Leinster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread.

Higher

Leinster lads have been out since saturday but hopefully that stops today.

I would like to see something like this
1.VDM
2.Cronin
3.White
4.Thorn
5.Cullen
6.McLaughlin
7.O'Brien
8.Heaslip
9.Reddan
10.Sexton
11.Nacewa
12.D'arcy
13.O'Driscoll
14.McFadden
15.Kearney

Hype710

VDM, Toner, D Kearney to come in for me with Healy, Cullen and D'arcy dropping to the bench.

Quint2010

11 of the team that started on Saturday started the semi final against The Warriors.The front row maybe juggled around but I dont see too much else.

GerM

Definitely think we should stick with Sexton for this one. Madigan played 80 minutes against the Ospreys in the last defeat as part of a strong side and wasn't great. Think we should go for as strong a set piece side as possible and play it tight and keep the board ticking over. Fast and loose against a pumped up Ospreys is playing with fire. Haven't heard how RK is after the weekend. Didn't look comfortable ahead of coming off.

1. VDM
2. Cronin
3. Ross
4. Thorn
5. Toner
6. McLaughlin
7. SOB
8. Heaslip
9. Boss (if not fit, Reddan)
10. Sexton
11. DK
12. Darce
13. BOD
14. McFadden
15. Nacewa

WeeBushy

Without knowing whose fit and not too knackered its tough to predict what the team will be, but this is my guess at Shmidt's team:

1. Van der Merwe
2. Cronin
3. Ross
4. Toner
5. Thorn
6. McLaughlin
7. Jennings
8. Heaslip

9. Reddan
10. Sexton
11. D Kearney
12. McFadden
13. O'Driscoll
14. Nacewa
15. R Kearney

16. Healy
17. Strauss
18. White
19. Cullen
20. O'Brien
21. Boss (Cooney if Boss isn't fit)
22. Madigan
23. Conway/D'Arcy

Last chance of the season to second guess Schmidt!

.ak

I'd like to see...

15. R. Kearney
14. Nacewa
13. BOD
12. McF
11. D. Kearney
10. Sexton
09. Reddan
08. Heaslip
07. Jennings
06. Locky
05. Thorn
04. Toner
03. Ross
02. Strauss
01. HvDM
____________

16. Cronin
17. Healy
18. White
19. Cullen
20. SOB/Auv'a
21. Cooney
22. Madigan
23. Conway


I'd like to see Healy and SOB on the bench for resting purposes. Also they always make huge impacts from the bench. If SOB was knackered like last year I'd rather see Auva on the bench. Same with Cullen. As for SH.. I don't know if Boss is fit or not? But wouldn't it be great for Cooney to get a chance of revenge...

Ginny

Higher wrote: »

Leinster lads have been out since saturday but hopefully that stops today.

I'd wonder about that after last year, sure the team didn't touch down on Sat. night till 2:30am, plus I know some have gone straight back to college to study for exams. With the Magners final outcome last year I would say they've been under a tighter rein this year.

molloyjh

Quint2010 wrote: »

I honestly wouldn't be surprised if he went for the same 23 again (injury permitting). Schmidt seems to be taking the possibility of the double very seriously and the fact that they have an extra day's turn around indicates to me he will make the minimum of changes. Maybe Dave Kearney into the back 3 with one of the starting centres from Saturday dropping out but don't think we can afford to rest SOB. He was simply brilliant on Saturday.

I'd agree that we'll see minimal changes. Assuming no injuries I'd expect nothing other than the kind of changes we're used to seeing, e.g. VDM for Healy. This game is important to the squad. We can't lose 3 Celtic League finals in a row, 2 of which were at home to the Ospreys. And we can't lose to them 3 times this season either. They are the only team we've played and not beaten. If we really are the greatest "club" squad of the professional era then we cannot lose this game. End of. And the Ospreys are a serious threat. We need our top players at their best this weekend.

I think we'll see...

1. VDM
2. Strauss
3. Ross
4. Cullen
5. Thorn
6. Locky
7. SOB
8. Heaslip
9. Reddan (possibly Boss if he's fit)
10. Sexton
11. Isa
12. Darce
13. BOD
14. McFadden
15. R Kearney

16. Cronin
17. Healy
18. White
19. Toner
20. Jennings
21. Cooney (if Boss is fit then I expect him to start with Reddan on the bench)
22. Madigan
23. D Kearney

...and a final 20-30 mins with Healy, Cronin, Jennings, Reddan, Madigan and D Kearney all coming in to up the tempo.

Of course what the bloody hell do I know, Schmidt could play it totally differently.

chancer12

Quint2010 wrote: »

ah right fair enough. Cullen was taken off pretty early on Saturday-maybe he's carrying something. I would have no problem going in with Toner and Thorn.



Really? I honestly think this Sundays game is going to be alot harder than last Saturdays. We will need Sexton for this game.

Would agree, even allowing for the fact that Munster were woeful against Ospreys. The Osprey's back three were electric, we need all the strength we have. Having said that I'd love to see Madigan get time towards the end - if the result is going our way!

Higher

Ginny wrote: »

I'd wonder about that after last year, sure the team didn't touch down on Sat. night till 2:30am, plus I know some have gone straight back to college to study for exams. With the Magners final outcome last year I would say they've been under a tighter rein this year.

I know a good few of the lads on the team. Most of the colleges are finished for exams. They've definitely been out every night I was only talking to someone yesterday who was saying he was in bits.

Quint2010

Higher wrote: »

I know a good few of the lads on the team. Most of the colleges are finished for exams. They've definitely been out every night I was only talking to someone yesterday who was saying he was in bits.

Would be a bit disappointed if this was the case. They threw away last years Magners League for the same reason.

Higher

Last year they were drinking up until Wednesday night though and the match was on Saturday.

I don't begrudge them going out Saturday/Sunday/Monday with the extra day turn around.

totallegend

Quint2010 wrote: »

Would be a bit disappointed if this was the case. They threw away last years Magners League for the same reason.

O'Driscoll was on Newstalk last night saying he'd had two nights out anyway. Ah f**k it, they wouldn't be human if they didn't go out and celebrate, but probably makes it even more logical to get a bit of rotation going for this weekend.

Start with:
VDM, Cronin, Ross
Thorn, Toner
Kev, Jennings, Auva'a
Boss, Sexton
Carr, Ferg, O'Driscoll, D Kearney
Nacewa

Eight changes and still a strong team.

Gracelessly Tom

I have no problem with the squad going out on the lash for a few days, fair play for back to back H Cups. My issue would lie in the fact they were all heard to be saying on Saturday that the season wasn't over, they have one more match to win and they were hurting after last year and wanted this one and then they proceed to drink solid for three days.

Winters

Gracelessly Tom wrote: »

they have one more match to win and they were hurting after last year

Last year AND the year before!

totallegend

Gracelessly Tom wrote: »

I have no problem with the squad going out on the lash for a few days, fair play for back to back H Cups. My issue would lie in the fact they were all heard to be saying on Saturday that the season wasn't over, they have one more match to win and they were hurting after last year and wanted this one and then they proceed to drink solid for three days.

Ah here. Source for that??

Honey-ec

Any of the players I was talking to went out again Sunday night (after having been in the Burlo for a few hours that morning), and that was it. They had Monday off to recover and were back in training today, AFAIA. And that was by no means all of them. I was in the Burlo myself on Sat night/Sunday morning, and a lot of the squad left after an hour or two. We were almost last to leave and there was only a few harcore stragglers left at that stage.

durkadurka

Last year they were out on the Monday night too with the game on sat.
So assuming they didn't go mad last night they have two days more than last year to prepare.

Gracelessly Tom

Winters wrote: »

Last year AND the year before!

The year before they hadn't won the Heineken cup so they weren't out for a few nights in the build up to it.

totallegend wrote: »

Ah here. Source for that??

Hands up, mea culpa, three days solid may have been an exaggeration. I have heard through reliable sources that Sat and Sun were lost to drinking. You've then got to admit that Monday was a day lost to hangovers. I just don't think that's good prep for a final, particularly when it's against an Ospreys team on fire at the minute.

Winters

Gracelessly Tom wrote: »

The year before they hadn't won the Heineken cup so they weren't out for a few nights in the build up to it.

I meant they will be hurting after losing last years final just as much as the year before. Not referring to any sort of hangover just hurting after losing at home as any team would be. Losing finalists in the last two years will be firmly in everyone's minds.

ongarite

Squad update:
http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/newsroom/10015.php

Didn't know Ruddock had hip injury/surgery.

thomond2006

I don't see many changes, Ospreys are flying at the moment and will be tough to beat.

Quint2010

thomond2006 wrote: »

I don't see many changes, Ospreys are flying at the moment and will be tough to beat.

The problem for The Ospreys-a bit like Ulster last weekend-is that they won't have played for 2 weeks. Might take a bit of an edge of their game.

B0X

thomond2006 wrote: »

Ospreys are flying at the moment

Shameful pun there thomond!

durkadurka

ongarite wrote: »

Squad update:
http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/newsroom/10015.php

Didn't know Ruddock had hip injury/surgery.

Jeez, did you notice Madigans in line for his 50th Appearance?

Piliger

OMG I was just sitting in a quiet cafe in Ranelagh beside a table with Jaimie Heaslip, Fergus McFadden and Eoin O'Malley ....... Awesome !! No one recognised them. Jaimie was using crutches. Had a quick word .... BRILLIANT !!!

Tox56

durkadurka wrote: »

Jeez, did you notice Madigans in line for his 50th Appearance?

He should move, he's not getting enough gametime behind Sexton

totallegend

Piliger wrote: »

OMG I was just sitting in a quiet cafe in Ranelagh beside a table with Jaimie Heaslip, Fergus McFadden and Eoin O'Malley ....... Awesome !! No one recognised them. Jaimie was using crutches. Had a quick word .... BRILLIANT !!!

Sorry, Heaslip was on crutches?

.ak

totallegend wrote: »

Sorry, Heaslip was on crutches?

I presume he meant Eoin. He'll be on crutches for a long while now I think...

Piliger

totallegend wrote: »

Sorry, Heaslip was on crutches?

Yes. Though he could clearly walk around. But he arrived walking with them.