Wasps v Leinster Sat 17th 17:35

Erin Go Brath

http://www.planetrugby.com/Story/0,18259,3822_4786938,00.html

Thoughts and predictions for this one?

Leinster are going to be hungry and very up for it after losing last time out against Castres. Not sure which way to call this game. Should be a fascinating game. Potentially the game of the weekend.

toomevara

The most important game for Leinster in years? Wasps showing signs of coming on song, but still way below the standards they've previously set. Leinster struggling in key positions and with recent form. Match of the weekend for the neutral I reckon.

remus808

Erin Go Brath wrote: »

Leinster are going to be hungry and very up for it after losing last time out against Castres. .

Think its Wasps who are going to be hungry for this, if they've any pride at all they'll be furious after we embarrassed them in the RDS! No sweeter revenge than doing the same to us at HQ. Leinster being Leinster, I have a feeling we won't have the focus to come close to repeating that performance. Plus Wasps, true to form, have begun their post-christmas upswing in form, and looked pretty good beating a very good Quins team recently.

Hope Leinster prove their mettle and dont fold on us again (the stars are aligned for another historic choke), I don't know what happened to the team that consistently laid waste to the ML last season, but hopefully Cheika can get them back on track and put a performance together. Yes we've won, but we've been mostly poor. That won't be enough this time out..

My 22:

1. Healy [has yet to let us down and Wright has been toss lately]
2. Not sure what the hooker situation is, whether Jackman will be fit to start or fit to play at all.
3. CJ [hope he's fit, he has been a wrecking ball in the scrum when he gets going. looks like he's made of glass though, disappointing signing so far]
4. Cullen
5. Toner/O'Kelly [its a testament to Devin that this is a 50/50 call]
6. Elsom
7. O'Brien
8. Heaslip
9. Whitaker [ ]
10. Contepomi [I don't think he should be perserved with as our 10, but Nacewa was utter rubbish last week.]
11. Fitzgerald
12. Nacewa [I'm convinced we need to have this guy on the pitch, he looks incredible at times and really runs the show, but I don't trust him at 10]
13. O'Driscoll
14. Horgan [Could stick either of Keogh or D'Arcy in here either, but Horgan is a big game player and a natural winger (unlike Darce) and I'm hoping he'll produce the goods]
15. Kearney

16. Again, not sure of the hooker situation. Any one of Jackman, Fogarty or Ollie could be wearing 16.
17. Wright
18. O'Kelly/Toner
19. Keogh
20. Keogh
21. D'Arcy
22. Dempsey


If we don't step up for this one, it won't be the 41-11 drubbing that will be remembered by non-Leinster fans. (Cause we'll never forget )

anonymous_joe

Cannot wait for this one. Never been to Twickenham before. Should be epic.

In terms of the match, ignoring giddy excitement... It's going to be a tough one. Wasps are playing awful rugby this season, and to an extent, so are Leinster. Both teams desperately need to prove themselves, and it's probably going to come to a head in this clash.

Wasps in particular as a club are facing the loss of a lot of quality players, and if they don't make it into the QFs of the HC they'll probably struggle even more to keep those players. So they've a lot of motivation for this one. As for Leinster, a win could put us into the quarters, and if form could be discovered, Leinster easily have a squad capable of going for the title.

accensi0n

karmabass wrote: »

My 22:

1. Healy [has yet to let us down and Wright has been toss lately]
2. Not sure what the hooker situation is, whether Jackman will be fit to start or fit to play at all.
3. CJ [hope he's fit, he has been a wrecking ball in the scrum when he gets going. looks like he's made of glass though, disappointing signing so far]
4. Cullen
5. Toner/O'Kelly [its a testament to Devin that this is a 50/50 call]
6. Elsom
7. O'Brien
8. Heaslip
9. Whitaker [ ]
10. Contepomi [I don't think he should be perserved with as our 10, but Nacewa was utter rubbish last week.]
11. Fitzgerald
12. Nacewa [I'm convinced we need to have this guy on the pitch, he looks incredible at times and really runs the show, but I don't trust him at 10]
13. O'Driscoll
14. Horgan [Could stick either of Keogh or D'Arcy in here either, but Horgan is a big game player and a natural winger (unlike Darce) and I'm hoping he'll produce the goods]
15. Kearney

16. Again, not sure of the hooker situation. Any one of Jackman, Fogarty or Ollie could be wearing 16.
17. Wright
18. O'Kelly/Toner
19. Keogh
20. Keogh
21. D'Arcy
22. Dempsey


If we don't step up for this one, it won't be the 41-11 drubbing that will be remembered by non-Leinster fans. (Cause we'll never forget )

I really hope your 22 is picked, with both O'Driscoll and Nacewa being told to run and not kick and whitaker told to fling the f**king ball out.

remus808

accensi0n wrote: »

with both O'Driscoll and Nacewa being told to run and not kick

Amen to that, neither could kick the yolk off the egg I had for brekfast with any sort of regularity.

anonymous_joe

karmabass wrote: »

Amen to that, neither could kick the yolk off the egg I had for brekfast with any sort of regularity.

That does sound vaguely tricky for some reason.

RugbyFanatic

If we see the following the line up :
1.Healy
2.Jackman
3.CJ
4.Cullen
5.Toner
6.Rocky
7.O'Brien
8.Heaslip
9.Whitaker
10.Contepomi
11.Nacewa*
12.D'arcy*
13.O'Driscoll
14.Fitzgerald
15.Kearney

*interchangeable

Then I am confident we will win. Any other line up and I would start to get worried.

Erin Go Brath

toomevara wrote: »

The most important game for Leinster in years? Wasps showing signs of coming on song, but still way below the standards they've previously set. Leinster struggling in key positions and with recent form. Match of the weekend for the neutral I reckon.

I would say so. If they can win this Leinster should get a home QF and will silence a lot of critics who label them bottlers on the European stage. We will see what Leinster are made of this weekend when its really put up to them.

I hope we see a running game from Leinster, as thats when they are their best. Leinster may be content with a losing bp, but if they've any pretensions of winning the Cup, then this is the kind of game they need to win, and i think they can do it. Fascinating contest in store.

Rattlehead_ie

Nice 22 except for Fitz, I still not comfortable seeing him in that position either defending or attacking.

Sangre

RugbyFanatic wrote: »

If we see the following the line up :
1.Healy
2.Jackman
3.CJ
4.Cullen
5.Toner
6.Rocky
7.O'Brien
8.Heaslip
9.Whitaker
10.Contepomi
11.Nacewa*
12.D'arcy*
13.O'Driscoll
14.Fitzgerald
15.Kearney

*interchangeable

Then I am confident we will win. Any other line up and I would start to get worried.

Would love to see this team. I'd probably have Nacewa swap with D'arcy.
Wouldn't have any problems with horgan or keogh on either wing though, horgan is the ultimate big game player.

cmcsoft

Sangre wrote: »

Would love to see this team. I'd probably have Nacewa swap with D'arcy.
Wouldn't have any problems with horgan or keogh on either wing though, horgan is the ultimate big game player.

I think everyone would love to see this team but I reckon he will go with Fitzgerald over Darcy

RugbyFanatic

cmcsoft wrote: »

I think everyone would love to see this team but I reckon he will go with Fitzgerald over Darcy

Cheikas comments.....

"I think he (D'Arcy) is about getting ready to come back to the centre. He's had a look on the wing, got a feel for it. He's ready to come back in. It's a totally different role, and he's hungry for it (the centre): he keeps trying to switch himself in there at training every chance he gets. We'll see as the week goes on."


I reckon Cheika's definitely planning on using D'arcy as centre for Wasps.

I will cry however if Horgan takes Fitzgerald's place on the wing. Which knowing Cheika will probably happen

ironingbored

karmabass wrote: »

I don't know what happened to the team that consistently laid waste to the ML last season.

I think the problem with Leinster is the apparent indecision in both team selection and tactics.

We've had three different players at 10 so far this year and it's only January. Cheika has chopped and changed too much even when unnecessary. Coming into round 5 of the HC, we really should have the 9/10 axis nailed down.

Although Dr. Phil's kicking from hand is not his forte I don't think this is the game to leave Isa in.

Darcy looks slim, fit and enthusiatic and should be thrown in.

I agree Nacewa needs to be on the pitch and can switch positions during the game to keep wasps guessing.

Healy
Jackman (Even if only 70% fit)
VD Linde (read above)
Cullen
O'Kelly
Elsom
O'Brien
Heaslip

Whittaker
Contepomi

Fitzgerald
Darcy
O'Driscoll
Nacewa
Kearney

barnesd

CMON LEINSTER.

phog

I'll go with Leinster, they won their last too ML games by playing poorly so they need to up their game but I think that Wasps aren't the same team they were last year. Will the break last week-end help or hinder them, my gues hinder them, will playing in a larger and wider field like Twickenham help Leinster, yes it should if they can get their backs moving.

Leinster by 7 points at least.

barnesd

Could be a bit of mind games, but Wasps website currently claiming Shaw and Worsley could be out. We'll probably see both of them, and Ibanez starting. Rees and Palmer are definitely gone, along with John Hart (their backup 8 as far as I know). If they were missing all those players their pack is in trouble. Remains to be seen.

For about the first time in a couple of seasons Leinster seem to have a clean bill of health. Blaney not in the squad at all suggests to me that Jackman is fit, and the injury that forced CJ off against Cardiff has been described as minor.

Crash

Happier as well that we're not stuck playing in front of a 10,000 strong home crowd in Adams park.

[Jackass]

Absolutely no two ways about it. The Heineken Cup final is on this saturday, it's being hosted in Twickenham and it's between Leinster and Wasps.

This is a massive game, the biggest game since that dark day back in 2006 ( ), it's time for Leinster to arrive and really raise our game. This is the season defining moment. This decides everything. We've dragged oursleves back into contention in the league, we're coming into the international break, if this goes right on Saturday (and not taking anything for granted the following weekend) we are in a superb position to come back after the break and it's on, everything to play for.

Yeah, sure we can get a losing bonus and still go through, but we wont get a home quarter and if we REALLY want to put our European credentials on the table, now is the time to step up, knock out one of the biggest sides in Europe and march on to Edinburgh.

Cheika and Gaffney need to get the sh*t together in training, I want this team fighting eachother to get off that bus and onto the pitch. I want to see a Leinster team so fu*king up for this that Wasps will feel the intensity from the first kick of the ball to the last.

I'm praying injuries come through and I reckon team should be:
1. Healy
2. Jackman
3. Van Der Linde
4. Cullen
5. O'Kelly
6. Elsom
7. O'Brien
8. Heaslip

9. Whitaker
10. Contepomi
11. Fitzgerald
12. D'Arcy
13. O'Driscoll
14. Nacewa
15. Kearney

16. Fogarty 17. Wright 18. Toner 19. Jennings / Keogh 20. Keogh 21. Horgan 22. Dempsey

O'Kelly to start. The man is a time machiene, the peter pan of rugby if you will, he is the cool head in a pack that needs serious composure and direction. With Cullen back we have two great leaders in the thick of it. Up front the only debate is which side to start CJ on. At lose head he absolutely tore the sh*t out of the Cardiff scrum, but Healy can't play tight, so that would mean Stan to start. But on the balance of the front row, a Healy / CJ combo offers a lot and Healy is ready. Back row, O'Brien to start regardless of Jennings suspension appeal. The man is a legend in the making. Heaslip has been quiet all season, this is the type of game he can step up in, his power, pace and ability can not be denied. Get him so motivated and focused this weekend that he crashes the ball up the line all night, have him hungry for physical action and work. He's a man to have a one on one chat this week in training, get him fierd up. Elsom - don't even need to comment.

Toner can come into the game around the hour mark, the most out of Mal, Toner has been reliable and perfect time for him to come in and be aggressive and up the tempo levels again.

Keogh on the bench can cover scrum half and is also a great option for the wing. Horgan & Dempsey are great options to have also to inject a different element to the game plan.

With the team I can see the argument for Nacewa at 12, but I just can't resist that back 3 of Nacewa, Kearney & Fitzgerald. ANY ball kicked losely to these guys and they are lethal in broken field play and all great finishers to come on to the end of moves. At centre, D'Arcy & O'Driscoll has been around as long as Batman and Robin. The lads are powerhouses, solid as a rock in defence, will catch any player out that gets isolated and have skills and vision to create something from nothing in a tight midfield. The perfect partnership for this game.

Contepomi at 10 is the most valid option. He can still run through gaps from there and still create space with cheeky offloads and can control the game well. On this mans shoulders rests the hopes of a province. If he has his head in the game and is lethal as he can be and brings his kicking boots, we will win this game.

Whitaker at 9 needs to be told to pay attention at rook time, make quick decisions, trust the players around him to just get stuck in, dig the ball out and whip away the pass. Don't worry about everyone else, they know their jobs, just get it out of there and get it out quick.


Massive game and I can't wait!!!

COME ON LEINSTER!!!

ALH-06

[Jackass] wrote: »

Absolutely no two ways about it. The Heineken Cup final is on this saturday, it's being hosted in Twickenham and it's between Leinster and Wasps.

This is a massive game, the biggest game since that dark day back in 2006 ( ), it's time for Leinster to arrive and really raise our game. This is the season defining moment. This decides everything. We've dragged oursleves back into contention in the league, we're coming into the international break, if this goes right on Saturday (and not taking anything for granted the following weekend) we are in a superb position to come back after the break and it's on, everything to play for.

Yeah, sure we can get a losing bonus and still go through, but we wont get a home quarter and if we REALLY want to put our European credentials on the table, now is the time to step up, knock out one of the biggest sides in Europe and march on to Edinburgh.

Cheika and Gaffney need to get the sh*t together in training, I want this team fighting eachother to get off that bus and onto the pitch. I want to see a Leinster team so fu*king up for this that Wasps will feel the intensity from the first kick of the ball to the last.

I'm praying injuries come through and I reckon team should be:
1. Healy
2. Jackman
3. Van Der Linde
4. Cullen
5. O'Kelly
6. Elsom
7. O'Brien
8. Heaslip

9. Whitaker
10. Contepomi
11. Fitzgerald
12. D'Arcy
13. O'Driscoll
14. Nacewa
15. Kearney

16. Fogarty 17. Wright 18. Toner 19. Jennings / Keogh 20. Keogh 21. Horgan 22. Dempsey

O'Kelly to start. The man is a time machiene, the peter pan of rugby if you will, he is the cool head in a pack that needs serious composure and direction. With Cullen back we have two great leaders in the thick of it. Up front the only debate is which side to start CJ on. At lose head he absolutely tore the sh*t out of the Cardiff scrum, but Healy can't play tight, so that would mean Stan to start. But on the balance of the front row, a Healy / CJ combo offers a lot and Healy is ready. Back row, O'Brien to start regardless of Jennings suspension appeal. The man is a legend in the making. Heaslip has been quiet all season, this is the type of game he can step up in, his power, pace and ability can not be denied. Get him so motivated and focused this weekend that he crashes the ball up the line all night, have him hungry for physical action and work. He's a man to have a one on one chat this week in training, get him fierd up. Elsom - don't even need to comment.

Toner can come into the game around the hour mark, the most out of Mal, Toner has been reliable and perfect time for him to come in and be aggressive and up the tempo levels again.

Keogh on the bench can cover scrum half and is also a great option for the wing. Horgan & Dempsey are great options to have also to inject a different element to the game plan.

With the team I can see the argument for Nacewa at 12, but I just can't resist that back 3 of Nacewa, Kearney & Fitzgerald. ANY ball kicked losely to these guys and they are lethal in broken field play and all great finishers to come on to the end of moves. At centre, D'Arcy & O'Driscoll has been around as long as Batman and Robin. The lads are powerhouses, solid as a rock in defence, will catch any player out that gets isolated and have skills and vision to create something from nothing in a tight midfield. The perfect partnership for this game.

Contepomi at 10 is the most valid option. He can still run through gaps from there and still create space with cheeky offloads and can control the game well. On this mans shoulders rests the hopes of a province. If he has his head in the game and is lethal as he can be and brings his kicking boots, we will win this game.

Whitaker at 9 needs to be told to pay attention at rook time, make quick decisions, trust the players around him to just get stuck in, dig the ball out and whip away the pass. Don't worry about everyone else, they know their jobs, just get it out of there and get it out quick.


Massive game and I can't wait!!!

COME ON LEINSTER!!!

Great post Jackass, there's nothing there I don't agree with.

9. Whitaker
10. Dr Phil
11. Fitz
12. Darce
13. BOD
14. Nacewa
15. Super Rob

Jesus that backline looks absolutely amazing (with the unfortunate but unavoidable exception of 9) If Dr Phil get's it clicking it'll be absolute art in motion.

I can't believe Keogh hasn't been given a shot at 9 yet. He's a good player, has impressed for Leinster this season but will never dislodge the incumbent wingers. Meanwhile, Whitaker and Keane are both kack. Leinster's Achilles heel...

remus808

[Jackass] wrote: »

Absolutely no two ways about it. The Heineken Cup final is on this saturday

Sorry???

I agree about Keogh being tried at SH... except the fact that it hasn't happened yet suggests he isn't good enough.

remus808

FORWARDS (14): Cian Healy, Stan Wright, Bernard Jackman, John Fogarty, Ollie le Roux, CJ van der Linde, Leo Cullen, Devin Toner, Trevor Hogan, Malcolm O'Kelly, Rocky Elsom, Stephen Keogh, Sean O'Brien, Jamie Heaslip

BACKS (12): Chris Keane, Chris Whitaker, Isa Nacewa, Jonathan Sexton, Gordon D'Arcy, Simon Keogh, Felipe Contepomi, Luke Fitzgerald, Brian O'Driscoll, Shane Horgan, Girvan Dempsey, Rob Kearney

I would guess that Le Roux is there to cover CJ at prop rather than Jackman, as if that was the case Blaney would have been named?

Podge_irl

[Jackass] wrote: »

I'm praying injuries come through and I reckon team should be:
1. Healy
2. Jackman
3. Van Der Linde
4. Cullen
5. O'Kelly
6. Elsom
7. O'Brien
8. Heaslip

9. Whitaker
10. Contepomi
11. Fitzgerald
12. D'Arcy
13. O'Driscoll
14. Nacewa
15. Kearney

16. Fogarty 17. Wright 18. Toner 19. Jennings / Keogh 20. Keogh 21. Horgan 22. Dempsey

Jennings is still suspended. Good squad apart from that though, might be happier to see Horgan start rather then Fitzgerald.

Edit: Never mind, I see Cheika is intending to appeal the suspension. Seems a bit silly.

Sparky14

I'd agree with Jackass' selection, except wud like to see Le Roux on the bench instead of Fogarty. Great impact sub off the bench for last 20 mins, can clear out rucks by himself, tho if jackman is a doubt might be safer to hav Fogarty there. Would like to see Keogh given a chance at SH, but shud hav been done before now.

Danger_Dave

RugbyFanatic wrote: »

I will cry however if Horgan takes Fitzgerald's place on the wing. Which knowing Cheika will probably happen

Why ? , Fitzgerald has been playing poorly for last few weeks, poor passing, few missed tackles. Mainly under or over cooking his passes. Looks like a general dip in form which we've been seeing in the entire leinster team.

remus808

Danger_Dave wrote: »

Why ? , Fitzgerald has been playing poorly for last few weeks, poor passing, few missed tackles. Mainly under or over cooking his passes. Looks like a general dip in form which we've been seeing in the entire leinster team.

In fairness, he has been playing out of position.

And whoever said to include Le Roux ahead of Fogarty.. god no!!! The thought of Ollie throwing into the lineout again fills me with dread. Have him as the sub prop maybe, but hooker no!

phog

Sparky14 wrote: »

I'd agree with Jackass' selection, except wud like to see Le Roux on the bench instead of Fogarty. Great impact sub off the bench for last 20 mins, can clear out rucks by himself, tho if jackman is a doubt might be safer to hav Fogarty there. Would like to see Keogh given a chance at SH, but shud hav been done before now.

That's fine in theory but what happens if he has to go on after a few minutes, is there 70 odd minutes of H/Cup rugby in him?

barnesd

Sorry guys, if we have a full hand to pick from Le Roux shouldn't be involved. Much like Holwell he was brought in as cover and Fogarty or Healy should not lose out because he's around.

remus808

barnesd wrote: »

Sorry guys, if we have a full hand to pick from Le Roux shouldn't be involved. Much like Holwell he was brought in as cover and Fogarty or Healy should not lose out because he's around.

Well Cheika seems to think otherwise, having put him in the squad ahead of Blaney (if its Jackman he's worried about) or McCormack (if it's CJ)

RugbyFanatic

In fairness its very beneficial to have someone like Ollie Le Roux travelling with the squad for such a big game.

dub_skav

karmabass wrote: »

Well Cheika seems to think otherwise, having put him in the squad ahead of Blaney (if its Jackman he's worried about) or McCormack (if it's CJ)

That's an extended squad with 3 props, 2 hookers plus Ollie. So it looks like jackman is good to start but they're not sure how long he'll last. No decisions made yet by Cheika - well except that Blaney is out

crisco10

RugbyFanatic wrote: »

In fairness its very beneficial to have someone like Ollie Le Roux travelling with the squad for such a big game.

He can still do that as a "consultant" or whatever he was before Christmas when he was here.

Kick to the teeth for Blaney really. Wouldn't be surprised to see him look for rugby elsewhere soon..it has shown him where MC rates him..

crisco10

[Jackass] wrote: »

Absolutely no two ways about it. The Heineken Cup final is on this saturday, it's being hosted in Twickenham and it's between Leinster and Wasps.

This is a massive game, the biggest game since that dark day back in 2006 ( ), it's time for Leinster to arrive and really raise our game. This is the season defining moment. This decides everything. We've dragged oursleves back into contention in the league, we're coming into the international break, if this goes right on Saturday (and not taking anything for granted the following weekend) we are in a superb position to come back after the break and it's on, everything to play for.

Yeah, sure we can get a losing bonus and still go through, but we wont get a home quarter and if we REALLY want to put our European credentials on the table, now is the time to step up, knock out one of the biggest sides in Europe and march on to Edinburgh.

Cheika and Gaffney need to get the sh*t together in training, I want this team fighting eachother to get off that bus and onto the pitch. I want to see a Leinster team so fu*king up for this that Wasps will feel the intensity from the first kick of the ball to the last.

I'm praying injuries come through and I reckon team should be:
1. Healy
2. Jackman
3. Van Der Linde
4. Cullen
5. O'Kelly
6. Elsom
7. O'Brien
8. Heaslip

9. Whitaker
10. Contepomi
11. Fitzgerald
12. D'Arcy
13. O'Driscoll
14. Nacewa
15. Kearney

16. Fogarty 17. Wright 18. Toner 19. Jennings / Keogh 20. Keogh 21. Horgan 22. Dempsey

O'Kelly to start. The man is a time machiene, the peter pan of rugby if you will, he is the cool head in a pack that needs serious composure and direction. With Cullen back we have two great leaders in the thick of it. Up front the only debate is which side to start CJ on. At lose head he absolutely tore the sh*t out of the Cardiff scrum, but Healy can't play tight, so that would mean Stan to start. But on the balance of the front row, a Healy / CJ combo offers a lot and Healy is ready. Back row, O'Brien to start regardless of Jennings suspension appeal. The man is a legend in the making. Heaslip has been quiet all season, this is the type of game he can step up in, his power, pace and ability can not be denied. Get him so motivated and focused this weekend that he crashes the ball up the line all night, have him hungry for physical action and work. He's a man to have a one on one chat this week in training, get him fierd up. Elsom - don't even need to comment.

Toner can come into the game around the hour mark, the most out of Mal, Toner has been reliable and perfect time for him to come in and be aggressive and up the tempo levels again.

Keogh on the bench can cover scrum half and is also a great option for the wing. Horgan & Dempsey are great options to have also to inject a different element to the game plan.

With the team I can see the argument for Nacewa at 12, but I just can't resist that back 3 of Nacewa, Kearney & Fitzgerald. ANY ball kicked losely to these guys and they are lethal in broken field play and all great finishers to come on to the end of moves. At centre, D'Arcy & O'Driscoll has been around as long as Batman and Robin. The lads are powerhouses, solid as a rock in defence, will catch any player out that gets isolated and have skills and vision to create something from nothing in a tight midfield. The perfect partnership for this game.

Contepomi at 10 is the most valid option. He can still run through gaps from there and still create space with cheeky offloads and can control the game well. On this mans shoulders rests the hopes of a province. If he has his head in the game and is lethal as he can be and brings his kicking boots, we will win this game.

Whitaker at 9 needs to be told to pay attention at rook time, make quick decisions, trust the players around him to just get stuck in, dig the ball out and whip away the pass. Don't worry about everyone else, they know their jobs, just get it out of there and get it out quick.


Massive game and I can't wait!!!

COME ON LEINSTER!!!

Stunning post. Can you give the lads their pep talk on Saturday?

Sangre

crisco10 wrote: »

He can still do that as a "consultant" or whatever he was before Christmas when he was here.

Kick to the teeth for Blaney really. Wouldn't be surprised to see him look for rugby elsewhere soon..it has shown him where MC rates him..

Blaney might have a complaint if he actually deserved to be starting.

anonymous_joe

Yay my tickets arrived in the post today.

yeraulone

Anyone know if its possible to buy tickets at the door?

barnesd

Apparently so but they're 45 pounds.

twinytwo

anonymous_joe wrote: »

Cannot wait for this one. Never been to Twickenham before. Should be epic.

In terms of the match, ignoring giddy excitement... It's going to be a tough one. Wasps are playing awful rugby this season, and to an extent, so are Leinster. Both teams desperately need to prove themselves, and it's probably going to come to a head in this clash.

Wasps in particular as a club are facing the loss of a lot of quality players, and if they don't make it into the QFs of the HC they'll probably struggle even more to keep those players. So they've a lot of motivation for this one. As for Leinster, a win could put us into the quarters, and if form could be discovered, Leinster easily have a squad capable of going for the title.

Only because players like cips who at 21 thinks he should get paid the same as some of the senior players. As for leinster if they keep the basics solid and only the kickers kick then leinster should win its not as if they dont have the players.. With Phil Drico Darce Horgan and Kearney they should be able to rip any defence to bits.:cool:

barnesd

Wasps have won 5 of their last 6, the loss was the game where they had to rest all their internationals.

Rumours are Nacewa is starting at 10, Fitz & Horgan on the wings, D'Arcy on the bench.

[Jackass]

No source yet, but apperantly Jennings ban will be lifted for Saturday.

Also, looks like between 7,000 - 10,000 Leinster fans will be making the trip to London this weekend.

http://www.irishrugby.ie/22_15689.php?PHPSESSID=bea0185c7c21e17847ff2d99c6cb29c7

Jennings cleared to play,can someone please elaborate on why.I dont understand their reasoning.

On a separate note,i will be dissapointed if he starts.He is not the player he was in England and has been a massive dissapointment for me anyway.I would prefer O'Brien to start.

[Jackass]

Was just about to post in link, up on Leinster rugby now

http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/newsroom/3121.php

Jennings received a three week suspension for striking Connacht second row Andrew Farley during the second half of the Leinster v Connacht Magners League game.

The three man IRFU Appeal Committee found that under the Magners League Tournament Rules and particularly the Disciplinary Rules therein that no jurisdiction is given to a disciplinary committee to investigate a citing complaint of a citing commissioner appointed under those rules.

As a result the appeal of Shane Jennings is allowed and the suspension lifted.

Shane Jennings is free to play from this point on.

He was banned by the IRFU, who did not cite Jennings, the ML official did, and as the ML has jurisdiction with the IRFU the ban has been dropped ... interesting, didn't realise the interpro's were outside of the laws of ML, but there ya go! Technicality.

phog

Good news of sorts for Jennings but very amatuerish of the IRFU and Celtic Rugby. Could this also mean a free for all in future Inter-Pros?

barnesd

phog wrote: »

Good news of sorts for Jennings but very amatuerish of the IRFU and Celtic Rugby. Could this also mean a free for all in future Inter-Pros?

There's been a free-for-all in all previous interpros so future ones won't be any different. The best thing they can do is keep getting in the likes of Chris White and Wayne Barnes (who took the Munster-Leinster games last season) to keep things under control.

RuggieBear

phog wrote: »

Good news of sorts for Jennings but very amatuerish of the IRFU and Celtic Rugby. Could this also mean a free for all in future Inter-Pros?

agreed. very English union'ish..."big name" player gets banned and it's overturned on a ****ing technicality.

I consider myself a fairly literate person and I still after reading this 100 times,cannot figure out what they are saying.

Am I stupid?

"The three-man IRFU Appeal Committee found that under the Magners League Tournament Rules and particularly the Disciplinary Rules therein that no jurisdiction is given to a disciplinary committee to investigate a citing complaint of a citing commissioner appointed under those rules.

From reading this I understand that no player can ever be banned by a disciplinary committee because they cannot investigate citings from magners league people,because the magners league citing commisioners have no juristriction

wtf

barnesd

Trust me, you're not the only one having difficulty.

Stev_o

Bloody disgraceful. IRB wants to clean its image of rugby and violence and ref's have come down considerably hard on such things and then this happens??? IRFU going down the road of the RFU disgraceful!

RugbyFanatic

From reading posts on LF.com apparently the following backline was seen lining up the last few days for training in ucd :

9.Whitaker
10.Contepomi
11.Nacewa
12.Fitzgerald
13.O'Driscoll
14.Horgan
15.Kearney

Podge_irl

That ruling could mean bad things going forward with regards the interpros. Up to now there have been very few citings/bannings because it seemed to be under the remit of the home union, but if the ML citing procedures now take precedence for the interpro games there could be more bannings and less leniancy given to prominent players (which is not a bad thing per se, but could end up coming back to haunt Leinster).

barnesd

RugbyFanatic wrote: »

From reading posts on LF.com apparently the following backline was seen lining up the last few days for training in ucd :

9.Whitaker
10.Contepomi
11.Nacewa
12.Fitzgerald
13.O'Driscoll
14.Horgan
15.Kearney

Eh, don't think that's the backline that was posted. Fitz on the wing and Nacewa at 10.