Leinster v Northampton

Team in an hour or so. Not expecting too many changes.

Kind of anti climactic really. What can we do to them that we didn't last week?

Big crowd of 45000 or so might help.

NH should be seriously fired up after that shaming at home, and Leinster would have to be a LITTLE bit complacent. Expecting the scores to be a lot closer.

Hopefully we are pro enough to get the job done. Any win will do. we don't need anything fancy.

If O’Brien is fit what’s your preferred option? Jennings to start with Locky on the bench or Locky to go straight into the starting team and keep Jennings on the bench for his versatility?

I’d like to see McLaughlin start myself, Jennings is a fantastic player to spring from the bench and Kev will be really fired up to win back his place in the team. Also gives us another lineout option if the weather goes to sh-1t.

Other than that, I’d go with the same team as last week, maybe Boss back to the bench if he’s recovered.

Need to start well again, get the crowd going.

Don't think I like the SouthAfrican back row option.

Ruddock at 7 and Kev at 6. Too similar. Not sure how fit Jordi Murphy is.

Seanie with Jeno on the bench or Jeno with Murphy/Ryan/Kev on the bench. Hard to choose with Rhys and Kev. Harsh on whichever one loses out. Ruddock is hard to drop though. Kev may have to make do with a trip to Embra next week.

Team unchanged from last week inc bench.

Hard to argue with after that performance.

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:Team unchanged from last week inc bench.

Hard to argue with after that performance.

More of the same please and thanks.

15 Ken PISI
14 Jamie ELLIOTT
13 Dom WALDOUCK
12 Luther BURRELL
11 George NORTH
10 Stephen MYLER
9 Lee DICKSON
1 Alex WALLER
2 Dylan HARTLEY (capt)
3 Salesi MA’AFU
4 Courtney LAWES
5 Christian DAY
6 Calum CLARK
7 Tom WOOD
8 Samu MANOA

Replacements
16 Mike HAYWOOD
17 Ethan WALLER
18 Tom MERCEY
19 Sam DICKINSON
20 Phil DOWSON
21 Kahn FOTUALI’I
22 Glenn DICKSON
23 Tom COLLINS

Ken Pisi starts at fullback.... nice wan

Meeting Gibbo in the Sandymount hotel before the game.

Ken Pisi at 15? Again? Has he had a brain transplant for this week?

Good player on the wing but FB he aint.

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:Meeting Gibbo in the Sandymount hotel before the game.

Is he over? Arra sure we'll have to meet ye there so. I'm heading in with Mick Mór, should be in the vicinity around 4.

Just hope the Leinster guys are saying to each other. Forget last week - play this like we're the ones again on the raiding party to retrieve some points.

If Leinster allow Northampton to play like the wounded side they think of themselves as being then they (Saints) might just land the killer blow they need.

So in the beginning it'll be a psychological battle to determine which side is the angriest. Saints - who have yet another point to prove? Or Leinster - who have a point to prove to the very competition that dropped them prematurely last season?

Would like to have seen Kirchner at full back, Moore ahead of Ross, and possibly Murphy on the bench although Jennings offers something different so that's quite understandable.

Moore I agree. Kirchner I don't, and Murphy is not fully fit I think. He would be a great bench option if he had more games under his belt as he can play in all 3 back row spots.

Perhaps a bit of rotation? But sure they will do plenty of that in the next 3 weeks I'd say. Give those players a shot to make the last 2 rounds of the HC.

Gail force winds and pishing rain forecast, does that change your perception on this one?

I fancied Leinster strongly to take the Saints to the cleaners here but now I'm not so sure.... it mightn't be a day for through the leg passes ..... we could see a lot of scrums....

I'd say that definitely levels it a bit Rodders. But Leinster are still Irish. They can play in the muck and wind too.

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:Ken Pisi at 15? Again? Has he had a brain transplant for this week?

Good player on the wing but FB he aint.

No choice really, injury crisis in that position. Foden out until 6N, back up Wilson injured, Diggin (winger anyway who has covered FB in emergency) is struggling for the A team after a serious injury and may have to retire and move into coaching full time, George Pisi suspended and was as bad as his brother at 15 anyway (anyone remember the Scarlets game?). They have tried both of the 10's Myler and Dickson at 15 in the past but neither are particularly safe under the high ball. Not sure who's next, maybe Jim Mallender could come out of playing retirement!

Happier with the pack selected this week, think it should have been starting last week too (minus Ma'afu who was injured). Not that it would have made a difference to the final result.

B91212 wrote:

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:Ken Pisi at 15? Again? Has he had a brain transplant for this week?

Good player on the wing but FB he aint.

No choice really, injury crisis in that position. Foden out until 6N, back up Wilson injured, Diggin (winger anyway who has covered FB in emergency) is struggling for the A team after a serious injury and may have to retire and move into coaching full time, George Pisi suspended and was as bad as his brother at 15 anyway (anyone remember the Scarlets game?). They have tried both of the 10's Myler and Dickson at 15 in the past but neither are particularly safe under the high ball. Not sure who's next, maybe Jim Mallender could come out of playing retirement!

Happier with the pack selected this week, think it should have been starting last week too (minus Ma'afu who was injured). Not that it would have made a difference to the final result.

Maybe try Dickson again?

I actually started to feel sorry for Pisi last week. Leinster were pretty ruthless in exploiting his lack of experience there. Maybe he'll fare better this time.

The weather is shocking by the way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCG3kJtQBKo

Mon Leinster!

I'm going 3-0 to Leinster. Myler to go for a drop goal and it to blow back through his own posts.

I'm going to post here on the Connacht game if anything to report. Watching both matches.

North in a centre, going to enjoy watching him vs Bod. Could be a fantastic battle.

wolfball wrote:I'm going to post here on the Connacht game if anything to report. Watching both matches.

Great service there Wolf - thanks!

I would appreciate updates on both matches as well

Good luck to both.

3-0 conn. We starting where we left off last week!

Strong scrum Toulouse. They score the penalty. 3-3

Def yellow for a Kearney done for pace

Good man wolfball

Coleman wrote:North in a centre, going to enjoy watching him vs Bod. Could be a fantastic battle.

There you go Coleman!

Norths in!

Kearney probably deserved a yellow for that. Cynical.

No one stops North from there

Toulouse with similar defensive line speed to Connacht last week. Henshaw very assured and looking to run everything. Toulouse def looking stronger then last week

Any live stream links?  

Sent you one there Keesie Kee

Toulouse in. 8-3 Conversion to come

Loose ball at conn attacking ruck, tolouse kick ahead. Score try. 8-3 tolouse, unlucky conn

Worst possible start. But Leinster reply with a 3 points.

10-6 parks dg

wolfball wrote:10-6 parks dg

Sounds a good match...

Thanks Golden  

Leinster scrum is getting smashed, need to get it in and out fast

Saints look up for this!

stub wrote:

wolfball wrote:10-6 parks dg

Sounds a good match...

Mind, this one isn't bad!

Yeah Saints pack in charge at the moment.

BigTrevsbigmac wrote:Saints look up for this!

Don't they just.

Tolouse miss penalty. 10-6 still. Conn line speed still good but need to be more patient ball in hand.

Some strange decisions against Leinster in other match

Should have taken the points i think

Or not.............

O'Brien is a huge loss for this game.  That physicality is missing from the Leinster pack.

Shyte, tolouse win kick and chase, Henshaw bad missed tackle, 15-6 conversion to come