Bath vs Leinster DOUBLE HEADER Teams/Discussion

by pete (buachaill on eirne) Wed Dec 07, 2011 10:21 am

First topic message reminder :

USING THIS THREAD FOR BOTH GAMES

So Bath went down with a huge fight last week and really put the game to a slightly misfiring Leinster "away" side. Huge performances from Louw and Caldwell in particular and the boot of Barkley giving Bath a lot to cheer about considering the doom and gloom that was felt before the game.

Leinster had a few chances to put the game beyond Bath but didn't take some opportunities they should have. Sexton put in a huge shift which steadied the ship big time, displaying great defence and game management while SOB put in some big carries and great steals.

The game ended 13-18 to Leinster, leaving the pool still somewhat open.

The return game is this Saturday in Lansdowne Rd. Bath fans are expecting the same team out as the injury situation doesn't seem to have changed where as Leinster fans are expecting their "home" team to take the field, introducing the likes of Healy, Toner, Jennings, reddan and O'Malley from the off.

How will the game go?
What are your team perdictions?
What are the vital areas between the teams?
What tactical plans need to be in place for each team?
Will this thread survive without another ROG vs Sexton cat fight? warning

Score predictions?

by eirebilly Sat Dec 17, 2011 6:44 pm

Full house for Sexton in the first half as well

by GunsGerms Sat Dec 17, 2011 6:46 pm

Bout time he showed some promise. Nice lad actually, had a pint with him in krystal recently. (Dev Tones)

by GunsGerms Sat Dec 17, 2011 6:50 pm

Anyone else read the article in the times that said kearndog is shortlisted for next Ireland captain.

by eirebilly Sat Dec 17, 2011 6:51 pm

Yeah i read that on the nt leinsterbaby. Cant believe its true though

by GunsGerms Sat Dec 17, 2011 6:56 pm

Yeah seems an odd one. He is very sure of himself though, don't call him Robnoxious for nothin.

by ME-109 Sat Dec 17, 2011 6:59 pm

leinsterbaby wrote:Anyone else read the article in the times that said kearndog is shortlisted for next Ireland captain.

oh jebus stop witht he D4 isms ffs....

by GunsGerms Sat Dec 17, 2011 7:01 pm

DOD wrote:
leinsterbaby wrote:Anyone else read the article in the times that said kearndog is shortlisted for next Ireland captain.

oh jebus stop witht he D4 isms ffs....

You love it...

by ME-109 Sat Dec 17, 2011 7:01 pm

Great try by Luke Fitz...good to see him back in form...class player.

by Golden Sat Dec 17, 2011 7:02 pm

Bonus point under 41 minutes

by westernosprey Sat Dec 17, 2011 7:02 pm

When did Shane Williams move to Leinster?

by munkian Sat Dec 17, 2011 7:03 pm

Fitzgerald is outstanding , Earles who ?

by ME-109 Sat Dec 17, 2011 7:04 pm

munkian wrote:Fitzgerald is outstanding , Earles who ?

Earls the next Irish Centre you mean....

by westernosprey Sat Dec 17, 2011 7:05 pm

Nobody can emulate BOD

by ME-109 Sat Dec 17, 2011 7:06 pm

No one says he will or can...but he is the best centre we have

by westernosprey Sat Dec 17, 2011 7:07 pm

Earls is much more of an attacking threat than Fitz when on form.

by Artful_Dodger Sat Dec 17, 2011 7:08 pm

As one of Fitzgerald harshest critics here, I think this is the start of him returning to form, hes looking very menacing again and is linking really well with players around him.

His nightmare as far as form is concerned seems to be over.

by munkian Sat Dec 17, 2011 7:08 pm

[quote="DOD"]

munkian wrote:Fitzgerald is outstanding , Earles who ?

Earls the next Irish Centre you mean....[/quote

Good luck with that. You'd be be Wink

better off with Ferris

by ME-109 Sat Dec 17, 2011 7:10 pm

God you havent a clue do you...

by ME-109 Sat Dec 17, 2011 7:11 pm

Too easy...its all between Leinster and Toulouse I think..

by westernosprey Sat Dec 17, 2011 7:12 pm

oh dear

by westernosprey Sat Dec 17, 2011 7:13 pm

Sexton's kicking is amazing. Every kick dead to the centre of the posts.

by westernosprey Sat Dec 17, 2011 7:19 pm

Didn't Bath had some sort of European pedigree once upon a time?

by munkian Sat Dec 17, 2011 7:21 pm

DOD wrote:God you havent a clue do you...

Obviously , couldn't have been joking could I. If Earles played for a less negative team he'd probably shine Wink

by SirJohnnyEnglish Sat Dec 17, 2011 7:21 pm

Young Madigan on now be interesting to see how he goes. Been playing well in the rabo

by Rory_Gallagher Sat Dec 17, 2011 7:28 pm

The joke is thinking Earls is the best centre we have when he hasn't even been playing there.. nor has he even got the distribution skills to play centre. I am a fan of Earls, but he has to actually prove he can play well at centre first before ridiculous statements like that can be made.

by maestegmafia Sat Dec 17, 2011 7:29 pm

Leinster are sublime...!

by Artful_Dodger Sat Dec 17, 2011 7:29 pm

Just been announced that the attendance is 47'000.

Really puts Ospreys 7'000 last night into perspective doesnt it.

by 21st Century Schizoid Man Sat Dec 17, 2011 7:30 pm

Bath are a bunch of sshitebags by the sound of it laughing

by munkian Sat Dec 17, 2011 7:31 pm

Apathy and money are the key issues

by Thomond Sat Dec 17, 2011 7:32 pm

Bath are truy pathetic but Leinster have been class. I like the look of Griffen for our next centre. Earls could make the transition but he will need to be playing there consistently. His best season (08/09) was spent largely in the centres. A great outisde break and very good acceleration so you could see why he could be a good centre. His kicking game is improving too.

by Golden Sat Dec 17, 2011 7:32 pm

Kearney seen a serious amount of ball tonight and hes looked excellant

by maestegmafia Sat Dec 17, 2011 7:32 pm

Artful_Dodger wrote:Just been announced that the attendance is 47'000.

Really puts Ospreys 7'000 last night into perspective doesnt it.

If the ospreys played rugby as brilliantly and confidently as Leinster are then i doubt we would have any trouble getting 47000 to watch...

Talking to friends in the area at the game last night I think the cost of the games at the Liberty is also a huge factor though.. We have only managed to all get to a couple of games this year because too many supporters can't afford to go to more.

by Artful_Dodger Sat Dec 17, 2011 7:34 pm

Thomond wrote:Bath are truy pathetic but Leinster have been class. I like the look of Griffen for our next centre. Earls could make the transition but he will need to be playing there consistently. His best season (08/09) was spent largely in the centres. A great outisde break and very good acceleration so you could see why he could be a good centre. His kicking game is improving too.

Griffin is an interesting shout, and one I think I agree with, does he need to move to one of the other 3 provinces though?

by Thomond Sat Dec 17, 2011 7:34 pm

Is it a bit of a chicken and egg scenario Maesteg. i.e if more were going to the games there would be cheaper prices but they have to charge higher as they get poor crowds?

Chicken or Egg

by Golden Sat Dec 17, 2011 7:37 pm

maestegmafia wrote:
Artful_Dodger wrote:Just been announced that the attendance is 47'000.

Really puts Ospreys 7'000 last night into perspective doesnt it.
If the ospreys played rugby as brilliantly and confidently as Leinster are then i doubt we would have any trouble getting 47000 to watch...

Talking to friends in the area at the game last night I think the cost of the games at the Liberty is also a huge factor though.. We have only managed to all get to a couple of games this year because too many supporters can't afford to go to more.

Someone said yesterday they were a tenner? or am i mixing it up with cardiff?

by maestegmafia Sat Dec 17, 2011 7:37 pm

Thormond the prices are apparently governed by a business plan put forward by the Swans and Ospreys with the banks to build the stadium. neither are allowed to reduce prices.

by maestegmafia Sat Dec 17, 2011 7:39 pm

Back to the Leinster game though...! Attwood under the posts, crowd booing the ref for the missed knock on

45 - 20

by Breadvan Sat Dec 17, 2011 7:44 pm

21st Century Schizoid Man wrote:Bath are a bunch of sshitebags by the sound of it

How very inappropriate thankyou.

censored

ob!

by Glas a du Sat Dec 17, 2011 7:52 pm

Leinster

that's me taking my cap off to you in awe.

by Guest Sat Dec 17, 2011 7:56 pm

Phenomenal Leinster! Truly class.

by TJ1 Sat Dec 17, 2011 8:15 pm

Can anyone see past Leinster for the cup? would beat most national teams the way they played today.

by maestegmafia Sat Dec 17, 2011 8:17 pm

Toulouse look the real deal this year too. The two should avoid each other in at least the next round.

Leinster look classy in the HEc and Rabo this year. Very good team.

by Feckless Rogue Sat Dec 17, 2011 8:20 pm

Toulouse or Clermont away would be the only fixtures that would scare me. If we avoid either fixture we can retain the title.

I'd actually love a Leinster v Toulouse final. We've met in the semi's for the last two years with one win at home each. They're the two best teams. Would be a great final.

p.s. Thankfully Alan Gaffney has left our shores. Now can we please try and get the Irish teams attacking play to even resemble Leinster's. Their backs were brilliant today.

by Sin é Sat Dec 17, 2011 8:26 pm

Feckless Rogue wrote:Toulouse or Clermont away would be the only fixtures that would scare me. If we avoid either fixture we can retain the title.

I'd actually love a Leinster v Toulouse final. We've met in the semi's for the last two years with one at home each. They're the two best teams. Would be a great final.

p.s. Thankfully Alan Gaffney has left our shores. Now can we please try and get the Irish teams attacking play to even resemble Leinster's. Their backs were brilliant today.

At home against a poor Bath? Keep a bit of perspective!

That match should be the end of the Geech being next Lions Coach.

Really great to see Luke Fitz back to his best. There is a reason why coaches persist with players like Luke.

by Feckless Rogue Sat Dec 17, 2011 8:33 pm

At home against a poor Bath? Keep a bit of perspective!

That's a fair enough point Sin. But the Irish attacking really has been poor under Gaffney. And the Leinster attacking really has been great since Gaffney left us and Schmidt took over. Even if it is against club sides.

by Thomond Sat Dec 17, 2011 8:35 pm

Gaffney has to go I think Sin would agree with that. I think he is saying Leinster's brilliance is equaled with Bath's woefulness so you don't get a full picture of how good they are. Scoring 50 points in 2 pro rugby matches in a few weeks of eachother is pretty amazing though, I don't rememeber seeing that in the NH for a while.

by Feagh McHugh Sat Dec 17, 2011 8:39 pm

Leinster v Cardiff a few weeks ago anyone 52 - 9 wasnt it?

by Thomond Sat Dec 17, 2011 8:41 pm

Indeed it was. Scoring 50 twice with 2 months is even more astonishing.

by flynnnio Sat Dec 17, 2011 8:41 pm

love to see smidht in charge of ireland. leinster were pure class again. toner could be finally turning into a star. imagine him and paulie in the line outs be phenomenel

by Feagh McHugh Sat Dec 17, 2011 8:43 pm

Albeit against two poorish teams, but still!

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