Heino Cup Pool 5, Round 6: Exeter Chiefs vs Leinster

First topic message reminder :

Well here we are at the last of the pool games, with lowly Exe (and one or two other results) standing between the current European champions and qualification for the knock-out phase of this year's tournament. Leinster overcame the challenge of the Chiefs back in October at the RDS with a 9-6 victory. Thoughts?

Blimey, what a line up.

But as Neil Clark said in an interview this week "It's just another 15 blokes on the pitch".

Below is forecast for SW England for Sat from UK met office - main danger seems to be travel-related

Issued at - 18 Jan 2013, 12:09
Valid from - 19 Jan 2013, 00:05
Valid to - 20 Jan 2013, 11:00

Although some further slight snowfalls are likely, with 1 to 2 cm of fresh snow in a few places, the focus switches to ice, with sub-zero temperatures persisting over existing snow cover for many areas and spreading back into parts of the southwest towards daybreak on Saturday.

The public should be aware of the risk of localised disruption to transport during this spell of wintry weather

Toulon name strong team. Montpelier name weak one. It's all coming together.

Racing Metro name their U11's...

...starting to fall apart again...

McFadden back to his proper position

Mickado wrote:Racing Metro name their U11's...

...starting to fall apart again...

Doesn't matter a fock as long as Toulon win, and we score 4 tries.

red_stag wrote:McFadden back to his proper position

Because he has a slight knock. He is the form winger in Ireland

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

Mickado wrote:Racing Metro name their U11's...

...starting to fall apart again...

Doesn't matter a fock as long as Toulon win, and we score 4 tries.

Ok so just double checking, Toulon win, no BP for Montpellier, and we win with 4 tries, then we're safe out??

But Mick you haven't factored in Munster or Toulouse

Mickado wrote:

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

Mickado wrote:Racing Metro name their U11's...

...starting to fall apart again...

Doesn't matter a fock as long as Toulon win, and we score 4 tries.

Ok so just double checking, Toulon win, no BP for Montpellier, and we win with 4 tries, then we're safe out??

Doesn't even matter whether MP get a bonus or not. Only possible hiccup is if Toulouse get 2 BPs. Any other result from their game is fine. Highly unlikely to.

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

Mickado wrote:Racing Metro name their U11's...

...starting to fall apart again...

Doesn't matter a fock as long as Toulon win, and we score 4 tries.

Great about Montpellier, really sucks about Racing.

red_stag wrote:But Mick you haven't factored in Munster or Toulouse

Munster not relevant if Toulon win. If they beat Racing with a BP and more or the same tries than us they are 7th and we are 8th. If they don't we are 7th.

Hang on? We can both get through?

Thats great. I was sure it was Munster v Leinster.

How do you feel about another trip to Clermont?

Looks like McLaughlin is going to switch to lock at some point, this really means we should have an open and mobile last 30mins with he and Jenno making impacts.

I am excited.

Lads there's still hope

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

red_stag wrote:But Mick you haven't factored in Munster or Toulouse

Munster not relevant if Toulon win. If they beat Racing with a BP and more or the same tries than us they are 7th and we are 8th. If they don't we are 7th.

We still need either a Toulouse win or a lose by more than 7

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

Mickado wrote:Racing Metro name their U11's...

...starting to fall apart again...

Doesn't matter a fock as long as Toulon win, and we score 4 tries.

Great about Montpellier, really sucks about Racing.

As I said hopefully Toulon will do it for us then Racing don't matter and we have the possibility of 3 Irish teams.

The big thing is can we beat Exeter with at least 4 tries?

Thats what I thought Pete. Leinster are trailing the race.

Still though I expect them the whole season around and I can actually see them claiming silverware in Dublin this May. They're probably a shade better than Wasps or Perpignan.

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

red_stag wrote:But Mick you haven't factored in Munster or Toulouse

Munster not relevant if Toulon win. If they beat Racing with a BP and more or the same tries than us they are 7th and we are 8th. If they don't we are 7th.

We still need either a Toulouse win or a lose by more than 7

Nope.

Toulouse on 18. They need to lose by less than 7 AND score 4 tries.

red_stag wrote:Hang on? We can both get through?

Thats great. I was sure it was Munster v Leinster.

How do you feel about another trip to Clermont?

Don't give a boll1x as long as we qualify. Would prefer "Bloodgate II this time it's personal" though.

Never mind personal. Its also considerably easier to beat Quins than Clermont!

red_stag wrote:Thats what I thought Pete. Leinster are trailing the race.

Still though I expect them the whole season around and I can actually see them claiming silverware in Dublin this May. They're probably a shade better than Wasps or Perpignan.

Careful now Stag!

You are quite lucky that Racing put in a weak team if they hadn't I'd have bet on you guys heading to the Amlin before us

red_stag wrote:McFadden back to his proper position

I actually think McFadden deserved the spot over Isa myself that would have been my call if I was Joe

red_stag wrote:Never mind personal. Its also considerably easier to beat Quins than Clermont!

I would think so. But I could be wrong.....

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

red_stag wrote:Never mind personal. Its also considerably easier to beat Quins than Clermont!

I would think so. But I could be wrong.....

I'm with Stag on that one. Avoid Clermont at all costs

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:

red_stag wrote:Thats what I thought Pete. Leinster are trailing the race.

Still though I expect them the whole season around and I can actually see them claiming silverware in Dublin this May. They're probably a shade better than Wasps or Perpignan.

Careful now Stag!

You are quite lucky that Racing put in a weak team if they hadn't I'd have bet on you guys heading to the Amlin before us

Us? Amlin Cup? Nah your lucky that you got a Welsh team and lowly Exeter Chiefs. Clermont are tough but to my knowledge had never won on Irish soil ever. Another pool you'd have been eaten alive

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

red_stag wrote:Never mind personal. Its also considerably easier to beat Quins than Clermont!

I would think so. But I could be wrong.....

I'm with Stag on that one. Avoid Clermont at all costs

You mean hope someone else will beat them? ...... Home Semi in Toulon take care of them?

Anyway I couldn't give a fiddlers where we end up as long as we make the quarters. (I reserve the right to feel differently on Sunday afternoon)

I like the idea of letting another team knock out Clermont and then going on to beat that team

It's like England have done at previous RWCs. Let another team beat New Zealand (Australia 2003 and France 2007) then go and beat that team.

Or even just have them in Dublin in a home semi that's cool too. They are the only team I really worry about

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:Rob Kearney
Isa Nacewa
Brian O'Driscoll
Gordon D'Arcy
Luke Fitzgerald
Jonathan Sexton
Eoin Reddan

Cian Healy
Richardt Strauss
Mike Ross
Leo Cullen
Devin Toner
Kevin McLaughlin
Sean O'Brien
Jamie Heaslip


Sean Cronin
Heinke van der Merwe
Michael Bent
Rhys Ruddock
Shane Jennings
Isaac Boss
Ian Madigan
Fergus McFadden

Looks weak

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:Rob Kearney
Isa Nacewa
Brian O'Driscoll
Gordon D'Arcy
Luke Fitzgerald
Jonathan Sexton
Eoin Reddan

Cian Healy
Richardt Strauss
Mike Ross
Leo Cullen
Devin Toner
Kevin McLaughlin
Sean O'Brien
Jamie Heaslip


Sean Cronin
Heinke van der Merwe
Michael Bent
Rhys Ruddock
Shane Jennings
Isaac Boss
Ian Madigan
Fergus McFadden

Looks weak

It's the first time all season we have put out our first choice team! Mental thought considering it is January!

Is it strong enough to get 4 tries though? Je ne sais pas.....

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:
Looks weak

Hasn't looked that weak since last season.

If you guys win this Leinster will have absolutely no excuses at all.

greytiger wrote:Is the pitch not covered As - just in case?

no need, P, it drains beautifully - it's next to a sandstone quarry, which should explain why

What do the Exeter boyos think of the team that's been put out by the hosts?

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:
Looks weak

Hasn't looked that weak since last season.

If you guys win this Leinster will have absolutely no excuses at all.

Looks pretty much like the team that we played at the RDS, with Kearney instead of Madigan and Fitzgerald in place of McFadden?

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:What do the Exeter boyos think of the team that's been put out by the hosts?

Given our injury list, no surprises there, Pete Muldowney, Thomas, Dollman and Camacho dirt make it in time, and Sturgess, Alcott and Whitehead were never going to. Reckon we'll give you a game

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:
Looks weak

Hasn't looked that weak since last season.

If you guys win this Leinster will have absolutely no excuses at all.

Looks pretty much like the team that we played at the RDS, with Kearney instead of Madigan and Fitzgerald in place of McFadden?

As well as Kearney and Fitz we were missing D'arcy & Sean O'Brien. That's the last 2 European Players of the season.

3 of them are Lions and the one that isn't is....well Sean O'Brien.

Edit: And that's just the team. Bench was not great either. We had so few fit outside backs there was only one on the bench. And we never used him. Guys like Dave Kearney and Eoin O'Malley who are playing in the A game in Leeds tomorrow would have been useful too.

Even if we'd got 1 try against Exeter last time that would have put us on a par with Munster on tries this weekend

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:Even if we'd got 1 try against Exeter last time that would have put us on a par with Munster on tries this weekend

Aunties, Balls, Uncles etc.

If we got another pen or drop kick in Clermont....... Sure the whole world would be different.

Leinster are a Test team in disguise, Exeter have one fit current international - makes a joke of a club competition. Most of Leinster have played together against the All Blacks - no club side can compete against that level of experience, even a good one like Exeter.
Perhaps the snow will be a leveller.....

The French and English sides in the HC seem to have had far fewer injuries at this stage of the season than some R12 sides, including Leinster who have had a big injury lists to date.

The sooner they drop this farce around the final two sides who qualify, based on who puts out what team because of league demands, the better.

That's not fair RecW. The Rabo are struggling to get more one side into the quarters and the only reason why they have one qualifiers already is becaus a French side went mental in R1.

Recwatcher wrote:Leinster are a Test team in disguise, Exeter have one fit current international - makes a joke of a club competition. Most of Leinster have played together against the All Blacks - no club side can compete against that level of experience, even a good one like Exeter.
Perhaps the snow will be a leveller.....

The French and English sides in the HC seem to have had far fewer injuries at this stage of the season than some R12 sides, including Leinster who have had a big injury lists to date.

The sooner they drop this farce around the final two sides who qualify, based on who puts out what team because of league demands, the better.

Wow! How did you pack so much nonsense into such a short post. Kudos.

D Day

Can't wait. What a tough proposition. I'd say the chiefs are rubbing their hands with glee knowing we're chasing 4 tries. They'll want to take a famous scalp, let alone deny us the tbp.

But it's definitely doable with the team we have named.

Looks like we are going to need more than 4 tries. Leinster it's time to really turn it on.

We need to score 2 more tries than munster, as they have a better points difference than we do

hey ! what s the weather in Exeter please? very bad conditions ?

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:Toulon losing by 16-3 with 23 gone. Wind agains them.

Do we want Toulon to lose? Cant remember

We want tuolon to win and they look like they will lose. Montpellier have basically claimed one of the best runner up spots at this stage.

Lads Montpellier are through so we have to get beyond munster an Toulouse for the last spot

So we have to score one more try than munster is it?

Talk about cometh the hour, try bonus is a minimum and need to out try munster???

Does that mean it's kick to the corner time from the off? Or win the game first and worry about tries later?

Will the management favour an Amlin spot as a minimum or is it Gung ho? What woulkd Leinster fans prefer?