Backrow to play against Leinster

Back row is crucial. We need to win this battle. I'd fancy our prospects in the tight 5.

Jennings is a fine player. Heaslip can be good but I reckon can go missing (towards the flanks) at crucial times in really physical games. Gleeson is also gooda lthough may be OTT at this stage. Keogh brings a bruiser element.

Leamy is getting better all the time now. Axle is good, but only for 60 mins. probably. Ronan is good aslo but maybe a bit light? Wally if fit can outplay most. Quinnie is a big loss. Ryan brings a lot of dog to the proceedings, and no little skill too. He'd also be able take over Quinnies lineout option.

The weather may have a major bearing on all this btw. Wet and windy conditions forecast.

[123UCG]

Agree re Ryan and another lineout option,having a 3rd option at the tail really allows for quick ball for Mafi and Rua to run onto.


In fairness to Jackman his throwing has improved this year but having an extra jumper should put him under pressure

[bob m lad]

[QUOTE=123UCG]But is Ryan worth looking at? He had a serious match on Saturday evening, carried well and has really bulked up this year.[/QUOTE]


I'd put Ryan in the back row anyday befor MOD, Ryan plays like a 4th back row anyway.

[123UCG]

But is nt before MOD,we have 5 fit backrowers in Wally,Leamy,Foley,Coughlan and Ronan.


I agree with you but I don't think DK will

[Paddy Whac]

Agree re Ryan and another lineout option,having a 3rd option at the tail really allows for quick ball for Mafi and Rua to run onto.


In fairness to Jackman his throwing has imporved this year but having an extra jumper should put him under pressure

That and and the 16th Player (Supporters) - we must make as much noise at their lineouts as possible, don't make it difficult make it IMPOSIBLE for them the hear their lineout calls.

[TheRedHurricane]

My main problem with MOD in the backrow is that he is too slow to play in such a crucial position.

[curmudgeon]

My choice would be 6. Leamy 7. Wally, if fit/Ronan otherwise, 8. James Coughlan


As somebody just mentioned Coughlan does not seem to be one of DK's favourites, which is surprising seeing as he's Dolphin. I'm not a Dolphin supporter, but I'm a Coughlan fan. I've been watching him for years and he has never failed to impress me. And, as somebody else mentioned, he certainly knows the way to the try line. I just think that he's a player in his prime and offers a bit more than Foley does at this stage, even allowing for Foley's wealth of experience. Having said all that, I'd be gobsmacked if DK included him even in the match squad.

[i_like_cake]

Old thread, appropriate title....

Backrow for Leinster...

DOC2, POM, Butler.... with Dougal on the bench...?

[i_like_cake]

Actually, Scratch that.....


Backrow for Leinster...

DOC2, POM, Butler.... with TODonnell on the bench...?

[Jenta]

6. Leamy
7. Wally/Ronan
8. Axel
Sub. Coughlan / Pratigini

Thought this was just a bad joke, then I checked the date. Now I'm upset.

As an aside, what in the name of god is a Pratigini?

[John Cooper Clarke]

Thought this was just a bad joke, then I checked the date. Now I'm upset.

As an aside, what in the name of god is a Pratigini?

Jake Parangati - a short lived legend.

[thoughtless]

Think Dougall is the form back-row of our first few games, and merits inclusion. He's tough, but not hugely powerful, though, so we'd need a couple of big lads next to him; I'd be inclined toward 6. Dave O'Callaghan 7. Dougall and 8. O'Mahony, with... Butler on the bench, let's say. Tough call for Penney though, and we could really use Coughlan (or Stander, whenever he arrives).

[Colliniho]

I think whatever openside option he goes with (Dougal or Ronan) realistically the player who misses out is also likely to miss out on a spot on the bench. If we assume Coughlan is injured then O'Mahony is likely to start at 8. DOC II must be at the head of the pack to play 6.
If we assume that the backrow will be DOC II, Dougal/Ronan, O'Mahony then the bench option will have to be used smartly to ensure each position is covered. That's why I reckon Butler will and should be on the bench, regardless of who is picked at 7.
If DOC II goes off injured then O'Mahony moves to 6 with Butler coming in at 8. Same move happens if the chosen openside goes off injured.
If O'Mahony goes off injured then we have Butler as a like for like change at 8. If we put (lets say) Dougal at 7 and Ronan on the bench then who goes in at 8?

[Jenta]

Jake Parangati - a sort lived legend.

Big Jake, of course!

Wasn't he the lad who moved here on the back of grabbing some bird's ass? Which also turned out to be his most notable accomplishment?

Wonder what he's up to now.

[John Cooper Clarke]

http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player-4576.html

Japan it seems. Google his name (I mispelt it earlier sorry Highlander) and you'll quickly see his less than gentlemanly deed.

[sledger2003]

DOC ii, Dougal and O'Mahony ... and we will still struggle... With all due respect to the lads here at the moment, Stander cant arrive soon enough... its a size thing.

[scotscor]

I think whatever openside option he goes with (Dougal or Ronan) realistically the player who misses out is also likely to miss out on a spot on the bench. If we assume Coughlan is injured then O'Mahony is likely to start at 8. DOC II must be at the head of the pack to play 6.
If we assume that the backrow will be DOC II, Dougal/Ronan, O'Mahony then the bench option will have to be used smartly to ensure each position is covered. That's why I reckon Butler will and should be on the bench, regardless of who is picked at 7.
If DOC II goes off injured then O'Mahony moves to 6 with Butler coming in at 8. Same move happens if the chosen openside goes off injured.
If O'Mahony goes off injured then we have Butler as a like for like change at 8. If we put (lets say) Dougal at 7 and Ronan on the bench then who goes in at 8?

Could have Ryan at 6, and POM at 8, or Butler or 8 and POM at 6.
With Ryan at 6 we would have the other 7 and Butler on the bench

[rathbaner]

realistically the player who misses out is also likely to miss out on a spot on the bench to ensure each position is covered

Donncha Ryan played at 6 away to Saints last season and had a stormer with POM and Coughlin - our best BR performance of the season IMHO.

[dropkick]

DOC ii, Dougal and O'Mahony ... and we will still struggle... With all due respect to the lads here at the moment, Stander cant arrive soon enough... its a size thing.

I think you might be underestimating them. They can match the Leinster backrow especially with SOB missing. They lack experience but the potential is there.

[DJLethal173]

I do not believe that Paul O'Connell, Peter O'Mahony or Donnacha Ryan should automatically start ... a view that Rob Penney clearly shares given his selections to date.

However, while loyalty and reward to the younger players is all well and good and should be encouraged, there is a difference between reward and throwing them in the deep end. As far as I'm concerned, we will never win a Heineken Cup again unless we give the Leinster pups the spanking they got off Connacht. No team has ever won the Heineken while being very much second best or worse in their own country...and for that matter 3rd best I'd say is where we are at the very minute. We need to take control of Irish rugby before we can re-take Europe...and this is where it starts.

Strongest back-row possible, loyalties be damned.

Therefore, I would be opting for:

Du Preez
Sherry*
Botha
Donnacha O'Callaghan
Donnacha Ryan
Niall Ronan
Dougall
O'Mahony
Murray
Keatley
Zebo
Downey
Lualua
Howlett
Earls

BENCH

Kilcoyne
Henry
Archer
Holland
O'Connell
Stringer
ROG
Hurley

* Presuming that Varley cant play

[overthehillprop]

I do not believe that Paul O'Connell, Peter O'Mahony or Donnacha Ryan should automatically start ... a view that Rob Penney clearly shares given his selections to date.

However, while loyalty and reward to the younger players is all well and good and should be encouraged, there is a difference between reward and throwing them in the deep end. As far as I'm concerned, we will never win a Heineken Cup again unless we give the Leinster pups the spanking they got off Connacht. No team has ever won the Heineken while being very much second best or worse in their own country...and for that matter 3rd best I'd say is where we are at the very minute. We need to take control of Irish rugby before we can re-take Europe...and this is where it starts.

Strongest back-row possible, loyalties be damned.

Therefore, I would be opting for:

Du Preez
Sherry*
Botha
Donnacha O'Callaghan
Donnacha Ryan
Niall Ronan
Dougall
O'Mahony
Murray
Keatley
Zebo
Downey
Lualua
Howlett
Earls

BENCH

Kilcoyne
Henry
Archer
Holland
O'Connell
Stringer
ROG
Hurley

* Presuming that Varley cant play

You are assuming that Penney has full control of when he can play POC, POM and D Ryan which is clearly not the case.

[i_like_cake]

Niall Ronan
Dougall
O'Mahony

last year, weren´t all those fellas 7´s..?

(1 was also a winger...)

[DJLethal173]

You are assuming that Penney has full control of when he can play POC, POM and D Ryan which is clearly not the case.

He could play Ryan and O'Mahony against Ospreys = full control

O'Connell is training although the only hindrance Penney has with him is through injury

[DJLethal173]

last year, weren´t all those fellas 7´s..?

(1 was also a winger...)

Winger for club, not provincial level.

I'm aware of this but its too early for Butler, Dave O'Callaghan possibly... he might be got at though by the likes of Cullen and get binned again. Then again, so did Dougall

[overthehillprop]

DOC ii, Dougal and O'Mahony ... and we will still struggle... With all due respect to the lads here at the moment, Stander cant arrive soon enough... its a size thing.

I would actually prefer we went with DOC2.0, Dougal and POM or DOC2.0 POM and Butler and invested time with these guys. The age profile of the backrow (even with Stander included) is very young and giving these guys gametime and allowing them to learn on the pitch in big games will stand to us in the near future.

[Colliniho]

Donncha Ryan played at 6 away to Saints last season and had a stormer with POM and Coughlin - our best BR performance of the season IMHO.

That was a fine performance no doubt, a lot of lads played well that day. He did very well at 6 against Leinster in the Magners final as well. If we play D Ryan at 6 then (assuming Lazarus aka POC doesn't rise from the dead) we are looking at Billy in the second row. Billy did well until the Ospreys game but I'd rather have D Ryan in his best position in the second row and DOCII at 6 than D Ryan at 6 and Billy in the second row.

[DJLethal173]

That was a fine performance no doubt, a lot of lads played well that day. He did very well at 6 against Leinster in the Magners final as well. If we play D Ryan at 6 then (assuming Lazarus aka POC doesn't rise from the dead) we are looking at Billy in the second row. Billy did well until the Ospreys game but I'd rather have D Ryan in his best position in the second row and DOCII at 6 than D Ryan at 6 and Billy in the second row.

He also played 6 that day against Leinster in Thomond where he was caught horribly out of position and Nacewa set up Horgan for the try...

[Colliniho]

I also really think Dougal has earned his spot. Leinster rely on quick ball and having him doing the dog work on the ground could be critical against Jennings.

[outside inside]

DOC II, Dougal & POM . The first two were excellent up at Ulster , for me our best performance this season.
DOC II came of age for me that night he smashed Williams and kept Ferris quiet , Ulster got on top through their tight five not their back row. Ronan might get the nod at 7 because of experience and his linking play.
However Dougal has more dog in him than TOD & Ronan combined , down to what you want on the night .

[etcpostmaster]

I think that dougal has displayed some classic no 7 break down qualities that I haven't seen for Munster in a while. From that standpoint I would like to see him start against Leinster