A few noodlings on Leinster's upcoming 2013/2014 season

 Matt O'Connor (picture http://bit.ly/13QK4zz)

With friendlies against Ulster and Northampton Saints coming up at the end of the month, it’s time to have a look at Leinster’s prospects for the 2013/2014 season. It’s all change this year- with the departure for one reason or another of Joe Schmidt, Jonny Sexton and Isa Nacewa, with new arrivals Matt O’Connor, Jimmy Gopperth, and Zane Kirchner, who’ll most likely only arrive in October after his involvement with  the Springboks and the Rugby Championship is over. He might get a call-up for the November internationals too! They are going to have to manage Kirchner carefully, as he’s been paying rugby since February, and he’s going to be pretty well played out for this year.

Madigan and Gopperth will be fighting it out for the fly half spot – Madigan has the edge, but Gopperth will keep him on his toes. 

Matt O’Connor is going to have to get working on some succession plans, with O’Driscolll, D’Arcy, Cullen, Jennings, Reddan and Ross likely to depart in the near future. Or get injured at their age.  We need one of the host of locks signed last year to really stand up this season – I’m hoping Quinn Roux gets a good clean run of health as I think he has great potential.  Former Tiger’s boss O’Connor should be upping the ante for Leinsters scrum, while in an ideal world not stiffing the creativity of the backs