Leinster v Cardiff teams

LEINSTER:

15: Isa Nacewa
14: David Kearney
13: Eoin O'Malley
12: Fergus McFadden
11: Fionn Carr
10: Ian Madigan
9: Isaac Boss

1: Cian Healy
2: Richardt Strauss
3: Nathan White
4: Leo Cullen CAPTAIN
5: Steven Sykes
6: Rhys Ruddock
7: Shane Jennings
8: Sean O'Brien

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Sean Cronin
17: Heinke van der Merwe
18: Mike Ross
19: Damian Browne
20: Leo Auva'a
21: Eoin Reddan
22: Jonathan Sexton
23: Rob Kearney

CARDIFF BLUES:

15: Chris Czekaj
14: Richard Mustoe
13: Casey Laulala
12: Gavin Evans
11: Tom James
10: Ceri Sweeney
9: Richie Rees

1: John Yapp
2: Ryan Tyrrell
3: Taufaao Filise
4: Cory Hill
5: Paul Tito CAPTAIN
6: Maama Molitika
7: Josh Navidi
8: Xavier Rush

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Marc Breeze
17: Nathan Trevett
18: Sam Hobbs
19: Macauley Cook
20: Michael Paterson
21: Lewis Jones
22: Gareth Davies
23: Dafydd Hewitt

Not wildly impressed but no too miffed either.

Would like to have seen that midfield with Sexton
Would like to have seen Toner and Fitz again -but they have played a lot of games recently.

Seanie at 8 is a good call we should see what happens there and also Isa back at 15 will be good.
Very strong bench.

Cardiff pack is looking good but their backs aren't any mean shakes IMO.
I can see them really missing Waurburton and Roberts.

I think Sexton will get about 30 mins, we'll need him match sharp for next week. Other than that I think it's a class team, good midfeild, good back 3, strong pack. I've predicted Leinster by 19 on Sportguru, hope that doesn't bite me in the hole!

I want to see a big game from Ruddock,he's in a strong pack and has 2 top quality back row operators alongside him.He needs to deliver when he gets the chance.

Ruddock hasn't been to impressive so far this season.

Feckless Rogue wrote:Ruddock hasn't been to impressive so far this season.

Completely agree.
He really will have no excuse tomorrow though, while it isn't a first choice pack it really is quite close. I can see him being used as a secondary lineout option quite often tomrrow too so that will be an added pressure.

I think our bench will win it for us. Sexton, Ross, Reddan, Kearney, Cronin

Really really really pleased with the McFadden/EOM combo in midfield!

on the Ruddock issue with him only having a 1 year contract would Leinster guys be worried if he left next season. As geoff has alluded to ulster will be sniffing around IQ backrowers in the coming months.

I'd be perfectly ok with him going to another Irish team, would hate if he left Ireland.

Think Munster may find a use for him also. Ulster have Ferris. Ruddock wouldn't get his game at Ulster unless he started playing 8 better than he was during the RWC.

Delighted with the backs for this team in general I must say.

We do have plenty of backrowers. If it was a choice between signing one of Ruddock or Ryan and letting the other move on, I'd prefer to keep Ryan to be honest. But people who know more about rugby than me do rate Ruddock as a great prospect.

And yeah, great to see McFadden/O'Malley. McFadden better put his low center of gravity to good use and have a great game. Otherwise his fans (like me) will look silly. We're being accused of over hyping him. We're just saying he's fast and strong and good though. Which he is.

Yeah he needs a good performance. Needs to prove his doubters wrong.

I'd keep Ryan over Ruddock too cos I have a hope that he will turn into our next 7.

i cant see the blues giving leinster too much trouble this weekend. blues are missing some important players but the backline looks a bit more dangerous with sweeney at 10 (i know how it sounds ) but we could end up really missing parks' goal kicking.

if the blues are lucky we might get a lbp

I think it will be close actually until some of the Leinster replacements come into the game

Cardiff should be confident of getting something. They're not far off the top of the league and they're 100% so far in the Heineken Cup. This Welsh international is a bit of a nuisance for the regions though.

Yeah I'd be pretty angry if I was one of the coaches for a region.

Maybe target the Leinster lineout since it is missing two of Toner, McLaughlin and Heaslip who are very good in the air. Maybe that is where Cardiff will go after.

I know Cardiff are missing some starters because of the international this weekend but they are playing a team with;
Sexton on the bench (only have to handle him for at most 30 mins)
Heaslip not in squad (has been playing great)
Mike Ross on the bench (takes Leinster's edge away in the scrum?)
Toner not in squad (not beanpole to avoid in the lineouts)
Darcy & BOD not in squad (one of the most experienced international combo's around)
Shaggy not in squad (reduces the threat of crossfield kicks and Leinster reclaiming their own restarts)
That is a lot of a Leinster side not putting in a full shift so if Cardiff aren't really fancied for a result from this game, then how much further does the Leinster team have to be diluted before they are suppose to challenge for a win.

I think this game might be closer than some are making it out.


I'll also add that 4 of our starters are/were not irish qualified when we signed them up originally (strauss, sykes, white, nacewa)

Blues team is a bit odd...

Don't know why Hewitt has been dropped after a MOTM performance last week - He is a better 12 than Evans (who is a better 13)

Apart from that, the backs are the best we can manage - missing L.Williams, Roberts and Cuthbert is a huge blow though. Im assuming Parks is being rested, we could miss his goal kicking though.


The selection of the forwards make no sense.

Cory Hill (at lock) and Molitika (at 6) have been selected over Paterson who is in a great vein of form at the moment (I can only assume he is being rested) - Im also not sure why Hill is being preferred to Cook - Im assuming its weight based as that was the reason behind not playing Tito in the HC and starting Down. Same with Paterson being considered too lightweight

I think its Ryan Tyrrell's first appearance (bar not getting off the bench a few times) - It will be interesting to see how he goes (again TRThomas must be being rested :/)

Pretorious is out injured again :/ - He has barely played this season, after being our best player last year.

thebandwagonsociety wrote:I know Cardiff are missing some starters because of the international this weekend but they are playing a team with;
Sexton on the bench (only have to handle him for at most 30 mins)
Heaslip not in squad (has been playing great)
Mike Ross on the bench (takes Leinster's edge away in the scrum?)
Toner not in squad (not beanpole to avoid in the lineouts)
Darcy & BOD not in squad (one of the most experienced international combo's around)
Shaggy not in squad (reduces the threat of crossfield kicks and Leinster reclaiming their own restarts)
That is a lot of a Leinster side not putting in a full shift so if Cardiff aren't really fancied for a result from this game, then how much further does the Leinster team have to be diluted before they are suppose to challenge for a win.

I think this game might be closer than some are making it out.


I'll also add that 4 of our starters are/were not irish qualified when we signed them up originally (strauss, sykes, white, nacewa)

We are missing our 2 first choice locks - Downs and Tito, aswell as Deniol Jones - So Hill has his second start. There goes our lineout and scrum.

We are missing our only decent SH - L.Williams

Without Gethin and Warburton we will get mullered in the breakdown - we dont even have the experience of Martyn or dynamism of Pretorious or Paterson - We have 37 yr old Molitika and 34 yr old Rush in the backrow instead.

We have NO decent goal kicker

We are missing Roberts, Cuthbert and Hewitt in the backline - basically all our linebreakers, bar Czekaj who is carrying an injury.



We are playing Leinster away from home - A win would amaze me at the moment.

with the players the blues are missing, I cant see them causing too much trouble (basically exactly as dogtooth said).

Expect Leinster to win by around 10-15 in the end. But will be happily surprised if proved wrong

Didn't realise that you guys were missing THAT many. Hmm yeah I can't see this going well for you guys now.

Particularily after 65 or so when some of our big guns come on. Our lineout, scrum and game management will all get stronger.

Yeah Pete, i expect the blues to battle away and stay in touch(ish). But I wouldnt be surprised for Leinster to hit out towards the end of the game where your quality will really tell against inexperienced or tired legs.

But, I will of course be shouting "BLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSE" at the tv with pie in hand

The biggest showdown for me in this match will be O'Malley against Laulala. I rate Laulala very highly, he will try to punch holes in the Leinster defence all day. O'Malley and McFadden will have their work cut out for them. I guess this will answer the questions over O'Malleys' physicality. Should be an interesting watch.

McFadden has a great chance to show Schmidt that he doesnt need D'arcy. I sincerely hope he does.

Pete

Ruddock would get a lot of gametime up here. Ferris will be looked after as much as BOD is these days in future purely because of his injury profile. Admittedly Munster would be in the running too but i would like to see him in the white shirt.

oh sweet jesus

Yeah that's right Rory didn't think of that, it will be a real test for EOM, hope he continues to to impress us all. It really is a tussle between him and McF for the centre spot against Bath, can't see Darcy not being selected just due to his experience.

I'd prefer to see Ruddock up north rather than down in Munster I think.

Just looking at the front row we are going to have coming on tonight it's going to be a serious impact.

Starting to look forward to this game.
Feckin' freezing today so a couple of hot whiskeys at the game are called for. Apologies in advance to anyone who sits in the grandstand as whiskey usually ups my biased shouts towards the field of play.

Interested to see people fitting Ruddock into other provinces. I was under the impression that Jennings-SOB-Heaslip are the prime starters, McL and Ruddock are fighting for the bench with McL trying to have his ability to cover second row as an extra string to his bow in that head to head with Dom Ryan just behind them struggling for first team squad position. I know injuries have hit him this season but that kind of depth order seemed to be appearing the latter half of last season.
Personally I think D Ryan is the better prospect to Ruddock. Ruddock to me looks like a better second row conversion option as he has a lot of Hines' attributes to his game. I'd prefer him covering that back 5 option role to McL which would leave me trying to ship McL.
Probably a good thing I don't influence any personnel retention policy.

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:
Cardiff pack is looking good but their backs aren't any mean shakes IMO.
I can see them really missing Waurburton and Roberts.

Their back 5 is good but not sure about the front row.

The backs are decent. They'll miss Cuthbert on the wing more than anything I think. There is a couple of good attackers in the backline but defensively they are not so good.

Ruddock had a golden opportunity during the RWC to really put it up to the others, we worked out he is a pretty poor 8 during this time and also that he wasn't great when the team were going backwards.

I like Dom Ryan a lot I must say. Really want to see him in the team more.

It's amazing that we have this depth and strength of depth but Ulster and Munster would benefit more from him and he'd benefit more from either of them too.

Czekaj has been ruled out - Fish starts instead

There goes all our strike runners

theres a good mixture of young and experienced players which is great to see

Leinster 10 - 3 Blues

10 minutes gone - Leinster playing into the wind

Doesnt look good for the Blues

13 - 3

We are really missing Warburton - we need to slow down this Leinster ball!

A 50pt drubbing is on the cards at the moment - not good going into the HC

wales606 wrote:13 - 3

We are really missing Warburton - we need to slow down this Leinster ball!

A 50pt drubbing is on the cards at the moment - not good going into the HC

I agree it's awful to watch...
Looks like their going to have one of those games like they had against Glasgow the other week, when their simply not competing for anything.

Laulaula is having a mare

2 turnovers and completely ignored a player in space then to take contact and lose the ball...:/

Sweeney misses an easy kick :/

13 - 6

But Leinster appear to be off the boil - still killing us at the breakdown though

13 - 9

Blues hanging in there, could have been 13 - 12 if they had been kicking well.

Cant see us doing well against the wind in the second half though :/

I'm so glad Leinster have the opportunity to rest/bench a few key players, at least I'll get to see a pretty much full-strength team next Sunday.

'Mon Barf!

How has the match been lads?

Awful start by the Blues

23 - 9

Dreadful

I'm pretty sure that before I said Dan Fish was shoite, only for Blues fans to disagree with it. Does this game not prove it?

Madigan has been class tonight his distribution is excellent and whenever he puts someone into space hes always on their shoulder looking for the offload.

Carr and healy have been very good as well

26 - 9

Awful

Blues rolling maul almost works - ends up with a penalty though - and a yellow card to Cullen

Blues waste 5 minutes on scrums for Yapp to knock on...

Awful

Ritchie Rees is yellow carded

AWFUL!

33 - 9

Dreadful

Treviso have beaten Connacht in Galway - another fantastic result for the Italians who are starting to pick up a lot of points on the road. Connacht will be very disappointed however.

Connacht 13 - 15 Treviso

Im torn id really like to see madigan finish the game out but sexton needs game time for next week. Hes been my MOM so far and took his try really well.

Great insight from Shane Byrne - pointing out that Blues for some reason went for a scrum instead of a lineout, despite the fact that Leo Cullen was in the bin (Leinster's main man in the lineout and disrupting mauls) and the fact that Leinster had just brought two fresh props on.

Poor decision from the Blues.

great tap tackle

good try and bonus point - Blues are so disappointing