Leinster Front Row Options going forward

[mildlyinterested]

Looking at top young hookers in province:

Club
Patrick Finlay(22/DUFC)
Academy
Sean McNulty(22/UCD)
Ronan Kelleher(u20/Lansdowne)
Sub Academy
Eoghan Clarke(u20/Wanderers)
Dan Sheehan(u20/DUFC)
Richie Bergin(u19/UCD)

Some very good prospects playing schools rugby too.

[mildlyinterested]

The following front row players made the Ireland u20 squad:

Jordan Duggan(LH Prop)
Jack Aungier(TH Prop)
Joe Byrne(LH/TH Prop)
Ronan Kelleher(Hooker)

Both Kelleher and Aungier are already in the academy and went pretty well in first appearance versus France u20. Duggan also started against France and had a good game. Byrne was not involved in first u20 game.

[mildlyinterested]

Eoghan Clarke(Hooker/Wanderers) started for Ireland under-20 against Italy in place of an ill Ronan Kelleher, he had a pretty impressive debut and should feature for Ireland going forwar, I would think:

[johng]

Spit of his Da

[wixfjord]

Simon mentioned in another thread that a NIQ option at TH to fill a Bent role next year might be desirable with Porter and Furlong gone for such long periods.

I wonder might Aungier be fast tracked into fourth spot at TH behind Bent if he has a good U20 WC?

He doesn't seem to be the physical specimen Porter is, but by all accounts is highly rated, and surely has more potential than Heffernan?

[hugonaut]

Simon mentioned in another thread that a NIQ option at TH to fill a Bent role next year might be desirable with Porter and Furlong gone for such long periods.

I wonder might Aungier be fast tracked into fourth spot at TH behind Bent if he has a good U20 WC?

He doesn't seem to be the physical specimen Porter is, but by all accounts is highly rated, and surely has more potential than Heffernan?

Abdeladze will likely step into that fourth-choice role initially - whether it will be as part of the Academy or on a Development contract I'm not sure. I think Heffernan's sub performance against the Scarlets put a red line through his name. Aungier might take it off him over the course of the season, but it's worth remembering that Vakh has two years on him.

[ronk]

He doesn't seem to be the physical specimen Porter is...

That’s not a fair bar to set for a player though to compare him to a one of a kind freak.

[A16]

I highly doubt we would need an NIQ tight head prop next season. Between Abdaladze and Aungier, we should be fine.

[ronk]

I highly doubt we would need an NIQ tight head prop next season. Between Abdaladze and Aungier, we should be fine.

If we invert the question a little, assuming Nacewa retire at the end of this season and we have a NIQ/NIE space what position do we target?

A long term injury or two could quickly have us looking for a journeyman, but international pressure doesn’t affect depth too much because of Ryan, Moore etc.

[simonokeeffe]

I highly doubt we would need an NIQ tight head prop next season. Between Abdaladze and Aungier, we should be fine.

If we invert the question a little, assuming Nacewa retire at the end of this season and we have a NIQ/NIE space what position do we target?

A long term injury or two could quickly have us looking for a journeyman, but international pressure doesn’t affect depth too much because of Ryan, Moore etc.

I have a feeling we wont get anyone

I'd like a centre, projects are kind of dead/mute now though, or Frawley to be given a go at 12
We have a lot of options at 13 but not 12 (without Henshaw and presumably Isa next season) especially with how much Ringrose will miss

[A16]

I highly doubt we would need an NIQ tight head prop next season. Between Abdaladze and Aungier, we should be fine.

If we invert the question a little, assuming Nacewa retire at the end of this season and we have a NIQ/NIE space what position do we target?

A long term injury or two could quickly have us looking for a journeyman, but international pressure doesn’t affect depth too much because of Ryan, Moore etc.

I honestly think we aren’t too badly in need of an NIQ at the moment, the squad is in pretty good shape. Obviously there are areas we would like to improve, such as 12 or possibly a player for the back 3. But if we were to get a new 12, they’d most likely be sitting out of all the big games, and it would be difficult to get a high quality player willing to do that.

As well as this, we shouldn’t fall into the trap of getting a player based on the sole reason that we have a free slot. We don’t want to end up being tied down with a disappointing signing when we may have more pressing concerns with our squad later on, and we won’t have an NIQ slot to fix it.

[johng]

Remember. It's a limit not a target.

[Peg Leg]

Remember. It's a limit not a target.

Good man Gaybo

[johng]

Striking a blow for niq safety!

[mildlyinterested]

I wonder if any of the 3rd year academy front rows will be with us next season?

Doesn't look good for them IMO.

[mildlyinterested]

Loosehead depth chart next season:
Cian Healy(30)
Jack McGrath(28)
Ed Byrne(24)
Peter Dooley(24)

Hooker depth chart next season:
Sean Cronin(32)
James Tracy(27)
Richard Strauss(32)
Bryan Byrne(24)
Ronan Kelleher(20)

Tighthead depth chart next season:

Tadhg Furlong(25)
Andrew Porter(22)
Michael Bent(32)
Vakh Abdaladze(22)
Jack Aungier(19)

[mildlyinterested]

Confirmation that Strauss is retiring, Dooley/Bent staying:

LH Prop
Cian Healy(30) - Signed central 3yr contract in 2016
Jack McGrath(28) - Signed central 3yr contract in 2016
Ed Byrne(24) - Signed 2yr contract in 2017
Peter Dooley(24) - Signed 3yr contract in 2016

TH Prop
Michael Bent(32) - Signed contract in 2018
Tadhg Furlong(25) - Signed central 3yr contract in 2018
Andrew Porter(22) - Signed contract in 2017
Oisin Heffernan(23) - Future unconfirmed
Vakh Abdaladze(22) - Academy Yr 2
Jack Aungier(19) - Academy Yr 2

Hooker
Sean Cronin(32) - Signed contract in 2018
James Tracy(27) - Signed contract in 2018
Bryan Byrne(24) - Signed contract in 2017
Sean McNulty(22) - Future unconfirmed
Ronan Kelleher(20) - Academy Yr 2

[mildlyinterested]

Shane Delahunt was pretty good at the weekend.

[riocard911]

Peter Dooley was Man of the Match in Lansdowne's victory over Cork Con in the UBL final:

http://www.the42.ie/lansdowne-cork-con- ... 6-May2018/

[mildlyinterested]

Leinster Professional Front Rows

LH Prop
Cian Healy(1987/Belvedere) - Leinster & Ireland
Jack McGrath(1989/St. Marys) - Leinster & Ireland
Jack O'Connell(1990/Clongowes) - Ealing
Des Merrey(1992) - Hartpury College
Ed Byrne(1993/Clongowes) - Leinster
Peter Dooley(1994/Birr) - Leinster
Denis Coulson(1995/St. Michaels) - ?
Jeremy Loughman(1995/Blackrock) - Munster
Eric O'Sullivan(1996/Templogue) - Ulster Academy

TH Prop
Martin Moore(1991/Castleknock) - Ulster & Ireland
Tadhg Furlong(1992/New Ross RFC) - Leinster & Ireland
Oisin Heffernan(1995/Roscrea) - Nottingham
Oliver Jager(1995/Blackrock) - Crusaders
Andrew Porter(1996/St. Andrews) - Leinster & Ireland
Vakh Abdaladze(1996/Coolmine RFC) - Leinster
Jack Aungier(1998/Suttonians RFC) - Leinster Academy

Hooker
Jay Harris Wright(/Blackrock) - ?
James Tracy(1991/Newbridge) - Leinster & Ireland
Bryan Byrne(1993/Clongowes) - Leinster
Shane Delahunt(1994/Kilkenny College) - Connacht
Tadgh McElroy(1997/Dundalk RFC) - Saracens Academy
Ronan Kelleher(1998/St. Michaels) - Leinster Academy
Eoghan Clarke(1998/CBC Monkstown) - Munster Academy