Leinster team to face Montpellier

LEINSTER:

15: Rob Kearney
14: Fergus McFadden
13: Eoin O'Malley
12: Gordon D'Arcy
11: Isa Nacewa
10: Jonathan Sexton
9: Isaac Boss

1: Cian Healy
2: Richardt Strauss
3: Jamie Hagan
4: Leo Cullen CAPTAIN
5: Damian Browne
6: Rhys Ruddock
7: Sean O'Brien
8: Jamie Heaslip

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Sean Cronin
17: Heinke Van Der Merwe
18: Mike Ross
19: Devin Toner
20: Shane Jennings
21: Eoin Reddan
22: Ian Madigan
23: Fionn Carr

Sexton fit and Fitzgerald still carrying the neck injury.

Interestingly Dave Kearney hasn't been kept on despite a good performance in Glasgow and Rhys Ruddock has been handed a start (his first) in light of the news that Munster are sniffing after him. Jamie Hagan is also making his first HC start.

Delighted to see O'Malley back in the center but it's a shame that McFadden has to move to the wing, they are a good center partnership.

Had a quick look at the team Montpelier is expected to start with, and as opposed to some of the previous games (vs glasgow and bath), their big guns should be on the pitch (Ouedraogo, Trinh-duc, Gorgodze, amorosino). Although they have nothing to lose and it's more likely to be a good preparation for the game vs stade fançais next week, they take this game quite seriously as a win agaisnt Leinster would be tha great achievement for them.

Not a walk in the park for Leinster, potentially a very exciting game to watch I reckon.

Not in the same group, but Racing Metro also going to cardiff with a first team (although again probably wont change the outcome of the game but you never quite know with them, they did beat LI away!)

Has anyone a link for this game please?

Hagan starting is an interesting one.

3 NIQs and Strauss will be qualified soon enough.

Anyone have the Montpellier team?

MONTPELLIER team from 15 to 1.

Lucas Amorosino ; Timoci Nagusa, Yoan Audrin, Paul Bosch, Martin Bustos Moyano ; Francois Trinh-Duc, Julien Tomas ; Mamuka Gorgodze, Alex Tulou, Fulgence Ouedraogo ; Mickael Demarco, Drickus Hancke ; George Jgenti, Agustin Creevy, Na'ama Leleimalefaga

bench : Rassie van Vuuren, Juan Figallo, Maximiliano Bustos, Joe Tuineau, Vassili Bost, Benoit Paillaugue, Santiago Fernandez, Geoffrey Doumayrou.

http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/heinekencup/fixtures/team_line_up.php

Jennings should be starting.

This is one for Leinster to escape from without injuries. Montpellier are up for this big time.

Leinster need to hit them hard and early - they need the win. But not at any cost.

Sexton has pulled out so Madigan comes in.

Hi all,

I am out of the country and have just about managed to find an internet cafe! Anyone got a link for the Leinster game on skysports?

Would be really appreciated!

Thanks.

I'll send you a pm pete.

Thanks Feckless much appreciated.

about bloody time someone got binned, how many times were they playing the ball on the floor and coming in at the sides of rucks!

Great start to the game. Montpellier are giving it a good nudge too... even though they are 17 points down already.

Leinster just lost Brown to the bin...! Repeated in at the side i think?

maestegmafia wrote:Great start to the game. Montpellier are giving it a good nudge too... even though they are 17 points down already.

Leinster just lost Brown to the bin...! Repeated in at the side i think?

i can see Leinster getting someone else binned soon.

Tbh I think the yellow card was a bit harsh. Just because Leinster don't concede doesn't mean they have been doing it illegally.

I'm not complaining about his performance, but is it particularly prudent to have a referee in charge of this game who although classed as Scottish was born and lived in N.Ireland until he was of univeristy age, has an accordingly distinct accent and whose nickname is apparently Paddy?

One iffy call in this game and the administrators will have set themselves up for claims of injustice.

anyone else noticed that when players make a tackle they don't release the player?

Nice to see Sexton coming on as waterboy for Leinster - a lot of players would find that demoralising (wrongly) but he's happy to get on the pitch whenever poss.

KickAndChase wrote:Tbh I think the yellow card was a bit harsh. Just because Leinster don't concede doesn't mean they have been doing it illegally.

What are you talking about!!!! They most certainly have!!! how can you not see the repeated in the sides of rucks and heaslip playing the ball on the floor?

gelodge wrote:I'm not complaining about his performance, but is it particularly prudent to have a referee in charge of this game who although classed as Scottish was born and lived in N.Ireland until he was of univeristy age, has an accordingly distinct accent and whose nickname is apparently Paddy?

One iffy call in this game and the administrators will have set themselves up for claims of injustice.

If you use that as a basis for him not refereeing Irish matches, then what's the point in having referees qualified under a certain union (in this case Scotland?) And does that mean that refs that *could* be qualified for 4 or 5 different unions should be unfairly disadvantaged despite only registering under 1?

Anyone can make an argument for this for whatever match - maybe the ref has a personal problem with a team, you wouldn't know.

Controversy doesn't *have* to happen in a good game of rugby, you know ...

nathan wrote:

KickAndChase wrote:Tbh I think the yellow card was a bit harsh. Just because Leinster don't concede doesn't mean they have been doing it illegally.

What are you talking about!!!! They most certainly have!!! how can you not see the repeated in the sides of rucks and heaslip playing the ball on the floor?

Fair enough, I didn't see it that way.

I don't see why, tactically, Leinster didn't just concede something and push back up the other side of the field for those tries they're presumably after. I don't see this result (the win itself) as in doubt, personally.

KickAndChase wrote:Tbh I think the yellow card was a bit harsh. Just because Leinster don't concede doesn't mean they have been doing it illegally.

Brown was penalised twice previously in defence for going in at the side. Third time he was binned.

KickAndChase wrote:

nathan wrote:

KickAndChase wrote:Tbh I think the yellow card was a bit harsh. Just because Leinster don't concede doesn't mean they have been doing it illegally.

What are you talking about!!!! They most certainly have!!! how can you not see the repeated in the sides of rucks and heaslip playing the ball on the floor?

Fair enough, I didn't see it that way.

I don't see why, tactically, Leinster didn't just concede something and push back up the other side of the field for those tries they're presumably after. I don't see this result (the win itself) as in doubt, personally.

agree with your regarding the result, can't see Leinster losing.

KickAndChase wrote:

gelodge wrote:I'm not complaining about his performance, but is it particularly prudent to have a referee in charge of this game who although classed as Scottish was born and lived in N.Ireland until he was of univeristy age, has an accordingly distinct accent and whose nickname is apparently Paddy?

One iffy call in this game and the administrators will have set themselves up for claims of injustice.

If you use that as a basis for him not refereeing Irish matches, then what's the point in having referees qualified under a certain union (in this case Scotland?) And does that mean that refs that *could* be qualified for 4 or 5 different unions should be unfairly disadvantaged despite only registering under 1?

Anyone can make an argument for this for whatever match - maybe the ref has a personal problem with a team, you wouldn't know.

Controversy doesn't *have* to happen in a good game of rugby, you know ...

I think that when the connection is as glaring as it is in his case, then it should be avoided.

Would you be happy with Steve Walsh refereeing a NZ v Ireland match? I certainly wouldn't.

gelodge wrote:

KickAndChase wrote:

gelodge wrote:I'm not complaining about his performance, but is it particularly prudent to have a referee in charge of this game who although classed as Scottish was born and lived in N.Ireland until he was of univeristy age, has an accordingly distinct accent and whose nickname is apparently Paddy?

One iffy call in this game and the administrators will have set themselves up for claims of injustice.

If you use that as a basis for him not refereeing Irish matches, then what's the point in having referees qualified under a certain union (in this case Scotland?) And does that mean that refs that *could* be qualified for 4 or 5 different unions should be unfairly disadvantaged despite only registering under 1?

Anyone can make an argument for this for whatever match - maybe the ref has a personal problem with a team, you wouldn't know.

Controversy doesn't *have* to happen in a good game of rugby, you know ...

I think that when the connection is as glaring as it is in his case, then it should be avoided.

Would you be happy with Steve Walsh refereeing a NZ v Ireland match? I certainly wouldn't.

You have to actually trust the referee is going to ref it properly because it's their profession. And be even more vigilant in fact, because they know silly people like you will be suggesting the above all over the world.

Wow, you very quickly turn a discussion into personal insults.

If what you suggest is the case, then why aren't referees usually allowed to ref their own country?

Eoin O'Malley looking very good

Mon lads finish this off in style.

All the player changes has killled the game a bit.

Mont go for pen. I can understand that. No one wants to be zeroed.

KickAndChase wrote:Nice to see Sexton coming on as waterboy for Leinster - a lot of players would find that demoralising (wrongly) but he's happy to get on the pitch whenever poss.

Yeah BOD normally does it. JS stole his spot! Great way of getting info across from the bench.



Mon Leinster! TBP please.

Good to see Darcy playing well...and I'm telling you Gibson...Madigan will be Leinster and IRish OH by next year.

Madigan is playing well as is O Malley.

Madigan has a long way to go to catch JS, DOD. But, he will challenge him. All good.

Dont see it with O'Malley yet...lots of dancing feet but lots of going sideways...

Great to see Kearney back to close to his best.

Yeah, Kearney is a different player this year. Full of confidence again.

O Malley just needs lots of game time.

Mcfadden, Ireland's next 12 - lets fly.

Gibson I have a feeling O'Malley is going to be your next project alá Jennings....

Healy went off very gingerly - will be a big loss to club & country if it is as bad as it looked.

So, 24 pts should give us 1st seed. Unless, Munster or Ulster...

Nah. Just win lads, just win.



Mon Ulster! Mon Munster!



Believe.

DOD wrote:Gibson I have a feeling O'Malley is going to be your next project alá Jennings....

He is. And he'll make it too. Just like Sexton was and did. So is POD still. He had a great game last night. Im not shallow. I stay Believing.

No one likes to see players injured so hope Healy is ok after the Welsh game of course .

Serioulsy though hope not to bad an injury for him.

Gibson wrote:

DOD wrote:Gibson I have a feeling O'Malley is going to be your next project alá Jennings....

He is. And he'll make it too. Just like Sexton was and did. So is POD still. He had a great game last night. Im not shallow. I stay Believing.

You stay believing? But you have long been a supporter of Keith Earls as Dricos heir no?

Stag!

Anyone know the story with Healy? That scrum went sideways and he instantly grabbed his knee.

Did Browne not see the memo that Cullen is meant to be our second row who gets a rest in the sin-bin? Discipline is becoming a bit of a problem.

Madigan played well. When did Sexton pull out. He was on the team sheet on Friday but was not involved in the warm-ups... they had Madigan and McFadden practicing kicks like mad ages before usual.

Kearney is hitting some great form. Before his injury, the fullback role was to take high balls and have a huge boot. He was very good at that. Then the rules/interpretations changed, less kicking and everyone started running, but Kearney got crocked for last season so was missing. I must say, he is now taking nice lines and his distribution is much improved under Joe. Also, he should be given a crack at long range penalties, he is kicking the ball from the tee quite sweet and has 15 yards more range than any of the others.

I will say however that a 4th try was on the table for the last 20 minutes though they dropped the intensity and precision which was frustrating.

But, that defensive stand in the first half was great. To not concede a try in the game is a better takeaway (I think we have conceded tries every game up till yesterday).

Never seen a breeze like that in the RDS before (probably same as a mild breeze at the sportsground) Kearney kicked some place kicks in the warmup from the opposite 10 metre line and was putting them through the posts and into the south stand.

Leinster overshadowed a bit this weekend by the other provinces but another comfortable win...gee that Montpellier pack is huge!

Such is the high standards Leinster will be disappointed not to get the bonus point but it was another impressive win, never looked like losing.
Heaslip and Kearney were very impressive...Healy was awesome until he went off. O'Malley looked classy and Boss is in great form.

When you look at the players Leinster have to bring in it is scary.

The balance of power has shifted these last two weekends....Ireland are now the dominant force in Europe for sure now.

Anything less than two Irish teams in the final and a GS, and I'll be very disappointed!

I won't be too happy if we get Ulster in the QF. Apart form how well they are playing, it will take away somewhat from our home advantage. It's only a bus trip down the road after all.

I would have even preferred French opposition.

Anywhere I could the tries for the Leinster game and the Munster game?

If we get 2 or 3 of our sides into the last 4 then I'd say we are close to being dominant in europe.

Why doesn't it tranlate to the national side? We are consistently second by all accounts