Glasgow Warriors vs Leinster - game 5, pool 3, Heino

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Pos Team Pl W D L Pts
1 Leinster Rugby 4 3 1 0 16
2 Glasgow Warriors4 2 1 1 10
3 Bath Rugby 4 1 0 3 6
4 Montpellier HRC 4 0 2 2 6

Leinster will be keen to ensure a home fixture for the quarters with two wins in the final matches, but Glasgow are first up to stand in their way. Taught a lesson at the RDS, hopefully the Warriors will be keen to exact some revenge at Firhill, with the lure of going thru as a best qualifier for the first time ever to the quarters (or at least ensuring an Amlin Cup QF spot)

On the (very limited) upside, looks like Gray and Big Al are carrying some decent form into the Six Nations.

George Carlin wrote:On the (very limited) upside, looks like Gray and Big Al are carrying some decent form into the Six Nations.

+1, GC, thought the Weegie front 5 put in an excellent shift

IBD, if we don't go with Weir, then who do we go with? Jackson? - injured, and flakey; Laidlaw? - think we might need him at scrumhalf; Parks? - I'd rather eat my own faeces; (good)Godman? - I'd rather eat Parks' faeces

So, for Glasgow to reach the Amlin last eight they will need to beat Bath away and hope that Munster beat Northampton at FG, and Scarlets falter in France to Max Evans’ Castres on Saturday night - tall order?

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:

George Carlin wrote:On the (very limited) upside, looks like Gray and Big Al are carrying some decent form into the Six Nations.

+1, GC, thought the Weegie front 5 put in an excellent shift

IBD, if we don't go with Weir, then who do we go with? Jackson? - injured, and flakey; Laidlaw? - think we might need him at scrumhalf; Parks? - I'd rather eat my own faeces; (good)Godman? - I'd rather eat Parks' faeces

I think its got to be laidlaw. We have enough decent options at scrumhalf that he can slot in elsewhere.

TJ-I didnt see him challenge the defence at all, wether with passes or running.

I must say when I was watching it yesterday I was far more concerned about Cusiter's performance than I was about Weir. Weir was pretty average, he can play better but he was by no means poor. Cusiter had a stinker, and Gregor made a huge difference when he came on. Whilst Cusiter was slow and laboured, Gregor was sharp and creative, constantly trying to make things happen and attacking unconventional channels. The amount of times Weir had to catch the ball a metre above his head was unforgivable - I think he did well to catch some of those.

The plus side as noted above was the Glasgow front five. It was the best performance I've ever seen from Kalman, I thought Welsh scrummaged very well indeed (hinting that he may well be the successor to Jacobsen after all) and all three locks were superb (cracking re-start take by Ryder as soon as he came onto the pitch). Dougie Hall even made an impact when he came on, and I never thought I'd see the day.

On the negative side I don't think Stuart Hogg is a centre, and I've no idea what he was doing for the first Leinster try. Yes, Kearney had the momentum, but Hogg frankly chickened out there (nothing to do with the bounce), and that's not a hugely redeeming trait for a player tipped to be an international fullback.

Another observation for me was something about Rob Harley. Yes, he's a workhorse and a tackling machine, but he isn't actually that effective yet in the tackle. Brings his man down fine, but what he needs to do more of is knock his man back and compete for the ball. He also needs to become a far more effective ball carrier to be an international 6. Not just taking it up a yard or two and setting it up, but hammering into the opposition, getting the leg drive going and looking for that all important offload. Simply slowing down the tide of opposition attacks isn't good enough for an international 6, you've got to be capable of reversing the tide and dragging your side forward. Players like Ferris, Lydiate, Zanni and Bonnaire won't be patting themselves on the back for simply making lots of tackles, they have to be good tackles, backed up by turnovers and influential carries. Players like Rocky Elsom and Jerome Kaino are setting the bar, and whilst Rob Harley has made a huge amount of progress in a season and a half, there's a lot still to work on. I used to say the same about Kelly Brown until he became a much better ball carrier. I think it's too soon for Harley to make the 1st squad.

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:So, for Glasgow to reach the Amlin last eight they will need to beat Bath away and hope that Munster beat Northampton at FG, and Scarlets falter in France to Max Evans’ Castres on Saturday night - tall order?

Was Max Evans playing for Castres at the weekend, didn't notice him if he was. I think the backline is becoming a real worry now. We haven't got any nailed on starters in any position apart from NDL at 13. Whilst we're spoilt for choice in the pack, there now isn't a single form winger in Scotland (which won't help our finishing), Hogg has been mucked about and slung into the 13 jersey, where he performed poorly, and Weir is putting in some pretty average stuff at 10 right now. Laidlaw at 10 is being suggested and I have no real beef with that, but that surely puts Mike Blair at 9 (doesn't fill me with much confidence that we'll get any quick ball). On Cusiter's passing yesterday the ball will just shoot right over Laidlaw's head - we'd need a taller stand-off to play with Cusiter.

I missed the Edinburgh game on Friday night - any particularly good news in the backs. How did Matt Scott get on?

funnyExiledScot wrote:

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:So, for Glasgow to reach the Amlin last eight they will need to beat Bath away and hope that Munster beat Northampton at FG, and Scarlets falter in France to Max Evans’ Castres on Saturday night - tall order?

Was Max Evans playing for Castres at the weekend, didn't notice him if he was. I think the backline is becoming a real worry now. We haven't got any nailed on starters in any position apart from NDL at 13. Whilst we're spoilt for choice in the pack, there now isn't a single form winger in Scotland (which won't help our finishing), Hogg has been mucked about and slung into the 13 jersey, where he performed poorly, and Weir is putting in some pretty average stuff at 10 right now. Laidlaw at 10 is being suggested and I have no real beef with that, but that surely puts Mike Blair at 9 (doesn't fill me with much confidence that we'll get any quick ball). On Cusiter's passing yesterday the ball will just shoot right over Laidlaw's head - we'd need a taller stand-off to play with Cusiter.

I missed the Edinburgh game on Friday night - any particularly good news in the backs. How did Matt Scott get on?

No. Thought Matt Scott was ok/unspectacular at the weekend

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:So, for Glasgow to reach the Amlin last eight they will need to beat Bath away and hope that Munster beat Northampton at FG, and Scarlets falter in France to Max Evans’ Castres on Saturday night - tall order?

Was Max Evans playing for Castres at the weekend, didn't notice him if he was. I think the backline is becoming a real worry now. We haven't got any nailed on starters in any position apart from NDL at 13. Whilst we're spoilt for choice in the pack, there now isn't a single form winger in Scotland (which won't help our finishing), Hogg has been mucked about and slung into the 13 jersey, where he performed poorly, and Weir is putting in some pretty average stuff at 10 right now. Laidlaw at 10 is being suggested and I have no real beef with that, but that surely puts Mike Blair at 9 (doesn't fill me with much confidence that we'll get any quick ball). On Cusiter's passing yesterday the ball will just shoot right over Laidlaw's head - we'd need a taller stand-off to play with Cusiter.

I missed the Edinburgh game on Friday night - any particularly good news in the backs. How did Matt Scott get on?

No. Thought Matt Scott was ok/unspectacular at the weekend

+1

Once again it was the Edinburgh Backrow that stole the show.

Missed this one unfortunately. Good result for Leinster.

Any standout performances from a Leinster point of view? How did the centres go?

McFadden was pretty sharp, as was Rob Kearney at the back. Sexton played a pretty smart game as well, and you had the usual strong carrying performances from Healy, Cronin and SOB. Cronin was named MOTM, which I thought was a good call.

I thought the Leinster scrummage would be better than it was.

not very well. mc fadden did ok but darcy was pretty anonymous.

i know he has lost pace but he does not do himself any favours. always seems to be static when he receives the ball. runs like a nfl running back although 80% slower. doesnt have the burst of acceleration off the mark to make yards. cronin stood at 12 in a few attacks and made serious yards

been a very good player over the years but simply past his best.

funnyExiledScot wrote:

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:So, for Glasgow to reach the Amlin last eight they will need to beat Bath away and hope that Munster beat Northampton at FG, and Scarlets falter in France to Max Evans’ Castres on Saturday night - tall order?

Was Max Evans playing for Castres at the weekend, didn't notice him if he was. I think the backline is becoming a real worry now. We haven't got any nailed on starters in any position apart from NDL at 13. Whilst we're spoilt for choice in the pack, there now isn't a single form winger in Scotland (which won't help our finishing), Hogg has been mucked about and slung into the 13 jersey, where he performed poorly, and Weir is putting in some pretty average stuff at 10 right now. Laidlaw at 10 is being suggested and I have no real beef with that, but that surely puts Mike Blair at 9 (doesn't fill me with much confidence that we'll get any quick ball). On Cusiter's passing yesterday the ball will just shoot right over Laidlaw's head - we'd need a taller stand-off to play with Cusiter.

I missed the Edinburgh game on Friday night - any particularly good news in the backs. How did Matt Scott get on?

FES - as ever, I agree.

My real worry with there being no obvious backline is that rather than using this as an excuse to be experimental, Robinson will do the reverse and claim that nobody has made a case for disturbing his usual status quo. I am really terrified about that, actually. When I think of the World Cup squad, I can't help but flick to the definition of madness being to repeat the same actions over and over again and expecting a different result.

My preference, in terms of approach, is quite conventional. Where there is no overall theme for the backs, then Robinson needs to pick the best player and build the team around them. That's Laidlaw at 10, and with DeLuca at 13 then it still makes sense to play Scott or King at 12 if you're even hoping to score tries in open field, playing what's in front of you. I am a big fan of Slamont but for all his go-forward he will never be an effective link man of the kind that brings heads-up continuity to a backline. My only problem is at 9, therefore (let's not waste Laidlaw here, we need him desparately at 10). I cannot bring myself to put Blair and his ice-age ball in the shirt because he doesn't deserve it and so I would still have Cuss as he's definitely been our best on average this season and he is pretty flexible in terms of halfback companions, I would think (he and Hodgeson on the NZ Lions tour worked brilliantly).

This would make my backline something like:

9. Cusiter
10. Laidlaw
11. Max Evans
12. King
13. Du Luca
14. Ansbro
15. Ramont

Oh lord.

Reddan had a poor game too. I don't think we would have won if Boss didn't come on when he did. He had a great impact.

I think Ansbro and King are injured, and assuming Jackson is also out. Makes it even harder.

After the weekend I'd probably go with the following:

9.Blair
10.Laidlaw
11.Evans
12.S Lamont
13.NDL
14.R Lamont
15.Hogg

20.Weir 21.Scott (we need to get him in the squad) 22.Jones

I'm not really convinced and have a bunch of question marks over my own selections.

Feckless Rogue wrote:Reddan had a poor game too. I don't think we would have won if Boss didn't come on when he did. He had a great impact.

Agreed. In fact both Reddan and Cusiter looked sluggish, and both sides benefitted greatly from changes at scrum half. Boss and Gregor were just sharper and more inventive at the base, and it was a great tackle by Boss on Beattie, holding onto him long enough to convince Owens he was held, that effectively denied Glasgow a late chance at levelling the match, plus he was on hand to score the winning try.

fES, don't think we could go too far wrong with your selection myself, but sadly i doubt very much that it is what we will see from Robbo - i.e. you appear to be missing the names Morrison, Parks, WCP and Webster and Southwell from your teamsheet!!

Feckless Rogue wrote:Reddan had a poor game too. I don't think we would have won if Boss didn't come on when he did. He had a great impact.

Its weird and True. And its the opposite at home - where Reddan really fires us up and we blow teams away. Joe really has formed disctinct Home & Away teams to suit his purpose.

Its the 2 different game plans that change the effectivity of both players, imo. Boss is better at the down and durty. Reddan flies when we open up and attack.

Love this from the Indo:

(Schmidt) ... did not seem unduly perturbed, by the sight of Jonathan Sexton hobbling for most of the match after rolling over on his left ankle, thus handing the kicking duties to Fergus McFadden, who landed four from four to augment tries by Rob Kearney and Isaac Boss, as well as a penalty by Sexton.

“I think a little later on he stepped on Jamie Heaslip’s boot and rolled it again. Then he was hobbling and he’s grumpy. The other boys have to play a little bit harder when Johnny gets grumpy so it’s not a bad thing.”

He still controlled the game - on one leg.

I thought Leinster were rubbish yesterday.

Gibbo, you say Schmidt has a "home" and "away" team. It's the same team, they are just rubbish away from D4. I was really disappointed with the performance. Say what you like about this team, but it is at the moment average to good. Harsh I know, but a good team will at least put in some sort of performance away from home. A GREAT team will play THEIR way wherever they are - home or away. Leinster allowed themselves to be sucked into a slow Glasgow game. We saw none of the off-loading, soft hands passing etc etc that was on display against Bath. You may say Bath were poor that day, but Leinster didn't allow them to bew anything other than poor - just like Ulster on Friday night.

In my opinion, Reddan must now be 3rd or even 4th in the pecking order for SH in the green jersey. Murray is playing well; even TOL put in a better shift than his form recently has been; Stringer for Sarries gave an object lesson in good SH play in the 20 minutes he played for Sarries - his speed to the rucks and passes out of rucks was superb.

Heaslip is practically anonymous on the field of play at the moment. I know Shane Jennibngs is one of your favourite players, but I am praying that he retires soon, please God, very soon ...

Cronin deserved MOTM. He was the only Leinster player who seemed interested.

Jez Kia, tell us what you really think?!

Rubbish? This is a team that haven't lost a game since September. That are 1st seeds in the HC as things stand. Perhaps they didn't put 7 tries on the board this week, but no team has ever played like that in defence of the HC, even the great Toulouse and Munster teams never put in performances like that week after week, and they certainly never won the cup having won all of their pool games either. This was a smart game from Leinster, we were lacking in precision, but 4 or 5 years ago we would have lost this game, as well as the Montpellier and Bath games. We're not losing these days because we are a good side.

Woooah Kia! Chill yer brogues pal.

We dont and have not - played the same teams home and away.FACT. We near did yesterday and I dont think he'll be doing it again soon.

As for our performance, when compared to Munster (who have scraped-by in 5 of 5) at least we try to play rugby in the process.


I do agree, however, that we should be beating teams up, attacking more - Home AND Away. He's building towards that. He has brought so many Academy players through during it. Like O Malley and Madigan. Brought McFadden and Cronin sucessfully to the fore. It a bigger picture which is bearing rich fruit for the future. Remember that. But the Away game plan will have to change 1st. As for Jennings, we'd have lost that yesterday without him. He does all the durty wurk in games like that. Hes not Wally or SOB. Hes a 7.

Reddan had a bad day at the office yesterday. Its the 1st bad one in ages. He has been the best SH in Ireland up to that. Soooo. Baby and bath-water?

Real Champions grind-down determined home teams and come away with 4 pts. We did that and are in the QF's. Now, to thrash Montpellier at home and get Top Seeds. And, we will.

I saw Munster and Ulster over the weekend but didn't get to see Leinster (it's what life throws at you!)

Anyway, can't legitimately comment on a game I didn't see but I'd assume Schmidt and his side are smart enough to be reining in "the off-loading, soft hands passing" game for now. They've done the business and you don't want to give too much to future opposition in the QFs or beyond by continuously showing your A-Game in bright, Hollywood-sparkle, glitterball fashion when it's not required.

You do (always show it) and you won't intimidate the teams that are coming your way. You do (always show it) and you will give them unending footage of your best game and ample time to plot its downfall. So for me, there is little point in flashing the potential everytime you appear on the field.

That's just my reading of scoreline and opinions I've been hearing on the game, and on the idea that Cronin "was the only player who seemed interested". If Leinster look disinterested in HC, it's a fair bet it could be a ruse.

Fly, so that would be like the D4 lassies keeping their skirts down then?

Gibson wrote:Woooah Kia! Chill yer brogues pal.

We dont

As for our performance, when compared to Munster (who have scraped-by in 5 of 5) at least we try to play rugby in the process.

Woa woa woa there mo Chara - leave us Turnipmunchers out of this. Some of us think 10 man rugby is a thing of beauty and the rolling maul when used effectively is like watching rugbylesbianporn <largebottleoftheshelf>

Mickado wrote:Jez Kia, tell us what you really think?!

Rubbish? This is a team that haven't lost a game since September. That are 1st seeds in the HC as things stand. Perhaps they didn't put 7 tries on the board this week, but no team has ever played like that in defence of the HC, even the great Toulouse and Munster teams never put in performances like that week after week, and they certainly never won the cup having won all of their pool games either. This was a smart game from Leinster, we were lacking in precision, but 4 or 5 years ago we would have lost this game, as well as the Montpellier and Bath games. We're not losing these days because we are a good side.

That is what has intrinsically changed at Leinster. We always played sexy-rugby. But, we lacked the nous to fight it out up-front, on a grungy pitch, to a team that wanted to slow us down and beat US up.
That change started away v Quins, in the Blood-gate game. And we have never looked back since. I credit Cheika and Gibbes for that.

KiaRose wrote: Gibbo, you say Schmidt has a "home" and "away" team. It's the same .

You lose credibility by making the above statement as it is clear to anyone who follows Leinster rugby that they do have an away and a home team. Jsut look at the teams they have been putting out all year and it is obvious

Read something on a blog this morning, think it was "Harpin on rugby" where he said that Firhill is one of the narrowest pitches in the HC, and yet Sexton played the crossfeild kick whenever it was on, resulting in Kearney's try. Glasgow couldn't have been expecting him to play it so frequently, so at least we're keeping teams guessing and we're difficult to figure out. Smert.

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:fES, don't think we could go too far wrong with your selection myself, but sadly i doubt very much that it is what we will see from Robbo - i.e. you appear to be missing the names Morrison, Parks, WCP and Webster and Southwell and Danielli from your teamsheet!!

Corrected that Asbo

BlueMuff wrote:

Gibson wrote:Woooah Kia! Chill yer brogues pal.

We dont

As for our performance, when compared to Munster (who have scraped-by in 5 of 5) at least we try to play rugby in the process.

Woa woa woa there mo Chara - leave us Turnipmunchers out of this. Some of us think 10 man rugby is a thing of beauty and the rolling maul when used effectively is like watching rugbylesbianporn <largebottleoftheshelf>

BlueMuff wrote:

Gibson wrote:Woooah Kia! Chill yer brogues pal.

We dont

As for our performance, when compared to Munster (who have scraped-by in 5 of 5) at least we try to play rugby in the process.

Woa woa woa there mo Chara - leave us Turnipmunchers out of this. Some of us think 10 man rugby is a thing of beauty and the rolling maul when used effectively is like watching rugbylesbianporn <largebottleoftheshelf>

Sorry Blue. Kia loves Munster soo ... yeah... Be magnanimous in the face of attack, roysh? I shouldn't have said it. FAIL Gibbo.

Munster are great altogether. Best team in Ireland. Behind Leinster and Ulster.

Jeebus

Sexton is varying his game so well now. That was a very tight pich and he controlled and won the game on it.

He's learned a lot from ROG - in fairness. And Schmidt.

Mickado wrote:Jez Kia, tell us what you really think?!

Rubbish? This is a team that haven't lost a game since September. That are 1st seeds in the HC as things stand. Perhaps they didn't put 7 tries on the board this week, but no team has ever played like that in defence of the HC, even the great Toulouse and Munster teams never put in performances like that week after week, and they certainly never won the cup having won all of their pool games either. This was a smart game from Leinster, we were lacking in precision, but 4 or 5 years ago we would have lost this game, as well as the Montpellier and Bath games. We're not losing these days because we are a good side.

Munster are 2nd seeds and they are rubbish

Another ruse by the Munster guys, to be sure, to be sure. At this rate of going, both Munster and Leinster will arrive at the QFs as mysterious dark horses.

SOB is a 7 though. It is where he plays currently for Ireland and where his future will lie with both Leinster and Ireland. No point denying it, and no point saying he isn't. He was brilliant at the breakdown and has been for a while now. Just because he is also a fantastic ball carrier doesn't make him not a 7. He wears the 7 jersey. He is a 7. Simple.

Its not simple Rory. Wearing the number, doesn't give the wearer the divine right and guile to deserve it. He's a 6, who Kidney wants to turn into a 7. He's too good to leave out of the backrow. And 1F is so good at 6.... Ergo.

I think he'd make a great 8 also. But Ireland need to unearth a decent 7. Check the RWC. Dom Ryan. I hope.

Dom Ryan? Don't see it myself so far. And yes it is that simple, SOB is Ireland's 7, and to me our prime 6s would be Ferris and POM before SOB. A 6 needs to do the donkey work and make the hard yards. I don't think that is what SOB is best at. He is best taking the ball at pace, being a support player, and his breakdown skills are so underrated it is ridiculous. He is marked more than ever, his runs are not as effective as they once were. And he played brilliantly no matter what number was on his back. Now however he is settling at 7. He is best there IMO.

Also just to add, if some of the turnovers SOB has made were made by the likes of Warburton, McCaw, Pocock etc they would be applauded for being such good fetchers. SOB is starting to do this more consistently, and he is developing into the 7 role brilliantly. The same thing people want Ryan to learn from Jennings on how to be a fetching 7, is exactly what SOB is learning. You can see it every time he plays. The added bonus is he offers so much more.

O'Brien has always been excellent at the breakdown. People are just noticing it now because he's not making 90m per game this season.

Rory, Gibbo et al.

I think you do a great disservice to Chris Henry who has been a revelation at 7 this season and should be considered for a place in the squad.

Henry is fantastic and must be in the 6 nations squad. But he is behind SOB, that isn't a disservice to him, SOB is just a world class player. Also Mickado I agree with you, SOB does need a little more consistency in terms of penalties he gives away, but he is always is a nuisance at the breakdown (and everywhere else he is). Our flanker partnership of Ferris and SOB I hope is one that will last a long time, and I believe it will.

Im afraid the best of all 3 - Ferris, is on an Indian-Summer, career-wise. We are blessed to have him. True World Class, fully proven at the RWC. But, that knee wont hold out for years. I pray it does but...

Well if it doesn't there is POM as back-up. SOB can stay right where he is best at.

WTF did Lineen not start with Nathan in the centre and Hogg at FB with Lamont on the wing. Felt sorry for Tommy Seymour as he was in space on a few occasions and basically was ignored esp. by Hogg late in the game. Lamont would have kicked his arse for that - or at least sent a cheeky tweet ! At least the forwards made a game of it - apart from Beattie fannying about in possession in front of the posts. Bleedin depressing. We were going to go down to Bath on Friday but feck that now. We can't even get into the soddin Amlin now so we ain't going. Big bloody huff !!!

C21st, theoretically the Warriors still could, all is not lost - TBP in Bath, nae problem

geoff998rugby wrote:

KiaRose wrote: Gibbo, you say Schmidt has a "home" and "away" team. It's the same .

You lose credibility by making the above statement as it is clear to anyone who follows Leinster rugby that they do have an away and a home team. Jsut look at the teams they have been putting out all year and it is obvious

OK, I have looked at the teams Leinster have been putting out.

I will only consider HEC matches as the Pro-12 is a different competition and coaches often have to rest their Ireland players due to the match restrictions;

Games 1, 3, 5 were away and 2, 4 home.

In their 5 HEC games to date

Positions 15, 10, 3, 4 and 8 were constant
R Kearney has played 15;
J Sexton has played 10 (twice substituted by I Madigan at 61 & 59 mins. resp., both home games)
M Ross has played 3 (Subbed in all by N White at 62, 57, 63, 65, 66 mins. resp.)
L Cullen has played 4 (Subbed by K MacLaughlin (game 4) at 59 mins & D Browne (game 5) at 73 mins)
J Heaslip has played 8;

Variations in the backs:

I Nacewa has played 14 in games 1,2,3,4 (2 away & 2 home) and D Kearney in the 5th game.
G D’Arcy has played 12 in games 1,2,3,5 (3 away & 1 home); F McFadden played 13 in game 4 (Home)
F Mc Fadden has played 13 in the away games; Eoin O’Malley in the home games
L Fitzgerald has played 11 in games 1,2,3,4 (2 away & 2 home) and was injured for the 5th game; I Nacewa played 11 in game 5.
I Boss started at 9 in games 1 & 3 (Away); Eoin Reddan started at 9 in games 2,4,5 (2 home, 1 away); except for game 4 (ER playing) each subbed the other at about 60 mins;

Variations in the forwards:

H van der Merwe started at 1 in games 1,2,3,4 (2 home, 2 away); C Healy in game 5; except for game 1 each subbed the other
R Strauss started at 2 in games 1,3,4 (2 away; 1 home); S Cronin started games 2 & 5 (1 home, 1 away) except for game 5 each subbed the other
D Browne has started at 5 in games 1,3 (both away); D Toner has started in games 2,4,5 (2 Home 1 Away) and subbed Browne in the other two
K MacLaughlin started at 6 in games 1,2,3 (2 Away, 1 home; S O’Brien in games 4,5 (1 home 1 away); MacLaughlin was subbed by S Jennings (games 1,3, both away) and by R Ruddock in game 2 (home); S O’Brien subbed by R Ruddock in game 4 (home)
S O’Brien started at 7 in games 1,2,3 (2 away; 1 home); S Jennings in games 4,5 (1 away, 1 home); S O’Brien was subbed K MacLaughlin (blood) in game 1 and by S Jennings in game 2; S Jennings was subbed by I Boss (!) in game 4 (Home) and R Ruddock in game 5 (Away)

Conclusions:

25 players have been used (only two more than a match squad); 5 positions have been constant; at least one positional change (and therefore the 25th player to be used) was forced by injury. With the exception of outside centre (13) no position has had a consistent starter in home games and an alternative starter in away games.

OC position has varied between F McFadden and E O’Malley depending on whether the game was home or away.

As only one positional selection has depended on it being a home or away fixture Leinster DO NOT play a home team and an away team.

Quod erat demonstrandum

21st Century Schizoid Man wrote:WTF did Lineen not start with Nathan in the centre and Hogg at FB with Lamont on the wing. Felt sorry for Tommy Seymour as he was in space on a few occasions and basically was ignored esp. by Hogg late in the game. Lamont would have kicked his arse for that - or at least sent a cheeky tweet ! At least the forwards made a game of it - apart from Beattie fannying about in possession in front of the posts. Bleedin depressing. We were going to go down to Bath on Friday but feck that now. We can't even get into the soddin Amlin now so we ain't going. Big bloody huff !!!

I've mentioned this in the Scotland Squad thread but I'll mention it again. I reckon there was a word from on high that Ramont was to get as much time at 15 as possible as well as Barcs getting time at 8 in prep for the 6N...

It's a real pity as Glasgow have always looked so much better when Nathan is on the pitch, especially when he replaces G-Dawg, and Hoggy is much more of a fullback now than an OC, and that's where he made his mark too.

People are complaining about Duncan Weir as well, but when you consider even with TWO 7's on the pitch in Fusaro and Barcs, they still couldn't get quick ball, and the best pass he recieved all day was from Richie Gray, I reckon he's allowed the odd bad day at the office, especially as he has grown into the role of first choice over the past few months! He's very much more than a Parks Mk. II and I hope Robbo gives him his chance in the 6N, because I reckon he could take it by storm if he fancies it!

Oh and by the way, what follows below should not be construed as an apology for my earlier comments.

I sat down to watch the Leinster match in anticipation of some really good rugby. I KNOW Fir Hill is a difficult place to play in (small pitch etc) and also that Leinster have history of coming to grief there, but ...

I was stll expecting something to cheer about, something to enthuse about. There was very little there. So JS kicked some good position and managed it despite the narrow pitch and amde a lovely run in the first minute or so; Cronin made some good runs (wonder where he learnt his rugby basics? ). I am stting here 36 hours after the game and that's about all I can remember of it.

I will accept that you won, even though you didn't play well, and that is a considerable improvement over the Leinster side of not many years ago where they played cracking rugby but forgot that to advance in a competition you had to win your games, even when you play ugly.

I just remember it being a very dull game. My son came around today to watch the various matches we had recorded over the w/e and I told him not to bother watching this one cause it wasn't worth it.

For the record, I advised the same re the Munster game. He thought Ulster were cracking.

UlstermaninGlasgow wrote:

21st Century Schizoid Man wrote:WTF did Lineen not start with Nathan in the centre and Hogg at FB with Lamont on the wing. Felt sorry for Tommy Seymour as he was in space on a few occasions and basically was ignored esp. by Hogg late in the game. Lamont would have kicked his arse for that - or at least sent a cheeky tweet ! At least the forwards made a game of it - apart from Beattie fannying about in possession in front of the posts. Bleedin depressing. We were going to go down to Bath on Friday but feck that now. We can't even get into the soddin Amlin now so we ain't going. Big bloody huff !!!

I've mentioned this in the Scotland Squad thread but I'll mention it again. I reckon there was a word from on high that Ramont was to get as much time at 15 as possible as well as Barcs getting time at 8 in prep for the 6N...

It's a real pity as Glasgow have always looked so much better when Nathan is on the pitch, especially when he replaces G-Dawg, and Hoggy is much more of a fullback now than an OC, and that's where he made his mark too.

People are complaining about Duncan Weir as well, but when you consider even with TWO 7's on the pitch in Fusaro and Barcs, they still couldn't get quick ball, and the best pass he recieved all day was from Richie Gray, I reckon he's allowed the odd bad day at the office, especially as he has grown into the role of first choice over the past few months! He's very much more than a Parks Mk. II and I hope Robbo gives him his chance in the 6N, because I reckon he could take it by storm if he fancies it!

+1 Very nervous that Robbo wants Ramont at 15 and Barclay at 8 - I fear that you may be right on those, but hope you are not. Totally agree on Weir, there's a lot more to come - best if we don't let Toonie or Lineen near him due to danger of over-coaching