Pro 12 Grand Final 2016 - Leinster v Connacht

First topic message reminder :

They're playing in Edinburgh.

They won the tender to host the final. On the same weekend as two other big events in the city - Edinburgh Marathon and bank holiday weekend.

Result?  Hoteliers charging up to €800 a night for this weekend. Cheapest is €556.

Destination Final seems to be a dud.

Meanwhile, Leinster and Connacht prepare to duke it out.

15. Rob Kearney (175)
14. Dave Kearney (102)
13. Garry Ringrose (21)
12. Ben Te'o (39)
11. Luke Fitzgerald (153)
10. Johnny Sexton (125)
9. Eoin Reddan (139)
1. Jack McGrath (94)
2. Richardt Strauss (130)
3. Mike Ross (134)
4. Ross Molony (22)
5. Mick Kearney (8)
6. Rhys Ruddock (112)
7. Jordi Murphy (79)
8. Jamie Heaslip (216) CAPTAIN

16. Sean Cronin (113)
17. Peter Dooley (20)
18. Tadhg Furlong (50)
19. Hayden Triggs (14)
20. Jack Conan (30)
21. Luke McGrath (49)
22. Ian Madigan (146)
23. Zane Kirchner (64)


15 Tiernan O’Halloran
14 Niyi Adeolokun
13 Robbie Henshaw
12 Bundee Aki
11 Matt Healy
10 AJ MacGinty
9 Kieran Marmion

1 Ronan Loughney
2 Tom McCartney
3 Finlay Bealham
4 Ultan Dillane
5 Aly Muldowney
6 Eoin McKeon
7 Jake Heenan
8 John Muldoon (captain)

Replacements:

16 Dave Heffernan
17 JP Cooney
18 Rodney Ah You
19 Andrew Browne
20 Sean O’Brien
21 John Cooney
22 Shane O’Leary
23 Peter Robb

eirebilly wrote:Sexton looks hurt out there...

He is. He's struggling.

Fitzgerald looking dodgy on his feet.  Wonder if there'll be a few changes before squad takes off?  Some of the hits going in from both sides look like they hurt.

What a game so far. Leinster need to get a score in before half-time.

Why is Sexton's face just so punchable? I mean, who really knows?

This match perfectly captures why Te'o is leaving Leinster and Aki is staying with Connacht.

Pot Hale wrote:This match perfectly captures why Te'o is leaving Leinster and Aki is staying with Connacht.

But Te'o is still Leinster's most dangerous back.

And two more reasons.  Stopped dead by O'Halloran and then a wild Hail Mary into touch.

Well the only positive for Leinster fans is they surely can't play worse in the 2nd half...!

VinceWLB wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:This match perfectly captures why Te'o is leaving Leinster and Aki is staying with Connacht.

But Te'o is still Leinster's most dangerous back.

Dangerous? Looks like he's already on the plane to Australia.

Kind of game I expected but not the score. Leinster look shell shocked, Connacht's speed in the back three and centres are destroying Leinster.

TOH and Healy certainly showing Schmidt just how wrong he was to leave them at home for the SA tour.

Pot Hale wrote:

VinceWLB wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:This match perfectly captures why Te'o is leaving Leinster and Aki is staying with Connacht.

But Te'o is still Leinster's most dangerous back.

Dangerous?    Looks like he's already on the plane to Australia.  

Dangerous for his wingers' face i meant

Pot Hale wrote:

VinceWLB wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:This match perfectly captures why Te'o is leaving Leinster and Aki is staying with Connacht.

But Te'o is still Leinster's most dangerous back.

Dangerous?    Looks like he's already on the plane to Australia.  

His power will be almost totally nullified at international level. Aki is a much, much better player.

I just wonder how long Sexton will stay out there, Bundee Aki looks to be targeting him and has already creamed him once in attach and put in a huge tackle on him. Had to admire Sexton's strength when hit by Aki, many would have lost control of the ball after such a hit.

eirebilly wrote:I just wonder how long Sexton will stay out there, Bundee Aki looks to be targeting him and has already creamed him once in attach and put in a huge tackle on him. Had to admire Sexton's strength when hit by Aki, many would have lost control of the ball after such a hit.

I'm sure people on here will be claiming Sexton took a dive. The guy literally puts his body on the line every time he touches the ball.

Well as a neutral, the game is going exactly as you would have hoped. Leinster look like they are playing with the weight of the pressure on their shoulders. All the pressure is on them!

Jaysus this is great. It's like ireland and argentina all over again but this time it's enjoyable.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:

eirebilly wrote:I just wonder how long Sexton will stay out there, Bundee Aki looks to be targeting him and has already creamed him once in attach and put in a huge tackle on him. Had to admire Sexton's strength when hit by Aki, many would have lost control of the ball after such a hit.

I'm sure people on here will be claiming Sexton took a dive. The guy literally puts his body on the line every time he touches the ball.

If they do they are stupid, I was very impressed that Sexton kept the ball. That was a big perfectly timed hit from Aki.

Leinster have the better subs so Connacht will have to be well in control come 60mins.

Come on Connacht, sorry LF4L.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:
I'm sure people on here will be claiming Sexton took a dive. The guy literally puts his body on the line every time he touches the ball.

Either that or use their wealth of insider medical knowledge to infer that he should retire.

Ronan Loughney suffering on the LH, wish Dennis Buckley wasn't injured..

eirebilly wrote:Leinster have the better subs so Connacht will have to be well in control come 60mins.

Come on Connacht, sorry LF4L.

Nobody could begrudge Connacht this win. They bave been fantastic

My god Connacht!!!!

That's not forward. Key difference in the teams highlighted by the break though. Leinster player (D. Kearney?) gets in behind the defence and doesn't even look for support.

Scores?

That seems unfair call by Owens for that forward pass. Should have been a try.

Connacht 20 - 3 Leinster

20 minutes left.

That looked really nasty

Make that 15 minutes left.

Unbelievable that Owens didn't stop play there.

Stadium isn't happy!

Why did Owens stopped play for Kearney's injury but not here? As a result Leinster scored against 14 men.

Damn, cmon Connacht hold on.
Blow with TOH going off.

George Carlin wrote:Why is Sexton's face just so punchable? I mean, who really knows?

lol I know right? Just like Peter Stringer...

20-10

12 minutes to go.

Looks like Owens had had the call, ffs nige what you doing? The wrong teams winning sort it out!!

Offside line optional?

It's like watching an-Ireland at Croker this. Amazing atmosphere.

The party in Edinburgh tonight is going to be something.

How many in the crowd? Looks like Connacht have invaded Munster-style.

Great result.
Very proud moment to say the least.

Great achievement.

Will certainly celebrate at the Bournemouth 7's festival tomorrow.

Congrats Connacht! Wonderful stuff.

Fantastic! Absolutely incredible season for Connacht, and a fitting end to have some silverware to put in the cabinet. Well Done

Congrats to Connacht. From league whiping boys to Champs in a couple of years. Great stuff..

Absolutely bloody brilliant!

Well done Connacht.

What a story for them and for the PRO 12.

Wild. Wish I was home. Galway will be mental.

And my pub switches over to some young wan screeching at some champions league thingy. Not even the cup presentation.

Jeez!

Jaysus, there will be bonfires in Galway tonight

Fantastic from Connacht, absolutely brilliant.

Were you watching Schmidt, Healy and TOH are big game players...

Amazing, just amazing.

What a formidable team.

Excellent interview from Redden. 'Connacht have got so much right on and off the pitch' exactly right

Brilliant - well played Connacht.

I expect that this facility will be inundated over the next week:

Well done Connacht, best team in the league this year and very well deserved.

Good for Connacht and good for the league

One word for Muldoon, what a player and great captain, at the province since the 2003/2004 season and he surely remembers the days when 500 fans showed up at the Sportsground. What a turnaround.