O'Brien a doubt for November internationals

[Feicarsinn]

http://www.espnscrum.com/ireland/rug...ry/166216.html


Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiiiiii...

[psychic duck]

Leinster have proved this year they have depth capable of getting them out of the H Cup pool stages.

As long as the physiotherapy can get him fully recovered and he gets back fresh and back to top form for the the second half of the season, then Leinster and Ireland shouldn't suffer too much.

[Feicarsinn]

Leinster have proved this year they have depth capable of getting them out of the H Cup pool stages.

As long as the physiotherapy can get him fully recovered and he gets back fresh and back to top form for the the second half of the season, then Leinster and Ireland shouldn't suffer too much.

Our depth in the back row is certainly going to be tested. With Ruddock and O'Brien out and Locky and Heaslip likely to miss most of the beginning of the season due to IRFU regulations we'll be fielding a bit of a scratch outfit early on. It'll be a good opportunity for Dom Ryan to push on as well as a chance to see if Jordi Murphy is good enough for this level.

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

It's a good opportunity for one of Jordi Murphy, Ben Marshall, Jordan Coughlan, Jack Conan, Conor Gilsenan or Daniel Leavy to see some action for Leinster early in the season. I'd be quite happy to see that.

[Feicarsinn]

It's a good opportunity for one of Jordi Murphy, Ben Marshall, Jordan Coughlan, Jack Conan, Conor Gilsenan or Daniel Leavy to see some action for Leinster early in the season. I'd be quite happy to see that.

How bad was Gilsenan's injury? Will he be back for the beginning of next season.

Also, while he's a massive talent, it might be a season early for Leavy imo, especially because we're talking about the very beginning of the year.

[coonor]

How bad was Gilsenan's injury? Will he be back for the beginning of next season.

Also, while he's a massive talent, it might be a season early for Leavy imo, especially because we're talking about the very beginning of the year.

From what I heard, he's out for 6 week with Ligament damage.

I wouldn't want to rush any development but depending on circumstances, it looks like one of the academy players will have to step up. Dominic Ryan will be given a good opportunity (remember how well he played when Heaslip was injured in 2010). I would like to see Murphy step up, I think he's a talented player. Auva'a can certainly play at a top level of Pro 12 and would more than likely be solid against weaker Heineken Cup opponents. Else where it would be interesting to see what Gilsenan can add. He's one of the most natural 7s Leinster have and may offer something other than bulk and power. Conan and Coughlan were both very impressive in the JWC. It is however hard to tell which player, if any, are ready to step up.

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Also, while he's a massive talent, it might be a season early for Leavy imo, especially because we're talking about the very beginning of the year.

Probably but Cian Healy, Ian McKinley, Andrew Conway, Brendan Macken, Luke McGrath and Luke Fitzgerald all played for Leinster in their first year out of school so it's not as though they're averse to playing youngsters. I'd expect him to be well down the depth chart initially however.

[lucky number 7]

He'll be back...

[Feicarsinn]

Probably but Cian Healy, Ian McKinley, Andrew Conway, Brendan Macken, Luke McGrath and Luke Fitzgerald all played for Leinster in their first year out of school so it's not as though they're averse to playing youngsters. I'd expect him to be well down the depth chart initially however.

True enough, but the vast majority of the lads you mentioned are backs. IMO, aside from tight head prop, the back row is one of the positions in which guys come through latest. While you do get some players who come through pretty early in that area at a young age, they usually endure a pretty indifferent couple of seasons at the start of their careers.

[Amiga500]

Leinster will be able to cope just fine without him.

You've still got Jennings and Auva'a there to provide nous to the youngster that has to start alongside.


As for Ireland... well, once again injury might be Ireland's best youth development policy. But who will Deccie put in... O'Mahony, Henry or ANOther? (He'll probably try to pursuade Kieron Dawson or David Wallace to come out of retirement!!!)

[Feicarsinn]

Leinster will be able to cope just fine without him.

You've still got Jennings and Auva'a there to provide nous to the youngster that has to start alongside.


As for Ireland... well, once again injury might be Ireland's best youth development policy. But who will Deccie put in... O'Mahony, Henry or ANOther? (He'll probably try to pursuade Kieron Dawson or David Wallace to come out of retirement!!!)

Yep, internationally the back row has gone from an area of strength to a potential area of weakness in less than a year. Wallace is retired and I don't think we can count on having Stephen Ferris available to us that much longer. The guy has no cartilage in his knee, there isn't a chance he'll be playing past 30. With that in mind we need to develop two new back rows very quickly. O'Mahony and Henry would be the obvious candidates at the moment and while O'Mahony will be okay once he bulks up a bit (I thought he was seriously under powered against the All Blacks), I'm not sure that Henry will cut it as an international back row. Long term we'll be fine with the like of Henderson, Gilsenan, Butler, DOC 2.0, Ryan, etc. coming through, but it could be a bit hairy for the next year if Ferris can't stay fit.

[big ginger 8]

Agreed next year or two may be a bit of a worry though I do think we have good depth at 6 lacking star quality after Ferris and O'Brien though and at 8 we have to pray Heaslip stays fit but looking ahead we are ridiculously well set or so it seems.

[Irishflanker]

While you make mention of Ferris having no cartilage in his knee, have you not stopped to think that SOB may be heading down a similar route with regards injuries and that his longevity may to be called into question in the future, no?
I personally think that there is more to it than meets the eye, but I'm not entirely sure of it.

[Feicarsinn]

While you make mention of Ferris having no cartilage in his knee, have you not stopped to think that SOB may be heading down a similar route with regards injuries and that his longevity may to be called into question in the future, no?
I personally think that there is more to it than meets the eye, but I'm not entirely sure of it.

Different situation entirely really. Sean has had his trouble with injury in the past no doubt, but they're pretty unrelated as far as I remember. He's broken a leg, he had a bit of cartilage trimmed off his knee earlier in the year (a similar procedure to what BOD had done, nothing too serious) and now he's getting a hip problem he's had for about 5 months sorted. Ferris on the other hand as done serious damage to that knee repeatedly. He's torn cartilage in it, done his MCL and he's had a whole host of other bangs and surgeries on it. If he can walk on it by the time he's 50 he'll be doing well.

I would agree that it perhaps wasn't the best idea to give him three 80 shifts against the All Blacks at the end of a long season and carrying an injury, but that's the IRFU for ya.

[big ginger 8]

Just decided to group all of Leinsters backrowers together Auva'a. Jennings, Heaslip, McLaughlin, O'Brien, Ruddock, Ryan, Coghlan, Gilsenan, Murphy, Conan and Leavy. That is a good mix with some excellent talent and bags of potential. Definitely good enough for Rabo ok for H Cup though not ideal against Clermont if we have them before SO'B is back.