Dragons v Leinster tonight

ALH-06

Dragons:
Kevin Morgan; Gareth Wyatt, Rhodri Gomer-Davies/Paul Emerick, Phillip Dollman, Richard Fussell; Jason Tovey, Wayne Evans; Hugh Gustafson, Steve Jones, Patrick Palmer, Andy Hall, Luke Charteris, Colin Charvis (capt), James Harris, Joe Bearman/Lewis Evans.
Replacements: Ben Daly, Adam Black, Adam Jones, Lewis Evans/Richard Parks, Paul Emerick/Gareth Maule, Ceri Sweeney, Alex Walker.

Leinster:
Girvan Dempsey, Shane Horgan, Brian O'Driscoll (cpt), Michael Berne, Luke Fitzgerald, Jonathan Sexton, Chris Keane; Cian Healy, Brian Blaney, Stephen Knoop, Trevor Hogan, Devin Toner, Cameron Jowitt, Kevin McLaughlin, Stephen Keogh.
Replacements: Bernard Jackman, Ronan McCormack, Malcolm O'Kelly, Richie Leyden, Chris Whitaker, Christian Warner, Gary Brown.


It'll be really interesting to see how that pack do tonight. Looking forward to it. But why is Berne playing - isn't he leaving soon enough? Damn well should be, I havent been impressed with him. Much rather see Fitz in centre and BOD at 12, then put Felix Jones or someone like that on the wing. Or even Eoin O'Malley at 13... If theres one match we should experimenting in its this one! And is Kearney injured? If not he should definitely be given a start at FB ahead of Dempsey in a match like this surely.

Interesting quotes by Paul Turner, Dragons coach, today on bbc.co.uk:

"I don't think Ollie Le Roux has scored two easier tries in his career. He scored his second one holding his cheeseburger, I think". (aw thats harsh, Ollie's a ledge!)

"But they are Magners League champions because they are the best side in the league by far." (Munster fans wont be liking that one)

dc69

do we have a chance of winning this?

I thought they were **** and then they beat the Ospreys at home?

zAbbo

I'd say Rob has exams.

Berne's last game, deserves a send off.

figs86

good man cheiks, throw in the kitchen sink!

pretty much everyone there needs the gametime whether it be drico and shaggy still recovering from injury or players like toner and jowitt who have few enough appearances to their names and could use the experience.

obviously sexton and fitzgerald have played most of the season at least in the 22 if not starting so i would question them as choices - obviously with keatley going to Connacht no point putting him in.

What about academy scrum-half such as O'Donohue or out half - not keatley, matt d'arcy is it?

maybe the logic is that its no experience for them if everyone is an ''A'' or academy player - same standard of team really then if everybody is lower standard - suppose thats why sexton, fitzgerald, jackman, big mal and whitaker are there - steady the ship in key areas if necessary

Crash

Its as I said in another thread, there's no point in throwing out a team without key players to tie it in and bring the youngsters up to the level, there's a big difference between putting out a Leinster Senior squad with a few changes, which is that team, and just a Leinster A squad, which it would be if it was out and out changes.

Abercrombie Dud

leinster will cruise dis.i mean connacht won der (and i'm connacht myself!).will b intrestin 2 see how BOD plays.

anonymous_joe

Grammar's not forbidden here. ^^

Anyways, should be a Leinster win, because I don't think Dragons have anything left to play for (?). Leinster don't either, but some of those lads will want to impress.

dc69

Absolute disgrace,is Fitzgerald playing?
10 mins and I have seen no sign

Inquitus

Brutal 4 tries shipped in 20mins

dc69

I feel sorry for the fans that went over,I would have left by now tbh.What a waste of a trip!

Sexton can kick:)

Edit-comeback of the year

Inquitus

we'll see Dragons defense just as shocking....wouldn't bet against Leinster pulling this one out of the bag once they warm up.

Stev_o

Wow someone take a picture Gomez is actually playing for Leinster :eek:!

dc69

Dissapointing Fitz isnt playing,this game is tailor made for him.

anonymous_joe

According to Setanta Fitzgerald was a late withdrawl due to illness.

This isn't helping my study, but f*ck it, need a break.

Stev_o

Some people here think BOD's on form :rolleyes:

dc69

Stev_o wrote: »

Some people here think BOD's on form :rolleyes:

true,he hasnt looked his best today.Although the team mates around him are **** so he is having to defend where the others cant.

Stev_o

Cheeky ref pulling out the dummy red !

Inquitus

whats the text for the one eyed emote? :leinster: or what?

Stev_o

Inquitus wrote: »

whats the text for the one eyed emote? :leinster: or what?

They got ride of the sarcastic one which i use alot

dc69

Watching cian healy tonight.

He is gona need to gain a bit more weight but if he puts on a bit more muscle instead of being encouraged to put on fat like most props and gets his scrumaging down,he could in the future be one of the best in the world.His handling skills are very good and for a prop he has pace to burn.

He could be a hooker aswell but I hope he is encouraged to play prop cause we are so scarce in the position

Stev_o

dc69 wrote: »

Watching cian healy tonight.

He is gona need to gain a bit more weight but if he puts on a bit more muscle instead of being encouraged to put on fat like most props and gets his scrumaging down,he could in the future be one of the best in the world.His handling skills are very good and for a prop he has pace to burn.

He could be a hooker aswell but I hope he is encouraged to play prop cause we are so scarce in the position

Someone must show him Matt Stevens and say that he is the person he should mold into

Size=everything

so Sexton can kick...

dc69

RickyHatton wrote: »

so Sexton can kick...

I dont understand the logic by not letting him kick even when conters is playing,he is gona have to do it For his country one day and he needs practise.Stupid imo

anonymous_joe

Good fight back from Leinster, but they really did throw it away in the first half.

I know it wasn't a hugely important game, but a little disappointed in that. Then again, fairly understandable.

The Mighty Ken

Would have been nice to see a statement of intent for next season by fielding a full-strength side and hammering the Dragons again. There's no excuse for taking the foot off the gas at this level, silverware or no silverware.

Podge_irl

It wasn't a complete second-string either and should have done better. There was no point fielding the same team as last week, it was a good opportunity to give some players some experience (and I think it was Berne's last game, so no harm giving him a run).

Sangre

dc69 wrote: »

I dont understand the logic by not letting him kick even when conters is playing,he is gona have to do it For his country one day and he needs practise.Stupid imo

The logic is quite obvious. Cheika is paid to coach Leinster and Leinster alone, therefore he will obviously pick his best kicker. Irish or not.

anonymous_joe

Sangre wrote: »

The logic is quite obvious. Cheika is paid to coach Leinster and Leinster alone, therefore he will obviously pick his best kicker. Irish or not.

Wonder should he be giving Sexton more of a chance for his own future Leinster sides, or does he see himself as being in a position where he might take advantage of that fact, or maybe he'll be gone... Ooooh, paranoia.

Podge_irl

anonymous_joe wrote: »

Wonder should he be giving Sexton more of a chance for his own future Leinster sides, or does he see himself as being in a position where he might take advantage of that fact, or maybe he'll be gone... Ooooh, paranoia.

Eh...what?


I'd certainly prefer if Sexton was the regular kicker, as he needs practice at it. Especially when games aren't tight, you'd think he'd take over as he is no slouch in that regards. Conters is better in general, though has his off days.

dc69

anonymous_joe wrote: »

Wonder should he be giving Sexton more of a chance for his own future Leinster sides, or does he see himself as being in a position where he might take advantage of that fact, or maybe he'll be gone... Ooooh, paranoia.

hes always said he will leave a after 5 years.

jackbhoy

dc69 wrote: »

I feel sorry for the fans that went over,I would have left by now tbh.What a waste of a trip!

Wouldn't call it a waste but dissapointing alright. Good atmosphere though, probably best (away) I've experienced all season, bit of abuse and disrespect for kickers by few p!ssheads but you'll get that I suppose. Felt sorry for Knoop, think he's a decent prop and was unlucky to pick up injury so early.

Podge_irl

Knoop seems to get injured a lot though, which is a damn shame cause he seems like a fine prop and he's Irish qualified. Him and Stan have made a mess of several scrums this season when they've actually been on the pitch together.