Leinster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread XI (The Finals Countdown)

Clegg

It's a shootout between Connors and VDF for the starting openside berth. Whoever misses out will probably be the bench option to cover the back row. It's probably going to be Connors to start. He seems to have usurped VDF for Leinster and Ireland. Connors in turn has been usurped by POM for Ireland. They'll both be playing like they have a point to prove.

Leavy has been decent in the league but I'm not sure he's ready to be thrown in to a European game against a huge pack like Montpellier's.

bayern

Leinster Rugby (caps in brackets):

15. Jimmy O’Brien (24)
14. Hugo Keenan (20)
13. Robbie Henshaw (49)
12. Ciarán Frawley (30)
11. Dave Kearney (154)
10. Ross Byrne (91)
9. Luke McGrath (134)
1. Peter Dooley (81)
2. James Tracy (116)
3. Michael Bent (147)
4. Devin Toner (254)
5. Scott Fardy (66)
6. Rhys Ruddock (180) CAPTAIN
7. Josh van der Flier (85)
8. Caelan Doris (34)

16. Rónan Kelleher (16)
17. Cian Healy (222)
18. Andrew Porter (67)
19. James Ryan (41)
20. Ryan Baird (14)
21. Jamison Gibson-Park (95)
22. Johnny Sexton (168)
23. Dan Leavy (68)

Clegg

Lol. Got my openside selection wrong. What a bench though. I've never seen a stronger one.


15. Jimmy O’Brien (24)
14. Hugo Keenan (20)
13. Robbie Henshaw (49)
12. Ciarán Frawley (30)
11. Dave Kearney (154)
10. Ross Byrne (91)
9. Luke McGrath (134)
1. Peter Dooley (81)
2. James Tracy (116)
3. Michael Bent (147)
4. Devin Toner (254)
5. Scott Fardy (66)
6. Rhys Ruddock (180) CAPTAIN
7. Josh van der Flier (85)
8. Caelan Doris (34)

16. Rónan Kelleher (16)
17. Cian Healy (222)
18. Andrew Porter (67)
19. James Ryan (41)
20. Ryan Baird (14)
21. Jamison Gibson-Park (95)
22. Johnny Sexton (168)
23. Dan Leavy (68)

salmocab

Very interesting bench with Baird Ryan and Leavy

salmocab

Very interesting bench with Baird Ryan and Leavy

accensi0n

Lol, that bench is ridiculous.

Not really sure what happens if any of the back 5 get injured.

sydthebeat

Deleted User wrote: »

Not really sure what happens if any of the back 5 get injured.

Ryan Baird in the centre !! yes please !

El_Duderino 09

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Not really sure what happens if any of the back 5 get injured.

They might not expect any of the back 5 to get the ball. Looks like a seriously forwards orientated selection.

Sangre

Hard to believe Henshaw is getting his 50th Leinster cap.

Must be one of the weakest first 15s Leinster has put out in a European game for some time

El_Duderino 09

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

They might not expect any of the back 5 to get the ball. Looks like a seriously forwards orientated selection.

Yeah pretty much has to be this!

Clegg

I would have liked Harry Byrne to start but away to a French side probably isn't the best place for your starting European debut. Really interested in seeing Frawley and Henshaw link up. Two playmakers at 10/12 and another good option at 15. If we get parity up front we could do some damage.

Buer

Clegg wrote: »

I would have liked Harry Byrne to start but away to a French side probably isn't the best place for your starting European debut. Really interested in seeing Frawley and Henshaw link up. Two playmakers at 10/12 and another good option at 15. If we get parity up front we could do some damage.

Not being smart but there was close to zero chance of this happening for this match. The fact that they've put a half fit Sexton on the bench instead of him suggests they don't feel he's ready. If he's going to be involved at any point, it will be Northampton at home.

I'd think this season is just getting him significant Pro14 time (which he's getting in spades) and, if his form demands selection in Europe thereafter, great.

I'm looking forward to seeing those forwards come on for the last 25 minutes. It's critical they keep Montpellier in check during that phase. Lozowski starting at 10 for them isn't great but he's a running threat so VDF and Frawley will have to keep things tight.

Deleted User

Deleted User wrote: »

Not really sure what happens if any of the back 5 get injured.

JBP@9, McGrath to wing if any of the back 3 are injured.

Sexton to 12 if either centres get hurt?

We could definitely see a very very odd backline at the end of this!

Oh wow that bench is utter complete filth

arsebiscuits1

Deleted User wrote: »

JBP@9, McGrath to wing if any of the back 3 are injured.

Sexton to 12 if either centres get hurt?

We could definitely see a very very odd backline at the end of this!

Even if the weather in France is nice I think it will be a lot off 9 tomorrow anyway

OneLungDavy

Frawley at 12, delighted to see this for a big European game.

bayern

Leinster Rugby ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles

(Leinster Rugby senior caps in brackets)

15. Michael Silvester(u23) - Academy Yr3
14. Aaron O’Sullivan(u22) - Academy Yr3
13. Max O’Reilly(u21) - Academy Yr1
12. Liam Turner(u22) - Academy Yr2
11. Andrew Smith(u21) - Academy Yr1
10. David Hawkshaw(u22)
9. Hugh O’Sullivan(u23)
1. Marcus Hanan(u21) - Academy Yr1
2. Dan Sheehan(u23)
3. Greg McGrath(u24/Lansdowne)
4. Charlie Ryan(u22) - Academy Yr2
5. Jack Dunne(u23)
6. Martin Moloney(u22) - Academy Yr2
7. Sean O’Brien(u21) - Academy Yr1
8. Alex Soroka(u20) - Academy Yr1

16. Lee Barron(u20) - sub academy
17. Jack Boyle(u19) - sub academy
18. Thomas Connolly(u21/DUFC) - sub academy
19. Joe McCarthy(u20) - Academy Yr1
20. Will Hickey(u20) - sub academy
21. Cormac Foley(u22) - Academy Yr2
22. Jamie Osborne(u20) - sub academy
23. Niall Comerford(u21) - Academy Yr1
24. Chris Cosgrave(u20) - sub academy

academy players missing:

John McKee(hooker)
Brian Deeny(lock)
Paddy Patterson(scrumhalf)

arsebiscuits1

bayern wrote: »

Leinster Rugby ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles

(Leinster Rugby senior caps in brackets)

15. Michael Silvester (2)
14. Aaron O’Sullivan
13. Max O’Reilly
12. Liam Turner (4)
11. Andrew Smith
10. David Hawkshaw (3)
9. Hugh O’Sullivan (24)
1. Marcus Hanan
2. Dan Sheehan (5)
3. Greg McGrath
4. Charlie Ryan
5. Jack Dunne (10) CAPTAIN
6. Martin Moloney
7. Sean O’Brien
8. Alex Soroka

16. Lee Barron
17. Jack Boyle
18. Thomas Connolly
19. Joe McCarthy
20. Will Hickey
21. Cormac Foley
22. Jamie Osborne
23. Niall Comerford
24. Chris Cosgrave

Whose Greg McGrath?

bayern

arsebiscuits1 wrote: »

Whose Greg McGrath?

club prop from Wexford, plays for Lansdowne now.. would have played leinster underage all the way to u20.. is approx 23. Came close to irish 20's caps, played irish universities and clubs iirc

crisco10

The team for Montpellier is a strange one! Threadbare in some places (back 5), and then stacked in others (backrow/2nd Row). JVF didn't even make the match day squad, but we could see Luke on the wing with sexton/byrne at centre if things only went slightly wrong re injuries.

Good that it's Montpellier in France, so more likely to be a battle of the packs.

Big day for Peter Dooley too.

arsebiscuits1

crisco10 wrote: »

The team for Montpellier is a strange one! Threadbare in some places (back 5), and then stacked in others (backrow/2nd Row). JVF didn't even make the match day squad, but we could see Luke on the wing with sexton/byrne at centre if things only went slightly wrong re injuries.

Good that it's Montpellier in France, so more likely to be a battle of the packs.

Big day for Peter Dooley too.

Josh is at 7!

It's poor old Porridge that's missed out

crisco10

arsebiscuits1 wrote: »

Josh is at 7!

It's poor old Porridge that's missed out

Sorry, meant to say that. was thinking one thing and typing another! :rolleyes:

Dubinusa

I would have Ross Molony in the xv and Fardy on the bench. Although I thought Ryan was injured. Think VDF will have a stormed.
Next week will be a reversal of the xv, I think.

arsebiscuits1

Dubinusa wrote: »

I would have Ross Molony in the xv and Fardy on the bench. Although I thought Ryan was injured. Think VDF will have a stormed.
Next week will be a reversal of the xv, I think.

I'm sure some of our pack would do a job in the backline.... but chances of any of our backs thriving in the pack is pretty slim

joseywhales

Looks like a team for defense, we are going to tackle them to death.

TRC10

joseywhales wrote: »

Looks like a team for defense, we are going to tackle them to death.

What led you to that conclusion? Surely wed have picked Connors if that was the case. And we've picked Frawley at 12 which isnt a defensive selection by any means. Jimmy O'Brien at 15 is a quality ball player too.

Dog Botherer

i think we’re going to tackle them and also sometimes attack, possession allowing

lawrencesummers

The benches could be the story of this game, some great talent on both benches

kennedmc

Is our match only live on BT sport