[leakyboots]

I was feeling reasonably confident until I saw the two benches, Leinster have massive impact.

However, a rusty BOD and D'Arcy up against Earls and Mafi, I'd hope to make a little hay here, if our pack can get good ball. Delighted to see Jennings start, I don't rate him.

Really tight to call, that Leinster bench could be the difference, even if some are returning from injury

[tolosenc]

Curveball from Joe there regards the forwards.

If Archer's first scrum is against a fresh Healy, there could be an injury. Leinster have a stronger XV, and substantially stronger bench. What remains to be seen is how the Thomond factor will come to play.

[19543261]

I haven't been following rugby very long yet, but is "holding the game down" for the 50-60 minutes and then bringing on "impact" players to clean things up and conclude a viable tactic in general? Sort of like a backwards approach. Not to say that what Schmidt's done is as cleancut as that, though.

[emmet02]

Looking forward to seeing the Thorner partnership!

Leinster certainly attacking the lineout with Toner and McLaughlin selected.

[CatFromHue]

This is the first game in a couple of years I haven't been able to make it down for. From looking at the teams Leinster do look a lot stronger in both the starting and benching players.

I have to say it's great to see Dave O Callagahan starting and O'Donnell on the bench. They've looked good whenever I've seen them before. They will have their hands full in McLaughlin, Jennings, and Heaslip though as this in theory has a great balance to it......Hook would be proud of this lol! I would have started Hurley ahead of Murphy though as Hurley I think is a better player. He certainly creates more for the team than Murphy anyway as was seen by his lovely off load last week against Connacht were if I remember right came off his wing to the opposite side.

The choice of Captains for each team is telling. ROG will in all honestly have so much on his plate all ready that I would have given it to someone else.....who else though? The only options I could see would be MOD who will more than likely be replaced by Holland at some stage, POM in his first start in a Leinster Munster game, or DOC who for whatever reason is never considered. Leinster have gone for Heaslip but could have gone for Jennings, BOD, Nacewa, McLaughlin, or even possibly Thorn.

It's good to see Hagan on the bench, he looked in a bad way last week. I can also hear BOD thinking " you want my jersey for Ireland aye.....come at me bro ". I hope Luke Fitz has a good game too, he made some high profile mistakes last week that cost the team. Yet he could also have won the game for Leinster! In a week where we lost Shaggy it's good to see D'arcy and BOD out there though.

[ambid]

Originally Posted by Big Nelly

...But just imagine, a Munster team tiring, looking to close out game, and you see O'Brien coming off bench!!! it will automatically drain your energy! the bullock got a raw deal with Ireland and will be mad to go!!!...

For the non culchies among you, a bullock is actually a castrated bull. O'Brien might appreciate a different nickname as he doesn't play like a fella who has had that particular procedure.

[WeeBushy]

From a Leinster point of view my first impressions are:

We can really target the lineout imo. Thorn jumping at 2 and then Toner, McLaughlin and possibly Heaslip putting real pressure everywhere else.

Kinda surprised to see D'Arcy starting, he played all the 6N matches and is obviously getting on in age, so thought he would be rested. I guess Schmidt just still sees D'Arcy as a better player to McF so needs to start, and based on Leinster form he's probably right. Also need to get the D'Arcy O'Driscoll axis back together before the quarters.

Glad to see Healy on the bench. He will be one heck of an impact and he's gotten a battering in recent times so holding him back for next week is the right call.

Also good to see the Schmidt rotation policy with Cronin starting. Big chance for him coming into the end of season run in.

With White not fit its big chance for Hagan to forget last weekend if he comes off the bench.

And finally, its impossible to predict what team Schmidt will choose, there are just so many combinations and players from which he can pick. I imagine it makes it quite difficult from opponents to prepare.

[wookie0]

Where will the Leinster crowd be boozing before the match?

[WeeBushy]

Originally Posted by 19543261

I haven't been following rugby very long yet, but is "holding the game down" for the 50-60 minutes and then bringing on "impact" players to clean things up and conclude a viable tactic in general? Sort of like a backwards approach. Not to say that what Schmidt's done is as cleancut as that, though.

Yes it is a common enough tactic. Particularly when you are playing away from home or against a team like Italy who are all grunt and not much else.

For both the general idea is to ride the initial wave with hard graft and forward power, and then in the last 30 bring on the impact guys against a tiring side.

Against good sides they are going to be able to keep up the pressure the whole way through so that tactic doesn't work as well. Which is why I think Schmidt has gone for a bit of both as we are away from home but Munster are certainly a side that can play 80 minutes of rugby.

[irishbucsfan]

I was fairly certain McLaughlin would start but I didn't consider the possibility of OBrien not starting! Just shows Joe is liable to do anything.

Delighted for Toner. He's earned this start.

Leinster should in theory dominate the lineout with McL at 2 (where he taught Croft a lesson a year ago), Tower at 4 and Heaslip patrolling the back.

Excited to see if Leinster can get some good quick clean ball around the field with Thorn and Jennings out there.

A very balanced team. Ridiculously excited for this game now!

[DDC1990]

Great Midfield battle in store with Irelands talismatic number 13 against Brian O'Driscoll


Would love a Munster win, but everything seems to point towards a Leinster win.

23-15

[Tox56]

Originally Posted by DDC1990

Great Midfield battle in store with Irelands talismatic number 13 against Brian O'Driscoll


Would love a Munster win, but everything seems to point towards a Leinster win.

23-15

Danny Barnes is on the bench.

[prospect]

I think it can only be a good thing that no player considers himself a shoe-in to start a game.

Not withstanding the obvious benefits of managing a tiring player over a season, and also keeping bench players match fit and game ready;
It forces the individuals to consistently prove themselves, and gives the 'other' players a tangible reason to up their game.

Someone should explain the logic to a certain International Coach.

[totallegend]

Wow, didn't see that coming.

Thorn-Toner is probably a good mix, certainly more of an offensive line-out combo than Thorn-Cullen. The hard ground would be murder on Leo's achilles too...
The back-row has a nice balance to it, I would always be in favour of starting O'Brien but in terms of impact subs, wow; 50 minutes gone, legs starting to get heavy and you see Healy, Strauss and O'Brien trotting on...
The Cronin call is interesting, I presume it is more based on him having missed so many games and trying to get him back up to speed with the team ahead of the QF, rather than an indication that he is now first-choice.

Excitement about these games always starts to mount when the teams are named.

Edit: had missed the Munster team, no shortage of surprises there. I'd be interested to hear what people think is the logic behind starting Horan over WDP? Seems pretty bizarre to me.

[.ak]

Interesting selections. Joe never fails to surprise. The majority of people had their minds set on Healy, Boss, SOB and possibly Cullen to start with a real dogfight on our hands.

It looks to me Joe is relying on a fast game - we're light in the backrow with SOB on the bench, and possibly even more mobile in the engine room with Toner and Thorn. Cronin and HVDM offer some mobility in the front row as well, with Healy on the bench there's more of that coming.

Then the telling selection at 9; Reddan had been in the papers all week so I had a feeling he'd be picked, although I would've gone with Boss myself as it's always a bit of an arm wrestle at Thomond. Hopefully himself and Sexton get off to a flying start and the forecast stays clear. I read today there's chances of showers in Limerick but it'll still be 12+c, so that could make for some interesting conditions.

The backline is no surprise - D'Arcy is still the senior 12 on the team. For all of McFadden's potential, he still has that 'utility' shirt on, and he's far more valuable to Joe on the bench than D'Arcy would be. Hope BOD has the 80 minutes in him, as I really hate when D'Arcy and Ferg partner up... the ball just dies.

Munster have some interesting selections too. Very surprised not to see Hurley anywhere near the team. I'd concur that Earls seems to be the on-field utility here, with Barnes able to jump in at 13 if need be. I wonder if Jones will be bringing his kicking boots - potentially that's where they could upset Leinster - a back three of Kearney, Isa and Fitz may sound dangerous but in reality Fitzy has only been in dangerous form when in the opposition's half, Isa hasn't exactly set the world alight on the tighter side of the pitch, so it really leaves it down to a one vs one contest with Kearney, that's good odds.

Surprised TOD isn't starting also. Think he'd make an impact from the start, with DOC2 adding to an arm-wrestle situation in the second half if need be. I think Munster have the more solid front row.

It'll be interesting to see how the TH's do their jobs respectively. Botha is a rock, but Ross has the engine power on him I think. I'd imagine some calls from Nige that will raise a few eyebrows here. I think Munster have the upper hand though - especially with Ross carrying a niggle, and only Hagan on the bench. Whilst I rate Hagan as a project TH, I think he'll be lost at this level, and surprised to see him in contention after that busted rib. White must've really done some damage to his face to avoid this.

Munster have the Thomond factor, and Leinster will have the Shaggy factor! Really too tight to call. Gonna be one of those days where you just don't know what to expect. Too many variables. I'll be going into fine Thomond to scream my head off for Leinster though. Can't wait.