Dawson was clear on radio last night that if BOD stays it will be a National Contract not a provincial one, so I guess he has made his call, I would expect him to commit for 2 years for WC

Apparently its a one year contract at BOD's request. He didn't want to commit for two more years.

connachtexile wrote: I have faith in Dawson he got the last two appointments right and apparently they've being monitoring O'Connor for a while as it was touch and go anyway if Schmidt would have stayed on past his current contract as Leinster coach.

And they have kept Feek and Gibbs, so they maintain continuity. Dawson was clear on radio last night that if BOD stays it will be a National Contract not a provincial one, so I guess he has made his call, I would expect him to commit for 2 years for WC

I have faith in Dawson he got the last two appointments right and apparently they've being monitoring O'Connor for a while as it was touch and go anyway if Schmidt would have stayed on past his current contract as Leinster coach.

Any thoughts on Matt O'Connor as new coach? A quick decision, but doesn't seem like a rushed one, looks like they've had eyes on him for quite a while.

My only concern might be Leinster's bench and really only if a couple of them are called into duty early on.

Will be interested to see Madigan at 12.

LEINSTER:
15: Rob Kearney
14: Fergus McFadden
13: Brian O'Driscoll
12: Ian Madigan
11: Isa Nacewa
10: Jonathan Sexton
9: Isaac Boss

1: Cian Healy
2: Richardt Strauss
3: Mike Ross
4: Leo Cullen CAPTAIN
5: Devin Toner
6: Kevin McLaughlin
7: Shane Jennings
8: Jamie Heaslip

REPLACEMENTS:
16: Sean Cronin
17: Jack McGrath
18: Jamie Hagan
19: Quinn Roux
20: Rhys Ruddock
21: John Cooney
22: Andrew Goodman
23: Andrew Conway

BIARRITZ OLYMPIQUE: 15: Bosch, 14: Ngwenya, 13: Baby, 12: Traille, 11: Brew, 10: Barraque, 9: Yachvili;
1: Synaeghel 2: Heguy, 3: Broster, 4: E Lund, 5: Taele, 6: Dubarry, 7: Lakafia, 8: Harinordoquy CAPTAIN
REPLACEMENTS: 16: August, 17: Van Staden, 18: Gomez Kodela, 19: Marie, 20: Lauret, 21: Lesgourgues, 22: Burotu, 23: Thomas

REFEREE: Wayne Barnes (RFU), ASSISTANT REFEREES: Greg Garner, Paul Dix (both RFU), 4th OFFICIAL: Tim Wigglesworth (RFU), 5th OFFICIAL: Robin Goodliffe (RFU), TMO: Graham Hughes (RFU)

thats a strong enough leinster team, they should win this, i watched biarritz vs glaws and they werent good. be bet them at home so leinster win for me, could be an arm wrestle up front but leinsters backs are very good. they'll spread it wide quick

phatguerilla wrote: Rodney is the answer to our back up centre options!!! :silly: :woohoo: :whistle:

Still think there is a back row in there somewhere a la Nick williams or Leo A'uva

Rodney is the answer to our back up centre options!!! :silly: :woohoo: :whistle:

connachtexile wrote:

SH players are bad the first season before coming good the next.

what about players who dont come good in the 2nd season, will they in the third season? still hope in rodney

i seen some place that leinster have used 52 players this season. that really backs up sea point's statement that yes its hard for TH to get used to playing when its different players all the time.

dont think ive ever seen, healy, croinin/strauss hagan cullen and browne together

I suppose that's a fair point, it just really rubbed me the wrong way to see the persistent claims that he was a super rugby standard prop when he was patently an ITM player with very patchy super rugby experience. He was also leapfrogged by a kid (a bit of a freak, but a kid nonetheless) at his super club before he left. That in particular should have been a cause for concern for the scouts/coaches.

In fairness to Bent, he's still a pup prop wise and there was way too much expectation put on him for his arrival. Last couple of months will have been a real challenge for him trying to fit into the squad, sort accomodation, figure out a new city etc, etc and all mid season...

If he get's a full pre-season behind him they may see a different player next season..

Exactly and he was only converted to TH from LH last year so his experience playing that side is not huge either. Feek knows what he's doing and Bent will come good. Most SH players are bad the first season before coming good the next.

phatguerilla wrote: I think it was Feek that vouched for Bent. Whoever it was should be looked at by Leinster, it was at best a massive gamble and has not paid off and seems unlikely to pay off in the future, for Ireland at least.

Personally feel that Hagan and a number of other Leinster players in the Leinster B/rabo team have been unfairly treated to some extent. White was a good acquisition for Leinster fair enough but Hagan is easily as good and better than Bent. Its very hard for a TH to look good in the second choice pack however, usually playing away from home. The fact that he was given a three year contract by LI shows that at least some coaches see his quality, especially as he cannot become English qualified.

In fairness to Bent, he's still a pup prop wise and there was way too much expectation put on him for his arrival. Last couple of months will have been a real challenge for him trying to fit into the squad, sort accomodation, figure out a new city etc, etc and all mid season...

If he get's a full pre-season behind him they may see a different player next season..

I think it was Feek that vouched for Bent. Whoever it was should be looked at by Leinster, it was at best a massive gamble and has not paid off and seems unlikely to pay off in the future, for Ireland at least.

Personally feel that Hagan and a number of other Leinster players in the Leinster B/rabo team have been unfairly treated to some extent. White was a good acquisition for Leinster fair enough but Hagan is easily as good and better than Bent. Its very hard for a TH to look good in the second choice pack however, usually playing away from home. The fact that he was given a three year contract by LI shows that at least some coaches see his quality, especially as he cannot become English qualified.

first game in the country was with ireland, now the international capped Michael Bent is playing for leinster A vs Munster A in the B+I semi final. That worked out well! Hagan so on the bench vs Biarritz.
fionn carr plays full back which would mean he also wont play vs biarritz.

Borders no.2 wrote: Why isn't Michael Bradley and Declan Kidney on the list?

That package only works as a trio with Eddie O's heading it up!!