Pro12 Final Build up thread: uppity westerners v their ladyboy brothers

b.gud

LEINSTER (Leinster caps in bracket):

15. Rob Kearney (175)
14. Dave Kearney (102)
13. Garry Ringrose (21)
12. Ben Te'o (39)
11. Luke Fitzgerald (153)
10. Johnny Sexton (125)
9. Eoin Reddan (139)
1. Jack McGrath (94)
2. Richard Strauss (130)
3. Mike Ross (134)
4. Ross Molony (22)
5. Mick Kearney (8)
6. Rhys Ruddock (112)
7. Jordi Murphy (79)
8. Jamie Heaslip (216) CAPTAIN

16. Sean Cronin (113)
17. Peter Dooley (20)
18. Tadhg Furlong (50)
19. Hayden Triggs (14)
20. Jack Conan (30)
21. Luke McGrath (49)
22. Ian Madigan (146)
23. Zane Kirchner (64)

Quint2010

No Nacewa. Massive blow for Leinster

PS No Toner???

LostArt

No Dev too. F*ck.

molloyjh

Eh where the f*** are Toner and Nacewa!?

thomond2006

Connacht team to face Leinster Rugby, Saturday 28th May, BT Murrayfield, 5:30pm

15 Tiernan O’Halloran
14 Niyi Adeolokun
13 Robbie Henshaw
12 Bundee Aki
11 Matt Healy
10 AJ MacGinty
9 Kieran Marmion

1 Ronan Loughney
2 Tom McCartney
3 Finlay Bealham
4 Ultan Dillane
5 Aly Muldowney
6 Eoin McKeon
7 Jake Heenan
8 John Muldoon (captain)

Replacements:

16 Dave Heffernan
17 JP Cooney
18 Rodney Ah You
19 Andrew Browne
20 Sean O’Brien
21 John Cooney
22 Shane O’Leary
23 Peter Robb

Injured/Unavailable: Denis Buckley, Nathan White, Conan O’Donnell, Ben Marshall, Nepia Fox-Matamua, Eoghan Masterson, Dave McSharry, Api Pewhairangi, Darragh Leader.

LEINSTER (Leinster caps in bracket):

15. Rob Kearney (175)
14. Dave Kearney (102)
13. Garry Ringrose (21)
12. Ben Te'o (39)
11. Luke Fitzgerald (153)
10. Johnny Sexton (125)
9. Eoin Reddan (139)
1. Jack McGrath (94)
2. Richard Strauss (130)
3. Mike Ross (134)
4. Ross Molony (22)
5. Mick Kearney (8)
6. Rhys Ruddock (112)
7. Jordi Murphy (79)
8. Jamie Heaslip (216) CAPTAIN

16. Sean Cronin (113)
17. Peter Dooley (20)
18. Tadhg Furlong (50)
19. Hayden Triggs (14)
20. Jack Conan (30)
21. Luke McGrath (49)
22. Ian Madigan (146)
23. Zane Kirchner (64)

Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU, 136th competition game, 4th Final)
Assistant Referees: Ian Davies, Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
Officials: 4 Lloyd Linton; 5 Bob Nevins; 6 Tom Mc Nicol (all SRU)
Timekeeper; Paul Cyphus (SRU)
Citing Commissioner: Maurizio Vancini (FIR)
TMO: Jon Mason (WRU)

b.gud

No changes for Connacht

Connacht team to face Leinster Rugby, Saturday 28th May, BT Murrayfield, 5:30pm

15 Tiernan O’Halloran
14 Niyi Adeolokun
13 Robbie Henshaw
12 Bundee Aki
11 Matt Healy
10 AJ MacGinty
9 Kieran Marmion

1 Ronan Loughney
2 Tom McCartney
3 Finlay Bealham
4 Ultan Dillane
5 Aly Muldowney
6 Eoin McKeon
7 Jake Heenan
8 John Muldoon (captain)

Replacements:

16 Dave Heffernan
17 JP Cooney
18 Rodney Ah You
19 Andrew Browne
20 Sean O’Brien
21 John Cooney
22 Shane O’Leary
23 Peter Robb



Injured/Unavailable: Denis Buckley, Nathan White, Conan O’Donnell, Ben Marshall, Nepia Fox-Matamua, Eoghan Masterson, Dave McSharry, Api Pewhairangi, Darragh Leader.

connemara man

Teams announced its real now people!!!!!!!

its_phil

Hopefully with Toner out it will put pressure on their lineout.

Looking forward to seeing how Kearney and Moloney get on without a senior lock there.

former total

Bollocks anyway,

Leinster Rugby wrote:

Captain Isa Nacewa has been ruled out with an arm injury suffered in the game against Ulster. While that injury came back clear from the initial x-ray, a subsequent scan on Monday showed damage had been done to an older injury and in particular to one of the screws that he has in the plate in his arm which affected his ability to grip.

No info on Toner but it can only be injury.

Shyyyyyte.

LostArt

Deleted User wrote: »

Looking forward to seeing how Kearney and Moloney get on without a senior lock there.

I'm confident they'll step up, I'm more worried about Triggs coming off the bench.

molloyjh

former total wrote: »

Bollocks anyway,



No info on Toner but it can only be injury.

Shyyyyyte.

And true to form we were hearing all week about how everyone was fine and we were pretty much at full strength bar the already known long term guys. You really can't take anything Leinster say about player fitness seriously at all can you?

irishgrover

... And with the teams announced a slight wobble in confidence for the boys in blue... ;-)

former total

irishgrover wrote: »

... And with the teams announced a slight wobble in confidence for the boys in blue... ;-)

Nah, this is just mind games. I fully expect to see Big Dev and Isa trotting out on Saturday and Connacht to crumple in a heap at this revelation. Leo learned much from his mentor and father figure.

Abú

Winters

Amazing and impressive that out of the two squads only 6 players are not eligible to play for Ireland. The split is 3 for Leinster and 3 for Connacht. 13% across the two squads.

Would be interesting to compare to the AP and Top14 finals..

Note: Edited based on clarification from more knowledgeable Connacht fans.. Thanks

Bazzo

Winters wrote: »

Amazing and impressive that out of the two squads only 8 players are not currently eligible to play for Ireland. The split is 2 for Leinster and 6 for Connacht. 8% and 26%, 17% across the two squads.

Would be interesting to compare to the Top14 final..

Only 4 of the Connacht 23 are ineligible and Heenan qualifies next month

its_phil

Winters wrote: »

Amazing and impressive that out of the two squads only 8 players are not currently eligible to play for Ireland. The split is 2 for Leinster and 6 for Connacht. 8% and 26%, 17% across the two squads.

Would be interesting to compare to the Top14 final..

Who are the 6 NIQ for Connacht? Can only count four in Aki, McGinty, McCartney and Heenan.

Winters

Thanks for the clarification,

I was going with Aki, MacGinty, McCartney, Muldowney, Heenan and Shane O’Leary (Canada) as NIQ.

Winters

Okay so going with 3 NIQ for Connacht (Aki, McGinty and McCartney) that makes it only 5 players are not currently eligible to play for Ireland. The split is 2 for Leinster and 3 for Connacht. 8% and 13%, 11% across the two squads.

Even more impressive..

Bazzo

Winters wrote: »

Thanks for the clarification,

I was going with Aki, MacGinty, McCartney, Muldowney, Heenan and Shane O’Leary (Canada) as NIQ.

Muldowney is uncapped and qualifies through an Irish parent. O'Leary is Irish but qualified for Canada through his mother and played for them underage, he's still qualified to be capped for Ireland as far as I know.

Yeah_Right

Isn't it 3 NIQ for Leinster? Kirchner, Triggs and Teo.

Winters

ill get me coat

Yeah_Right

I agree, it would be interesting to compare the numbers to the English and French finals.

Noopti

Really looking forward to this. Was cold on Leinster's chances before the Ulster game, but the performance was really good and Sexton was flying. If we keep that going tomorrow then I am confident of a win.

Having said that, if Connacht just go for it and throw everything into attack while continuing their good defence of recent games it is going to be very interesting.

I think a few things will certainly happen
1. Aki will target Sexton
2. Leinster will target Connacht up front (Breakdown, Scrum, Lineout - Toner is a loss here, but Molony and Kearney will bring extra aggression)
3. Leinster will target the Connacht back three with lots of up and unders. How Healy, Niyi and TOH handle that will play a big part in the overall result.

Setup to be a very entertaining game, as even though this is their first final I think Connacht will out to enjoy this and throw everything into it. I don't think we will see anything conservative from them.

sydthebeat

Sexton has been targeted by much bigger centres than Aki and not found wanting.... im sure he'd be delighted if bundee runs down his channel all evening.

Billysays no

Noopti wrote: »

Really looking forward to this. Was cold on Leinster's chances before the Ulster game, but the performance was really good and Sexton was flying. If we keep that going tomorrow then I am confident of a win.

Having said that, if Connacht just go for it and throw everything into attack while continuing their good defence of recent games it is going to be very interesting.

I think a few things will certainly happen
1. Aki will target Sexton
2. Leinster will target Connacht up front (Breakdown, Scrum, Lineout - Toner is a loss here, but Molony and Kearney will bring extra aggression)
3. Leinster will target the Connacht back three with lots of up and unders. How Healy, Niyi and TOH handle that will play a big part in the overall result.

Setup to be a very entertaining game, as even though this is their first final I think Connacht will out to enjoy this and throw everything into it. I don't think we will see anything conservative from them.

Can't see Aki targeting Sexton. Why would he. Indeed I simply don't understand this concept of targeting players. McGinty will not let Sexton pass (his tackle stats are amazing). Aki will be far too busy creating mayhem with his runs to be bothered where Sexton is behind him. And if Leinster play an up and under game they are really asking for trouble. TOH is the best fielder of the up and under in the country and sets up the counter-attack so fast, well the game would be over by half time. Leinster do and again will target the scrum. Where they will lose in the breakdown is that their recycle is so slow while on the Connacht side Marmion is gone like a flash. So I think you need a different game strategy than proposed or this will be a very one-sided contest.

leakyboots

former total wrote: »

Bollocks anyway,



No info on Toner but it can only be injury.

Shyyyyyte.

Close family bereavement apparently

The Lost Sheep

Bazzo wrote: »

Muldowney is uncapped and qualifies through an Irish parent. O'Leary is Irish but qualified for Canada through his mother and played for them underage, he's still qualified to be capped for Ireland as far as I know.

SOL played 20s with Canada. Still qualified for Ireland. 20s doesn't rule him out and he hasn't played for any other side

Podge_irl

Billysays no wrote: »

Where they will lose in the breakdown is that their recycle is so slow while on the Connacht side Marmion is gone like a flash.

Leinster have certainly had their problems this season but in general (and specifically against Ulster just last week) their entire game plan is built around quick and efficient breakdown work. The above is just patently false.

Zzippy

Leg 1 of the journey underway. Bruce Springsteen tonight in Dublin. Ferry in the morning. Jersey packed. That's all I need, right?

Bazzo

Zzippy wrote: »

Leg 1 of the journey underway. Bruce Springsteen tonight in Dublin. Ferry in the morning. Jersey packed. That's all I need, right?

Don't be ridiculous.





Jersey and ticket.

Riskymove

Bazzo wrote: »

Don't be ridiculous.





Jersey and ticket.

why even pack it


Just wear Match outfit to the concert, drink all night and on ferry etc..

Adbrowne

Zzippy wrote: »

That's all I need, right?

Tissues

Zzippy

Adbrowne wrote: »

Tissues

Not going to post the South Park meme, but yeah, when Aki scores a hat-trick there will be tissues needed...

Bazzo

Riskymove wrote: »

why even pack it


Just wear Match outfit to the concert, drink all night and on ferry etc..

AKA "Muldooning it"

https://twitter.com/leinsterrugby/status/730743273745227778

Synode

Full kit w*nker

Bazzo

Scrum preview from Neil Treacy: http://www.the42.ie/leinster-connacht-scrum-analysis-2791121-May2016/?utm_source=twitter_self

"...second best loosehead in the country at the moment in Denis Buckley..."(Ok ok I'll stop :P)

connachta

Well you know how pessimistic I am so you can't at all blame me for usually being carried away, for what I'm gonna say :
it's 50/50.
Leinster were favorite, I said it earlier in the week, but without Toner and Nacewa (2 of their 4 main leaders IMO) their slight advantage vanished

Back-three is now a tie (as back-row), 2nd row advantage Connacht. Same for centre pairing, which exactly compensates the slight advantages of Leinste up-front and for n 10.

Will be magnificent (on the paper of course)

Podge_irl

Eh...Leinster don't have a slight advantage at number 10. It's a gaping chasm. It's the only one to be fair - I would be confident of Leinster getting the upper hand in the front row but not necessarily dominating.

Even without Nacewa and Toner, on paper Leinster are a better team. Which will just make it all he better for Connacht if they win....but I don't think they will.

Donnielighto

Winters wrote: »

ill get me coat

Winters colds?

Donnielighto

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

SOL played 20s with Canada. Still qualified for Ireland. 20s doesn't rule him out and he hasn't played for any other side

Do they have a Canada A? I think 20s counts as second team if not and would rule him out

Donnielighto

Billysays no wrote: »

Can't see Aki targeting Sexton. Why would he. Indeed I simply don't understand this concept of targeting players. McGinty will not let Sexton pass (his tackle stats are amazing). Aki will be far too busy creating mayhem with his runs to be bothered where Sexton is behind him. And if Leinster play an up and under game they are really asking for trouble. TOH is the best fielder of the up and under in the country and sets up the counter-attack so fast, well the game would be over by half time. Leinster do and again will target the scrum. Where they will lose in the breakdown is that their recycle is so slow while on the Connacht side Marmion is gone like a flash. So I think you need a different game strategy than proposed or this will be a very one-sided contest.

Man I really hope connacht do it but you're talking some awful ring here

Donnielighto

Bazzo wrote: »

Scrum preview from Neil Treacy: http://www.the42.ie/leinster-connacht-scrum-analysis-2791121-May2016/?utm_source=twitter_self

"...second best loosehead in the country at the moment in Denis Buckley..."(Ok ok I'll stop :P)

They've some very good analysis there in the 42

irishgrover

to all those traveling today or waking up in Scotland - hope you have a great day, hope the two teams shine and hope it's a cracker of a game...
Best of luck to all, but share a though for us at home, sitting through 1st communions and the like!

irishgrover

...final post for a few hours.... just a lovely little story about Connacht and the love and respect they have for their community....

https://www.facebook.com/patrick.mullarkey.1/posts/1250246134987343?pnref=story

vienne86

irishgrover wrote: »

...final post for a few hours.... just a lovely little story about Connacht and the love and respect they have for their community....

https://www.facebook.com/patrick.mullarkey.1/posts/1250246134987343?pnref=story

Lovely story. In fairness, the rugby pros are great at coming up trumps.

Yeah_Right

irishgrover wrote: »

to all those traveling today or waking up in Scotland - hope you have a great day, hope the two teams shine and hope it's a cracker of a game...
Best of luck to all, but share a though for us at home, sitting through 1st communions and the like!

So sorry to hear that.

connachta

I think you underestimate how good McGinty is at the moment.

Buer

connachta wrote:

I think you underestimate how good McGinty is at the moment.

I think you underestimate how good the first choice Irish out half, first choice Lions out half and world player of the year nominee is, regardless of how well McGinty has performed in the Pro12.