Leinster vs Montpellier Sat 13:30 Teams/Discussion

by pete (buachaill on eirne) Fri 11 Nov 2011, 11:48 am

First topic message reminder :

Hey all,

No one has put anything up here so thought I would do the honours for when the teams are announced later today.

Looking forward to Hcup action and feel that we have the best chance of the provinces to get a win this weekend in Europe.

Missing the man himself as well as Horgan and Sykes but we have a strong squad. It will be interesting to see if Joe goes for Isa or Rob at 15, I am told there will be a lot of rain and maybe this will influence his decision, also the centre partnership will be interesting. I'd expect Darcy/McFadden but possible Fitz or O'Malley could sneak in there.

Reddan or Boss?

From the point of view of Montpellier, they have Trinh-Duc back and he is a great player and a real threat in how he varies the game. They have their Georgian monster back also and even Seanie was saying what an amazing carrier he was.

Home support is going to be a big thing in the South of France as per usual, no idea how many of the blue army are making the trip.

Prediction? Team predicitions? Worries? Confident boasting? They are all welcome here.

Will put up the teams when they are out.

LEINSTER TEAM
1: Heinke van der Merwe
2: Richardt Strauss
3: Mike Ross
4: Leo Cullen CAPTAIN
5: Damian Browne
6: Kevin McLaughlin
7: Sean O'Brien
8: Jamie Heaslip

REPLACEMENTS:

16; Sean Cronin
17: Jack McGrath
18: Nathan White
19: Devin Toner
20: Shane Jennings
21: Eoin Reddan
22: Ian Madigan
23: Eoin O'Malley

by asoreleftshoulder Sat 12 Nov 2011, 3:24 pm

red_stag wrote:How can it be 3 victories when you drew and Connacht lost?

Moral victories?

by AsLongAsBut100ofUs Sat 12 Nov 2011, 3:30 pm

red_stag wrote:How can it be 3 victories when you drew and Connacht lost?

by dublin_dave Sat 12 Nov 2011, 3:32 pm

Lol. Felt like one redstag. U know what i mean.

guranteed two defeats now for ulster and munster. Im a dope

by dublin_dave Sat 12 Nov 2011, 3:35 pm

Please use refer to this thread in future provincial banter. And to think i did honours maths
come on ulster. Dry day in ravenhill. Be the lord.

by Mickado Sat 12 Nov 2011, 3:36 pm

That felt like a win, we were blown away at the breakdown, Montpeller were defending like savages, fair play to them.

Delighted with that result!

Very Happy

by greybeard Sat 12 Nov 2011, 3:45 pm

Ballsy kick!

by Gibson Sat 12 Nov 2011, 3:48 pm

I hope Schmidt learned his lesson there. Reddan and Jennings MUST start every game.

Id put Mcfadden at 12 and move O Malley in at 13. Get our backline going. Darcy gives us nowt.

by Mickado Sat 12 Nov 2011, 3:55 pm

Reddan was sick this week and Boss has form in games like this (Clermont and Sarries away last year) so I don't think it was a bad call to start him, things did improve when Reddan came on but we weren't under as much pressure at the breakdown.

Aside from one MUCK offload Cronin was deadly.

So happy with our game management. Looked like losing all day, came back, could have won but when we had no other option we were able to strangle a result out. I know which dressing room will be happier! Man I love this competition...

by asoreleftshoulder Sat 12 Nov 2011, 3:58 pm

Yeah don't know why we went for the try near the end instead of taking the penalty but a draw is a decent result,c'mon Leinster.

by Gibson Sat 12 Nov 2011, 4:03 pm

Didnt realise Reddan was sick. Fair enough.
Cronin is looking to oust Strauss and he did enough today to put it up to him.

Delighted with that draw now. Sexton was ice cool.

I love this Cup as well. Its just different level.

by HQ matt Sat 12 Nov 2011, 4:12 pm

what did everyone think of Dave Pearsons performance today?

by dublin_dave Sat 12 Nov 2011, 4:18 pm

He was consistent and it was a good game. No issues.

by Feckless Rogue Sat 12 Nov 2011, 4:42 pm

Schmidt has been brilliant for us. But he does seem to think Leinster can play just as well without Jennings at 7. They can't.

by Gibson Sat 12 Nov 2011, 4:54 pm

Yup. He is getting as bad as Kidney in that respect. SOB is a fish out of water at 7. At least try Dom Ryan there in a few more PRO12 games.

Really want to see more of of McFadden at 12 and O Malley at 13 in the centre also.

by Feckless Rogue Sat 12 Nov 2011, 4:59 pm

Sexton was great though. Leinsters best player I think. His kicking from hand was deadly accurate. His pressure kick at the end was well taken. Nailed it.

by EnglishReign Sat 12 Nov 2011, 5:03 pm

Good game this, Montpellier did well to hold on at the end but will be gutted to draw. Sexton showed his class once again, what a player.

by dublin_dave Sat 12 Nov 2011, 5:16 pm

On the 7 debate chris henry having some game.

by Gibson Sat 12 Nov 2011, 5:24 pm

dublin_dave wrote:On the 7 debate chris henry having some game.

He sure is. Great game. 1F had too. Brock James imploding under pressure. Again.

by dublin_dave Sat 12 Nov 2011, 5:43 pm

Marshall and reddan have given two good sh performances today. Real zip about everything they did. I would hope irish management team were represented at ravenhill.Over to you mr murray. Im absolutely glued to the couch and am getting cabin fever. Pub for munster game now tempting

by asoreleftshoulder Sat 12 Nov 2011, 5:58 pm

I though Luke Fitz was top class today,made a couple of lovely breaks,linked well and was rock solid under a few testing high balls.Hope he can come back and prove me wrong as I thought he was going to be all potential and no performance at the very top level.

by Gibson Sat 12 Nov 2011, 6:00 pm

Lukey definitely starting to find his confidence again. It shows. He is a great defender as well.

by Rory_Gallagher Sat 12 Nov 2011, 6:11 pm

If Montpellier dominated at the breakdown, clearly that has nothing to do with the lack of proper 7s as they didn't have one themselves? It has to do with the entire pack. I think Jennings should start though as he is a good player for Leinster.

I think Fitz should play 13 for you. Nacewa at 15. McFadden/O'Malley to play 12 instead of D'Arcy.

by Feckless Rogue Sat 12 Nov 2011, 6:19 pm

If Fitzy has his mentality right he can be a top player and last years nightmare season will be the worst of his career.

I'd give Kearney some time at fullback to see if Schmidt can get some more elusive attacking from him. If not, Nacewa has to play. It's the best thing for Ireland to give Kearney a chance though.

I agree the whole pack were a bit meh. But the World Cup was always gonna have an impact. We'll get better.

by Rory_Gallagher Sat 12 Nov 2011, 6:21 pm

I want to see Fitz maybe replace BOD at 13 for us in the 6 nations, but he would have to do that at Leinster first. McFadden isn't a 13, and should be at 12. Fitzgerald I think would suit 13 most (he was touted as the next BOD in his very early career).

by newbie Sat 12 Nov 2011, 8:10 pm

Good enough result for Leinster today. Should have won though. Sexton kicked well (why doesnt he do that for Ireland). Fitz played ok not sure about him at OC. Mcfadden got skinned on the outside on at least one occassion (similar to the Russian try in the WC).

Watching Connacht last night I though Griffin looked the best of the OC contenders over the weekend.

by valjester Sat 12 Nov 2011, 10:07 pm

Rory_Gallagher wrote:I want to see Fitz maybe replace BOD at 13 for us in the 6 nations, but he would have to do that at Leinster first. McFadden isn't a 13, and should be at 12. Fitzgerald I think would suit 13 most (he was touted as the next BOD in his very early career).

Fitz seemed to have moved into the centres by the end of the match, he missed a few tackles today but was very good overall, as were sexton and kearney. Griffin was probably the most impressive 13 this weekend even though I haven;t seen the munster game yet, cave was good as well.

Overall it was a very disappointing performance, darcy and mcfadden weren't great and cullen was appalling.

I think the referee got the last penalty decision wrong but Montpellier showed their inexperience in kicking the ball away instead of running the clock down. Leinster deserved to win on the whole.

Also the montpellier fans were class and there was some great craic around the place today, nice bit of fun to be had between the two sets of fans and people like me with just a vague connection to one of the teams.

by Gibson Sat 12 Nov 2011, 11:14 pm

newbie wrote:Good enough result for Leinster today. Should have won though. Sexton kicked well (why doesnt he do that for Ireland). Fitz played ok not sure about him at OC. Mcfadden got skinned on the outside on at least one occassion (similar to the Russian try in the WC).

Watching Connacht last night I though Griffin looked the best of the OC contenders over the weekend.

Too right. He was threatening every time he got hold of the ball. Fast, good feet, great step, quick brain. Only 21. Local boy too. Galway.

So, who's gonna nick im? Must be our turn. Again.

by valjester Sat 12 Nov 2011, 11:49 pm

Gibson wrote:
newbie wrote:Good enough result for Leinster today. Should have won though. Sexton kicked well (why doesnt he do that for Ireland). Fitz played ok not sure about him at OC. Mcfadden got skinned on the outside on at least one occassion (similar to the Russian try in the WC).

Watching Connacht last night I though Griffin looked the best of the OC contenders over the weekend.

Too right. He was threatening every time he got hold of the ball. Fast, good feet, great step, quick brain. Only 21. Local boy too. Galway.

So, who's gonna nick im? Must be our turn. Again.

Munster made an approach for him last year but hes signed on until 2013 at Connacht, if they can get Hec again, he will stay as he loves the province but if he were to leave Munster would be best for Ireland as he would definitely start there and not be in the way off any potential whereas Leinster and Ulster have their own players coming through.

by Gibson Sun 13 Nov 2011, 1:33 am

Ah ya know, Val, wouldn't it be great if he could stick with his own province and help improve them? Help them grow? Hard in financial and aspirational reality, I know. But. He's talented , young and a local. Young age Connacht players. Kids, would much more likely aspire to play for their province, if more players, like him - stay. 3 or 4 more local players, coming through from their quality Irish U20's, could see a nice transformation, under a very determined Elwood. Money & time is being invested in it, for the next 3 years. Marketing, ground upgrades, Academy. Yada yada

Let's hope Connacht seize the day. Let The Wesht be Awake!

by FitzStephen Sun 13 Nov 2011, 9:57 am

On the great 13 debate - I think you've got to look at who the various 13s were playing against. Griffin was against Lowe and then Urdapellita with McFadden up against Doumayrou for Montpellier. Cave had to take on Rougerie, and while he fell off two tackles that I saw, Ol' Aurelien wasn't exactly the force he usually is principly because of Cave. That said Griffin was excellent (as was Mcsharry) and I can't wait to see how he goes against Toulouse - Fritz, Yann David, Jauzion. Hands off Munster!!

by valjester Sun 13 Nov 2011, 1:29 pm

Gibson wrote:Ah ya know, Val, wouldn't it be great if he could stick with his own province and help improve them? Help them grow? Hard in financial and aspirational reality, I know. But. He's talented , young and a local. Young age Connacht players. Kids, would much more likely aspire to play for their province, if more players, like him - stay. 3 or 4 more local players, coming through from their quality Irish U20's, could see a nice transformation, under a very determined Elwood. Money & time is being invested in it, for the next 3 years. Marketing, ground upgrades, Academy. Yada yada

Let's hope Connacht seize the day. Let The Wesht be Awake!

Yeah its one thing for players like Carr going back to their own province but I'm not sure how'd I feel about stealing their own players. The thing is that griffin looks class and would have been 13 for munster last year as well in the hec if he had been there. If Connacht don't make the hec it very hard for them to keep their best Irish players unless they're like Muldoon and McCarthy both of whom have turned down the chance to go to Leinster in the past few years. Hopefully Griffin is from a Connacht pov but from an Irish pov we need him playing at the highest level so its a bit of a balancing act.

by Thomond Sun 13 Nov 2011, 1:55 pm

I'm just going to say the penalty that tied the game was pretty harsh. Leinster looked sloppy enough at times yesterday but they did very well to get a decent result when they looked dead and buried.

by Feckless Rogue Sun 13 Nov 2011, 1:59 pm

I don't see why we have to be strict about this "you must play Heineken Cup to be an international" thing. George North had never played a Heineken Cup game before yesterday. He's already a quality international.

by valjester Sun 13 Nov 2011, 2:11 pm

Feckless Rogue wrote:I don't see why we have to be strict about this "you must play Heineken Cup to be an international" thing. George North had never played a Heineken Cup game before yesterday. He's already a quality international.

You don't obviously, Murray played international before Hec as well. I'm just saying that it is better for a player's development to be playing at as high a standard of rugby as possible. North only missed out on hec last year due to injury.

Thomond wrote:I'm just going to say the penalty that tied the game was pretty harsh. Leinster looked sloppy enough at times yesterday but they did very well to get a decent result when they looked dead and buried.

Yeah it definitely wasn't a penalty but Montpellier should never have kicked that ball away, real lack of experience.

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