Leinster V Connacht

Well lets face it. This is quite possibly the most important game of rugby for the coming weekend. Anyone who suggests otherwise it clearly delusional.

What the hell are Connacht doing at our end of the table? Standards are dropping everywhere. I blame Treviso, Scarlets and Dragons for allowing this to happen. Bring back hanging.

Ok, enough of the pleastantries. Messers Carr, Hagan, Willis and Browne will be welcoming their former team for a game I've been looking forward to for some time, but, to be honest, has me quite nervous. Leinsters poor performances so far have resulted in a lesson in rugby by the Ospreys, a nervous away win in a 'no after you, I insist' competition of ineptitude against the Scarlets, the loss of our incredible 28 game home winning streak against Glasgow, and a half time against Aironi that saw us 7 points down against a poor Italian outfit who played the half with 14 men! Only against the Dragons have we looked like the team we're capable of being each week.

To add to all this, Connacht are just off the back of an LBP against the same Ospreys, an away win in Treviso, a gritty win against the Scarlets and a reasonably comfortable win over the Dragons. Their one disappointment would have been not beating Michael Bradley on his new patch, but even then they got an LBP and have managed points in every game so far this season. What is going on?

I'm worried, I'm bloody worried. With luck Carr and Hagan will show their old paymasters some stonking skills. But Brett Wilkinson will have been up against Hagan in training manys a time, so Connacht will be no slouches in the scrum. Their backrow is more settled and more experienced than ours, and we are stuggling hugely there. McLaughlin, the Ruddocks and Jordi Murphy need to raise their games, but that's not the first time I've said that this season.

Sykes sounds like a mixed bag by all accounts, hopefully he's finding his feet and no more. Willis looks lively and will be up for showing Elwood that he deserved more game time. Madigan must start. Noel Reid did his best, I'm sure, but we need Madigan for this. On the positives Nacewa will probably get quite a few shots at goal, so he better bring his kicking boots, not like against Aironi.

The beard-stroking verdict: I don't know, I just don't know. Heart Leinster, but head... I can't say Connacht, so I'll say a draw!

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: Steven Sykes
5: Devin Toner
6: Kevin McLaughlin
7: Rhys Ruddock CAPTAIN
8: Leo Auva'a

REPLACEMENTS:

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




15 Gavin Duffy (C)
14 Mark McCrea
13 Eoin Griffin
12 Henry Fa'afili
11 Brian Tuohy
10 Niall O'Connor
9 Frank Murphy
1 Brett Wilkinson
2 Adrian Flavin
3 Dylan Rogers
4 Michael Swift
5 Mike McCarthy
6 John Muldoon
7 Johnny O'Connor
8 Ray Ofisa

16 Ethienne Reynecke
17 Ronan Loughney
18 Rodney Ah You
19 Dave Gannon
20 TJ Anderson
21 Paul O'Donohoe
22 Matthew Jarvis
23 Dave McSharry

News from the Pro12 site, Conway, Ryan and McLaughlin look like they'll be available for selection. Some good news at last.

http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/news/11256.php

Just got a freebee for this one with dinner in Rolys for good measure. Think Ill go home after the dinner Or will I stay and cheer on my neighbours from the West...

Looks like there might be a bit of a injury issue developing at Connacht, which might level the playing field a bit.

Gavin Duffy and Tiernan O'Halloran have both picked up knocks. Duffy got both of Connacht's tries last weekend and O'Halloran is quite a prospect who is currently filling Fionn Carr's boots.

James Loxton went off after only a few minutes on the pitch against the Ospreys, but I'm not sure what the full story is there. Maybe he's out, maybe not. With depth in the backs not really a problem Connacht selectors have to deal with Eric Elwood is forced to mull over the thought of promoting from the recent U-20 interprovincial winning side.

http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/news/11274.php

BlueMuff wrote:Just got a freebee for this one with dinner in Rolys for good measure. Think Ill go home after the dinner Or will I stay and cheer on my neighbours from the West...

I feel your pain Muff! But in fairness it's probably not as bad as one of us being exiled in Limerick

At least you get to go to Rolys. Sure Every Munster/Leinsterman's 2nd favourite team could probably do with your support. Just wear your Ireland jersey!

Is this one televisionized?

Yes. But the poor bastids have to play in irish. Will be confusing for the south africkans

Anyone else plan on turning up to this game hammered if we beat Wales?

BM, you should go to the match, i'll let you buy me a pint...

Feckless Rogue wrote:Is this one televisionized?

It's on TG4 from 4:30pm Feckless.

Cheers Cari.

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:Yes. But the poor bastids have to play in irish. Will be confusing for the south africkans

sh1t. was this too cryptic for yis?

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:Yes. But the poor bastids have to play in irish. Will be confusing for the south africkans

sh1t. was this too cryptic for yis?

No, just not specific enough

Cari wrote:

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:Yes. But the poor bastids have to play in irish. Will be confusing for the south africkans

sh1t. was this too cryptic for yis?

No, just not specific enough

i'm just too parochial. The only place it would be on in irish is tg clatter.

When are teams announced?

I was just wondering that myself. Lunchtimes are usually when we'd hear. The Blues have just announced their team for their match, I'd imagine we'll see something within the hour from both sides.

I'll post them at the top once they're in.

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: Steven Sykes
5: Devin Toner
6: Kevin McLaughlin
7: Rhys Ruddock CAPTAIN
8: Leo Auva'a

REPLACEMENTS:

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

Cheers Jen. I've added it above. Connacht have named their side too.

Seems to be a pretty settled side. Still no sign of Horgan or Conway back though, we could really do with them.

I missed last weeks match (caught the highlights on the Leinster website) was Noel Reid injured or did he just get the shepherds crook?

Taken off at the start of the second half Mickado. Not sure if it was an injury, but he could be paying the price after the team finished the half 7-0 down to Aironi.

The starting team is about as good as we can hope for, but I'm worried about the bench. Lots of inexperienced players there.

O'Halloran as expected isn't playing, but McCrea comes in, so even then Connacht have managed to do well cover-wise. Former Leinster academy player Dave McSharry gets a spot on the bench. Between Mick Kearney, Maguire, McSharry, Carr, Willis, Browne, Hagan it's like a rugby episode of wife swap.

F&*k Me! That's a strong looking pack Connacht have. They could very well get their 1st ever win in the RDS.

Well that was a good win, needed that cause we will have to catch connacht now,

Madigan has been great for us, sexton could come from one outhalf battle to another.
Despite the loses i think with all these youngsters playing will stand to us throughout the year. i think rudduck and ryan will have learnt from this massively, they played well last year when surrounded by the best team in europe, now they have learnt what they need to do to be at that level.

I agree D24. Seeing guys like O'Malley, Ryan, Hagan and Toner being able to stand up and do a job is very reassuring. It was nice to see Toner's body position in contact beginning to improve also.

Would like to see our centres running harder I have to say still, I understand they are stepping centres but still want them to run straight ad hard at times even if its just a dummy line.

Madigan has been very impressive, yes.

Willis is some player too I have to say.