2nd Row going forward

[mildlyinterested]

Depends on if bigger is always better.

physics still apply in a collision sport, Molony/Ryan is an undersized and under-powered lock pairing when it comes to the elite end of european rugby, the power in the front and backrow may allow leinster to overcome this issue but it still would be an issue leinster would be working around.

a lot harder to keep the ball alive if you aren't getting go forward ball from the pack.

I think it's quite clear that leinster are on the look out for a big powerful lock for this very reason.

Physics also says you should move the big lump around rather than go through him. With options to vary the point of attack you can get mismatches after a few phases.

easier said than done... but we will see how it does this season as it's unlikely a tighthead lock will be signed for this season, so leinster will have to work around the lack of power at lock if they are going to win in europe, can they do that? not recently..

[ronk]

I mentioned the back row.

You did. I meant to make a slightly different point about Baird being able to play there.

[brotheroffrank]

Depends on if bigger is always better.

physics still apply in a collision sport, Molony/Ryan is an undersized and under-powered lock pairing when it comes to the elite end of european rugby, the power in the front and backrow may allow leinster to overcome this issue but it still would be an issue leinster would be working around.

a lot harder to keep the ball alive if you aren't getting go forward ball from the pack.

I think it's quite clear that leinster are on the look out for a big powerful lock for this very reason.

Physics also says you should move the big lump around rather than go through him. With options to vary the point of attack you can get mismatches after a few phases.

Physics? Do we expect our second rows to be piano pushers or Naughton Scholars? A Theoretical Physicist already packs down beside a Computer Scientist in the Leinster Scrum. There is a theory in physics which suggests the future has already happened (www.bbc.com/reel/video/p04s223f/physics ... y-happened) so step forward again Big Mal!

[paddyor]

Game has changed. La Rochelle have struggled with their kick ball always plan.

We didn't really play anyone this AI series dead set on stopping the ball in play time but the world has changed and the previous two years are no longer a good guide.

Don't fight the last war, prepare for the next one.

Yeah, and sometimes you lose away in France and others your scrum gets a once in a decade shaming at home. It feels like we've developed a narrative about our team from 2 games.

[mildlyinterested]

Ages as the start of next season:

Devin Toner(36)
Ross Molony(28)
Josh Murphy(27)
James Ryan(26)
Jack Dunne(23)
Ryan Baird(23)
--
Charlie Ryan(23)
Brian Deeny(22)
Joe McCarthy(21)
Alex Soroka(21)

[mildlyinterested]

If Toner and Dunne leave, Leinsters depth chart will start looking very light on size and experience...

[Oldschool]

physics still apply in a collision sport, Molony/Ryan is an undersized and under-powered lock pairing when it comes to the elite end of european rugby, the power in the front and backrow may allow leinster to overcome this issue but it still would be an issue leinster would be working around.

a lot harder to keep the ball alive if you aren't getting go forward ball from the pack.

I think it's quite clear that leinster are on the look out for a big powerful lock for this very reason.

Physics also says you should move the big lump around rather than go through him. With options to vary the point of attack you can get mismatches after a few phases.

Physics? Do we expect our second rows to be piano pushers or Naughton Scholars? A Theoretical Physicist already packs down beside a Computer Scientist in the Leinster Scrum. There is a theory in physics which suggests the future has already happened (www.bbc.com/reel/video/p04s223f/physics ... y-happened) so step forward again Big Mal!

Yes if you believe that there are an infinite number of futures and pasts so that all eventualities are covered.
However.
A. Infinite is an indefinite number.
B. How do you determine which future applies.
So why the future may already be predetermined you are still no closer to knowing what it is.
Quantum Theory has another name Uncertainty Principle

[wixfjord]

Second row looked pretty solid today. Scrum was really good.

Would be interested to see how Josh M goes a few more times at second row. Could be a very useful option.

[lotmc]

Ages as the start of next season:

Devin Toner(36)
Ross Molony(28)
Josh Murphy(27)
James Ryan(26)
Jack Dunne(23)
Ryan Baird(23)
--
Charlie Ryan(23)
Brian Deeny(22)
Joe McCarthy(21)
Alex Soroka(21)

Looks like you can take Jack Dunne off that list from the start of next season - reportedly going to Exeter

https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/ ... 45462.html

[Laighin Break]

Ages as the start of next season:

Devin Toner(36)
Ross Molony(28)
Josh Murphy(27)
James Ryan(26)
Jack Dunne(23)
Ryan Baird(23)
--
Charlie Ryan(23)
Brian Deeny(22)
Joe McCarthy(21)
Alex Soroka(21)

Looks like you can take Jack Dunne off that list from the start of next season - reportedly going to Exeter

https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/ ... 45462.html

"The 21-year-old former Ireland U-20 international"

[LeRouxIsPHat]

So it sounds like he knew a second row was coming in and having already had no game time he decided to move and play? Can’t blame him.

I think Dev’s contract this season might have cost him and on balance I’m not sure that was a wise decision. But if he develops with Exeter during the same time that we have a ready made quality international to play for us then it could work out really well overall.

[LeinsterLeader]

So it sounds like he knew a second row was coming in and having already had no game time he decided to move and play? Can’t blame him.

I think Dev’s contract this season might have cost him and on balance I’m not sure that was a wise decision. But if he develops with Exeter during the same time that we have a ready made quality international to play for us then it could work out really well overall.

Was thinking that meself. 2 Years under Rob Baxter getting experience. Entice him back with the lure of playing for Ireland (assuming he doesn't jump to England first). Jobs a good 'un!

Not the ideal way you would have wanted it to go but not a bad conciliation prize

[Dave Cahill]

This may well have nothing to do with it, but Exeter University is renowned for its astrophysics research school

[mildlyinterested]

20-year-old Jack Dunne off the bench for Leinster vs. Benetton in 2019:

44 minutes
28 tackles
1 lineout steal
2 lineout wins
1 breakdown turnover pen
3 carries

nearly 3 years later and...

[riocard911]

20-year-old Jack Dunne off the bench for Leinster vs. Benetton in 2019:

44 minutes
28 tackles
1 lineout steal
2 lineout wins
1 breakdown turnover pen
3 carries

nearly 3 years later and...

It's a mystery - to me, at any rate....

[paddyor]

So it sounds like he knew a second row was coming in and having already had no game time he decided to move and play? Can’t blame him.

I think Dev’s contract this season might have cost him and on balance I’m not sure that was a wise decision. But if he develops with Exeter during the same time that we have a ready made quality international to play for us then it could work out really well overall.

Jonny Hill off to Sale and Sam Skinner to Embra so there's a clear opening there for him

[ronk]

20-year-old Jack Dunne off the bench for Leinster vs. Benetton in 2019:

44 minutes
28 tackles
1 lineout steal
2 lineout wins
1 breakdown turnover pen
3 carries

nearly 3 years later and...

It's a mystery - to me, at any rate....

He bulked up and got injured a fair bit. Took a while to adapt and needed a bigger run of games in pandemic shortened seasons.

The problem with bulking like that is at first you're a less effective player, more direct collisions lead to more injuries, you risk losing what you were best at and the smaller guys are usually favoured for all but the big power games. For those games you don't have enough form/experience so you don't get picked. It's a vicious circle.

You have a big mobile lad who was able to play that way. We should have been happy with that rather than thinking that he was our biggest lock and we should turn him into something different.

[wixfjord]

Should be interesting to see what sort of names we come up with for a NIQ second row signing. Not a huge amount of really top class options out there given the RWC cycle is closing in you'd imagine.

The Premiership might be a good hunting ground if teams are looking to reduce the salary cap. Vaea Fifita already gone to Scarlets.

In term of proper 6'7 / 19 stone sized TH locks with a good profile:

De Jager would obviously be a great option. Not sure his contract status.

Another might be David Ribbans from Saints. Not as high profile but a serious operator, 26, right size profile and hasn't been capped

In Japen, you've the likes of Tuipolotu who's on sabbatical so likely not an option, and Mostert who might be.

In France Rory Arnold from Toulouse fits the bill and Janse Van Rensburg of Montpellier has the size and age profile.

Ezebeth again would be a dream option but no idea of his status.

Or there's a big ex Wallaby lock at Bordeaux who seems good. Kane Douglas I think his name is...

[blockhead]

Should be interesting to see what sort of names we come up with for a NIQ second row signing. Not a huge amount of really top class options out there given the RWC cycle is closing in you'd imagine.

The Premiership might be a good hunting ground if teams are looking to reduce the salary cap. Vaea Fifita already gone to Scarlets.

In term of proper 6'7 / 19 stone sized TH locks with a good profile:

De Jager would obviously be a great option. Not sure his contract status.

Another might be David Ribbans from Saints. Not as high profile but a serious operator, 26, right size profile and hasn't been capped

In Japen, you've the likes of Tuipolotu who's on sabbatical so likely not an option, and Mostert who might be.

In France Rory Arnold from Toulouse fits the bill and Janse Van Rensburg of Montpellier has the size and age profile.

Ezebeth again would be a dream option but no idea of his status.

Or there's a big ex Wallaby lock at Bordeaux who seems good. Kane Douglas I think his name is...

Whose the last megastar that Leinster signed? Thorn?
We deserve an Ezebeth.

[Flash Gordon]

Should be interesting to see what sort of names we come up with for a NIQ second row signing. Not a huge amount of really top class options out there given the RWC cycle is closing in you'd imagine.

The Premiership might be a good hunting ground if teams are looking to reduce the salary cap. Vaea Fifita already gone to Scarlets.

In term of proper 6'7 / 19 stone sized TH locks with a good profile:

De Jager would obviously be a great option. Not sure his contract status.

Another might be David Ribbans from Saints. Not as high profile but a serious operator, 26, right size profile and hasn't been capped

In Japen, you've the likes of Tuipolotu who's on sabbatical so likely not an option, and Mostert who might be.

In France Rory Arnold from Toulouse fits the bill and Janse Van Rensburg of Montpellier has the size and age profile.

Ezebeth again would be a dream option but no idea of his status.

Or there's a big ex Wallaby lock at Bordeaux who seems good. Kane Douglas I think his name is...

Whose the last megastar that Leinster signed? Thorn?
We deserve an Ezebeth.

We don't have the cash to sign a guy like Ezebeth. He's on a million quid a year, way beyond what we could afford.