Treviso v Leinster Thread

[Donny B.]

GERRY THORNLEY

SHANE JENNINGS and Jonathan Sexton are expected to be available for Leinster’s trip to Benetton Treviso next Saturday, while Rob Kearney and Gordon D’Arcy, the last of Leinster’s Irish frontliners to return to action from pre-season, are likely to feature.

Sexton strained a quadricep in kicking practice prior to the win over Cardiff on Saturday evening, while Jennings was optimistic his tight calf would clear up by today. Jennings, captain in the absence of the injured Leo Cullen, was relieved to have recorded their first win of the season.

“Everyone says in pre-season you’re practising things and you’re trying things out, but if you lose, you lose, and that hurts,” he said.

“We’d lost the grand final here and then we’d lost two pre-season games, and then we lost to Glasgow – we were on a run of losses – so it was good to get that sorted.

“But it’s no good doing it just one week at home and then going away and not putting in a performance. We have to take the positives, like there was from Glasgow and the game against Cardiff, but we have to really concentrate on getting that win (in Treviso), because other teams are flying it at the moment.”

No doubt he had the table-topping duo of Munster and Ulster (the only unbeaten sides) in mind,

In particular Jennings cited Leinster’s ball-carrying into contact and defensive organisation.

“You saw individuals going into contact and losing the ball and maybe not controlling it and giving opportunities for turnovers, and if you give a team an opportunity and if we’re a bit tight in defence, they’re going to punish us.

“So, going into contact, we’ve to make sure that we’re better, and in defence I think we have to realise we have to look up a bit better and number off instead of looking into the ruck and focusing on the ruck. If we get our ‘spacings’ right there I think we can back ourselves in defence. They’re the two main things we have to learn from.”

Encouraged by the performances of the young bloods in Saturday’s line-up, and by the scrums (“there was a lot of hurt from last season, but it’s not just the frontrow, it’s the pack that have to take responsibility for that”,) Jennings was in no doubt a tougher scrum examination awaits in Italy.

“We know we’re going to have a huge challenge against a good Italian frontrow. Yeah, it was a positive, but it’s only one game and we have to keep doing it.”

[Slipper1]

This whole "World Cup Pre season" seems to have been a lot less painful than before - I think we were built up for the worst all summer and then to see all our front line players back by round three is encouraging. Even if they do only play 60 minutes.

[Donny B.]

This whole "World Cup Pre season" seems to have been a lot less painful than before - I think we were built up for the worst all summer and then to see all our front line players back by round three is encouraging. Even if they do only play 60 minutes.

Don't get too comfortable though. Though we have them back now we're still going to be missing them a lot more throughout the season. Hopefully though their rest days will be spread out and managed well so we don't have days like Newport and Glasgow away last season where a load of young lads are thrown in at once.

[tate]

surely the players will be managed on a player-by-player basis. Some guys like heaslip wont need as much rest as drico for example.

[Donny B.]

surely the players will be managed on a player-by-player basis. Some guys like heaslip wont need as much rest as drico for example.

From reports they're all going to be on a maximum of 25 odd games this season. With nine internationals, of which each player could start as much as seven, and six to nine HC matches, that only leaves room for about 9-12 ML matches.

Now hopefully there will be sense shown in the case of fringe Internationals. For example Shane Horgan has hardly featured for Ireland under Declan Kidney. At this stage he's probably a long-shot to even make the WC squad so denying him a chance to play for Leinster on the off-chance that they'll be wanted for the World Cup would be extreme. The same goes for the likes of John Fogarty, Fergus McFadden and Rhys Ruddock.

[tate]

surely the players will be managed on a player-by-player basis. Some guys like heaslip wont need as much rest as drico for example.

From reports they're all going to be on a maximum of 25 odd games this season. With nine internationals, of which each player could start as much as seven, and six to nine HC matches, that only leaves room for about 9-12 ML matches.

Now hopefully there will be sense shown in the case of fringe Internationals. For example Shane Horgan has hardly featured for Ireland under Declan Kidney. At this stage he's probably a long-shot to even make the WC squad so denying him a chance to play for Leinster on the off-chance that they'll be wanted for the World Cup would be extreme. The same goes for the likes of John Fogarty, Fergus McFadden and Rhys Ruddock.

hmm, do the provinces decide when the rest is or is it a centralised decision? Although as you point out with a 9-12 range of ML games there isnt a lot of wiggle room. Hopefully you're right with the fringe players, if we're missing players like that then we'll have the focking academy out every week which would not bode well for next year's season ticket sales, the academy players confidence or in the bigger picture the league itself.

[CiaranIrl]

surely the players will be managed on a player-by-player basis. Some guys like heaslip wont need as much rest as drico for example.

From reports they're all going to be on a maximum of 25 odd games this season. With nine internationals, of which each player could start as much as seven, and six to nine HC matches, that only leaves room for about 9-12 ML matches.

Now hopefully there will be sense shown in the case of fringe Internationals. For example Shane Horgan has hardly featured for Ireland under Declan Kidney. At this stage he's probably a long-shot to even make the WC squad so denying him a chance to play for Leinster on the off-chance that they'll be wanted for the World Cup would be extreme. The same goes for the likes of John Fogarty, Fergus McFadden and Rhys Ruddock.

I wondered that exact point myself actually. What about the likes of Jennings and Sean O Brien even, who are likely to make the WC squad, but don't look like they are first choice for the starting Ireland 22. Surely they could play more for us?

It is also worth mentioning that the 9 Internationals during this season will not use most of the Leinster team that are "internationals", so those players will be able to play more for us. The likes of Brian O Driscoll probably won't play against Samoa, so that is one more game.

[Donny B.]

hmm, do the provinces decide when the rest is or is it a centralised decision? Although as you point out with a 9-12 range of ML games there isnt a lot of wiggle room. Hopefully you're right with the fringe players, if we're missing players like that then we'll have the focking academy out every week which would not bode well for next year's season ticket sales, the academy players confidence or in the bigger picture the league itself.

I think in previous seasons the DORs at each province had more autonomy as to who played well, so long as they didn't exceed specific limits for each player. This season though it definitely seems to be more centralised looking at how Jamie and Bod were withdrawn exactly on 60 minutes in the Glasgow and Cardiff games respectively.

As for the whole season, hopefully things can be managed so that not too many academy players are thrown in all at once. For example instead of having Darce/BOD one week and Sheridan/Macken the next, hopefully it will be Sheridan/BOD and Darce/Macken. Of course injuries will get in the way of best laid plans but I think that's the general idea. On the plus side, a lot of young players will get fast-tracked and will learn from the experience. On the negative side results will probably suffer.

[tate]

I think in previous seasons the DORs at each province had more autonomy as to who played well, so long as they didn't exceed specific limits for each player. This season though it definitely seems to be more centralised looking at how Jamie and Bod were withdrawn exactly on 60 minutes in the Glasgow and Cardiff games respectively.

As for the whole season, hopefully things can be managed so that not too many academy players are thrown in all at once. For example instead of having Darce/BOD one week and Sheridan/Macken the next, hopefully it will be Sheridan/BOD and Darce/Macken. Of course injuries will get in the way of best laid plans but I think that's the general idea. On the plus side, a lot of young players will get fast-tracked and will learn from the experience. On the negative side results will probably suffer.

from what ive read that was no bad thing!!

Im sure they management (or what's left of it) will have learned a lot from last year and the international : academy ratios. If not, schmidt if you're reading this balance that sh!t out!!! Alternatively if you're franno and reading this then for your next article call for a better spreading out of the internationals so we dont end up with another glasgow debacle

[Donny B.]

I wondered that exact point myself actually. What about the likes of Jennings and Sean O Brien even, who are likely to make the WC squad, but don't look like they are first choice for the starting Ireland 22. Surely they could play more for us?

It is also worth mentioning that the 9 Internationals during this season will not use most of the Leinster team that are "internationals", so those players will be able to play more for us. The likes of Brian O Driscoll probably won't play against Samoa, so that is one more game.

I would hope that Kidney will use the Samoa and Argentina matches to experiment and bring in other members of the squads for games.

[Donny B.]

The Leinster management are optimistic that the squad who featured in the 34-23 Magners League victory over the Cardiff Blues last weekend will be available for the trip to Benetton Treviso this weekend...

Shane Horgan (back), Shane Jennings (foot) and Jonathan Sexton (quad) are all expected to be available for the trip to Italy though a decision on their fitness will be made on Friday lunchtime. Fergus McFadden, a try-scorer against Cardiff, suffered a cut to his head during the game on Saturday but has recovered sufficiently.

In addition, those players who featured in the Leinster ‘A’ game on Sunday will also be in the selection mix.


Hmm, we probably won't get the team til Friday this week so.

[ratpack]

I prefer this way of going about the naming of the team. Good to see regular injury updates.

[CiaranIrl]

The Leinster management are optimistic that the squad who featured in the 34-23 Magners League victory over the Cardiff Blues last weekend will be available for the trip to Benetton Treviso this weekend...

Shane Horgan (back), Shane Jennings (foot) and Jonathan Sexton (quad) are all expected to be available for the trip to Italy though a decision on their fitness will be made on Friday lunchtime. Fergus McFadden, a try-scorer against Cardiff, suffered a cut to his head during the game on Saturday but has recovered sufficiently.

In addition, those players who featured in the Leinster ‘A’ game on Sunday will also be in the selection mix.


Hmm, we probably won't get the team til Friday this week so.

I'd say they're all gunning for a trip to Italy to be honest!

[Armchair]

When is Leo due back from his injury??

[johng]

January... Maybe

[Donny B.]

RUGBY MAGNERS LEAGUE: SLOWLY BUT surely, with each passing week, the big guns are being unloaded and save for the longer-term casualties this weekend should mark the return of the remaining Irish frontliners from delayed pre-seasons.

Even Andrew Trimble is set to make an earlier return from injury than expected and is included in the Ulster squad to entertain Edinburgh this weekend, and although Leinster have not named a squad for their trip to Treviso, the likelihood is that Rob Kearney and Gordon D’Arcy will be involved.

The Leinster management are also “optimistic” that the four players who picked up knocks before or during the win over Cardiff – Shane Horgan (back), Shane Jennings (foot), Jonathan Sexton (quad) and Fergus McFadden (cut head) – will be available for the trip to Italy. As with Ulster last week though, they may take the view that the sheer length of the Italian trips may make them opportune games for some to have their requisite rests.

In addition, some of those involved in the Leinster A defeat to Munster last Sunday may come into the mix, as might possibly Rhys Ruddock after a dual load last summer of Under-20 World Cup and a late replacement on the Irish tour to New Zealand and Australia.

Cian Healy, likely to start after his barnstorming impact off the bench, acknowledges the tough task facing Leinster in Treviso but has been encouraged by the way the Leinster pack have set about their task to date.

“There has been a good focus on us (the pack) and we’ve tried to change a few things, such as our foot placement (at scrums) and stuff like that to work to our advantage. We’ve been doing a lot of one-on-one work with Greg Feek in the frontrow and the backrow have been working separately with each other, so it has been a case of players managing their own time and their own meetings and Jono (Gibbes), in fairness, has pushed that on us.

“He told us to get our act together and do our own work in the frontrow – the backrow and the secondrows will meet up separately – and that has been really working out for us.”

[Degz]

January... Maybe

I thought he had an outside chance of the Heino in December?

Or have you heard something more definitive?

[johng]

January... Maybe

I thought he had an outside chance of the Heino in December?

Or have you heard something more definitive?

No. You're probably right.
TBF the two above statements are not mutually exclusive.

[Munsterboy]

On the player management thing. As I understand it, the provinces can select their internationals a certain number of times in each phase of the season and it's up to them to decide when they do. That's how it worked last season (though not prior to that, when it was actually more tightly controlled). I guess that as the season goes on, lads who didn't play in the AIs will be allowed to play a few extra games in the following phase etc. Payne had this to say in an interview this week:

"It’s up to us to conform to the general guidelines within the three phases of the season, although the one thing to remember is that we wouldn’t be starting our top players in all of the games anyway."

[Degz]

January... Maybe

I thought he had an outside chance of the Heino in December?

Or have you heard something more definitive?

No. You're probably right.
TBF the two above statements are not mutually exclusive.

Funny, just saw this on planetrugby, hoping to be back in October, presumably he won't make the first two rounds?

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,2588 ... 56,00.html