Bath vs Leinster DOUBLE HEADER Teams/Discussion

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?
Score predictions?

Full house for Sexton in the first half as well

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

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

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

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

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....

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...

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

Bonus point under 41 minutes

When did Shane Williams move to Leinster?

Fitzgerald is outstanding , Earles who ?

munkian wrote:Fitzgerald is outstanding , Earles who ?

Earls the next Irish Centre you mean....

Nobody can emulate BOD

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

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

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.

[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 better off with Ferris

God you havent a clue do you...

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

oh dear

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

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

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

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

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.

Leinster are sublime...!

Just been announced that the attendance is 47'000.

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

Bath are a bunch of sshitebags by the sound of it

Apathy and money are the key issues

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.

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

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.

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?

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

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?

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.

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


45 - 20

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

How very inappropriate thankyou.

ob!

Leinster

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

Phenomenal Leinster! Truly class.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

Albeit against two poorish teams, but still!