Leinster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread.

totallegend

managerman wrote: »

yes i do! bath website says there sold out.. any other way of getting them?

Ring the Leinster branch offices

Hippo

It's been sold out for a while and the Rec isn't a large ground. Check the tickets forum on Leinsterfans.com in case anyone has an unwanted ticket.

RuggieBear

please don't link to tout sites

durkadurka

This is what happened last time. The return of the dricmaster general.

tolosenc

And we all know how that match in Toulouse turned out.

iamjenko

durkadurka wrote: »

This is what happened last time. The return of the dricmaster general.

That and the following Toulouse game, two of my all time favourite Leinster wins!!

padraig.od

durkadurka wrote: »

This is what happened last time. The return of the dricmaster general.

Tries 3 and 4 were just ridiculous by BOD, great play. D'Arcy had some head of hair on him back then!

iamjenko

padraig.od wrote: »

Tries 3 and 4 were just ridiculous by BOD, great play. D'Arcy had some head of hair on him back then!

Haha, they all had fine heads of hair on them back then!!

totallegend

iamjenko wrote: »

Haha, they all had fine heads of hair on them back then!!

Even Contepomi!

That Leinster backline of Contepomi, Hickie, D'Arcy, O'Driscoll, Horgan and Dempsey was just awesome, six fantastic players all in prime condition and playing irresistible rugby.

If we could combine that backline with the current forwards...

padraig.od

totallegend wrote: »

Even Contepomi!

That Leinster backline of Contepomi, Hickie, D'Arcy, O'Driscoll, Horgan and Dempsey was just awesome, six fantastic players all in prime condition and playing irresistible rugby.

If we could combine that backline with the current forwards...

I was surprised at how good Horgan looked actually, I don't remember him being that good! For Baths first try - is that the only time Hickie was burned like that? Irish rugby really hasn't replaced Hickie. He had everything. Could any of our backs score that try like he did v Toulouse in the QF?

irishbucsfan

I think when Horgan went through a phase of being continually tried in the center he was exposed a bit and possibly lost confidence. But when Cheika came and made the decision to specialise him as a winger he thrived. I think he was always a great player but confidence breeds consistency and he found that on the wing full time.

smurphy29

irishbucsfan wrote: »

I think when Horgan went through a phase of being continually tried in the center he was exposed a bit and possibly lost confidence. But when Cheika came and made the decision to specialise him as a winger he thrived. I think he was always a great player but confidence breeds consistency and he found that on the wing full time.

Yeah, Horgan at his best was sensational, a try machine. I think in a way, he is the least heralded of that classic Leinster three-quarter line, and slightly underrated as a result. A brilliant player.

geekington

Team for Bath Game:

LEINSTER:

15: Rob Kearney
14: Isa Nacewa
13: Fergus McFadden
12: Gordon D'Arcy
11: Luke Fitzgerald
10: Jonathan Sexton
9: Isaac Boss

1: Heinke van der Merwe
2: Richardt Strauss
3: Mike Ross
4: Leo Cullen CAPTAIN
5: Damian Browne
6: Kevin McLaughlin
7: Sean O'Brien
8: Jamie Heaslip

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Sean Cronin
17: Cian Healy
18: Nathan White
19: Devin Toner
20: Shane Jennings
21: Eoin Reddan
22: Ian Madigan
23: Eoin O'Malley

Sad to see EOM dropped but I have a feeling he has picked a team for a Dog Fight for the first 40m and then up the pace in the second half to pull away!

Can't say I see any faul in it - like most English team there pack will be strong for 40mins but will wilt like they did against Montpellier!

vinny chase

The A Side to face Llanelli in the B&I Cup has been named: (apologies if posted already)

http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/newsroom/9069.php

Team:

15. David Kearney
14. Darren Hudson
13. Brendan Macken
12. Collie O'Shea
11. Andrew Conway
10. Noel Reid
9. John Cooney
1. Jack McGrath
2. Aaron Dundon
3. Jamie Hagan
4. Ben Marshall
5. Mark Flanagan
6. Ciaran Ruddock (c)
7. Jordi Murphy
8. Leo Auva'a

Reps: Tom Sexton, Jack O'Connell, Jordan Coughlan, Conor Gilsenan, Luke McGrath, Cathal Marsh, Andrew Boyle.

A really young side. There is obviously some serious leadership credentials amongst the young Ruddock lads when Ciaran is captaining this side too.

Would love to see how the two young former Clongowes backrowers do from the bench if they get an opportunity.

vinny chase

geekington wrote: »

Team for Bath Game:

LEINSTER:

15: Rob Kearney
14: Isa Nacewa
13: Fergus McFadden
12: Gordon D'Arcy
11: Luke Fitzgerald
10: Jonathan Sexton
9: Isaac Boss

1: Heinke van der Merwe
2: Richardt Strauss
3: Mike Ross
4: Leo Cullen CAPTAIN
5: Damian Browne
6: Kevin McLaughlin
7: Sean O'Brien
8: Jamie Heaslip

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Sean Cronin
17: Cian Healy
18: Nathan White
19: Devin Toner
20: Shane Jennings
21: Eoin Reddan
22: Ian Madigan
23: Eoin O'Malley

Sad to see EOM dropped but I have a feeling he has picked a team for a Dog Fight for the first 40m and then up the pace in the second half to pull away!

Can't say I see any faul in it - like most English team there pack will be strong for 40mins but will wilt like they did against Montpellier!

Is Rhys Ruddock injured? Strange for him to be excluded from the A side as well, or is he travelling to Bath as injury cover? Presumably Fionn Carr is doing the same?

Cpt_Blackbeard

vinny chase wrote: »

The A Side to face Llanelli in the B&I Cup has been named: (apologies if posted already)

http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/newsroom/9069.php

Team:

15. David Kearney
14. Darren Hudson
13. Brendan Macken
12. Collie O'Shea
11. Andrew Conway
10. Noel Reid
9. John Cooney
1. Jack McGrath
2. Aaron Dundon
3. Jamie Hagan
4. Luke Marshall
5. Mark Flanagan
6. Ciaran Ruddock (c)
7. Jordi Murphy
8. Leo Auva'a

Reps: Tom Sexton, Jack O'Connell, Jordan Coughlan, Conor Gilsenan, Luke McGrath, Cathal Marsh, Andrew Boyle.

A really young side. There is obviously some serious leadership credentials amongst the young Ruddock lads when Ciaran is captaining this side too.

Would love to see how the two young former Clongowes backrowers do from the bench if they get an opportunity.

Would I be right in saying the Clongowes guys are from Munster?

Cpt_Blackbeard

Disappointing for EOM, McFadden hasn't done anything to justify the start over him. I'd rather see Fitz and McFadden swap. I don't understand how McLoughlan keeps getting the start either - I don't think it's his LO presence as Heaslip is of a similar standard. Your backrow always functions best with SOB at 6 and Jennings at 7.

vinny chase

Cpt_Blackbeard wrote: »

Would I be right in saying the Clongowes guys are from Munster?

No, you wouldn't.

Conor Gilsenan is from Mullingar, and Jordan Coughlan is from Dublin.

CIARAN_BOYLE

Cpt_Blackbeard wrote: »

Would I be right in saying the Clongowes guys are from Munster?

It would be an odd definition, more correct afaik would be saying that they both have family in Munster and furthermore both turned down Munster academy spots in favour of Leinster academy spots.

Cpt_Blackbeard wrote:

Disappointing for EOM, McFadden hasn't done anything to justify the start over him. I'd rather see Fitz and McFadden swap. I don't understand how McLoughlan keeps getting the start either - I don't think it's his LO presence as Heaslip is of a similar standard. Your backrow always functions best with SOB at 6 and Jennings at 7.

McFadden has been good recently but to be honest he is a 12 or wing imo and if he was to start ahead of D'arcy I would have no problem but I am shocked he is ahead of EOM at 13.

McLaughlin is better in the lineout than Heaslip and joe likes to have McLaughlin in with Browne who isn't great in the LO. Personally I'd play Toner in the second row and demon McLaughlin to the bench

vinny chase

Cpt_Blackbeard wrote: »

Disappointing for EOM, McFadden hasn't done anything to justify the start over him. I'd rather see Fitz and McFadden swap. I don't understand how McLoughlan keeps getting the start either - I don't think it's his LO presence as Heaslip is of a similar standard. Your backrow always functions best with SOB at 6 and Jennings at 7.

I've made the argument before about Locky, but I think there is a view in the squad that he is probably one of the most intelligent line out operators we have. His defensive line out work is probably second in the whole squad only to Leo, and his versatility is a big boost.

I think he is often underrated compared to Rhys Ruddock, Dominic Ryan etc because whilst he isn't such a big ball carrier and big hit merchant, he does so much hard work around the park and makes so many important tackles.

profitius

You'd have to presume Schmidt doesn't trust EOM's ability to defend against the big Bath backs.

vinny chase

profitius wrote: »

You'd have to presume Schmidt doesn't trust EOM's ability to defend against the big Bath backs.

I dunno if that's entirely fair or accurate.

Fergus played very well last week too. I'd like to have seen Eoin get the start here, but I maintain trust in Joe's decisions.

profitius

vinny chase wrote: »

I dunno if that's entirely fair or accurate.

Fergus played very well last week too. I'd like to have seen Eoin get the start here, but I maintain trust in Joe's decisions.

I think it is accurate. Fionn Carr is not in the squad for the same reason.

vinny chase

profitius wrote: »

I think it is accurate. Fionn Carr is not in the squad for the same reason.

It's a bit simplistic.

Joe backed EO'M to play in the centre last season against the mammoth back line of Clermont-Auvergne in Clermont-Ferrand, and has backed him numerous times this season.

If he really believed O'Malley was incapable of defending bigger players, I don't think he'd ever be in the Leinster set-up.

Similarly, Fionn Carr's supposed defensive frailties are often overstated.

Joe has a clear policy of rotation, and for this game; an away Heineken Cup tie, he has simply gone with experience.

Ben Marshall for the A side surely?

Unless we've robbed an Ulster first centre and converted him to second row?

wixfjord

Very interesting Montpellier selection for their game in Glasgow.
No Trin Duch, Ouderago or Gordogze.

Enough there to win, but I think Glasgee at home will take this, leaving us with a nice Montpellier team to face at home last.

Montpellier:15 J-B Peyras Loustalet, 14 Pierre Bérard, 13 Paul Bosch, 12 Thomas Combezou, 11 Martin Bustos Moyano, 10 Santiago Fernandez, 9 Eric Escande, 8 Alex Tulou, 7 Rémy Martin, 6 Vassili Bost, 5 Drickus Hancke, 4 Joe Tuineau, 3 George Jgenti, 2 Mickael Ladhuie, 1 Goderzi Shvelidze.
Replacements: 16 Joan Caudullo, 17 Mikheil Nariashvili, 18 Kevin Kervarec, 19 Masi Matadigo, 20 kelian galletier, 21 Benoit Paillaugue, 22 Lucas Amorosino, 23 Ilian Perraux

Sundays game really is a huge one in the context of the season.

vinny chase

Deleted User wrote: »

Ben Marshall for the A side surely?

Unless we've robbed an Ulster first centre and converted him to second row?

Sorry about that; typed in haste!

I'd just been talking about Ben Marshall on another thread yesterday as well!

WeeBushy

profitius wrote: »

I think it is accurate. Fionn Carr is not in the squad for the same reason.

Schmidt has gone for a big strong team and McFadden fits into that system more so than O'Malley. More of a positive reflection on McF, rather than a negative reflection on O'Malley in this case, I think.

As an aside, Fionn Carr isn't in the squad because Kearney, Fitzgerald and Nacewa are seriously good players. Carr must've been working hard on his defence because he's shown up well there in his last couple of games.

wixfjord

As an aside, that must be one of the heaviest and most powerful HEC teams we've ever put out is it?
Massive men in most positions, which will certainly stand to us if it's a tough slog, and it's a team which is well capable of overpowering that Bath front 8.

Also just noticed that Hooper and Biggs are out for them.

Quint2010

vinny chase wrote: »

The A Side to face Llanelli in the B&I Cup has been named: (apologies if posted already)

http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/newsroom/9069.php

Team:

15. David Kearney
14. Darren Hudson
13. Brendan Macken
12. Collie O'Shea
11. Andrew Conway
10. Noel Reid
9. John Cooney
1. Jack McGrath
2. Aaron Dundon
3. Jamie Hagan
4. Ben Marshall
5. Mark Flanagan
6. Ciaran Ruddock (c)
7. Jordi Murphy
8. Leo Auva'a

Reps: Tom Sexton, Jack O'Connell, Jordan Coughlan, Conor Gilsenan, Luke McGrath, Cathal Marsh, Andrew Boyle.

A really young side. There is obviously some serious leadership credentials amongst the young Ruddock lads when Ciaran is captaining this side too.

Would love to see how the two young former Clongowes backrowers do from the bench if they get an opportunity.

Great to see Conway back.