Scarlets V Leinster 20/10/12

First topic message reminder :

Leinster Rugby wrote:The Leinster squad trained in UCD on Monday afternoon with the Leinster management reporting no fresh injury concerns ahead of Saturday's Round 2 Heineken Cup trip to face the Scarlets in Parc y Scarlets (KO: 1.35pm)...

Fergus McFadden, Richardt Strauss and Heinke van der Merwe all required stitches for head wounds following Saturday’s 9-6 victory over Exeter, but all three players are expected to take a full part in training this week.
Leo Cullen and Cian Healy both came through their respective comebacks from injury and will be available for selection again this weekend, while Gordon D’Arcy and Rob Kearney are also likely to be available for selection.

In a further fitness boost, international scrum-half Isaac Boss successfully came through the last half hour of Leinster ‘A’s opening round British & Irish Cup victory over Leeds Carnegie on Saturday night following his recent arm injury.

David Kearney and Rhys Ruddock are making progress on their injuries and they have both stepped up their rehabilitations. It is hoped that they could be in contention for the province’s B&I Cup trip to Pontypridd this weekend.

Darren Hudson damaged his shoulder in the closing moments of the Leeds game and the Academy full-back is in doubt for this weekend.

Travelling in Hope rather than Expectation. Hope Darce makes it. From what I heard initially of Rob Kearney's injury I'll be amazed if he even benches. They are all undercooked anyway.

Only positive I can see is thatwe know the Scarlets pretty well at this stage.

If they lose they are pretty much gone, if we lose we are depending on Exeter to take points off Clermont and Scarlets

Leinster have become known for spanking teams in sexy style in the last couple of years. But they don't always win that way. As Gibson alludes to they're hard as nails and smart as phook too. The 6-5 win against quins in '09. The skin of the teeth win over Clermont in '10 despite being outplayed. The 30+ phase defence against Saracens in '10. The amazing comeback against Northampton in that final. The last gasp defence of the line against Clermont in last years semi.

Coming out on top in so many really tight games is no fluke. We have "pedigree" in this competition, and I think that type of tenacity and experience really does stand to a team in this tournament. No team comes out of nowhere and wins the HC. Becoming champions is a journey that requires the building of experience and developing an ability to get the win no matter what. Leinster have that.

BUT, nobody stays on top forever. And all successful teams eventually fail. And all up and coming teams have a breakthrough win. Whose to say this won't be Scarlets breakthrough moment? Looking at current form I'd have Scarlets favourites. Taking all Leinsters "pedigree" and ability to rise to the occasion into account and being optimistic, I'd still make it 50/50. We're simply not playing well.

15. Liam Williams 14. George North 13. Gareth Maule 12. Scott Williams 11. Andy Fenby 10. Rhys Priestland 9. Tavis Knoyle

1. Phil John 2. Matthew Rees 3. Samson Lee 4. George Earle 5. Johan Snyman 6. Aaron Shingler 7. Josh Turnbull 8. Rob McCusker

Replacements: 16. Ken Owens 17. Shaun Hopkins 18. Deacon Manu 19. Tomas Vallejos 20. Johnathan Edwards 21. Gareth Davies 22. Aled Thomas 23. Morgan Stoddart

The sexist team in it Gibson ? There was me thinking Dublin was a forward thinking city

45-46???

It's a classic!... bring your own defibrillators

The Leinster team is strong. A massive step up from our Rabo opener:

15: Ian Madigan
14: Fergus McFadden
13: Brian O'Driscoll
12: Gordon D'Arcy
11: Isa Nacewa
10: Jonathan Sexton
9: Eoin Reddan

1: Cian Healy
2: Sean Cronin
3: Mike Ross
4: Leo Cullen CAPTAIN
5: Damian Browne
6: Kevin McLaughlin
7: Shane Jennings
8: Jamie Heaslip

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Richardt Strauss
17: Heinke van der Merwe
18: Jamie Hagan
19: Devin Toner
20: Jordi Murphy
21: Isaac Boss
22: Andrew Conway
23: Fionn Carr

I'm a bit confused as to why Damien Browne is in there to be honest. I think our lineout was targetted last week and Toner can certainly help win our own ball and disrupt the opposition throws a bit better. Other than that delighted that Darcy is back and Isa will have to be keeping a close eye on North, i expect the first tackle there to be very interesting!

Strong on paper ...but yet to really prove it this season.

Browne for Toner and Cronin for Strauss are the surprises for me but otherwise as strong as Leinster can be at the minute. Good to see Boss back.

This one is going to be a close call.

This is the biggest match of Leinster's group in my opinion. It is a must win match if we want to win the Heineken cup. In the group stages you can only really afford to lose one match to be guarenteed a home quarter which I think we will need this year to retain the trophy.

I think its fair to say that Clermont will be favorites to win all their home matches and therefore we will probably lose to them in France. For that reason this is a must win game and because Scarlets are at home, have beaten us already there and very good I think it is our most important match of the group stages.

Hard to call this one. losing BP for Leinster probably.

Guns - I would say that this is one of those games that the loser can write off any HEC dreams, there will only be one team leaving the group. Clermont have a good head start on the rest of us, and I can't see them slipping up at Exeter. So it will come down to whoever out of the Scarlets and Leinster (as I have written of Exeter as they needed the win last week) can pick up the win tomorrow, to challenge Clermont.

I'd say Exeter will get a result against ASM. Have a feeling in my waters...

Mickado wrote:I'd say Exeter will get a result against ASM. Have a feeling in my waters...

What the goup needs is Exeter to win by 8+ with no BP, the Scarlets to get a 4 try win, with Leinster picking up a losing bp. That would really set the cat amongst the pidgeons.

ScarletSpiderman wrote:Guns - I would say that this is one of those games that the loser can write off any HEC dreams, there will only be one team leaving the group. Clermont have a good head start on the rest of us, and I can't see them slipping up at Exeter. So it will come down to whoever out of the Scarlets and Leinster (as I have written of Exeter as they needed the win last week) can pick up the win tomorrow, to challenge Clermont.

I agree. It is possible that two teams could qualify but unlikely. This match is without doubt for me Leinsters most important match followed if not almost matched by Clermont at home.

I like the look of that line up. I like Strauss, VDM and Toner to be sprung from the bench to keep the pack fresh. I like Boss to come on if the contest is a tight arm wrestle. But not having Kearney hits our back line a lot. Madigan is a capable replacement. But you need more than solid at this level and Kearney is different class. Also, Carr and Conway ain't game breakers if coming onto the field and could mean a lot of rejigging in the backfield.

The only thing I can say for sure is that Leinster will be closer on the scoreboard than they were in the opening Rabo.

munkian wrote:The sexist team in it Gibson ? There was me thinking Dublin was a forward thinking city

Ja man. Spot the deliberate (since corrected) - mistake.

See ye lot tomorrow in de Barn at Llanelli. I will mostly be wearing BLUE

Creid! Credwch!

Gibson wrote: I will mostly be wearing BLUE

Creid! Credwch!

Aye and the obiligatory D4 Ray Bans

Gutted I can't come along mo chara , but Sarries (Cardiff not Safaracens) duties call. Flights all booked for da Final. So tickets - check. Accommodation - check. Transport - check. Bestest rugby pals - check. Let's bring it on

Gowan de Kairdiff Sarries!

See you in Dublin for the Final, Penfro mate. It will probably be to watch 2 French sides kick the leather off the ball... but what de feic. We´ll have de craic anyway.

Logging off and ready for the trip. Gibbo´s weekend starts here roysh.

Tasman lost today in the ITM, so i persume Goodman will be over soon?

heading planewards

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Tasman lost today in the ITM, so i persume Goodman will be over soon?

Thank God!
Any news on Bent I think he is with Taranaki?

I really hope we try and suffocate the Scarletts, I think they are better than we are in the back 5 but we should have them from 1 to 10.

What time is kick off?

1:30 or so Rory.

Rory just was looking at the Ulster thread there, if Jenno has a good game can you see it being a two horse race for the number 7 with Henry?

It should be Pete, but that is the thing, will either of them actually get looked at? Or will Kidney go with POM?

We all know what Kidney is like now.

Looking forward to this - think it will be very different from the game against Exeter for Leinster. Scarlets will look to attack from the outset so I can see a lot more trys and line break than we had last week.

I reckon the Scarlets could beat Leinster here. I think the D'Arcy-BOD midfield combination is on the wane honestly, and the lack of strike runners in the Leinster back line is critical. Scarlets on the other hand have several in the likes of North, Davies and Williams.

I think the Scarlets backs look better as well Rory, Leinster's pack need a big performance to win this, especially given that its at Parc Y Scarlets.

I would say our halfbacks are better but in the back 5 they are much better than we are. I'd argue we are better in the front 5

Can anyone PM a link for this?

Preistland seems to be coming back into a bit of form in the HC.

Red Right wrote:Can anyone PM a link for this?

You've got mail.

ISAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

The Scarlets are getting rattled......Leinster are brutal at the breakdown...

Atmosphere sounds dead on tv

Attendance looks lower than an Ospreys Connaght match!

Priestland is most likely the worst goal kicker that has every played for Wales.

That's twice Isa got the better of North in the opening minutes, danced round him early on and then up and over him for the try.

Leinster killing them at the breakdown and Isa is unnerving North at the moment.

My God, George North IS human! Couldn't save the try and then a terrible pass and hesitation.

Knoyle's passing is terrible. It's allowing the Leinster defence to rush up and get in the Scarlets face. The Scarlets back-row, again, is not quick enough to the breakdown. Lack of open-side showing once more.

BristolTaff wrote:Attendance looks lower than an Ospreys Connaght match!

Priestland is most likely the worst goal kicker that has every played for Wales.

Slightly harsh to have a go at his kicking when he has missed one by putting it slightly wide from halfway!

(although Halfpenny would have got it 9 times out of 10, but he is a god)

Ol Big George seems to be having a patchy run of form lately...

wales606 wrote:

Red Right wrote:Can anyone PM a link for this?

You've got mail.

Cheers w606. Great stream too.

samson lee seems to be holding his own this far against cian healy

Healy keeps going up and trying to milk penalties from the new guy in the scrum. Ref streetwise to it though.

Treviso are 12-6 up against Toulouse.

Leinster look a different side in this game. Glad to see them play with the same intensity that won them the HEC last year.

Fantastic save by Reddan.

What a moronic desperate decision!

What a waste.

Scarlets been practicing the driving maul, worked very well. Needed to get it over the line though.

North denied a try by the look of it.

BristolTaff wrote:What a moronic desperate decision!

What a waste.

The kick?

Wasn't an awful decision as he was pretty close to getting a try.

And they get a 5m scrum anyway.

5m Scrum?