Feel free to delete as not strictly Leinster but just some thoughts:

- defence is all over the place as most of the team are yet again trying to fundamentally change how they defend. Result is gaps everywhere.

- I still don't understand how / why the Ireland lineout is consistently so much worse than Leinster's. Are Deegan / Baird really just that much better than Prendergast and / or Beirne at the lineout?

- we aren't being helped by refereeing and are massively missing Doris and Beirne at the breakdown. BOK has turned it into a free for all and we aren't cheating in the same way.

- as Leinster did against the Stormers, there's too often no one running onto the ball at pace and instead taking it from a standing start and losing collisions as a result.

Not going to set the pulses racing, but that’s a smart solid signing.

Brings some much needed experience, knows the setup well, good injury profile and will slot in well to the LH depth chart particularly with Paddy Mc, Boyle and Porters minutes to be limited, and two of those injured also.

Hopefully there’s another signing or two to come.

“I think any year you finish with a trophy can never be deemed unsuccessful,” said Conan of his feelings on Leinster’s campaign.

“We’re obviously reaching for other heights. I think if we’d just performed better that day in Bilbao, maybe there’d be a different twist on it. I think the most disheartening bit was the fact that we never really fired a shot when we got out there.

“Was it a success? Yes, because you get a bit of silverware, but for the players and staff that we had, we should have at least made a better account for ourselves on the big day over there. That was tough to take.

“Even after that, we spoke about it for weeks on end. Maybe that’s what fuelled a performance like that against the Bulls in Croke Park.

“It seems like an awful lot of taking a lot of lessons from things and not showing up on the biggest days, which is tough.”

• Pool 1: Leinster, Glasgow, Pau, Clermont, Sale, Leicester
• Pool 2: Connacht, Lions, Toulouse, La Rochelle, Saracens, Exeter
• Pool 3: Munster, Stormers, Bordeaux, Racing, Bristol, Gloucester
• Pool 4: Bulls, Cardiff, Montpellier, Stade Francais, Bath, Northampton

Ireland:

15. Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)(46)
14. Rob Baloucoune (Enniskillen/Ulster)(8)
13. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)(74)
12. Stuart McCloskey (Bangor/Ulster)(28)
11. Jamie Osborne (Naas/Leinster)(15)
10. Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster)(15)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(51)

1. Tom O’Toole (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(21)
   2. Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(39)
   3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)(86)
   4. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(24)
   5. James Ryan (UCD/Leinster)(80)
2. Cian Prendergast (UCD/Connacht)(11)
   7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(79)
   8. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)(59)

Replacements:

16. Rónan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(48)
17. Jeremy Loughman (Garryowen/Munster)(8)
18. Thomas Clarkson (Blackrock College/Leinster)(13)
19. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(70)
20. Nick Timoney (Queen’s University/Ulster)(11)
21. Craig Casey (Shannon/Munster)(28
22. Ciaran Frawley (UCD/Leinster)(12)
23. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(69).

Along with ex-Leinster underage players in Prendergast, Loughman, Beirne and Timoney.

Scrumhalf

• Fintan Gunne(2003) - senior
• Oliver Coffey(2004) - Academy Yr 2
• Tadhg Brophy(2004) - Academy Yr 1
• James O'Dwyer(2006) - u20
• Sean McDonald(2007) - u19
• Luke Coffey(2008) - u18

With Luke McGrath leaving and JGP entering his final few seasons, identifying and developing replacements for these two stalwarts. Fintan Gunne/Oliver Coffey/Tadhg Brophy should all get chances next season to impress next season, the hope is they can step up into more prominent roles. James O'Dwyer will be hoping to impress at the JWC this summer after an injury interrupted season. Sean McDonald and Luke Coffey look set to join the sub academy next season.

Outhalf

• Sam Prendergast(2003) - senior
• Casper Gabriel(2005) - Academy Yr 2
• Paul Neary(2007) - u19
• Cory O'Connor(2007) - u19
• James Curry(2007) - u19

Sam Prendergast remains a highly rated player, with flaws he needs to work on, with him heading away with Ireland this summer, Leinster will be without him at the start of the season. Casper Gabriels progress has been slower than some people like, but at the moment it looks like he will get a lot of exposure at the start of the next season. Paul Neary/Cory O'Connor/James Curry will all be pushing for an academy place next season, with Neary looking the most likely to progress to next level.

Centre

• Hugh Cooney(2003) - senior
• Connor Fahy(2005) - Academy Yr 1
• Ciaran Mangan(2005) - Academy Yr 1
• Jack Deegan(2006) - u20/Academy Yr 1
• Bernard White(2007) - u19
• James Browne(2007) - u19

With Henshaw looking like he has been replaced by Osborne as the primary 12 for Leinster, there isn't a massive need for a young 12 to emerge but certainly there is a huge talent at the position coming out of school in Bernard White. While Ringrose still has the 1st choice 13 spot, he has looked a diminished force going forward this season as injuries have mounted up, who will be his long term replacement remains up for debate with Hugh Cooney, Connor Fahy, Ciaran Mangan and Jack Deegan all potential 13s, although Fahy and Mangan may settle at 12 too. James Browne moved to outside centre this season from wing, it will be interesting to follow his progress next season. I'll be very interested to see how Jack Deegan gets on at the JWC, given how well he performed upon returning from injury.

Back Three

• JJ Kenny(2003) - senior
• Andrew Osborne(2003) - senior
• Ruben Moloney(2004) - Academy Yr 2
• Hugo McLaughlin(2004) - Academy Yr 2
• Todd Lawlor(2005) - Academy Yr 1
• Charlie Molony(2006) - u20
• Noah Byrne(2006) - u20
• Derry Moloney(2006) - u20
• Johnny O'Sullivan(2006) - u20
• Harry Waters(2007) - u19
• Geoff O'Sullivan(2007) - u19
• Ronan Kelly(2007) - u19

JJ Kenny had a breakout season this year, but was hampered in the second half of the season with an injury. He will be hoping to hit the ground running next season, but will face stiff competition to replace James Lowe. Andrew Osborne will need to step up his performances to date if he is going to be retained beyond next season, he will surely be feeling pressure from younger backs in the form of Ruben Moloney and Hugo McLaughlin. Todd Lawlor has struggled with injury this season but will be aiming to hit the ground running next season. Below that there is a lot of back three prospects hoping to make the academy next season and beyond, Charlie Molony/Noah Byrne look set to star at the JWC and it will be exciting to see how they get on there, while Johnny O'Sullivan will be hoping to impress when given an opportunity, Derry Moloney and Harry Watters miss out on the JWC due to injury. Geoff O'Sullivan and Ronan Kelly are two impressive outside backs coming out of school who will be ones to watch next season.

Who are you excited about seeing come through?

Senior Players Still Available:

1. Rónan Kelleher

2. Dan Sheehan

3. Garry Ringrose

4. Hugo Keenan

5. Jimmy O'Brien

6. Culhane

7. Max deegan

8. Larmour

9. Penny

10. Soroka

11. Usanov

Match day:

1. Paddy McCarthy

2. Stephen Smyth

3. Niall Smyth

4. Dylan McNeice

5. Joe McCarthy

6. Ryan Baird

7. Josh Neill

8. Caelan Doris

9. Fintan Gunne

10. Sam Prendergast

11. Tommy O'Brien

12. Jamie Osborne

13. Jack Deegan

14. JJ Kenny

15. Casper Gabriel

16. Gus McCarthy

17. Jack Boyle

18. Thomas Clarkson

19. James Ryan

20. Diarmuid Mangan

21. Oliver Coffey

22. Harry Byrne

23. Ciaran Mangan

15. Noah Byrne (Dublin University/Leinster)
14. Charlie Molony (UCD/Leinster)
13. Jack Deegan (Blackrock/Leinster)
12. James O'Leary (UCC/Munster)
11. Daniel Ryan (Corinthians/Connacht)
10. Tom Wood (Garryowen/Munster)
9. Christopher Barrett (UCC/Munster)

1. Max Doyle (UCD/Leinster)
2. Rian Handley (Old Wesley/Leinster)
3. Sami Bishti (UCD/Leinster)(captain)
4. Joe Finn (Garryowen/Munster)
5. Donnacha McGuire (UCD/Leinster)
6. Josh Neill (Old Wesley/Leinster)
7. Alex Lautsou (Shannon/Munster)
8. Diarmaid O'Connell (Corinthians/Connacht)

Replacements:

16. Duinn Maguire (UCD/Leinster)
17. Adam Cooper (Buccaneers/Connacht)
18. Blake McClean (Instonians/Ulster)
19. Dylan McNeice (UCD/Leinster)
20. Ben Blaney (Terenure/Leinster)
21. James O'Dwyer (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
22. Charlie O'Shea (UCC/Munster)
23. Rob Carney (Cashel/Munster)

Of course Daniel Ryan, Adam Cooper and Rob Carney were all leinster underage players too.

Wolfhounds and Clovers were absolutely flying it in the Celtic Challenge. I think this season is going to be the most competitive we've seen yet. Can't wait to head back down to Donnybrook

Would you be in favour of him coaching Leinster?

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I heard on rugby podcast podcast about jessie kriel singing with leinster. I was also surprised leinster didn't go after aj lam from the blues or could they sign anyone from moana pasifika after they folded.