Leinster name squad for quins

robgloster

The Leinster squad to face Harlequins in Sunday afternoon's Heineken Cup Quarter Final in The Twickenham Stoop (KO: 3.30pm) has been named.

Brian O'Driscoll and Luke Fitzgerald are named in the panel for the first Heineken Cup meeting between the two teams.

The Ireland duo feature in an experienced squad which includes Shane Horgan who, alongside O'Driscoll (this year's joint leading try-scorer with 4), is one try short of scoring 25 Heineken Cup tries.

Shane Jennings, Malcolm O'Kelly, Leo Cullen and Rocky Elsom are named amongst a strong forward contingent. In all there are 12 Ireland internationals in the squad.

In excess of 3,000 Leinster supporters from Ireland and across the U.K. and Europe are expected to make the trip to London this weekend.

Leinster squad to face Harlequins

Forwards (14): Cian Healy, Ronan McCormack, Bernard Jackman, John Fogarty, Ollie le Roux, Stan Wright, Leo Cullen, Trevor Hogan, Malcolm O'Kelly, Rocky Elsom, Cameron Jowitt, Shane Jennings, Sean O'Brien, Jamie Heaslip

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

Match Officials
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Ass. Refs: Nigel Whitehouse (Wales), Hugh Watkins (Wales)
Assessor: Patrick Robin (France)
TMO: Roy Marfleet (England), Derek Bevan (Wales)

robgloster

looks weak:D

Otacon

Any word on who's actually starting?

remus808

No CJ!!! We badly needed him for this game: Quins scrum ran rampage last weekend, got a penalty try and even got one against the head on their 5m line when they only had 7 in the scrum.

Otacon wrote: »

Any word on who's actually starting?

I think it might be:

1. Healy
2. Jackman
3. Wright
4. O'Kelly
5. Cullen
6. Rocky
7. Jennings
8. Heaslip
9. Whitaker
10. Sexton
11. Fitzgerald
12. Contepomi
13. O'Driscoll
14. D'Arcy
15. Kearney

16. Fogarty
17. Le Roux
18. Jowitt
19. O'Brien
20. O'Donoghue
21. Horgan/Keogh
22. Nacewa

stephen_n

karmabass wrote: »

No CJ!!! We badly needed him for this game: Quins scrum ran rampage last weekend, got a penalty try and even got one against the head on their 5m line when they only had 7 in the scrum.



I think it might be:

1. Healy
2. Jackman
3. Wright
4. O'Kelly
5. Cullen
6. Rocky
7. Jennings
8. Heaslip
9. Whitaker
10. Sexton
11. Fitzgerald
12. Contepomi
13. O'Driscoll
14. D'Arcy
15. Kearney

16. Fogarty
17. Le Roux
18. Jowitt
19. O'Brien
20. O'Donoghue
21. Horgan/Keogh
22. Nacewa

Given Cheika's selections so far I doubt sexton will start and would imagine Darcy will be 12 not 14, with Horgan at 14! Also Jackman is carrying an injury so he may not start even if he is included in the extended squad!

robgloster

We need the front row to last at least 70. Ollie Le Roux only has 10mins in him at best but i think Healy will easly hold his own

funky penguin

Yeah CJ's absence doesn't really bother me.

Besides, if he started, he'd probably limp off after 10 mins. Healy deserves to start this.

stephen_n

funky penguin wrote: »

Yeah CJ's absence doesn't really bother me.

Besides, if he started, he'd probably limp off after 10 mins. Healy deserves to start this.

On current form I don't think it would be Healy making way for CJ!

barnesd

POD isn't in the squad so I doubt he'll be making the bench.

I can imagine Dempsey starting this. The Leinster defence went to **** when he went off against Munster. Kearney did so badly for the Earls try, Cheika won't ignore that imo.

anonymous_joe

This could be a game for Kearney's counter-attacking, he's looked a bit off form lately, but I'm hoping for him to step up a level this weekend.

Podge_irl

Disappointed not to see POD in the squad, other then that more or less as expected. Would expect to see McCormack and Keane to drop out of the squad. Sexton may well have to be dropped from it. Hopefully Jowitt is too, but I can see Cheika dropping O'Brien instead

1. Healy
2. Jackman
3. Wright
4. Cullen
5. O'Kelly
6. Elsom
7. Jennings
8. Heaslip
9. Whitaker
10. Contempomi
11. Fitzgerald
12. D'Arcy
13. O'Driscoll
14. Horgan/Nacewa
15. Kearney

16. Fogarty
17. LeRoux
18. Hogan
19. O'Brien (or Jowitt)
20. Keogh/Keane
21. Nacewa
22. Dempsey

I can't unfortunately see Sexton starting even if he is available. It's bloody tough to know what's going to happen with the backs to be honest. I think I'd rather have Keogh on the bench then Keane (though I'd rather have POD then either). Dempsey may lose out instead considering Nacewa and Fitz can both cover full back.

Stev_o

anonymous_joe wrote: »

This could be a game for Kearney's counter-attacking, he's looked a bit off form lately, but I'm hoping for him to step up a level this weekend.

I doubt it, i think he has lost alot of confidence since playing in the 6N (Which is the complete opposite to every other player i know). He went into the 6N in fine form and had some storming runs against teams and then he seemed to fade under the burden of international duty so i dunno. That and i very much doubt this Quins defence will be giving Leinster a great deal of space. The only place i think Leinster will be comfortable and should target is the line out which Quins aren't terribly strong at.

Timothy Bryce

anonymous_joe wrote: »

This could be a game for Kearney's counter-attacking, he's looked a bit off form lately, but I'm hoping for him to step up a level this weekend.

Will he end up on the wing again? Because he was fcuking dire playing there on Saturday last.

barnesd

Timothy Bryce wrote: »

Will he end up on the wing again? Because he was fcuking dire playing there on Saturday last.

Can't see him on the wing with Fitz back, it'll be FB or bench.

LeeroyJones

Kearney must start 15, he's one of the best Full-Backs , if not the best, in the Northern Hemisphere. Ideally, if Sexton is available, I would have the same backline as chosen by karmabass above. I wouldn't bank on it though!

funky penguin

Yeah, but if Cheika picks on form (*sigh*), then Dempsey should start at FB. Might give Kearney at bit of a wake up call. ie. numbers are never tattooed.

anonymous_joe

Stev_o wrote: »

I doubt it, i think he has lost alot of confidence since playing in the 6N (Which is the complete opposite to every other player i know). He went into the 6N in fine form and had some storming runs against teams and then he seemed to fade under the burden of international duty so i dunno. That and i very much doubt this Quins defence will be giving Leinster a great deal of space. The only place i think Leinster will be comfortable and should target is the line out which Quins aren't terribly strong at.

I don't disagree with you sadly.

Two good teams are going at each other, but Leinster are definitely struggling for form.

Timothy Bryce wrote: »

Will he end up on the wing again? Because he was fcuking dire playing there on Saturday last.

He's never been fantastic on the wing, but I hope Saturday was a one off.

LeeroyJones wrote: »

Kearney must start 15, he's one of the best Full-Backs , if not the best, in the Northern Hemisphere. Ideally, if Sexton is available, I would have the same backline as chosen by karmabass above. I wouldn't bank on it though!

In fairness he's off form, and needs a confidence boost from somewhere. Would hope Cheika's talking to him and helping him through this. Or Gaffney or someone.

Jello

Tbh I think Kearney was instructed to kick rather than run in the 6N, as we didn't see much counter-attacking at all from any of the backs, they just kicked again and again. Back at Leinster though, Kearney should have much more of a licence to run the ball from deep.

I wouldn't say he's lost a lot of form or confidence, just Kidney had him playing different to the way he normally plays at Leinster. And by reading some of the above posts you'd think he had a disastrous 6N, far from it imo. OK he was poor last weekend, but hopefully that was a once off.

bleg

he was poor against wales too though. hopefully it's a blip and not a downward slump

padser

Given Cheika's current form I have no doubt he will manage to pick a fcuking dire team. With such amazing options for the backs I don't understand why he insists on playing people out of position.

If I was picking the team

1 - 9 as Karmabass (with O Brien to come on for MOK / Cullen on 50/60)

10 - Dr Phil
11 - Horgan / Nacewa (can't make up my mind - pro's and cons for both)
12 - Darcy
13 - BOD
14 - Fitz
15 - Kearney

phog

Jello wrote: »

Tbh I think Kearney was instructed to kick rather than run in the 6N, as we didn't see much counter-attacking at all from any of the backs, they just kicked again and again. Back at Leinster though, Kearney should have much more of a licence to run the ball from deep.

I wouldn't say he's lost a lot of form or confidence, just Kidney had him playing different to the way he normally plays at Leinster. And by reading some of the above posts you'd think he had a disastrous 6N, far from it imo. OK he was poor last weekend, but hopefully that was a once off.

Whether he was instructed to or not whenever he did kick he never really put any pressure on the catcher, particularly against Wales, something he was doing in the run in to the 6Ns.

BTW, best of luck on Sunday.

bleg

who's back up out half now? can anybody kick at goals if contepomi goes missing again?

sock puppet

bleg wrote: »

who's back up out half now? can anybody kick at goals if contepomi goes missing again?

Nacewa probably:(

bleg

evans vs contepomi

uh oh

Podge_irl

Nacewa is the only other "outhalf" in the squad. Either himself or Kearney will kick if Conters has to go off. Not an idea situation, but its Sexton's own fault. Mind you, going on past form, even if Conters was kicking like crap they still wouldn't have given Sexton a chance anyway.

barnesd

Podge_irl wrote: »

Mind you, going on past form, even if Conters was kicking like crap they still wouldn't have given Sexton a chance anyway.

Was thinking that myself. In a strange way I'd say this has taken a bit of weight of Cheika's mind because it removes any situation where he might have to make a tough decision. Sexton has been treated like crap in the HEC this season.