Leinster vs Connacht build up RDS Jan 1st tg4 17:00

Bridge93

Leinster by 6-8 I think. Weather may intervene

irishbucsfan

Despite being a full-blown prawn-munching, cappucino-sipping, Henshaw-signing, gin-guzzling, sombrero-waxing Leinster fan, I am quite excited to see the return of Jake Heenan. Quality player, lets hope he's back to his best now because if he is he'll be a real option at international level.

Apart from that, delighted to see Messiah #1 and Messiah #2 in the team at 9 and 13. Good times, can't wait for this game.

aimee1

Bridge93 wrote: »

Leinster by 6-8 I think. Weather may intervene

From met eireann website .....

After a frosty start to New Year's Day, cloud will soon increase and southeasterly winds will strengthen everywhere bringing rain and drizzle to coastal counties of the south and east during the morning. More persistent rain will develop in Munster before noon and will spread to the rest of the country in the afternoon and evening. The rain will be heaviest in south Munster and will add to the flood problems there. Feeling cold with afternoon temperatures of 5 to 10 degrees Celsius, coldest in the north.

LostArt

Lovely Leinster team, really looking forward to this game now especially Aki/Ringrose. Hopefully the weather doesn't ruin it.

Zzippy

Packing the rain gear and thermals for the trip - and the hip flask!

CMOTDibbler

Interesting squads on both sides. Leo obviously in full rotation mode but that's still a strong squad.

Looking forward to this.

freyners

irishbucsfan wrote:

Despite being a full-blown prawn-munching, cappucino-sipping, Henshaw-signing, gin-guzzling, sombrero-waxing Leinster fan, I am quite excited to see the return of Jake Heenan. Quality player, lets hope he's back to his best now because if he is he'll be a real option at international level.

No use of the words goys and no attempt to change henshaw to something more d4 appropriate. Obvious connacht fan in disguise.


Heenan back is big but I'm worried. First game an interpro. James Connolly has being playing so well it's a big risk

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Zzippy wrote: »

Is Fitz injured? If I was a Leinster fan I'd rather see him and Ringrose together with Teo leaving, but as a Connacht fan I'm glad he's not playing after last year when he went very well. I'd be less worried about Teo than Fitz.

I know long term there won't be a Te'o/Anyone partnership but he's been one of Leinster's best players this season. Can't see the sense in not playing him if he's available. There will be plenty of time in training and preseason to get next season's centre pairings sorted and settled.

b.gud

freyners wrote: »

Heenan back is big but I'm worried. First game an interpro. James Connolly has being playing so well it's a big risk

Ya I was thinking the same thing, plus would really have liked to see Connolly go up against VDF.
There has, rightly, been a lot of hype around VDF but Connolly has been performing superbly as well so it would have been good to see him get some attention on a big stage like this

connachta

b.gud wrote: »

Ya I was thinking the same thing, plus would really have liked to see Connolly go up against VDF.
There has, rightly, been a lot of hype around VDF but Connolly has been performing superbly as well so it would have been good to see him get some attention on a big stage like this

Heenan was due in October, all the precautions have been taken, and I don't buy the argument "an interpro is less appropriate to reintroduce him than the next game, away to Scarlets".
Rejoice guys, it's just a ****ing good news

flouncer

connachta wrote: »

Heenan was due in October, all the precautions have been taken, and I don't buy the argument "an interpro is less appropriate to reintroduce him than the next game, away to Scarlets".
Rejoice guys, it's just a ****ing good news

No matter what match heenan starts it is always going to be a concern so I agree. The only issue I see is how rusty he is going to be after such a long layoff.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

I know long term there won't be a Te'o/Anyone partnership but he's been one of Leinster's best players this season. Can't see the sense in not playing him if he's available. There will be plenty of time in training and preseason to get next season's centre pairings sorted and settled.

Yep. Leinster have a league to win, Teo can still make a huge contribution this season.

b.gud

Heenan getting injured or not being fully fit isn't my main concern as I have no doubt every precaution was taken after what happened last year. My concern would be match fitness and sharpness. Personally I would have started him from the bench.

Also I didn't say it because I think it goes without saying but I'm f***ing delighted to see him back on a team sheet.

Also McCartney being back is a big boost

connachta

b.gud wrote: »

Heenan getting injured or not being fully fit isn't my main concern as I have no doubt every precaution was taken after what happened last year. My concern would be match fitness and sharpness. Personally I would have started him from the bench.

Also I didn't say it because I think it goes without saying but I'm f***ing delighted to see him back on a team sheet.

Also McCartney being back is a big boost

AFAIC Connacht misses a LH (Buckley) a 12 (Henshaw) and a big ball carrier (Roux). With those 3, I honnestly would have said we'd have had nothing to fear about anyone, including Leinster

vienne86

Great team! T'eo and Ringrose will be interesting.

ssaye2

ssaye2 wrote: »

LEINSTER:

15. Rob Kearney
14. Fergus McFadden
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Ben Te'o
11. Dave Kearney
10. Johnny Sexton
9. Luke McGrath
1. Jack McGrath
2. Richardt Strauss
3. Marty Moore
4. Devin Toner
5. Mike McCarthy
6. Rhys Ruddock CAPTAIN
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Jordi Murphy

16. James Tracy
17. Peter Dooley
18. Michael Bent
19. Ross Molony
20. Sean O'Brien
21. Eoin Reddan
22. Ian Madigan
23. Zane Kirchner

CMOTDibbler

connachta wrote: »

AFAIC Connacht misses a LH (Buckley) a 12 (Henshaw) and a big ball carrier (Roux). With those 3, I honnestly would have said we'd have had nothing to fear about anyone, including Leinster

AFAIC?

CMOTDibbler

CMOTDibbler wrote: »

AFAIC?

"As far as I know" with a typo for the "C".

Either that or its "anyone farming anywhere in Connacht?"

macslash

CMOTDibbler wrote: »

AFAIC?

As far as I'm concerned....

hogandrew

CMOTDibbler wrote: »

AFAIC?

As far as I'm concerned?

hogandrew

hogandrew wrote: »

As far as I'm concerned?

Ha! That's a new one for me!

CMOTDibbler

Deleted User wrote: »

"As far as I know" with a typo for the "C".

Either that or its "anyone farming anywhere in Connacht?"

I thought it was something new I'd never heard before.

It's hard to make a typo between C and K, they're a fair bit apart on the keyboard.

It's all so confusing

former total

11 changes from a big win in Thomond and I'm still expecting another victory here. Sure it's just like the good old days again.

CMOTDibbler

Urban dictionary says it's As Far As I Can.

So it's already taken. Please rephrase Connachta and don't do it again :pac:

connachta

CMOTDibbler wrote: »

Urban dictionary says it's As Far As I Can.

So it's already taken. Please rephrase Connachta and don't do it again :pac:

Initialism

AFAIC

1. (chiefly Internet slang) As far as I can
2. (chiefly Internet slang) As far as I'm concerned

Here you are;) I officialy can and will do it again

swiwi_

Based on what I saw last week and the fact this is at the RDS I can't see past a 10 point minimum Leinster victory.

If I was a Connacht fan I would be nervous seeing Carty starting again at 10.

Aki Ringrose should be fun.

b.gud

I think Murphy v Masterson will be an interesting battle.

Masterson has been playing really good rugby since breaking into the senior team. He's a guy who has a really great professional attitude and is really driven. He's a guy who would be very deserving of a cap and I really expect him to get the better of Jordi tomorrow

connachta

b.gud wrote: »

I think Murphy v Masterson will be an interesting battle.

Masterson has been playing really good rugby since breaking into the senior team. He's a guy who has a really great professional attitude and is really driven. He's a guy who would be very deserving of a cap and I really expect him to get the better of Jordi tomorrow

I was about to say the same

Connacht team is vastly experienced, and you can include Marmion and TOH, lots of caps despite their youth.
AFAIC , the 3 question marks for the Westerners are :
Ronaldson facing Te'o
Bealham facing Moore
and Niyi facing D.Kearney

the rest is more of a toss-up.

connemara man

connachta wrote: »

I was about to say the same

Connacht team is vastly experienced, and you can include Marmion and TOH, lots of caps despite their youth.
AFAIC , the 3 question marks for the Westerners are :
Ronaldson facing Te'o
Bealham facing Moore
and Niyi facing D.Kearney

the rest is more of a toss-up.

Carty vs Sexton.... ? Not much of a toss up...... Hhhmmmmm.....

connachta

connemara man wrote: »

Carty vs Sexton? Not much of a toss up

Indeed forgot about that one. My consciousness didin't want to see it..Ask Freud:P

aimee1

connachta wrote: »

Indeed forgot about that one. My consciousness didin't want to see it..Ask Freud:P

depends if its sexton away to toulon or home to toulon.

connemara man

aimee1 wrote: »

depends if its sexton away to toulon or home to toulon.

It's still Carty either way.....

Panda Moanium

Looking forward to the two No. 20s coming off the bench at the same time..

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Marmion put in a massive hit on one of the Ulster players the other day. Hope he has a go at Te'o this week

connemara man

Panda Moanium wrote: »

Looking forward to the two No. 20s coming off the bench at the same time..

Wasted opportunity if they don't

b.gud

connemara man wrote: »

Wasted opportunity if they don't

I just hope one puts in a tackle on the other at some stage, bonus points if the tackle results in a penalty

"Ball is passed on to Sean O’Brien who tries to get a bit of forward momentum but is stopped in his tracks by Sean O’Brien, but the ref blows up a penalty against O’Brien "

connachta

b.gud wrote: »

I just hope one puts in a tackle on the other at some stage, bonus points if the tackle results in a penalty

"Ball is passed on to Sean O’Brien who tries to get a bit of forward momentum but is stopped in his tracks by Sean O’Brien, but the ref blows up a penalty against O’Brien "

A lineout contest would be a mess too...:D

wp_rathead

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

Marmion put in a massive hit on one of the Ulster players the other day. Hope he has a go at Te'o this week

On Robbie Diack

connemara man

wp_rathead wrote: »

On Robbie Diack

It's a beautiful thing you watch

CatFromHue

Leinster by my new BMI

freyners

CatFromHue wrote:

Leinster by my new BMI

Didn't realise you can have a negative bmi. Congrats on the loss

Zzippy

swiwi_ wrote: »

Based on what I saw last week and the fact this is at the RDS I can't see past a 10 point minimum Leinster victory.

If I was a Connacht fan I would be nervous seeing Carty starting again at 10.

Aki Ringrose should be fun.

We're always nervous with Carty at 10! Sometimes he surprises us though...

flouncer

Two exciting team selections. Can't wait. Jack may be no sexton but these days he makes good use of the back line. So we will see running rather positional rugby from Connacht and I'm OK with that. The Leinster back line promises the same as sextons positional play has been poor to date this year. If Connacht kick their penalties there will be little in this game at the end. Weather permitting this will be some game.

Zzippy

Forecast is for a near gale from southeast, which will be blowing into the North Stand/Anglesea corner, could make kicking difficult, so we may see both teams kicking penalties for the corner a bit more. I'd be worried about our maul defence, it hasn't been great lately.

vienne86

Zzippy wrote: »

Forecast is for a near gale from southeast, which will be blowing into the North Stand/Anglesea corner, could make kicking difficult, so we may see both teams kicking penalties for the corner a bit more. I'd be worried about our maul defence, it hasn't been great lately.

Bleak here in Dublin right now. Wonder will they let North stand STH's into the South stand!

jspuds

Does anybody know if the game will be broadcast on the radio?

Edit: Looks like RTE Radio 1 has the match.

Zzippy

vienne86 wrote: »

Bleak here in Dublin right now. Wonder will they let North stand STH's into the South stand!

Is it that bad?!

aimee1

Zzippy wrote: »

Is it that bad?!

its raining, its cold and there is a fair wind picking up in the last hour. It wouldnt be too bad if the wind died down

The Pheasant2

Dying to see this match but currently in deepest, darkest Africa - does anyone know is the TG4 player region blocked?

typhoony

jspuds wrote: »

Does anybody know if the game will be broadcast on the radio?

Edit: Looks like RTE Radio 1 has the match.

Or you could listen to the completely biased lunatic that is rob Murphy on Galway bay fm