Leinster V Glasgow

What's that you say? The teams aren't out, it's far too early in the week and we're still digesting the Dragons game?

Pah, onwards and upwards folks, history is in the past. Just like the Ospreys game (which, by the way, didn't happen)

Glasgow up next. Another home game, which is very much needed to help settle a callow side. Starting away from home did them no favours, but a very good home debut for Hagan, Carr and others will have steadied the ship somewhat.

We're still not bossing the breakdown, so while our backs fronted up last week this week we need to see the backrow show up and earn their corn.

Glasgow have had a tough start, Ulster and Munster. Away to Ulster did them no favours in the first week, Ravenhill is a very hard place to go to. I didn't see the Munster game, so maybe a Glaswegian or two can help us out there and let us know how they got on.

So what'll it be? More free flowing rugby from Leinster, or are Glasgow about to put two losses behind them. An LBP would be a good target for them, but I can't see them winning.

The beard-stroking verdict: Home win, no BP for Glasgow.

LEINSTER:
15: Isa Nacewa
14: Fionn Carr
13: Eoin O'Malley
12: Luke Fitzgerald
11: David Kearney
10: Ian Madigan
9: Cillian Willis
1: Heinke van der Merwe
2: Richardt Strauss
3: Jamie Hagan
4: Kevin McLaughlin
5: Devin Toner
6: Rhys Ruddock CAPTAIN
7: Dominic Ryan
8: Leo Auva'a

Replacements
16: Aaron Dundon
17: Jack McGrath
18: Nathan White
19: Damian Browne
20: Jordi Murphy
21: John Cooney
22: Brendan Macken
23: Darren Hudson


Glasgow Team:

15 Stuart Hogg
14 Federico Aramburu
13 Rob Dewey
12 Troy Nathan
11 Colin Shaw
10 Scott Wight
9 Henry Pyrgos
1 Ryan Grant
2 Finlay Gillies
3 Ed Kalman
4 Tom Ryder
5 Nick Campbell
6 Rob Harley (captain)
7 Chris Fusaro
8 Rory Pitman

Replacements
16 Pat MacArthur
17 Gordon Reid
18 Mike Cusack
19 James Eddie
20 Duncan Weir
21 Ryan Wilson
22 Colin Gregor
23 Peter Horne

They couldn't deal with Munsters game plan of getting ANOTHER two yellow cards (our 8th yellow card in three matches)



Apparently they finished the game well though, they had a lot of chances and turned down a lot of kicks at goal instead taking tap penalties or lineouts. Seemed a bit silly when they have Weir.

I thought glasgow looked good at times and very poor at others. Very hard start for them with 3 irish provinces away in 3 games.

Agree re the breakdown need to stamp our mark there a bit more.

Not on the George Melly either. Anyone in the vicinity of Dublin better head down the RDS.

We have the Antichrist problem in the back row.

666 the number of the beast.

A 6 playing 8, a 6 playing 7 and a 6 playing eh, 6.

Perhaps it is a case of defining roles better for them or something.

Kev McLaughlin was an 8 until 2 years ago. now he is a 6 who can cover 4 and 5.

Don't like Ruddock at 8 so maybe swap them, or start New Leo and put one of them on the bench?

Don't like any of those options really. Knock on effects of Tuilangi knocking Wally out of the world cup.

Isn't Dom Ryan a 7? I think him and O'Mahony are good options going forward.

I always saw Dom Ryan as a 7 too I gotta say.
I'd move Ruddock back to 6 and then put Leo in at 8 and see what happens. Put Kev on the bench.

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:I always saw Dom Ryan as a 7 too I gotta say.
I'd move Ruddock back to 6 and then put Leo in at 8 and see what happens. Put Kev on the bench.

I just never saw him as a 7. More of a Joe Worsley type. Great tackler who CAN play 7 but primarily a 6.

Not really a groundhog or a link man.

It's just that we have a bucket of 6s and only Jeno as a 7 (now that Paul Ryan has retired) So he will become a 7 or leave I would say.

Cracking player though. And fast enough to play 7. Hope he can make himself into one.

Also not comfortable with dropping the man who took over from Rocky Elsom, and kept the European player of the year out of the 6 Jersey last year, with an AIL player. Good and all as he is.

We do have to do something though.

When will sykes be back
Fitz is back this weekend isnt he

team should prob remain nearly the same, hopefully we will see an improvement on last week which was a major improvement on the week before, going in the right direction

D24tress wrote:When will sykes be back
Fitz is back this weekend isnt he

team should prob remain nearly the same, hopefully we will see an improvement on last week which was a major improvement on the week before, going in the right direction

Sykes is touch and go for this week. So probably a visit to Wales for him. Hopefully Shaggy soon after.

I see no reason that a 21 year old like Dom Ryan or Peter O'Mahony can't develop the link skills needed.

red_stag wrote:I see no reason that a 21 year old like Dom Ryan or Peter O'Mahony can't develop the link skills needed.

+1

I think he has the link skills but possibly not the skills at the breakdown I guess.

Ps: So nice being here rather than on the International pages re:Ireland it's getting quite heated I must say. Laighin abú

I intentionally haven't commented on the Ireland USA thread.

I'm avoiding international section, I just can't see the point in getting stuck in on that one!

I was for ages but it has literally put me in such a bad mood, from the topic itself and from so many different attitudes and unfortuantly I find myself getting sucked into bickering and stuff so trying to make a clean cut and go cold turkey for a while!!!!

Just saying this from looking at the Ferris as a lock article but do you think McLaughlin should get some time in the second row?

I know I've said it before but I find the international game is so full of fans more interested in arguing about the players they don't like rather than getting behind the team.



McLaughlin should get game time at second row. Not for international reasons but I think Leinster need him.



I don't rate McLaughlin. I've always seen him as a guy who was a stop gap for Leinster and will always just be a rotational squad player rather than a guy to look for when push comes to shove.

I agree with you think I am going to have to steer clear for a while.

I think leinster will need him too, since we really seem like we don't want to play O'Donoghue and Toner isn't exactly an enforcer.

I think McL is more than a stop gap but I expected him to kick on more from 09/10 and he seems to have peaked somewhat or at least plateau-ed.

Can see him losing out to Ryan or Ruddock this season as a bench option.

The reason I say stop gap is because he just bridged the gap between Elsom and O'Brien. He has never been nor is he ever going to be a first choice player for Leinster.



There are worse things for him than a move to Munster who could do with another IQ backrow. There is the chance for him to be a first choice player there.

That's true never even thought of that.
That would be a good use of assets too rather than seeing him go to France or England.

He was a starter in the 09/10 team really, although I guess Jennings was suspended for a long while wasn't he?

He was starter for a few months to be fair - hence the reason I call him a stop gap.

What's that? Munster could do with a back row with a decent IQ?


No argument here...

Oh Grey, we really could. Woe is us. Wallace is injured . . .presumed dead (his career anyway)

Can't see Glasgow getting anything from this game. I sound like a broken record but we simply don't have the depth in squad to deal with so many missing players.

Not sure if Beattie and/or our new Lock from New Zealand are available, that may help beef up the pack a little.

I think our first points of the season may need to wait till the Treviso game in week four.

Nathan white could make his debut this week too. He was touch and go last week.

Perhaps we could sort out some back row problems by moving Kev to the 2nd row.

We could also have him cover both to allow us another player somewhere. But where?

23 man squads mean we have enough props. We don't have too many players that could make an impact left in the squad.
Behind the 4 back rows who have played, we have Ben Marshall and Ciaran Ruddock who are 4,5,6 players. (Marshall at 8 too) Jordi Murphy could possibly do with a game.

Have we enough fit outside backs to justify 3 of them on the bench?

No.

red_stag wrote:Oh Grey, we really could. Woe is us. Wallace is injured . . .presumed dead (his career anyway)

Not at all. Still plenty of fuel left in the tank. Possibly one of the more evergreen players Ireland has ever been lucky to have. It took ages before he finally won EOS around and I think that might have helped in a way, he wasn't over used at the start of his career.

I grew up watching his brother Richard, then Paul, I don't know what I'd do without a Wallace causing havoc somewhere.

Teams not out yet, but in their squad statement Leinster announced that Fitzgerald should be back in contention and Sykes might well be available too.
With Mat Berquist out with a broken kneecap that means we’re pretty limited in our choice of outhalves.

I’d expect this to be the team, but will post the actual team when it’s announced:

15. Íosa
14. Carr
13. Fitzgerald
12. O’Malley
11. Kearney
10. Madigan
9. Willis
8. Ruddock
7. Ryan
6. McLaughlin
5. Toner
4. Browne / Sykes
3. Hagan
2. Strauss
1. VDM

Subs – Dundon, McGrath, Nathan White, Browne / Sykes, A’uva, Cooney, Macken, Hudson

Sorry pal, will ask the Mods to lock/delete this one.

I’d expect this to be the team:

15. Íosa
14. Carr
13. Fitzgerald
12. O’Malley
11. Kearney
10. Madigan
9. Willis
8. Ruddock
7. Ryan
6. McLaughlin
5. Toner
4. Browne / Sykes
3. Hagan
2. Strauss
1. VDM

Subs – Dundon, McGrath, Nathan White, Browne / Sykes, A’uva, Cooney, Macken, Hudson

Agree that Ryan is more of a 6 by the way.

Is Skykes back? We're looking thin without him. Don't know why we released Gannon while Sykes was still injured.

According to the squad update this week he’s stepped up his rehab and a decision will be made on his fitness this week. Sounds like he probably won’t be back this week but should be good for the trip to the Scarlets next week.

Teams out today?

I keep checking, but nothing so far. I'll add them to the top post once they're out

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:Teams out today?

The team is expected to be announced on Friday at midday.

http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/newsroom/8481.php

I would play Macken and bring Luke on from the bench.

I would also think O'Malley should play 13 and Luke 12 if those two are the centres not the other way around

Ps: Thanks Jen

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:Ps: Thanks Jen

No bodder boss.

I think that Macken is showing some of the promise that he had at schools level. He can't run amok as much in the pro setup as his size is less of an asset, but a run of games at 13 could be the making of him.
I know we are light in the centres compared to the wing, but I would like to see Luke played in 1 position for a while to get his mojo back. AND he should start from the bench to see what he can do while returning from injury.

Perhaps replacing Kearney, or replacing Madigan with Isa going to 10 and Kearney to 15.

Edit: I think O'Malley is just as happy at 12 as 13. I heard he could even play 10 at a push.

We never got to see much of Macken last year, think he might have made 1 or 2 appearances from the bench but only made one start and broke his collarbone within 15 minutes. He was the one to watch for a while though, clearly has the potential and played well last week.

Starting Macken and O'Malley and spring Luke from the bench is a very good all Jen

greybeard wrote:I don't know what I'd do without a Wallace causing havoc somewhere.

Paddy

Good havoc.

I have to say I really liked the Fitz/O'Malley midfield it was the one glaring positive I took from the Ospreys game.

O'Malley is definitely one of my favourite players at the moment really hope he kicks on because BOD is looking slower and slower. We could do with a replacement for him and Darcy for a large portion of the magners league games and in Darcy's case most of the HCup too I'd imagine

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:I have to say I really liked the Fitz/O'Malley midfield it was the one glaring positive I took from the Ospreys game.

O'Malley is definitely one of my favourite players at the moment really hope he kicks on because BOD is looking slower and slower. We could do with a replacement for him and Darcy for a large portion of the magners league games and in Darcy's case most of the HCup too I'd imagine

I was watching it through my fingers going "Nooooooooo" and I blocked it out afterwards, so I probably missed that bit.

Glasgow Team:

15 Stuart Hogg
14 Federico Aramburu
13 Rob Dewey
12 Troy Nathan
11 Colin Shaw

10 Scott Wight
9 Henry Pyrgos

1 Ryan Grant
2 Finlay Gillies
3 Ed Kalman
4 Tom Ryder
5 Nick Campbell
6 Rob Harley (captain)
7 Chris Fusaro
8 Rory Pitman

SUBSTITUTES

16 Pat MacArthur
17 Gordon Reid
18 Mike Cusack
19 James Eddie
20 Duncan Weir
21 Ryan Wilson
22 Colin Gregor
23 Peter Horne

Cheers Dot, I'll add it to the top

Scott Wight getting the nod ahead of Weir? - that is a surprise. And still no Beattie? - his injury returning from the Scotland camp must have been quite a bit worse than we've told about? No slot for Verbakel in the boiler room, nor even on the bench? Hmm...

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:Scott Wight getting the nod ahead of Weir? - that is a surprise. And still no Beattie? - his injury returning from the Scotland camp must have been quite a bit worse than we've told about? No slot for Verbakel in the boiler room, nor even on the bench? Hmm...

I hope thats all is wrong with Beattie, I would hate for him to have sunken into a pit of depression like he did a couple of seasons ago and has spat the dummy out again. I know his Dad would have told him to get focused and get his form back, a bit like Kellock did when he was not picked in 2007.

Weir on the bench is another unusual decision. Glasgow will struggle with this one I think.

According to the team sheet these players are not considered due to injury:

Johnnie Beattie (knee),
Alex Dunbar (knee),
Calum Forrester (knee),
Dave McCall (hamstring),
Peter Murchie (shoulder),
Tommy Seymour (back),
Fergus Thomson (shoulder),
Jon Welsh (ankle).

3 or 4 starters there, greybeard, not what Glasgow would have been looking for

Can see this being a tough one for Glasgow, very hard start to the season for them really

Leinster team added to the top, Leo gets the start at No. 8.

Joe is not listening to me about Fitz. That's the last pint I'm buying him.

Interesting solution to the 666 antichrist problem. Move Kev to the 2nd row.

LEINSTER:

15: Isa Nacewa
14: Fionn Carr
13: Eoin O'Malley
12: Luke Fitzgerald
11: David Kearney
10: Ian Madigan
9: Cillian Willis

1: Heinke van der Merwe
2: Richardt Strauss
3: Jamie Hagan
4: Kevin McLaughlin
5: Devin Toner
6: Rhys Ruddock CAPTAIN
7: Dominic Ryan
8: Leo Auva'a

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Aaron Dundon
17: Jack McGrath
18: Nathan White
19: Damian Browne
20: Jordi Murphy
21: John Cooney
22: Brendan Macken
23: Darren Hudson