Leinster V NG Dragons RDS Fri 2nd Oct 20:15

[carlow man]

If ruddock doesn't get any game time soon then it's basically a massive 2 fingers stuck up at him. He was badly missed against sarries imo. We aren't a huge size by any means and a guy like Rhys is perfect when we need a bit more physicality. He may aswell head off if Cullen and Lancaster have decided they dont see him in their 23. Hope I'm wrong but he would be a great signing for an English top 4 side.

[mildlyinterested]

If ruddock doesn't get any game time soon then it's basically a massive 2 fingers stuck up at him. He was badly missed against sarries imo. We aren't a huge size by any means and a guy like Rhys is perfect when we need a bit more physicality. He may aswell head off if Cullen and Lancaster have decided they dont see him in their 23. Hope I'm wrong but he would be a great signing for an English top 4 side.

tough decisions have to be made.. a few backrows will be leaving at the end of the season IMO

[LeRouxIsPHat]

If ruddock doesn't get any game time soon then it's basically a massive 2 fingers stuck up at him. He was badly missed against sarries imo. We aren't a huge size by any means and a guy like Rhys is perfect when we need a bit more physicality. He may aswell head off if Cullen and Lancaster have decided they dont see him in their 23. Hope I'm wrong but he would be a great signing for an English top 4 side.

Think someone said he had picked up an injury recently and that’s why he hadn’t played? Still lots of competition though obviously.

[carlow man]

Fairly sure he was out taking part in the pre match drills against the first 15 in the matches since lockdown. He's been pictured in training aswell so i think it's a selection issue personally.

[leinsterforever]

nothing they can do in this game can put right the saracens disaster.

'Get back on the horse' might be a better way of putting it than 'putting things right'. You are right. It was an era-defining game Leinster lost after being found seriously wanting in some departments and there's nothing Leinster can do to change what happened.

[backrower8]

Hearing Rhys to start and a Keenan - Larmour positional swap.

[mildlyinterested]

nothing they can do in this game can put right the saracens disaster.

'Get back on the horse' might be a better way of putting it than 'putting things right'. You are right. It was an era-defining game Leinster lost after being found seriously wanting in some departments and there's nothing Leinster can do to change what happened.

pretty much.

[ronk]

If ruddock doesn't get any game time soon then it's basically a massive 2 fingers stuck up at him. He was badly missed against sarries imo. We aren't a huge size by any means and a guy like Rhys is perfect when we need a bit more physicality. He may aswell head off if Cullen and Lancaster have decided they dont see him in their 23. Hope I'm wrong but he would be a great signing for an English top 4 side.

Think someone said he had picked up an injury recently and that’s why he hadn’t played? Still lots of competition though obviously.

Yeah, between the competition and the short start to the season there wasnt time to let everyone play themselves into form. A modest injury can have knock on effects for players. If it persists over the season then it's something bigger, otherwise it's a fluke.

[ronk]

Hearing Rhys to start and a Keenan - Larmour positional swap.

Keenan played really well and I thought that was a better setup. Larmour has a bit of a chicken and egg thing at fullback. He may develop there with experience but he needs development at fullback. This could be an indicator that Faz is looking at him on the wing for the moment, and that could be his long term home.

[backrower8]

Hearing Rhys to start and a Keenan - Larmour positional swap.

Keenan played really well and I thought that was a better setup. Larmour has a bit of a chicken and egg thing at fullback. He may develop there with experience but he needs development at fullback. This could be an indicator that Faz is looking at him on the wing for the moment, and that could be his long term home.

Agreed, IF my source is correct.

[Wanderers FC]

Keenan is our best option at fullback presently. He’s the only one who showed some assured ness under the high ball this mini season. Where he stands positionslly in terms of coming into the defensive line to make tackles remains to be seen but I think he’s better there than Larmour also. We might lose something in attack but you can easily manipulate attacking moves to bring in the blindside winger into the 15 channel.

I’d be interested to see what players come through from the B side and Academy this season to cement their place in the first team. We are lacking at half back, second row and possibly hooker and loosehead. I also think there will be pressure exerted in the centre this season but I’m not sure any of our backup options there will have enough to displace Gary and Robbie.

Perhaps we might see Turner and Hawkshaw get their senior debuts which excites me. They are two very real starters for the future.

[mildlyinterested]

[LeinsterLeader]

No messin' about there alright!

Interesting to see what the attitude is like. Hopefully they will have put the Sars game behind them and are determined to learn the lessons from it

[OTT]

Very strong team, I would have loved to see a few more young guys mixed in but totally get why that is not the case.

Looking forward to seeing Frawley again at 12 and TOB, Baird and Deegan off the bench. Thought Deegan had a super season just gone and it must have been hard being left out of the biggest games at the end after contributing so much.

The last two weeks have felt like months.

[Twist]

That image wasn’t showing up for me, so in case anyone is in the same boat....

15. Hugo Keenan (18)
14. Jordan Larmour (50)
13. Garry Ringrose (76)
12. Ciarán Frawley (26)
11. James Lowe (47)
10. Johnny Sexton (167) CAPTAIN
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (93)
1. Ed Byrne (57)
2. Rónan Kelleher (15)
3. Michael Bent (140)
4. Scott Fardy (61)
5. James Ryan (39)
6. Rhys Ruddock (173)
7. Josh van der Flier (84)
8. Jack Conan (93)

16. Seán Cronin (185)
17. Cian Healy (220)
18. Andrew Porter (66)
19. Ryan Baird (10)
20. Max Deegan (64)
21. Luke McGrath (127)
22. Ross Byrne (89)
23. Tommy O’Brien (3)

[LeinsterLeader]

That image wasn’t showing up for me, so in case anyone is in the same boat....

15. Hugo Keenan (18)
14. Jordan Larmour (50)
13. Garry Ringrose (76)
12. Ciarán Frawley (26)
11. James Lowe (47)
10. Johnny Sexton (167) CAPTAIN
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (93)
1. Ed Byrne (57)
2. Rónan Kelleher (15)
3. Michael Bent (140)
4. Scott Fardy (61)
5. James Ryan (39)
6. Rhys Ruddock (173)
7. Josh van der Flier (84)
8. Jack Conan (93)

16. Seán Cronin (185)
17. Cian Healy (220)
18. Andrew Porter (66)
19. Ryan Baird (10)
20. Max Deegan (64)
21. Luke McGrath (127)
22. Ross Byrne (89)
23. Tommy O’Brien (3)

Attention Seeking of the worst kind Twist

[Dave Cahill]

Dragons (v Leinster Rugby): Will Talbot-Davies, Jonah Holmes, Nick Tompkins, Jamie Roberts, Ashton Hewitt, Sam Davies, Rhodri Williams (c); Brok Harris, Elliot Dee, Aaron Jarvis, Joe Davies, Joe Maksymiw, Aaron Wainwright, Harrison Keddie, Ross Moriarty

Replacements: Richard Hibbard, Conor Maguire, Lloyd Fairbrother, Matthew Screech, Taine Basham, Tavis Knoyle, Josh Lewis, Adam Warren

[Twist]

Hearing Rhys to start and a Keenan - Larmour positional swap.

Impressively accurate!

Looking forward to this even more now

[outcast eddie]

That image wasn’t showing up for me, so in case anyone is in the same boat....

15. Hugo Keenan (18)
14. Jordan Larmour (50)
13. Garry Ringrose (76)
12. Ciarán Frawley (26)
11. James Lowe (47)
10. Johnny Sexton (167) CAPTAIN
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (93)
1. Ed Byrne (57)
2. Rónan Kelleher (15)
3. Michael Bent (140)
4. Scott Fardy (61)
5. James Ryan (39)
6. Rhys Ruddock (173)
7. Josh van der Flier (84)
8. Jack Conan (93)

16. Seán Cronin (185)
17. Cian Healy (220)
18. Andrew Porter (66)
19. Ryan Baird (10)
20. Max Deegan (64)
21. Luke McGrath (127)
22. Ross Byrne (89)
23. Tommy O’Brien (3)

JGP being handed his opportunity on a platter.

This selection has the IRFU's fingerprints all over it.

Some players need a good showing here.

[wixfjord]

Dragons (v Leinster Rugby): Will Talbot-Davies, Jonah Holmes, Nick Tompkins, Jamie Roberts, Ashton Hewitt, Sam Davies, Rhodri Williams (c); Brok Harris, Elliot Dee, Aaron Jarvis, Joe Davies, Joe Maksymiw, Aaron Wainwright, Harrison Keddie, Ross Moriarty

Replacements: Richard Hibbard, Conor Maguire, Lloyd Fairbrother, Matthew Screech, Taine Basham, Tavis Knoyle, Josh Lewis, Adam Warren

That's one of the best Dragons teams (on paper) that we've seen for quite a few years.

Should be a bigger test than usual at least.