Leinster v Glasgow Warriors The Semi Cometh

First topic message reminder :

Well boys, here we are at the mid-way point on the rope bridge: who will tumble into the crocodile infested waters and who will march on to Ulster?
Thereplacements bench vs Connacht pretty much tells us who will deffo start, so
1. Grant (British and Irish front row of the season)
2.WeePee ( although I can't put a cigarette paper between him and Hall on form)
3. Angela ( pit mair weight oan that bar!)
4.Swinson (unbelievably consistent this season)
5. Kellock ( if paternity leave is over, Ryder played very well v Connacht but we wont go to a Dublin semi without our spiritual leader)
6. Bluto
7. Barclay
8. Wilson ( the back row picks itself, Harley is very unfortunate but will be on the bench)
9. Matawaloo (furra linee)
10. Ruaridh ( he is the only 10, with Horne and Hogg as cover)
11. DTH
12.
13.
14. Maitland
15. Hogg

The eagle-eyed amongst you will have noticed no centres. I think this is where Toonie will earn his corn, or not.
Horne-Schlong were good on Friday. Schlong was very good going forward, but can he defend against the angles BOD will conjure up?
Morrison- Dunbar would be solid defensively and if Dunbar got the ball could be effective going forward.
Morrison-Messiah would certainly carry some clout.
Dunbar-Horne would be the most attack minded.
Then again 10-12-13 could be Horne-Dunbar-Messiah defending from out to in and forcing Madigan back into the loving embrace of Barclay.
I know games are won or lost in the pack, but if Toonie picks the right centre combination we will win convincingly as opposed to throwing away a winning position earlier in the season.
How many sleeps till the match?

George Carlin wrote:Formula is simple - if a hail mary play comes off, the player looks like a genius. If it doesn't he looks like ten kinds of pink oboe player.

Matawalu has scored 9 tries this season and almost every one has been by chancing his arm on an angle or approach that nobody else in the Glasgow side would have tried.

By the same token, ask any Aussie who watched David Campese hand Ieuan Evans the '89 Lions series what they think of high risk players.

Murs brightens the league up. Mind you, if he's going to make an @rse of any game, then I would strongly suggest the one taking place this weekend.

Who the fock is Murs? More initials like Mfl?

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

George Carlin wrote:Formula is simple - if a hail mary play comes off, the player looks like a genius. If it doesn't he looks like ten kinds of pink oboe player.

Matawalu has scored 9 tries this season and almost every one has been by chancing his arm on an angle or approach that nobody else in the Glasgow side would have tried.

By the same token, ask any Aussie who watched David Campese hand Ieuan Evans the '89 Lions series what they think of high risk players.

Murs brightens the league up. Mind you, if he's going to make an @rse of any game, then I would strongly suggest the one taking place this weekend.

Who the fock is Murs? More initials like Mfl?

Am disappointed in you Jen. Am trying to thrash to death the joke that at the Leinster awards, Madigan looked exactly like Olly Murs in the photographs. Hey ho.

George Carlin wrote:

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

George Carlin wrote:Formula is simple - if a hail mary play comes off, the player looks like a genius. If it doesn't he looks like ten kinds of pink oboe player.

Matawalu has scored 9 tries this season and almost every one has been by chancing his arm on an angle or approach that nobody else in the Glasgow side would have tried.

By the same token, ask any Aussie who watched David Campese hand Ieuan Evans the '89 Lions series what they think of high risk players.

Murs brightens the league up. Mind you, if he's going to make an @rse of any game, then I would strongly suggest the one taking place this weekend.

Who the fock is Murs? More initials like Mfl?

Am disappointed in you Jen. Am trying to thrash to death the joke that at the Leinster awards, Madigan looked exactly like Olly Murs in the photographs. Hey ho.

What's an "Olly Murs"?

Sounds Durty!

I believe it's a type of old German boat...?

"...dating from the Civil War era"

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

George Carlin wrote:

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

George Carlin wrote:Formula is simple - if a hail mary play comes off, the player looks like a genius. If it doesn't he looks like ten kinds of pink oboe player.

Matawalu has scored 9 tries this season and almost every one has been by chancing his arm on an angle or approach that nobody else in the Glasgow side would have tried.

By the same token, ask any Aussie who watched David Campese hand Ieuan Evans the '89 Lions series what they think of high risk players.

Murs brightens the league up. Mind you, if he's going to make an @rse of any game, then I would strongly suggest the one taking place this weekend.

Who the fock is Murs? More initials like Mfl?

Am disappointed in you Jen. Am trying to thrash to death the joke that at the Leinster awards, Madigan looked exactly like Olly Murs in the photographs. Hey ho.

What's an "Olly Murs"?

This arseface: http://www.ollymurs.com/gb/home/

Holy Feck - he looks like a total gnob !

You're just jealous because he has such a high success rate with goal kicking, has a beautiful pass, scores tries AND won the x-factor.

Feckless Rogue wrote:You're just jealous because he has such a high success rate with goal kicking, has a beautiful pass, scores tries AND won the x-factor.

Ah FFS. Now not only do we have to learn nicknames but we have to watch reality tv too? That's the fecken limit now for me.

I dont do Reality TV. I watch porn every weekend.

Glopping happily away to Leinster. And IIIISSSAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

Me keyboard is a roysh mess at this stage.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ahRB-rEH-Q

What a lovely picture you've engrained in my head Gibson

Going to be an interesting game tonight. You'd expect Leinster to win at Leinster, but this is a great opportunity for Glasgow to show exactly what they're made of. Their last away game to a top 4 opposition was truly awful. However, Jackson and Prygos started and remained on the pitch for a long time. Prygos has looked rugby starved in the way he's played the last few games. And Jackson decided to have one of his worst games ever, even for his standards. Such an irritating player.

If Matawalu is starting with either Hogg or Jackson at 10 then I think there is every chance Glasgow can win. But opportunities might be slim so hopefully they can break the Leinster choke tackles and create some matamagic!

I would be happy with a Niko-Horne hinge.

I'm not sure that we can afford to risk Jackson. Either he's the man of the match, or he's playing like a p!ssed hedgehog in a knapsack. One of the most inconsistent players in the modern game.

LEINSTER:

15: Rob Kearney
14: Fergus McFadden
13: Brian O'Driscoll
12: Gordon D'Arcy
11: Isa Nacewa
10: Jonathan Sexton
9: Isaac Boss
1: Cian Healy
2: Richardt Strauss
3: Mike Ross
4: Leo Cullen CAPTAIN
5: Devin Toner
6: Kevin McLaughlin
7: Sean O'Brien/Shane Jennings
8: Jamie Heaslip

REPLACEMENTS:
16: Sean Cronin
17: Jack McGrath
18: Jamie Hagan
19: Quinn Roux
20: Shane Jennings/Rhys Ruddock
21: John Cooney
22: Ian Madigan
23: Andrew Conway


LEINSTER TEAM TO FACE GLASGOW WARRIORS...The Leinster team to face Glasgow Warriors in Saturday night's RaboDirect PRO12 Play Off in the RDS (KO: 7.35pm) has been named... Leo Cullen leads the team for the visit of the Scottish side and he is named in a line up which includes a number of Ireland internationals.
Gordon D'Arcy has shaken off the calf strain which had ruled him out for the last few games and he will partner Brian O'Driscoll at centre.

Isaac Boss links up with Jonathan Sexton (now just 13 points shy of the 1,000 point career mark for his home province) at half back, with Isa Nacewa forming an exciting back three alongside British & Irish Lions full-back Rob Kearney and Fergus McFadden.

Glasgow Warriors team to play Leinster in RaboDirect PRO12 Play-Off, RDS, Saturday 11 May (kick-off 7.35pm):



15 Stuart Hogg

14 Sean Maitland

13 Sean Lamont

12 Alex Dunbar

11 DTH Van der Merwe

10 Peter Horne

9 Niko Matawalu



1 Ryan Grant

2 Pat MacArthur

3 Jon Welsh

4 Tim Swinson

5 Al Kellock

6 Josh Strauss

7 John Barclay

8 Ryan Wilson



16 Fraser Brown

17 Moray Low

18 Ed Kalman

19 Tom Ryder

20 Rob Harley

21 Henry Pyrgos

22 Ruaridh Jackson

23 Mark Bennett

Horne or Hogg goal kicking do you reckon?

Powerful centre combo!

I would say Hogg for the kicking, he seems to strike the ball cleaner but I'd say it's 50/50

It’s not ideal either way for a big game like this – Horne has been kicking a lot this season but has been very inconsistent, and Hogg has barely kicked at all this season but has looked pretty good when he has!

Glad to see Dunbar in what i think is his best position and at least the Messiah is on the bench.

Two biggest selection concerns for me are Toonie's love child Peter Horne at 10 (has he got the temperament and kicking game to control the opening exchanges?) and because of injury to Dougie Hall the really inexperienced Fraser Brown on the bench. A real test for the lad if he is needed early doors.

Apart from Brown its a strong bench. Horne is the key, if he has a blinder we have a great chance, if not then.............

Horne responsible for Ulster's losing bonus in Scotstoun. Massive rarity. Getting a try bonus for Glasgow with 20 points. He missed every kick....At home!

I think Toonie has been a bit foolish by thinking we can out score them in terms of tries as Pete Horne is our best "attacking stand off". We all know about Hornes not so great kicking and Hoggs lack of experience when it comes to kicking. It makes jacksons kicking percentages look very inviting.

It's a high risk game plan away from home against a very good team. High risk high gain. Lets hope it pays off.

O'Brien is a doubt then?

alexgmacdonald wrote:I think Toonie has been a bit foolish by thinking we can out score them in terms of tries as Pete Horne is our best "attacking stand off". We all know about Hornes not so great kicking and Hoggs lack of experience when it comes to kicking. It makes jacksons kicking percentages look very inviting.

It's a high risk game plan away from home against a very good team. High risk high gain. Lets hope it pays off.

It can pay off imo, Glasgow has been winning this season by scoring more tries than the opposition and Leinster defense has been suspect this season, execution and quality of balls given by the forwards will be the key.

I would have Low ahead of Grant at loosehead though as i think he is a stronger scrummager.

Can anyone explain the rationale behind Low becoming a loosehead and Welsh becoming a tighthead this season?

VinceWLB wrote:
I would have Low ahead of Grant at loosehead though as i think he is a stronger scrummager.

Imperialbigdave wrote:Can anyone explain the rationale behind Low becoming a loosehead and Welsh becoming a tighthead this season?

The more i think about it the more i think it's a logical choice, TH tends to be the strongest props and slower around the field, LH are more dynamic, more explosive, if you look at Welsh and Low they fit more their new positions imo.

VinceWLB wrote:

alexgmacdonald wrote:I think Toonie has been a bit foolish by thinking we can out score them in terms of tries as Pete Horne is our best "attacking stand off". We all know about Hornes not so great kicking and Hoggs lack of experience when it comes to kicking. It makes jacksons kicking percentages look very inviting.

It's a high risk game plan away from home against a very good team. High risk high gain. Lets hope it pays off.

It can pay off imo, Glasgow has been winning this season by scoring more tries than the opposition and Leinster defense has been suspect this season, execution and quality of balls given by the forwards will be the key.

I would have Low ahead of Grant at loosehead though as i think he is a stronger scrummager.

Not with Darce and Drico in there.

back row may be somewhere you make hay though. Seanie not well and Kev neither.

RDW_Scotland wrote:

VinceWLB wrote:
I would have Low ahead of Grant at loosehead though as i think he is a stronger scrummager.

Yeah, game against Connacht was a great exemple, Grant wasnt as dominant as Low against the same tiring tighthead.

As good as Grant is around the field, he isn't the strongest scrummager.

The more I think about it, the more this comes across as risky on glasgows part. Hogg has kicked what, 3 goals this season? Horne has good shows with the boot (cardiff) followed by bad (ulster).

Who knows, Hogg might be the next Mossy, but it could go spectacularly wrong.

I can only assume that Stuart Hogg is going to take the kicks. Peter Horne has missed far too many this season to be given the responsibility here.

That said, Horne has shown some really nice touches at 10 when selected there previously, and if Hogg can kick to a reasonable percentage, then Townsend certainly has his most attacking backs on the pitch.

I'm also pleased that Bennett is now ahead of Murchie on the bench. A better impact sub in my view, plus it's fitting for the greatest 13 to have played the game to get a chance to play against BOD.

funnyExiledScot wrote:I can only assume that Stuart Hogg is going to take the kicks. Peter Horne has missed far too many this season to be given the responsibility here.

That said, Horne has shown some really nice touches at 10 when selected there previously, and if Hogg can kick to a reasonable percentage, then Townsend certainly has his most attacking backs on the pitch.

I'm also pleased that Bennett is now ahead of Murchie on the bench. A better impact sub in my view, plus it's fitting for the greatest 13 to have played the game to get a chance to play against BOD.

VinceWLB wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:

VinceWLB wrote:
I would have Low ahead of Grant at loosehead though as i think he is a stronger scrummager.

Yeah, game against Connacht was a great exemple, Grant wasnt as dominant as Low against the same tiring tighthead.

As good as Grant is around the field, he isn't the strongest scrummager.

I can't agree with you there, Vince, altho a bottle or two of may have been consumed while watching the game - will watch closely tonite, as long as I can get done painting these road lines on time

I think it's just a shame that Cusack isn't fully fit to finish the season, as he's such a powerful scrummager. He gives Glasgow that extra shove against pretty much any side.

I'm surprised that some see Low as a better scrummager at loosehead than Grant, but I didn't see the Connacht game so can't really comment on the example given. Against Leinster thought Glasgow will need a big workrate in defence, and Grant adds much more than Low around the park in that respect.

Leinster favourites, but with Matawalu, DTH, Maitland and Hogg in the Glasgow backs there's plenty international class individual talent in that Glasgow side to score tries.

Now need to convince the missus to spend Saturday night watching rugby....

funnyExiledScot wrote:

Now need to convince the missus to spend Saturday night watching rugby....

Well you managed to convince her to go watch Edinburgh in the pishing rain last week so this will be easy for you!

RDW_Scotland wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:

Now need to convince the missus to spend Saturday night watching rugby....

Well you managed to convince her to go watch Edinburgh in the pishing rain last week so this will be easy for you!

Actually, as a result of taking her to watch Edinburgh fumble their way to victory in the pishing rain, added to my rather silly statement about that being the last rugby match of the season, this is going to be an uphill struggle!

Is Seanie injured or under the weather.

Glad we went for Darcy in this game. They have a big centre combo and will attack us there.

Surprise Ruddock has held off the charge of Jordi Murphy

Murphy's first game back was only last week Pete. He played well, but Ruddock is ahead of him right now.

RDW_Scotland wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:

Now need to convince the missus to spend Saturday night watching rugby....

Well you managed to convince her to go watch Edinburgh in the pishing rain last week so this will be easy for you!

Suggest a girl's night out for her and her mates?

Grow a pair?

With this Horne lad at 10 I am glad we have gone for Sexton over Madigan. Sexton's defence is top drawer and on top of that he is able to kick for territory pretty well. I imagine we should win this kicking game based on our 10 and 13 being good kickers and all of our back 3 where as Glasgow don't have that particular talent in such abundance albeit Hogg can kick like a mule!

I hope our defence is strong enough and then we can get Toner and McLaughlin up to start trying to poach some lineouts

I think a lot of the outcome will be decided on how quiet Leinster can keep Niko – they are half the team when he isn’t on form (i.e. when Pyrgos has played). Leinster did a decent job of shackling him earlier in the season and he had a poor game – they need to get in his face and disrupt him. Glasgow forwards need to look after the wee Fijian and take some hits for him.

RDW_Scotland wrote:I think a lot of the outcome will be decided on how quiet Leinster can keep Niko – they are half the team when he isn’t on form (i.e. when Pyrgos has played). Leinster did a decent job of shackling him earlier in the season and he had a poor game – they need to get in his face and disrupt him. Glasgow forwards need to look after the wee Fijian and take some hits for him.

I agree, I think our linespeed needs to be fairly steady on this with not too many rushing up to snag him, let him dance all he wants as long as he dances in front of the defence and not through it. Our pillar and guard defenders (1st and 2nd man from the ruck) are going to be vital in terms of decision making and fitness to get there before the ball becomes readily available for him and he can start probing those edges.

Shut the runt down

Christ, they are our two strongest possible squads. This one is going to be mega. The 2 best attacking sides in the League. Winner takes all.

The PRO12 Rocks!

P.S. I wouldn't worry too much about the possible loss of SOB. There is a better 7 in place and Ruddock has been excellent over his last few games. He is using his immense power effectively at last.

Believe.

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:I think a lot of the outcome will be decided on how quiet Leinster can keep Niko – they are half the team when he isn’t on form (i.e. when Pyrgos has played). Leinster did a decent job of shackling him earlier in the season and he had a poor game – they need to get in his face and disrupt him. Glasgow forwards need to look after the wee Fijian and take some hits for him.

I agree, I think our linespeed needs to be fairly steady on this with not too many rushing up to snag him, let him dance all he wants as long as he dances in front of the defence and not through it. Our pillar and guard defenders (1st and 2nd man from the ruck) are going to be vital in terms of decision making and fitness to get there before the ball becomes readily available for him and he can start probing those edges.

Shut the runt down

Boss was constantly in his face in the last game, halved his effectiveness, which still made him pretty bloody effective!

Mickado wrote:

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:I think a lot of the outcome will be decided on how quiet Leinster can keep Niko – they are half the team when he isn’t on form (i.e. when Pyrgos has played). Leinster did a decent job of shackling him earlier in the season and he had a poor game – they need to get in his face and disrupt him. Glasgow forwards need to look after the wee Fijian and take some hits for him.

I agree, I think our linespeed needs to be fairly steady on this with not too many rushing up to snag him, let him dance all he wants as long as he dances in front of the defence and not through it. Our pillar and guard defenders (1st and 2nd man from the ruck) are going to be vital in terms of decision making and fitness to get there before the ball becomes readily available for him and he can start probing those edges.

Shut the runt down

Boss was constantly in his face in the last game, halved his effectiveness, which still made him pretty bloody effective!

Yeah I can remember him being largely ineffective in the last game in comparison to what he normally is.
Slowing down their ruck ball might be a way of shutting him down too. How good will he be against set and ready defences

Wow! Powerful squads - all adds up to what should be a cracker - I did thinK the game at Scotstoun in November would be, but it was spoiled by the weather and ended up 0-6. Anyhoo beginning to schize bricks but tentatively prepare for a trip to Dublin on 25 May !

WARRIORS - WHATEVER IT TAKES

Hornee at 10! No doubt about it Toonie feels this is a game that needs to be won, as in take the fight to them from the off rather than play percentages. Does make you wonder about Ruaridh's future at Scotstoun. I get the feeling that if Wee Dunkie wasn't out celebrating his birthday tonight he might well have been on the bench, broken leg or no.
Both teams look very impressive and I'm jiggered if I can see any obvious dominance one way or t'other.
Front rows: Grant is THE form prop but it's still pretty even.
2nd's: I think Glasgow have the edge there, certainly much the prettier pairing.
Back row: I think this is where the day will be lost and won. If Barcs is on form and Wilson gives one of his rampaging performances (no questions about Bluto- he will just continue as per) then Glasgow could have it. Heaslip has had a poor season, looks like SOB and Kev McLaughlin may not be 100%. This could be the break Glasgow need.
Backs: I feel like a jakie in Oddbins. There is just so much to be excited about in these two teams. If the 10's keep ball in hand and run it then we could see a classic. It looks as if Toonie wants a high tempo match, with Niko making openings for Hornee to attack and take the ball away from Toner and his Ugly Sisters. DTH, NoMaits and Hogg hitting broken field on third or fourth phase possesion could be devastating. However, if Sexton gets time and space to kick as he can then we are back to set plays and Darcy and Bod bashing it up the middle till the gaps appear and then Kearney, Isa and McFadden are deadly.
In a perverse way I think the home tie is acting against Leinster. Toonie's selection certainly seems to be saying our only hope is to go for it big time. When a team have that nothing to lose mentality then they can feel free to really express themselves. I think Leinster may be the ones feeling the pressure.
After all this I still cannot put a fag paper between them.
So, Tonnie (96% man 4% muppet) has decided not to play percentages, but as Fast Eddie Felsome says,
"I just remembered Fats, percentage players die broke too!"

Grant may be the form prop at the moment but Healy is the best loosehead in the northern hemisphere. Strauss is hugely underrated too.

Our locks are deceptive and if you watch the game played in the RDS this year back a few times you will HATE Leo Cullen, don't deny it until you have watched it at least 3 times.

We have potentially the best backrow in the league IMO and they are all big game players with experience that the Glasgow lads can only dream of.

Darce and BOD may not be outstanding attaking threats but write them off at your peril and they will have no problem defending against big centres (your lads are small compared to some of the guys they have faced this season)

Your back3 looks TASTY. Very tasty. Add in that duracell bunny at 9 and you have some game breakers. If however it descends in to a kicking game, I know what back 3 and what halfbacks I will be backing.

Love a good old tussel

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:Grant may be the form prop at the moment but Healy is the best loosehead in the northern hemisphere. Strauss is hugely underrated too.

Our locks are deceptive and if you watch the game played in the RDS this year back a few times you will HATE Leo Cullen, don't deny it until you have watched it at least 3 times.

We have potentially the best backrow in the league IMO and they are all big game players with experience that the Glasgow lads can only dream of.

Darce and BOD may not be outstanding attaking threats but write them off at your peril and they will have no problem defending against big centres (your lads are small compared to some of the guys they have faced this season)

Your back3 looks TASTY. Very tasty. Add in that duracell bunny at 9 and you have some game breakers. If however it descends in to a kicking game, I know what back 3 and what halfbacks I will be backing.

Love a good old tussel

Already do - don't think he's EVER entered a ruck from the correct side