Leinster vs Glasgow RDS Sunday 12:45

by pete (buachaill on eirne) Wed Nov 16, 2011 1:44 pm

Right lads,

Second weekend of HCup action is here, first home game in this years competition for Leinster.
Glasgow did well to beat Bath at home but conceeded a losing bonus point while Leinster managed to earn a draw in the south of France. Neither team performed amazingly by all accounts but there is a lot riding on this game all of a sudden, a loss for Leinster and they could find themselves in huge trouble considering as the competition goes on Montpellier may show less and less interest in winning games in Europe.

LEINSTER TEAM ANNOUNCED

15: Rob Kearney
14: Isa Nacewa
13: Eoin O'Malley
12: Gordon D'Arcy
11: Luke Fitzgerald
10: Jonathan Sexton
9: Eoin Reddan

1: Heinke van der Merwe
2: Sean Cronin
3: Mike Ross
4: Leo Cullen CAPTAIN
5: Devin Toner
6: Kevin McLaughlin
7: Sean O'Brien
8: Jamie Heaslip

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Richardt Strauss
17: Cian Healy
18: Nathan White
19: Rhys Ruddock
20: Shane Jennings
21: Isaac Boss
22: Ian Madigan
23: Fionn Carr

GLASGOW TEAM ANNOUNCED

15 Stuart Hogg
14 Tommy Seymour
13 Peter Murchie
12 Graeme Morrison
11 Colin Shaw
10 Duncan Weir
9 Chris Cusiter
1 Ryan Grant
2 Pat MacArthur
3 Mike Cusack
4 Richie Gray
5 Al Kellock (Captain)
6 Rob Harley
7 John Barclay
8 Ryan Wilson

SUBSTITUTES

16 Finlay Gillies
17 Jon Welsh
18 Ed Kalman
19 Tom Ryder
20 Henry Pyrgos
21 Chris Fusaro
22 Federico Aramburu
23 Troy Nathan

Who is gonna win this one?
Do Glasgow have the talent to beat the European Champions?
Are Leinster enough of an attacking threat without BOD and with nacewa on the wing?

Thoughts on the score, the teams, anything at all is very welcome.

Also please do vote!
Wasn't arsed doing draws with bonus points and LBP and 4try bonus point results! Sorry!

by Dorothy_Mantooth Wed Nov 16, 2011 1:46 pm

Can't see Glasgow getting anything, a LBP would be a good result.

Earlier game in the ML will have no bearing on this game at all.

by pete (buachaill on eirne) Wed Nov 16, 2011 1:55 pm

Didn't think it would either but thought I should put it in anyways just for the sake of it.

What do you reckon the Glasgow team will look like on Sunday?

If I had to guess a Leinster one it would be:

Healy-Strauss-Ross
Toner-Cullen
SOB-Heaslip-Jennings
Reddan-Sexton
Darcy-McF
Fitz-Kearney-Nacewa

VDM-Hagan-Cronin-Browne-McLaughlin-Boss-Madigan-O'Malley

I voted for a Leinster win with no BP's at all.
I think we may get close to the 4 tries though.

by Dorothy_Mantooth Wed Nov 16, 2011 2:00 pm

I think unless there are new injuries, Glasgow will go with a similar team to last week. Maybe a couple of changes on the bench, with Beattie and Welsh coming in.

by **George Carlin** Wed Nov 16, 2011 2:03 pm

Glasgow will need to play incredibly well for their losing bonus.

But then again, they've surprised a hell of a lot of people this season and their youngsters clearly care nothing for reputations.

by Mickado Wed Nov 16, 2011 2:14 pm

Just read on Leinster fans that McFadden is out.

I’d be in favour of a straight swap, put O’Malley in at 13 and see what happens, but we could see Fitzgerald move into the center and Carr/Dave Kearney to the other wing. What do ya think?

by **rodders** Wed Nov 16, 2011 2:17 pm

I think Leinster will win but think they might let the bonus point slip. They're not quite firing on cyclinders this season and Glasgow might give them a tough time but at home they'll be too strong I think. If Glasgow can get a bonus point they'll be doing well.

by pete (buachaill on eirne) Wed Nov 16, 2011 2:18 pm

Dorothy and George
Who would you consider our danger men and what areas would you guys like to see Glasgow take Leinster on at?

Mick-
Did it say what was wrong with him?
That is really disappointing I know he is the subject of much debate but I thought McFadden's performances so far were prtty good.
Yeah I'd put in EOM with Carr on the bench and Fitz covering 13.

by Rory_Gallagher Wed Nov 16, 2011 2:20 pm

I want to see O'Malley playing 12 instead of D'Arcy with Fitz moving into 13 and then Carr/Kearney Jr coming in at wing. Really want to see a combination of those two in the centres, think they will be really dangerous.

by Mickado Wed Nov 16, 2011 2:20 pm

roddersm wrote:I think Leinster will win but think they might let the bonus point slip. They're not quite firing on cyclinders this season and Glasgow might give them a tough time but at home they'll be too strong I think. If Glasgow can get a bonus point they'll be doing well.

Firstly, I totally agree with the statement you’ve made about us not firing on all cylinders, BUT what I will say is that we need to improve our accuracy in attack and our work at the breakdown. These are 2 aspects of our game which we had in spades last year, given that a large majority of the squad only have 1 or 2 games under their belt for Leinster this season I think we can expect an improvement game on game. Which is why I’ve gone for a BP win and no LBP for Glasgow.

by AsLongAsBut100ofUs Wed Nov 16, 2011 3:17 pm

There's only one way this fixture is going for the D4s, and that's DOWN - yup, downtown to DOWNSVILLE - enjoy the ride, fellas, and try not to dirty your chinos!! Wink

by **George Carlin** Wed Nov 16, 2011 3:21 pm

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:Dorothy and George
Who would you consider our danger men and what areas would you guys like to see Glasgow take Leinster on at?

Pete - there is actually parity in most areas - especially front row, at lock and at halfback.

I am most worried about:

1. Loosies - I was kind of hoping that the nonsensical approach of not playing Jennings would continue for this match. Even an off-colour Heaslip is better than most of the NH at 8. That said, this is going to be fascinating because Glasgow has discovered two tyros of their own in Rob Harley at blind and Ryan Wilson at No 8. Harley in particular has some of the best cardio I've ever seen - the Ospreys had no real answer to his belting runs in the last quarter of their match.

2. Centre - I really rate the two that you mention (especially McFadden who I still think is underrated) and if we play our two tugboat bruisers of Rob 'I tried the Atkins Diet, didn't work' Dewey and Graeme 'can't pass, won't pass' Morrison in the middle then we're going to get sliced to pieces.

That said - young Mr Hogg at FB is wonderful to watch and our two young wings (Shaw and Seymour) have made a decent fist of things so far.

The real issue for Leinster is not conceding penalties, because I don't believe that there has been a more accurate goal kicker than Weir so far this season.

Dorothy is more of an expert than me, however.

by **George Carlin** Wed Nov 16, 2011 3:21 pm

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:There's only one way this fixture is going for the D4s, and that's DOWN - yup, downtown to DOWNSVILLE - enjoy the ride, fellas, and try not to dirty your chinos!!

Leinster vs Glasgow RDS Sunday 12:45 810156456

by funnyExiledScot Wed Nov 16, 2011 3:39 pm

I think Leinster will win but I'd back the Glasgow defence to deny them the four tries.

The dangerman for Leinster is Sexton. His wrap around moves and game management will cause headaches for the Glasgow defence, who prefer a more physical and straightforward confrontation.

Glasgow will make Leinster work hard for points though.

by pete (buachaill on eirne) Wed Nov 16, 2011 3:41 pm

Do Glasgow have enough of an attacking threat to make Leinster give away penalties?

by **George Carlin** Wed Nov 16, 2011 3:44 pm

I think it's mostly Gray and Harley slamming hard into tackles and Barclay foraging for scraps in the depths of the contact area afterwards that you need to worry about.

by AsLongAsBut100ofUs Wed Nov 16, 2011 3:45 pm

Of course they do, pete, by the time Rob Harley finished grinding SOB into the turf, he'll be sitting in the tenth row of the RDS stands

by pete (buachaill on eirne) Wed Nov 16, 2011 3:49 pm

Leinster's defence should be able to live with that. I still haven't read anything about McFadden being out at the moment, has anyone seen anything?

If he is there I'd like us to attack your big midfield with pace and a bit of guile using blindside wingers and forwards in midfield

by funnyExiledScot Wed Nov 16, 2011 3:52 pm

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:Do Glasgow have enough of an attacking threat to make Leinster give away penalties?

Yes, most certainly. Weir and Hogg in particular have a good eye for space and will try and exploit any weaknesses before them.

Were I Leinster I'd certainly want Jennings involved in this one. Glasgow can make the breakdown a real mess and it'll need a strong ref to stop Barclay and co spoiling Leinster ball. Glasgow will really push that aspect of the game.

by **LondonTiger** Wed Nov 16, 2011 4:21 pm

I voted for Leinster to win with no team getting a BP.

BTW you missed 3 options - Draw with TBPs (3-3, 3-2. 2-3)

by Feckless Rogue Wed Nov 16, 2011 4:24 pm

Leinster need to up their game from last week.

by D24tress Thu Nov 17, 2011 12:27 pm

We really need a performance, we are at home, not an ideal start time (12.45 on a sunday) but we should have a sold out crowd.

We will start with our attacking team, redden and jennings maybe toner aswell. i would really like to see us set our stall at home, 3 wins 2 bp should not be out of the question

by pete (buachaill on eirne) Thu Nov 17, 2011 1:30 pm

I agree D24, we should be looking to really ratchet up some pressure on teams when we are at home.

I have a fear that Glasgow and Bath will do the double on Montpellier if Montpellier lose interest, if that happens I may begin to worry quite a bit.

Anyone know if there is any truth in the McFadden injury claim?

Would like to think we could target them in midfield and McFadden (IMO) has been playing well and I'd like to see him in there to cause them a few problems

by Gibson Thu Nov 17, 2011 7:50 pm

If McFadden in injured, the choice is easy. O Malley to 13 alongside Darcy. I think he will make it his own in time.

Id also start Jennings and Reddan.

I went for 5 pts and 0 for Warriors. It is this time of the year, when Leinster really start kicking in. Specially at home in the HC.
Last week and the Munster game the week before, has more than blown the cobwebs off. Key international players have been re-integrated & are match-fit.

If we don't click, and it's a dog-fight, we could be in trouble against a confident Glasgow team with 5 wins on the trot.
4 pts would be good. 5 and denying Warriors a LBP would be preferable.

by red_stag Thu Nov 17, 2011 7:58 pm

Gibson wrote:If McFadden in injured, the choice is easy. O Malley to 13 alongside Darcy. I think he will make it his own in time.

Id also start Jennings and Reddan.

I went for 5 pts and 0 for Warriors. It is this time of the year, when Leinster really start kicking in. Specially at home in the HC.
Last week and the Munster game the week before, has more than blown the cobwebs off. Key international players have been re-integrated & are match-fit.

If we don't click, and it's a dog-fight, we could be in trouble against a confident Glasgow team with 5 wins on the trot.
4 pts would be good. 5 and denying Warriors a LBP would be preferable.

Agree with everything in this post.

by pete (buachaill on eirne) Fri Nov 18, 2011 10:41 am

Teams being announced today.

Anyone know how old O'Malley is, can't be more than 23/24 can he?
Has he missed the boat?
He is a great player but lived in you know who's shadow maybe a year too long.

Would like to see him and McFadden in the centres.

Toner gets Leisnter player of the month.....it appears there is hope for the big man yet

keep it up Dev

by pete (buachaill on eirne) Fri Nov 18, 2011 12:10 pm

GLASGOW TEAM ANNOUNCED

15 Stuart Hogg

14 Tommy Seymour
13 Peter Murchie
12 Graeme Morrison
11 Colin Shaw

10 Duncan Weir
9 Chris Cusiter

1 Ryan Grant
2 Pat MacArthur
3 Mike Cusack
4 Richie Gray
5 Al Kellock (Captain)
6 Rob Harley
7 John Barclay
8 Ryan Wilson

SUBSTITUTES

16 Finlay Gillies
17 Jon Welsh
18 Ed Kalman
19 Tom Ryder
20 Henry Pyrgos
21 Chris Fusaro
22 Federico Aramburu
23 Troy Nathan

by AsLongAsBut100ofUs Fri Nov 18, 2011 12:15 pm

Happy with that Warriors team - Murchie in for the injured Dewey is actually an improvement imo. Young Finlay Gillies replaces Hall on the bench and Jon Welsh returns from injury - just a shame that Moray Low couldn't do similar. With no Colin Gregor in sight, who will play at 10 if Weir takes a knock?

by D24tress Fri Nov 18, 2011 12:17 pm

Good glasgow team, pity gray is leaving next year, thats a great second row partnership, back row looks strong, but if we start with jennings we should have too much for them at home, both scrums should be even.

If we can get o'malley/mcfadden running at those centres we could cause problems.

A win for us hopefully, but wont count my chickens till its over

by **rodders** Fri Nov 18, 2011 12:18 pm

Leinster really need a big performance here to get their season back on track. That might seem a bit harsh because they haven't been that bad but as the no1 ranked team in Europe you expect better.

Defensively they've looked vulnerable and their attack hasn't really clicked so far. The set piece which was so solid last year doesn't seem as strong either.

They need to really put Glasgow to the sword to show they are still as good as last season.

by geoff998rugby Fri Nov 18, 2011 12:24 pm

Remember Leinster were awful at the start of last season and they didn't do too bad.

Glasgow were fortuante last week.

Only question is will Leinster get 5 or 4 points.
My guess is 4

by pete (buachaill on eirne) Fri Nov 18, 2011 12:32 pm

Welcome back Geoff, good to see ya buddy. Smile

Agree with most that is being said here. It's a pretty good Glasgow team from what I can see and for the injuries they have but would be hoping we get Jenno out and get our attack moving properly. Add to that a bit more defensive certaintly and I think we could do really well.

by red_stag Fri Nov 18, 2011 12:35 pm

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:Anyone know how old O'Malley is, can't be more than 23/24 can he?
Has he missed the boat?
He is a great player but lived in you know who's shadow maybe a year too long.

He's only 22 - plenty of time for him to get there.

by RuggerRadge2611 Fri Nov 18, 2011 12:36 pm

I reckon this could be one of the hardest games to call of the Weekend. Glasgow are on a high at the moment and having already beaten Leinster at the RDS this year they have a very good chance.

Although Leinster always seem to be an entirely differant animal in the HC and could just as easily romp to victory as stumble to defeat.

The breakdown and Line out I reckon will be key. I would also be tempted into saying these 2 key areas are Glasgow's greates strengths.

I'm hoping for a Glasgow 4 pointer but can see Leinster winning with LBP to Glasgow.

by pete (buachaill on eirne) Fri Nov 18, 2011 12:39 pm

I am hoping for a BP win for Leinster but can see a normal win happening more likely.

Agree the lineout will be key and we need to battle Gray with Toner in the air. hopefully Jenno will be playing which would benefit us at the breakdown hugely.

I think the centres is an area that Leinster are going to attack a lot, be it dragging them wide with mcF or releasing runners with short inside/outside pop passes.

by pete (buachaill on eirne) Fri Nov 18, 2011 12:43 pm

PS: Don't think Toner will beat Gray in the air

by **rodders** Fri Nov 18, 2011 12:47 pm

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:
Toner gets Leisnter player of the month.....it appears there is hope for the big man yet keep it up Dev

Irish rugby is like waiting for a bus sometimes.....we've all been scratching around wondering where we are going to find second rows and now Toner, Ryan and Tuohy are all playing out of their skins! Headscratch

by pete (buachaill on eirne) Fri Nov 18, 2011 12:49 pm

Happy days, competition for places will push them all further.
Maybe giving Hines the boot made Toner realise he had to take the finger out and that he could actually be a starting player

by red_stag Fri Nov 18, 2011 12:49 pm

Exactly let nature run its course the cream will always rise Smile

by AsLongAsBut100ofUs Fri Nov 18, 2011 12:50 pm

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:I am hoping for a BP win for Leinster but can see a normal win happening more likely.

Agree the lineout will be key and we need to battle Gray with Toner in the air. hopefully Jenno will be playing which would benefit us at the breakdown hugely.

I think the centres is an area that Leinster are going to attack a lot, be it dragging them wide with mcF or releasing runners with short inside/outside pop passes.

pete, Morrison is, if nothing else, a decent defender and Weir and Murchie are solid units, both capable of putting in the tackles. I'd have thought that Leinster would have more joy on the outside up against Seymour and Shaw?

by AsLongAsBut100ofUs Fri Nov 18, 2011 12:51 pm

red_stag wrote:Exactly let nature run its course the cream will always rise

Aye, but jobbies float too

by Glas a du Fri Nov 18, 2011 12:52 pm

You've missed the double bonus point options i.e. TBP and LBP.

by red_stag Fri Nov 18, 2011 12:52 pm

Its a good thing you need a few jobbies to win Asbo Smile

by Mickado Fri Nov 18, 2011 12:53 pm

Here’s the 23 I’d be hoping to see us put out (IF McFadden is injured):

Healy – Strauss – Ross
Cullen – Toner
O’Brien – Heaslip – Jennings
Reddan – Sexton
Fitzgerald – Darcy – O’Malley – Kearney
Nacewa

Cronin – VDM – White (played well when he came on last week) – Browne – McLaughlin – Boss – Madigan – D.Kearney

Darcy / O’Malley is better balanced than Darcy / McFadden. Fergus has a habit of dropping his head and charging into the defence, which is no bad thing for an inside center, but when you’re not getting much in terms of creativity from Darcy makes the midfield pretty flat. I actually think McFadden/O’Malley would be a good combo, even at this level.

Also, moved Kearney to the wing, he was playing well, but Isa can exploit defenses better when he’s coming from fullback and Rob is no slouch on the wing.

by pete (buachaill on eirne) Fri Nov 18, 2011 12:59 pm

red_stag wrote:Exactly let nature run its course the cream will always rise

Haha you've been waiting to say that for the last month!

I think it is one of Leinster's strengths to attack the midfield, we are one of the only teams of the home nations who run dummy runners through the midfield in such a way that we 'over-load it'. Our wingers and ball carrying forwards are really good at running dummy lines and support lines that make the opposition centres fixed and the opposition fringe defence to drift. Our attackers last year were really good at attacking the same area but from different points and at different times and angles.

The one I always think of is against Munster for the 09 HCUP semi final Rocky went through a gap.
Ball went to Felipe off the top of a lineout and Shaggy came steaming up on his inside and was faced with a Munster forward but coming from deep Elsom managed to squeeze into the gap between Felipe and Shaggy leaving a double inside option.

The wrap is another common one but remember Leinster did a wrap last year against Racing where Sexton fed BOD, Darcy ran a dummy line off his outside shoulder, Sexton over ran the wrap but Heaslip had trailed.
BOD fed Heaslip and the man who had read Sexton's line moved on to Heaslip, Heaslip fed Sexton and the overlap was 10, 14 and 15 against 11 and 15.

by **rodders** Fri Nov 18, 2011 1:01 pm

Mickado wrote: Fergus has a habit of dropping his head and charging into the defence

You've just summed up what I don't like about McFadden and why I don't think he'll ever be a good 12 or 13. The guy plays with his head down, Earls is the same. Both seem oblivious to whats going on around them both in attack and defence at times, hence McFaddens bad habit of shooting out of the line in defence. Both are cabable of making a break but tend not to see support players.

by pete (buachaill on eirne) Fri Nov 18, 2011 1:11 pm

15: Rob Kearney
14: Isa Nacewa
13: Eoin O'Malley
12: Gordon D'Arcy
11: Luke Fitzgerald
10: Jonathan Sexton
9: Eoin Reddan

1: Heinke van der Merwe
2: Sean Cronin
3: Mike Ross
4: Leo Cullen CAPTAIN
5: Devin Toner
6: Kevin McLaughlin
7: Sean O'Brien
8: Jamie Heaslip

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Richardt Strauss
17: Cian Healy
18: Nathan White
19: Rhys Ruddock
20: Shane Jennings
21: Isaac Boss
22: Ian Madigan
23: Fionn Carr

by pete (buachaill on eirne) Fri Nov 18, 2011 1:15 pm

Wow lots of stuff to talk about

VDM instead of Healy
Cronin instead of Strauss
Toner instead of Browne
McL instead of Jenno
Reddan instead of Boss
O'Malley in for injured McFadden (dead leg)
Carr on the bench (no Conway or D.Kearney)
Ruddock and Jenno on bench=McL covering lock

by Rory_Gallagher Fri Nov 18, 2011 1:24 pm

I know O'Malley seems to be a 13 right now, and many Leinster fans would rather see him there, but I would love for him to switch to playing at 12. I think firstly we have enough 13s coming through with Cave, Spence, Barnes, Griffin and hopefully Fitz will move to 13 and challenge there also.

I just think O'Malleys' skill-set would be better utilised at 12. He may be small but he seems very physical for his size and with his amazing feet and surprising strength he is able to break the gainline. The only thing would be if his distribution skills are up to it, and I would need to see more from him to see this. I have been very impressed every time I have seen him, I am more interested in watching him than McFadden actually.

by Glas a du Fri Nov 18, 2011 1:24 pm

Wow lots of stuff to talk about

oh no!

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