Leinster v Wasps (Contains Score)

[Jackass]

Big game coming up this weekend, really will be a defining game in the group.

We must really fancy our chances in this group if we get the win here and after seeing Castres play at the weekend also, so this is a vital game.

Incidently, a few tickets are available for this in Spar donnybrook as returned from Wasps and the twin pack is available also for the Dragons game also, but get in quick, as there is over 16,000 sold as of this morning.

http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/2873.php

Pshan

[Jackass] wrote: »

Incidently, a few tickets are available for this in Spar donnybrook as returned from Wasps and the twin pack is available also for the Dragons game also, but get in quick, as there is over 16,000 sold as of this morning.

I cant get over Wasps not taking their allocation of tickets, aside from their home matches this must be the game of the pool stages. Handy trip to Dublin, good match date & time and a decent size stadium. Maybe they're expecting a loss.

Inquitus

Pshan wrote: »

I cant get over Wasps not taking their allocation of tickets, aside from their home matches this must be the game of the pool stages. Handy trip to Dublin, good match date & time and a decent size stadium. Maybe they're expecting a loss.

Their away support is just crap, sure there were only a few hundred at the Lansdowne semi v Munster the other year.

JWAD

Pshan wrote: »

I cant get over Wasps not taking their allocation of tickets, aside from their home matches this must be the game of the pool stages. Handy trip to Dublin, good match date & time and a decent size stadium. Maybe they're expecting a loss.

Maybe there's just too much rugby for them to travel to? The November tests are very soon so this as well as 'London' Wasps having to travel outside London for home games

Amazotheamazing

Funnily enough, for such a famous club, Wasps doesn't have a massive fanbase, teams like Leicester, Gloucester, Bath etc would all generate bigger home crowds, iirc.

themont85

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

Funnily enough, for such a famous club, Wasps doesn't have a massive fanbase, teams like Leicester, Gloucester, Bath etc would all generate bigger home crowds, iirc.

Ye Dallaghio in his book mentions how they have a small enough fan base.

I'm looking forward to the game, I can't help but feel that Wasps have a huge void to fill with no Dallaghio and that Leinster should win. Then again, looking at their line up if they get their game together(which they usually do for the big ones) they'll cause us a lot of trouble. Wasps remind me of Munster in a way(nothing to do with fan base or like that) in that they turn up for the big ones. Both Munster and Wasps can be average for a good portion of the season, then turn it up at the business end of the season, something unfortunately the likes of Leinster and Gloucster can't seem to do.

Crash

A lack of Larry seems to have hit them incredibly hard, to be honest. Their pack has no strong leader, and they've suffered because of it.Though, at the same time, as said above, they can really turn it on for the pressure games.

Pshan

JWAD wrote: »

Maybe there's just too much rugby for them to travel to? The November tests are very soon so this as well as 'London' Wasps having to travel outside London for home games

Doesn't each of the Irish provinces (not sure about Ulster) have a huge geographic spread for their fan base and Leinster & Munster can manage a fairly decent group of travelling supporters.

Last Friday night Munster had fans travelling for 3 to 4 hours to get to a "Home" game, in most other clubs that would have been seen as an away game.

Going back to my original point, if I was a Wasps fan and intended to travel to an away game then the Leinster one would have been my target, cheap flights, good opposition (team would need the extra support), decent sized stadium (tickets wouldn't be a problem) and of course good nightclubs for after match entertainment, all in all a decent package.

JWAD

Pshan wrote: »

Doesn't each of the Irish provinces (not sure about Ulster) have a huge geographic spread for their fan base and Leinster & Munster can manage a fairly decent group of travelling supporters.

Last Friday night Munster had fans travelling for 3 to 4 hours to get to a "Home" game, in most other clubs that would have been seen as an away game

I did say 'maybe'.
Munster isn't a 'club', by the way.

Inquitus

1st Handicaps out

- Leinster -6 with Paddy Power

Amazotheamazing

JWAD wrote: »

I did say 'maybe'.
Munster isn't a 'club', by the way.

You're right, we're a movement, a belief system, a nation of millions.

juvenal

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

You're right, we're a movement, a belief system, a nation of millions.

Indeed, all of whom were in Thomond when Munster beat the All Blacks in October 1978, and will have been again should they win this autumn

Back OT; the squad has been announced.

Forwards: Cian Healy, Ronan McCormack, Bernard Jackman, John Fogarty, CJ van der Linde, Stan Wright, Leo Cullen, Trevor Hogan, Malcolm O'Kelly, Devin Toner, Rocky Elsom, Cameron Jowitt, Sean O'Brien, Shane Jennings, Jamie Heaslip, Stephen Keogh

Backs: Chris Keane, Chris Whitaker, Jonathan Sexton, Luke Fitzgerald, Simon Keogh, Felipe Contepomi, Brian O'Driscoll, Gary Brown, Shane Horgan, Girvan Dempsey, Rob Kearney

Officials: Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU), Assistant referees: Neill Ballard (WRU), John Mason (WRU), 4th Official: John Carvill (ARLB), 5th Official: Barry O'Keeffe (ARLB), TMO: Derek Bevan (WRU)

Owens could have a key part to play in this match.

zAbbo

10 or 11 posts to get into a province willy waver, and even a mention of beating the All Blacks in 78 - Good stuff, glad I don't post here half as much as I used to.

Oh, and a Leinster win with bonus point please

Amazotheamazing

Ah jeez, I was only messing.

Anyhow, hard to see Leinster losing this one. Wasps have been very poor this season, Reddan is off form and Cipriani is just back. They're so short on fullbacks that Staunton has had to fill in there and they're still not sure what their best centre combination is.

If things go badly for Wasps, I could actually see them conceding the 4 tries for a bonus, on the other hand, if their backrow turns up, they could drag Leinster into their type of game.

Trojan

Was there some sort of row with Cipriana there? Vague memory of it mentioned on the news recently.

juvenal

Trojan wrote: »

Was there some sort of row with Cipriana there? Vague memory of it mentioned on the news recently.

I think Lewsey and himself had some sort of punch-up on the training ground, fodder for the tabloids and Sky News.

They joked about it when celebrating Lewsey's try on Sunday, the two of them met and shadow boxed before hugging.:pac:

[Jackass]

Chris Keane is in the squad.

Leinster to lose by one billion points, Every team in the competition to be award the trophy and Leinster banned from playing rugby and every supporter put in prison for aiding crimes against humanity.

Seriously though, Leinster to shade it in my opinion. A bonus point win here is about as outrageous as suggesting a bonus point win in Edinburgh before that game. If it happened, I would be equally in amazment and awe. Who knows.

The reality is that this is a massive game that we must win. I would be absolutely exstatic with a win and NO bonus points in the GAME at all. That would be the perfect result. Anything beyond that is just fantasy.

Edinburgh is not a easy place to get a BP win in, I would expect us to get a BP win at home to them, we prevent Wasps from getting a bonus point and we may pick one up against the French (which they have already failed to do at home), that leaves Wasps with an awful lot of work to do to keep up with us. If we win, it may all come down to bonus points, and if they don't get one on Saturday, that will suit me just fine.

Let's just focus on getting the win here first. That is all that matters right now.

Inquitus

Wasps v Leinster switched to Twitters.

Pshan

Inquitus wrote: »

Wasps v Leinster switched to Twitters.

So Wasps don't have enough fans to take their allocation of tickets for the RDS but they require Twickenham for the return game - me thinks Wasps wants to fill their kitty from the travelling Leinster fans. While (from an Irish pov I'd hate it) I almost hope Leinster are out of it by then and Wasps are left with an empty stadium. (This is not a wish of bad luck on Leinster)

Amz

Appreciate the sentiment there Pshan ...

anonymous_joe

Pshan wrote: »

So Wasps don't have enough fans to take their allocation of tickets for the RDS but they require Twickenham for the return game - me thinks Wasps wants to fill their kitty from the travelling Leinster fans. While (from an Irish pov I'd hate it) I almost hope Leinster are out of it by then and Wasps are left with an empty stadium. (This is not a wish of bad luck on Leinster)

I think I'd rather Leinster won the group my self. Just throwing it out there.

louthandproud

Pshan wrote: »

So Wasps don't have enough fans to take their allocation of tickets for the RDS but they require Twickenham for the return game - me thinks Wasps wants to fill their kitty from the travelling Leinster fans. While (from an Irish pov I'd hate it) I almost hope Leinster are out of it by then and Wasps are left with an empty stadium. (This is not a wish of bad luck on Leinster)

Nothing too unusual about that, Biarritz have hosted Munster in San Sabastian (different country if not Basque). Bourgoin have hosted Munster in Geneva, a different country also. To name but two examples. Wasps to be fair have a small but very loyal supporter base, and in my experience a decent bunch also, anyway Twitters is pretty close to home for them too. So why wouldn't they?

On the bright side, it also means more seats for visiting fans. I imagine there must be a large Leinster contingent living in London let alone the fans that would travel to a relatively easy to get to location like London. So everyones a winner!

PS. As a Munster supporter, I also wish Leinster win the group! Just thought I'd throw that in there.

Paulw

Haven't Leinster used bigger stadia before (Lansdowne Road) for large games? How would that be any different?

Crash

Also, twickenham and richmond etc. are nice places to pubcrawl back towards the tube Was planning on heading over for that game, should just be even easier to get out to from the brothers place now anyhow.

Pshan

Nothing wrong with it at all. Wasps home stadium holds around 8,000 the lower tier of Twickenham holds 30,000 do they really need the extra seating for Leinster. I would have thought there's a more suitable stadium in London, something around the 20,000. If it's a decider for topping the pool maybe so but if one of the teams are out how many will be interested in attending? Quins held their last pool match there against Munster in 2005 and 33,000 attended and it was like a ghost town at times.

juvenal

Paulw wrote: »

Haven't Leinster used bigger stadia before (Lansdowne Road) for large games? How would that be any different?

Yes, on several occasions for both HEC and Magners League matches.

You can't keep some people happy. If Wasps had it at home and gave the Leinster Branch a small allocation of tickets, there'd be moaning. Now some individuals are giving out because they're having it in a 82,000-seater stadium, so that anyone who wishes to travel will be able to get a ticket. Fair play to Wasps, they understand that this match will potentially have a high demand for tickets, something that Adams Park will not be able to meet. They have failed to sell out their 10,000-capacity Adams Park home this season, ans hope to attract a crowd of 33,000 at Twickenham on 17 January.

I fully expect, and will welcome, future Leinster (and possibly even Munster) fixtures to be held in the new Lansdowne Road stadium if needed. Imagine the demand for tickets if any of the four Irish provinces meet in the final of the Magners League when it goes to knockout? I'd rather that every punter was able to attend the match, then a scarcity of tickets only available through the corporate/old boy network.

phog

juvenal wrote: »

Yes, on several occasions for both HEC and Magners League matches.

You can't keep some people happy. If Wasps had it at home and gave the Leinster Branch a small allocation of tickets, there'd be moaning. Now some individuals are giving out because they're having it in a 82,000-seater stadium, so that anyone who wishes to travel will be able to get a ticket. Fair play to Wasps, they understand that this match will potentially have a high demand for tickets, something that Adams Park will not be able to meet. They have failed to sell out their 10,000-capacity Adams Park home this season, ans hope to attract a crowd of 33,000 at Twickenham on 17 January.

I fully expect, and will welcome, future Leinster (and possibly even Munster) fixtures to be held in the new Lansdowne Road stadium if needed. Imagine the demand for tickets if any of the four Irish provinces meet in the final of the Magners League when it goes to knockout? I'd rather that every punter was able to attend the match, then a scarcity of tickets only available through the corporate/old boy network.

That makes sense

Climate Expert

I'm going to be brave seeing as I got the last one spot on, BP win for leinster.

JWAD

juvenal wrote: »

I'd rather that every punter was able to attend the match, then a scarcity of tickets only available through the corporate/old boy network.

They're sold on Ticketmaster regardless of venue

[Jackass]

I don't see the problem here. Adams park holds 10,000. If Leinster played there it would be in Wasps backyard in a tight intense atmosphere with a packed house of 90% roaring Wasps fans.

Twickenham, much more open, as many Leinster fans can travel as they want and even if 20,000+ Wasps fans show up, the atmosphere wont be half as intense as a tight Adams park full of Wasps fans.

It dilutes there home advantage and facilitates Leinster supporters (and team) to the nth degree. Where's the problem?

juvenal

phog wrote: »

That makes sense

Yeah, i lifted that stat from a report on the decision to play the return leg in Twickenham. They're gambling on being in a position to make it attractive to the fans in London. Will be interesting to see how it works out.

Podge_irl

[Jackass] wrote: »

I don't see the problem here. Adams park holds 10,000. If Leinster played there it would be in Wasps backyard in a tight intense atmosphere with a packed house of 90% roaring Wasps fans.

Twickenham, much more open, as many Leinster fans can travel as they want and even if 20,000+ Wasps fans show up, the atmosphere wont be half as intense as a tight Adams park full of Wasps fans.

It dilutes there home advantage and facilitates Leinster supporters (and team) to the nth degree. Where's the problem?

As long as I'm stuck over here I'd rather go to Twickers then possibly not get a ticket to go to Adams park so happy days there. Hopefully Leinster will still have something to play for by then. I would expect a victory in the RDS, but the margin may be important. Winning by more than 7 (or getting the bonus) would put them in a great position to qualify.

Paulw

I'm very much looking forward to the game tomorrow. Leinster will have to be strong, but they certainly have the team for it. The bonus could make a big difference.

Leinster will always have a strong and passionate crowd behind them. Playing in a larger venue will suit Leinster much more, since they can bring their larger support with them.

cruiserweight

Teams have been named for the game tomorrow

LEINSTER:

15: Girvan Dempsey
14: Shane Horgan
13: Brian O’Driscoll
12: Luke Fitzgerald
11: Rob Kearney
10: Felipe Contepomi
9: Chris Whitaker

1: Stan Wright
2: Bernard Jackman
3: CJ van der Linde
4: Leo Cullen CAPTAIN
5: Malcolm O’Kelly
6: Rocky Elsom
7: Shane Jennings
8: Jamie Heaslip

REPLACEMENTS:

16: John Fogarty
17: Cian Healy
18: Devin Toner
19: Stephen Keogh
20: Chris Keane
21: Jonathan Sexton
22: Gary Brown

LONDON WASPS:

15: Jeremy Staunton
14: Paul Sackey
13: Josh Lewsey
12: Riki Flutey
11: Tom Voyce
10: Danny Cipriani
9: Eoin Reddan

1: Tim Payne
2: Raphael Ibanez CAPTAIN
3: Phil Vickery
4: Simon Shaw
5: Tom Palmer
6: James Haskell
7: Tom Rees
8: Joe Worsley

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Rob Webber
17: Pat Barnard
18: Richard Birkett
19: Serge Betsen
20: Mark Robinson
21: Mark Van Gisbergen
22: John Hart

[Jackass]

It's a bloody strong Wasps team, I'll tell you that.

This is a massive challenge which we need to step up to. The biggest game of the season so far by a mile. From our own perspective, probably was always going to be the biggest group game also.

Good to see Mal come back in, and I'm glad that Contepomi retains 10, and Fitz and BOD stay in centre.

The strongest Leinster 15 available imo.

As has been mentioned, the win of course is the most important thing, but if we win by more than 7, we are in full control of this group and home game against Edinburgh and 2 against Castres is all that stands in our way - Needing 3 wins & 2 bonus points to be certain - and Wasps will need to be massively on the ball to keep up with us - avoid a bonus defeat over there and we're through. It's all looking wayyyy ahead of ourselves, but this is a massive game and our home record in Heiniken Cup is impecable. Can't wait for this game. It's going to be epic.

COME ON LEINSTER!!!!

Jackz

I can't wait for this game tomorrow, the season can be redeemed. Great to see the Leinster player in best form this year back in the team.

toomevara

No excuses from either outfit, both got their best teams out..mouth watering.

anonymous_joe

Fúck me you forget how good Wasps are.

Saying that, Leinster are pretty damn good too. But man for man those teams are pretty even in most positions.

taidghbaby

jasus wasps are still a strong team!!!

also i didnt know betsen had joined them......i must move from this rock im living under

buck65

Should be a cracker. Saturday evening kick off big crowd 2 good teams best of luck Leinster fans.

wixfjord

Should be a great game and occasion, Im sick with nerves already cant think what il be like at half 5! Big day for the back row. I still think leinster have a better team on paper Lewsey isnt a centre and staunton isnt a full back need to get girv and rob to put up a few early on on both him and sackey Turnovers will be crucial as sackey can be electric going forward and voyce is a good finisher.


COME ON LEINSTER!

[Jackass]

Heading up in a few minutes to soak up the atmosphere and beer. Butterflys in my stomach, I'm nervous. Should be good though. I'll catch the Ospreys game up there before.

COME ONNNN!!

d-gal

great to see staunton start for wasps. wasps have a nice bench with betsen and robinson, good experience

ironingbored

Being streamed at all?

Chucky the tree

A shocking start by Staunton. Such a bottler.


"Who plays striker over here?" "David Healey" - :pac: Your not in Ulster now.

Chucky the tree

2nd try for BOD. It's great to see Staunton wanting the Irish sides to do well in europe this year.

RugbyFanatic

Magnificent from BOD, two tries in 15mins including a sublime one of skill. What a player!

ongarite

Cullen off, shoulder injury.. Looks bad

themont85

Great stuff from O'Driscoll.

Wasps coming back strong at Leinster.

ktulu123

is anyone wathching this online?

ironingbored

2.5Mb down and 42ms ping and still the rte streaming is ****e!