 2)

Moved to the bench when Reid moved to 12 for the knockouts.

O'Malley has just had a really really bad run of injuries going back 5 years. He came back from a long term injury in Feb. Played about 5 games and got a calf problem.

What's the hopes for him now then Jen?

Hard to know. I think he came good at the end of the season, but was not played.

He is probably in pre season now and hopefully he can kick on. He has not retired anyway so hopefully will go well this year.