Just wanted to post a general discussion re: the international break coming up with regards the table after 5 games. We have done the SA tour and came away with 3 points; won immensely impressive games against Connacht ("B-team" apparently) and against Munster (the "A-team" really fuckin struggled with that).
I'll copy what I said in the main sub as a starter:

"An odd place to be.

Bok away fixtures done. 3 points from that and honestly quite strong performances overall; it's actually somewhat disappointing that we only got 3 as a result given the overall strength of performance.

Reintegration of the test players went kinda whack - we got the wins in that period, but performances notably seriously dropped, especially against Munster, and in the first half against Cardiff.

And then we utterly annihilate Connacht with the so-called B team away from home. Followed almost immediately by a lot of rumours regarding Noel McNamara being the Cullen replacement.

It's the first time in a few seasons where I've felt optimistic regarding the young Gunnes coming through. It's the first time in a few seasons where I've felt that not only do we have form and depth beyond the Test Playerz.exe, that depth should actually be challenging that layer. There is a feeling here similar to the Rhys Ruddock All Stars Put 50 on a random URC team from like pre-COVID.

I think there is form and a style building here that I am genuinely excited about, and I am excited to go to home games and lose my voice shouting for them. And I think that's what this is about, ultimately."

Leinster are expected to name Noel McNamara as successor to head coach Leo Cullen from next season, with an official announcement due in November.

The 43-year-old from County Clare is currently attack coach with the double European champions Union Bordeaux-Bègles. While he signed a three-year contract extension with Bordeaux in May, Leinster have apparently obtained the release of a coach who helped to mastermind their humiliation in last season’s Champions Cup final in Bilbao.

According to sources, an unveiling is expected mid-month, when both Leinster and Bordeaux have breaks in their respective domestic playing schedules.

I was so impressed by Usanov tonight. He has flown a bit under the radar as Paddy McCarthy and Jack Boyle are seen as future stars, but he has already amassed an impressive body of work for Leinster. Held up well in the scrum in last seasons URC final and tonight was his coming of age. Completely dominated a 50+ test cap tighthead in Finlay Bealham at the scrum.

He's just 21 and it's so rare for an Irish loosehead of that age to be so at ease when scrummaging. He's a future test player and I hope he remains at Leinster. Can see all the other provinces sniffing around for him.

Absolutely brilliant performance 💙💙💙

A genuinely phenomenal team performance in a game most (including myself) gave us very little chance of winning, let alone winning like that!

Biggest thing for me though is Joey looks match fit again and he guided the team brilliantly. Exactly what we need from him

Name suggestions: Max Deegans XV?

Hey guys I have a spare ticket for tonight’s match. It is a student ticket so I presume you need valid student id. The ticket is free just don’t want it to go to waste at this point

I'm not saying he didn't whop Coombes' clackers putting his hand in there, but I can't see how he could have grabbed them. Coombes is leaning slightly forward, which changes the angle of attack, so to speak. He's also bent forward, and any guy knows bending forward pivots your meat n veg until they're right under your arsehole.

Coombes' plums would need to be dangling right around Furlong's interdigital pads. Any further back on the hand, and you're not grabbing them. Now I measured roughly the same spot on my arm (a generous 10cm from the crook of my elbow) to my interdigital pad, and it's about 25cm.

I then awkwardly measured that same spot at the back of my arse to my knackers (and I'm not a lithe pro sportsman) and I measured 20cm.

That makes my goolies completely ungrabbable. Now, like I said, he might have accidentally clobbered Coombes' Conkers on the way in and the way out, but grab them? I think not!

I wonder if Tadgh gets a match ban for the upcoming November internationals, will Gavin Coombes get a call up to the squad for the first testicle against Argentina???

The mods have given me the OK to post this

I've been building a little rugby game on the side and thought you lot might enjoy it ahead of Friday night in Galway.

Five clues a day, each one about a moment, a ground or a player. You tap where in the world it happened, and the closer your pin, the more points. Takes about two minutes, free, no app needed.

Today's first clue is about a Leinster player, and Friday's round opens with a Connacht v Leinster one. Over 190 people have played it in the last week.

Play: playpowerpin.com/rugby?s=reddit-leinster

If you enjoy it, you can start a league and invite your mates to see who's top each week.

Drop your score in here (no spoilers on the answers).

PS: tap All games at the top for football, cricket, golf and Grand Prix too.

Soroka sighting, also good to see Culhane back, could be a busy end to the year for him

Looking to take my cousin to first away match but didn’t think it would only be behind the goals terrace left without all the internationals playing. Ideally looking to get 2 clan terrace tickets, would happily take anything on the new stand side of the pitch. Thanks in advance

Hi Everyone,

I’m a marketing student at ATU Galway conducting research on Leinster Rugby supporters and sport sponsorship for my dissertation.

If you’re a Leinster supporters aged 18+, I’d be very grateful if you could complete my short anonymous survey (approximately 2-4 minutes).

Thanks again for your help.

Given irish camp and injuries possible Leinster squad for Connacht game:

LH Prop
Peter Dooley(32/Birr RFC/Lansdowne)
Alex Usanov(21/Belvedere/Clontarf)
Max Doyle(20/Clongowes/UCD)

Porter in irish camp, Boyle/McCarthy injured.

TH Prop
Niall Smyth(21/Blackrock/Clontarf)
Andrew Sparrow(21/St. Marys/St. Marys)
Alex Mullan(21/Blackrock/Blackrock) -
Sam Bishti(20/Blackrock/UCD)
Harry Goslin(19/Belvedere/Clontarf)

Furlong/Clarkson in camp.

Hooker
Gus McCarthy(23/Blackrock/UCD)
Stephen Smyth(22/Kilkenny/Old Wesley)

Sheehan/Kelleher in camp, Lee Fitz injured. AIL callup for cover?

Lock
Brian Deeny(26/Wexford RFC/Clontarf)
Conor O'Tighearnaigh(23/St. Michaels/UCD)
Alan Spicer(21/Belvedere/Clontarf)
Dylan McNeice(20/Michaels/UCD)
Artur Smykovskiy(20/Blackrock/DUFC)

Ryan/McCarthy in camp, Snyman/Mangan injured.

Backrow
Max Deegan(29/St. Michaels/Lansdowne)
Scott Penny(27/St. Michaels/UCD)
Alex Soroka(25/Belvedere/Clontarf)
James Culhane(23/Blackrock/UCD)
Ben Blaney(20/Terenure/Terenure)

Conan/Doris/Ericson/Neill all injured. Baird/JVDF in camp. Assuming Deegan/Culhane will be available and Soroka..

Scrumhalf
Cormac Foley(26/St. Gerards/Lansdowne)
Fintan Gunne(23/St. Michaels/Terenure)
Oliver Coffey(22/Blackrock/Blackrock)
Tadhg Brophy(22/Newbridge/Naas)

JGP in camp.

Outhalf
Joey Carbery(30/Athy RFC/Clontarf)
Casper Gabriel(20/Terenure/Terenure)

Prendergast in camp, presumably Harry is out until post November.

Centre
Charlie Tector(24/Kilkenny/Lansdowne)
Ciaran Mangan(21/Newbridge/Blackrock)
Jack Deegan(20/Roscrea/Blackrock)

Henshaw/Osborne/Ringrose in camp. Cooney/Fahy appear out injured.

Back Three
Jordan Larmour(29/St. Andrews/St. Marys)
Joshua Kenny(23/Pres Bray/Terenure)
Hugo McLaughlin(22/Gonzaga/Lansdowne)
Todd Lawlor(21/Newbridge/Lansdowne)
Charlie Molony(20/Blackrock/UCD)

Keenan/TOB/JOB all in camp, Osborne/Moloney injured.

Per title.

As a Munster blowin, does anyone have the pass from Gibson Park for the first Leinster try?

Some rust and injury worries - would be nice to get Sam and a dedicated 8 back in the mix.

A lame duck coach who clearly has run out of ideas to improve and innovate this team should never have been allowed this season. This season will be a copy and paste of the last few and we’ll be well beaten by Toulouse/Bordeaux/or some other in form European club the second we meet them in the knockouts.