Connacht vs Leinster Sportsground Saturday December 2nd 7.35 live on Rte

ElisaAtWar

Connacht: Tiernan O'Halloran; Mack Hansen, Byron Ralston, Cathal Forde, Diarmuid Kilgallen; JJ Hanrahan, Caolin Blade; Peter Dooley, Dave Heffernan, Jack Aungier; Darragh Murray, Oisin Dowling; Cian Prendergast, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Seán Jansen.

Replacements: Dylan Tierney-Martin, Denis Buckley, Finlay Bealham, Niall Murray, Paul Boyle, Michael McDonald, David Hawkshaw, Conor Oliver

Leinster: Ciarán Frawley; Rob Russell, Robbie Henshaw, Charlie Ngatai, Jamie Osborne; Harry Byrne, Ben Murphy; Ed Byrne, Rónan Kelleher, Michael Ala'alatoa; Ryan Baird, Jason Jenkins; Max Deegan, Scott Penny (capt), James Culhane.

Replacements: Lee Barron, Cian Healy, Tadhg Furlong, Ross Molony, Jack Conan, Cormac Foley, Liam Turner, Will Connors.

Looking at the team selections I would have to say a Connacht home win. So many of the Leinster first choice players are not starting while Connacht, bar a few players, look pretty loaded.

And yet there is no such thing as a weak Leinster team. And the betting firms suggest that Leinster are heavy favourites. And they don't offer odds out of the kindness of their hearts.

From a personal perspective I'm not feeling at all comfortable about this game. Something in the back of my mind is saying it's not going to go Connachts way.

I can't put my finger on why that is the case but it is how I feel. What impressed me most about Leinster is there absolute ruthlessness to win the ball no matter their team selection. They simply overpower the opposition.

And yet Harry Byrne as an orchestrator would not fill me with any confidence in a Leinster win. And to be fair about it I don't think JJ is exactly inspirational either. Yes his penalty kicking is better than Jack but otherwise I don't think offers much else. So I think Connachts woes continue until they find a player capable of orchestrating what is a very capable team.

And that is my fundamental problem with Connacht. The bones of a great team but nobody to guide the ship.

Think the bookies have this as a 3 point game since the teams were announced.

ulsteru20s

Connacht have went less full strength than i would have expected. Although possibly a connacht fan will correct me and my idea of their depth chart is out of date.

I think they could still win this though.

kita99

The deffence of Connacht is quite stronger than last season. I think that key players of this match are Jansen and Ralston.

Wegians89

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121444578#Comment_121444578

I’d say the front five is second choice and centres are too but forde would be really pushing for first choice.

ElisaAtWar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121444845#Comment_121444845

It's an interesting call to put in, as you say second choice players, to begin the game. But when you think about it gives your first choice players ample rest. And you can also make the changes at any point in the game should the game be going the wrong way.

Obviously such a policy would work best when choosing the pack as compared to the backs but I'm all for this idea. It works on two levels. It rests players in the most attritional areas of the team while having the impact off the bench IF AND WHEN required.

And just to add to that I think maybe this is the first year I can remember where Connacht has the squad depth to do this and be comfortable with such a decision

phog

Chris Busby to ref tonight's game

ElisaAtWar

I like Donnacha O'Callaghan but this continued waffle that Jack simply introduced JJ into Connacht rugby so he can gracefully take his place is the greatest load of bollix I have listened to. And every game he says the same thing. Would drive you bonkers.

Brief_Lives

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121444845#Comment_121444845

strong bench tho

ElisaAtWar

So it's time call it before it happens and I am going for a bonus point win for Connacht with Leinster simply being unimpressive because of their team selection.

So let's discuss afterwards

leakyboots

Byrne turned over after a poor attempt at a clearout by Henshaw. Leinster lose the lineout and Scott Penney makes a full stretch tackle on the far touchline, super tackle on the replay

SqueakyKneecap

TOH is up for this anyways

SqueakyKneecap

Phenomenal recovery from Bladey there

leakyboots

TOH off injured. Leinster lineout has been very shaky, three poor ones in a row including one steal

Burkie1203

Line out shambles from Leinster.

Larbre34

I must concede that is some score

Brief_Lives

Hanson, steaming through and brilliant pass to Hawkshaw

Dave_The_Sheep

Leinster haven't woken up this morning yet. Great stuff from Connacht.

SqueakyKneecap

Brilliant try. Ralston burnt the winger.

leakyboots

Another one gone... is Kelleher the common denominator, he's looked ropey before? It was a shocking throw, at head height for the Connacht jumper and was meant for the tail.

Connacht punish them with a super try! Hawkshaw and Hansen did well. Connacht deservedly ahead

Burkie1203

Fair work rate from Jenkins there to get back

hold my beer

Kelleher's darts are poor again. He needs to sort it

phog

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121446534#Comment_121446534

Only to assist him with a push over the line to score 😂

leakyboots

Lovely kick from Byrne and chase by 14 there

SqueakyKneecap

Need a big defense here

dublinman1990

Connacht are showing their intent in a big way with this scrum.

Leinster are like a rabbit in the headlights.

They are playing very poorly for the 15 minutes of this match.

SqueakyKneecap

Great hit from Bladey

Dave_The_Sheep

Lack of composure and ideas there.

leakyboots

Not sure what Byrne did there to give it to Blade, lost control again with ball in hand. Leinster not taking the 3...

leakyboots

That's super defence from Connacht... shoulder to the head by Ngatai...

SqueakyKneecap

Ah shite this could be bad news

SaoPaulo41

Jesus Hugh Cahill can barely contain his happiness when Leinster spill the ball

Larbre34

Thats a nothing situation. Even as a Leinster fan I'd say Forde has been stitched up there.

leakyboots

Woah... not sure about that. Ref even asked 'have we head to head here?' and the TMO says yes, so maybe he has other angles.

Eoinbmw

That could be the other way!

SqueakyKneecap

Might defense

mr_edge_to_you

That was a baffling decision.

Brief_Lives

jokeshop decision

Dave_The_Sheep

Not a yellow for me. Very harsh.

No idea what the commentators are on about though.

dublinman1990

I thought a Leinster player was going to get binned there.

Very odd decision from the ref.

PCeeeee

Very harsh

Peterx

I'm watching on the player but not with volume on - how was that a yellow for the defender? If anything the attacker leans into him??

The Guru 123

Was it not the Leinster guy ran into the Connacht guys head?

IngazZagni

I thought he led with his shoulder straight into his head. I'm baffled by that.

irishgeo

The rte live text updates has the Leinster player getting the yellow.

Blackheath

that a harsh card

hold my beer

Leinster so sloppy. We look a bit leaderless

ironingbored

Bizarre decision. Shoulder (arm tucked) to defender's head. All the force from attacker. Never a yellow for Connacht player

Leinster getting destroyed in the scrum, lineout farcical.

Blackheath

Aungier looks a decent player

Dave_The_Sheep

The amount of people (elsewhere) who think Ngatai should be penalised is beyond me.

Anyway, Leinster are awful this evening so far. Just frustrating beyond belief. Between knock ons and lineout and scrum fuckups, I'm not sure I should keep watching if I want to stop scaring the cats shouting at the TV.

Connacht defense has been excellent so far.

fitz

Harry Byrne is having a howler. When he's not just shuffling the ball on too quickly, his passing seems iffy and he's not doing anything to influence the game.