Babbling 'brook

Really interested to see how that back 3 get on, on a 4g surface I reckon they'll look good.

Wouldn't be a big fan of it myself, but the management might look at it as a safer option.

Well I think he'll have to play more at 10 for Leinster this season than Sexton will. Well if he is missing for all the RWC and most of the 6 nations he won't be playing 10 for Leinster then. I'm assuming Sexton will be available for all european games, so in the pro 12 games Sexton isn't available...

Well I think he'll have to play more at 10 for Leinster this season than Sexton will.

Madigan should be switched to Munster. He is wasted at Leinster - first and second best 10s in Ireland there. As a 10 there Munster would be a good shot to win the Heineken. 2nd best OH in Ireland is in Ulster... while Ireland are loving Madigan to be a utility player, so I imagine he'll stay at Le...

Really? Well then we will be light on the ground with scrumhalves.

Make or break time for McGrath I think. Otherwise we'll be signing a starter after Reddan and Boss pack it in.

johng wrote:Did we actually sign him?

Conrad Hoffmann wasn't it. We were reputed to be looking at another lad earlier in the summer

I think so. Although, it was only announced by their club IIRC, and not us... Strange.

I disagree. I reckin Australia's morale will be at an all time high and they are favorites to win the whole tournament. Can't imagine morale being great when guys like Douglas and Gitaeu are drafted in ahead of guys who've been grafting at home (and stayed at home to play in gold). Leaving White an...

johng wrote:49 senior players 4 of them with contracts ending in 2015.

The best bit is seeing Jonny Sex smiling out at us from the page.

Light at scrum half and 2nd row as ever, but happy enough.

Well there is that SA scrumhalf we signed as a loan deal as well.

Australia won't get out of their pool, bringing in players without form just cuz they're favourites will stink up the squad. Genia already saying he's feeling pretty embarrassed! I'd say Kane is pretty sheepish about the whole thing too. I'd say the atmosphere is as good as a fart in a phonebox. Eng...

Jaysus, can't wait for the season to start...

I know the 'environment' word gets a bit of a bashing, probably for overuse, but it's a fairly accurate term in what coaches are trying to describe. Anyone who's been apart of a squad for competitive sport knows what they mean. There's a bubble there, unwritten bylaws, senior voices and new voices, ...

Probably suggest he'll start the 'easier' game next week, ease himself in.

Yep, so it'll be all the more sweeter when we get to rip up the newspapers and throw them in the air.

Yeah but Dooley's strength is he's another centre-born-in-props-body... Scrummaging isn't really a strong point for him I think.

The last time Reid was in charge of the kicking tee in the rds was not good... I'd say it was probably just an off day but I can't really see him being a viable kicking option for us... Nor would he be with sexton and Madigan in the team.

He may start at 12 for us, but the reality is Reid is a better 12 so unless he improves there it really shouldn't be happening. I'm not at all sure about that – Reid has played very few tough games at No12, so I don't think it's comparing like with like. Reid has started 24 games there for Leinster...

Although its not an easy call, Tommy Bowe looks the most vulnerable of the likely 14 backs at present. My current call would be: Half-backs: Murray, Reddan, Boss, Sexton, Jackson; 5 Midfield: Henshaw, Payne, Madigan, Earls; 4 Back-three: Kearney, Zebo, Trimble, Bowe , Kearney D, Fitzgerald; 5 Front...

Nothing to suggest strauss will be ahead of the leinster player of the year last year in cronin. If Madigan is stuck on the bench then i'd expect this will be his final year as a Leinster player. Personally i'd ask him would he be interested in attempting to convert to 9 post RWC. It's worth a shot...

Yeah 99% sure it's not, just checking.