Leinster team to face Harlequins.

barnesd

LEINSTER:

15: Rob Kearney
14: Isa Nacewa
13: Brian O’Driscoll
12: Gordon D’Arcy
11: Luke Fitzgerald
10: Felipe Contepomi
9: Chris Whitaker

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

REPLACEMENTS:

16: John Fogarty
17: Ronan McCormack
18: Trevor Hogan
19: Sean O’Brien
20: Simon Keogh
21: Jonathan Sexton / Girvan Dempsey**
22: Shane Horgan

remus808

Happy with the starting team, bench looks weak enough though: only O'Brien and Keogh really offer impact. Would have Toner ahead of Hogan, I don't understand what Toner has done to drop down in MC's estimation lately. Hope Birch can last 60+

padser

Like it. MC has stayed away from his usual antics.

You could for Horgan for Nacewa, or O Brien for one of the locks with Elsom in the second row but all in all I think this is the strongest side available.

remus808

1 CERI JONES
2 GARY BOTHA
3 MIKE ROSS
4 JAMES PERCIVAL
5 GEORGE ROBSON
6 CHRIS ROBSHAW
7 WILL SKINNER (CAPT)
8 NICK EASTER
9 DANNY CARE
10 NICK EVANS
11 UGO MONYE
12 JORDAN TURNER-HALL
13 GONZALO TIESI
14 DAVID STRETTLE
15 MIKE BROWN

16 TANI FUGA
17 MARK LAMBERT
18 JIM EVANS
19 TOM GUEST
20 ANDY GOMARSALL
21 CHRIS MALONE
22 TOM WILLIAMS

Starting XV as expected, don't know they're squad well enough to comment on the bench. To be honest, man-to-man.. actually wait think I'l conduct a comparison before I make a bold statement like that..

wixfjord

Leinsters strongest team imo. Very happy to see keogh on the bench as sh, however he hasnt played there at all this season. I think cheiks selection policy this year has been strange at best, but this at least has been rectified.
Some huge match ups especially in the back row jennings needs to keep skinner quiet. Also in monye strettle and turner hall quins have incisive backs so leinsters defence needs to be better than last week.
Hopefully whitaker can use some of his experience to rile up care as hes a different player when he sees red and a big yellow card liability.
Should be tough and if im honest im expecting a quins win but what i wouldnt give for leinster to click. Come on you boys in blue getting nervous already!

remus808

1: Cian Healy v Ceri Jones (not sure- adv leinster everywhere but scrumtime surely? healy is in great form)
2: Bernard Jackman v Gary Botha (again, not sure - but Botha is a capped Springbok and Birch is carrying an injury so adv quins?)
3: Stan Wright v Mike Ross (adv harlequins, ross in great form and dismantled Barf's scrum last weekend)
4: Leo Cullen v James Percival (adv leinster)
5: Malcolm O’Kelly v George Robson (adv leinster)
6: Rocky Elsom v Chris Robshaw (adv leinster)
7: Shane Jennings v Will Skinner (adv harlequins methinks)
8: Jamie Heaslip v Nick Easter (even? both very good players, tho Heaslip was unreal in the 6N)
9: Chris Whitaker v Danny Care (adv quins x10000, Care makes them tick)
10: Felipe Contepomi v Nick Evans (adv quins.. conters really needs to turn up)
11: Luke Fitzgerald v Ugo Monye (adv leinster, but close enough, monye is good)
12: Gordon D’Arcy v Jordan Turner-Hall (JTH is a usefull player, but dosen't have Darces class or experience)
13: Brian O’Driscoll v Gonzalo Tiese (adv leinster, player of the 6n...)
14: Isa Nacewa v David Strettle (nacewa isn't at his best but neither is strettle.. adv leinster)
15: Rob Kearney v Mike Brown (adv leinster)

I make that somewhere between 8-4 and 8-6 to us, which I think is a fair enough assessment*. Also, anyone think BOD should have been reinstated as captain after the 6N? Cullen hasn't had a good season with injury and form

* on the condition Leinster show up that is; if they don't, Quins have been good enough this year to tear us a new one.. Especially at the Stoop.

barnesd

thomond2006 wrote: »

Nacewa on the wing after his "performance" at TP?, LOL x 10000

Maybe Cheika is related to Stan, they both have a penchant for picking sh1te teams. :D

You are extremely irritating.

wixfjord

karmabass wrote: »

1: Cian Healy v Ceri Jones (not sure- adv leinster everywhere but scrumtime surely? healy is in great form)
2: Bernard Jackman v Gary Botha (again, not sure - but Botha is a capped Springbok and Birch is carrying an injury so adv quins?)
3: Stan Wright v Mike Ross (adv harlequins, ross in great form and dismantled Barf's scrum last weekend)
4: Leo Cullen v James Percival (adv leinster)
5: Malcolm O’Kelly v George Robson (adv leinster)
6: Rocky Elsom v Chris Robshaw (adv leinster)
7: Shane Jennings v Will Skinner (adv harlequins methinks)
8: Jamie Heaslip v Nick Easter (even? both very good players, tho Heaslip was unreal in the 6N)
9: Chris Whitaker v Danny Care (adv quins x10000, Care makes them tick)
10: Felipe Contepomi v Nick Evans (adv quins.. conters really needs to turn up)
11: Luke Fitzgerald v Ugo Monye (adv leinster, but close enough, monye is good)
12: Gordon D’Arcy v Jordan Turner-Hall (JTH is a usefull player, but dosen't have Darces class or experience)
13: Brian O’Driscoll v Gonzalo Tiese (adv leinster, player of the 6n...)
14: Isa Nacewa v David Strettle (nacewa isn't at his best but neither is strettle.. adv leinster)
15: Rob Kearney v Mike Brown (adv leinster)

I make that somewhere between 8-4 and 8-6 to us, which I think is a fair enough assessment*. Also, anyone think BOD should have been reinstated as captain after the 6N? Cullen hasn't had a good season with injury and form

* on the condition Leinster show up that is; if they don't, Quins have been good enough this year to tear us a new one.. Especially at the Stoop.

I rate strettle as one of the best wingers in europe and I am expecting a big game if he gets going. Has been unlucky with injuries since 07 but a great strike runner and nacewa may have a few problems on his hands.

The 9/10 battle will be crucial and if leinster can draw parity it could be key,
but Skinner is the man that needs to be targeted and the back rows should also be a great battle! Cant wait!

wixfjord

thomond2006 wrote: »

Nacewa on the wing after his "performance" at TP?, LOL x 10000

Maybe Cheika is related to Stan, they both have a penchant for picking sh1te teams. :D

Serious question: What age are you?

Not wanting to drag the thread off topic just a one word answer will suffice.

remus808

wixfjord wrote: »

I rate strettle as one of the best wingers in europe and I am expecting a big game if he gets going. Has been unlucky with injuries since 07 but a great strike runner and nacewa may have a few problems on his hands.

The 9/10 battle will be crucial and if leinster can draw parity it could be key,
but Skinner is the man that needs to be targeted and the back rows should also be a great battle! Cant wait!

I do think Strettle is a serious player but I don't think he is playing anything near his potential: hasn't set the world alight so far this season when I've seen him, and as such hasn't really gotten a sniff with England

Stev_o

It's Quins strongest team and ill say it again i think they out do Leinster everywhere around the pitch bar the line out. If Leinster want to win they have to cut Quins line out and for the love of god don't kick long as Quins will run it back all day long. Hopefully should be a cracker.

remus808

Stev_o wrote: »

It's Quins strongest team and ill say it again i think they out do Leinster everywhere around the pitch bar the line out. If Leinster want to win they have to cut Quins line out and for the love of god don't kick long as Quins will run it back all day long. Hopefully should be a cracker.

Oh yeah wait your right: Quins clearly have the dominant centre pairing for example. Full of proven international class. How silly of me

barnesd

karmabass wrote: »

Oh yeah wait your right: Quins clearly have the dominant centre pairing for example. Full of proven international class. How silly of me

Our 5 grand slam winners are all nobodies to be fair. And who's ever heard of Rocky Elsom?

Stev_o

karmabass wrote: »

I do think Strettle is a serious player but I don't think he is playing anything near his potential: hasn't set the world alight so far this season when I've seen him, and as such hasn't really gotten a sniff with England

Dunno have a look at these stats for Strettle this year.

Defenders Beaten
Pos Player Total
1 David Strettle 43


Clean Breaks
Pos Player Total
6 David Strettle 15


Played 14 matches this year just coming back from another injury.

remus808

Stev_o wrote: »

Dunno have a look at these stats for Strettle this year.

Defenders Beaten
Pos Player Total
1 David Strettle 43


Clean Breaks
Pos Player Total
6 David Strettle 15


Played 14 matches this year just coming back from another injury.

Hmm.. I stand corrected!

barnesd

He's only scored twice from all that though. He's a very good player though, definitely going to be dangerous.

Stev_o

barnesd wrote: »

He's only scored twice from all that though. He's a very good player though, definitely going to be dangerous.

It's Monye though who is Quins finisher with 8 tries with Brown (6) and Care (6) behind him. Strettle generally provides the big break eg His break against Bath which eventually leads to Quins getting the penalty try.

themont85

Its all about the halfbacks, if Felipe and Whitiker can put in a semi decent match we can win. Last week our pack was doing quite well forcing turnovers ect but our half backs lacked the production needed to get points on the boards and thus Munster started to overpower them.

barnesd

themont85 wrote: »

Its all about the halfbacks, if Felipe and Whitiker can put in a semi decent match we can win. Last week our pack was doing quite well forcing turnovers ect but our half backs lacked the production needed to get points on the boards and thus Munster started to overpower them.

Added to that there was absolutely no cohesion in the outside backs. Also the effect BOD and Fitz coming back in will have on the Leinster defence can't be underestimated.

Podge_irl

karmabass wrote: »

Also, anyone think BOD should have been reinstated as captain after the 6N? Cullen hasn't had a good season with injury and form

Cullen's form has been fine, but you're right he's been dogged with injury unfortunately. I don't see what good taking the captaincy off him would do though, he's far and away the best captain in the side and we really need him on the top of his game on Sunday.

padser

barnesd wrote: »

Also the effect BOD and Fitz coming back in will have on the Leinster defence can't be underestimated.

Agreed - BOD and Fitz back, coupled with positional changes mean Leinster backline is considerably stronger in 4 positions (11,12,13 and 15) when compared with last week.


Bottom line is that if Leinster play as they are able to then we should win - however we are all acutely aware of Leinsters ability to not play to their potential.

remus808

Podge_irl wrote: »

Cullen's form has been fine, but you're right he's been dogged with injury unfortunately. I don't see what good taking the captaincy off him would do though, he's far and away the best captain in the side and we really need him on the top of his game on Sunday.

A better captain than BOD? A.k.a. the likely Lions captain?

Uhm..

barnesd

padser wrote: »

Agreed - BOD and Fitz back, coupled with positional changes mean Leinster backline is considerably stronger in 4 positions (11,12,13 and 15) when compared with last week.


Bottom line is that if Leinster play as they are able to then we should win - however we are all acutely aware of Leinsters ability to not play to their potential.

Considering Horgan spent most of his time on the wing against Munster (that's how it looked to me anyway) the entire outside backline has changed really. Stupid thing to say but it's all about the performance on the day. If Leinster turn up then we can definitely win. If the pack can put in a performance like they did against Munster and Contepomi can kick a few goals, we can win. Getting really excited now, can't wait til Sunday.


Karmabass - You don't change your captain half way through a season, it wouldn't have any benefits imo. BOD is an onfield leader whether he's named the captain or not, and it's not going to have an effect on the game on Sunday.

bleg

i'll have to go with the bookies on this one lads. i'd say harlequins by 4

Podge_irl

karmabass wrote: »

A better captain than BOD? A.k.a. the likely Lions captain?

Uhm..

I certainly think so, though he's obviously not as good a player. I think the difference in Leinster's play consistency and doggedness was marked when he took over as captain.

Hamo

I'm very very much hoping that our team of internationals turns up not like TP, having said that though Quinns were superb in teh Rec last week Vs Bath, Leinster will have a tough ask.

Micky Dolenz

The starting 15 look good enough on paper. BOD's return will make a massive differance.
It will be a different preformance than last week, I feel Leinster have a crackin game in them and this will be it.

Laducar

i think this is going to be a cracker.....it'll be a different leinster to last week and can see them winning by 3

funky penguin

Really looking forward to this now.

C'mon BOD, I know Leo's in charge, BUT LEAD US TO VICTORY! :P

phog

Podge_irl wrote: »

Cullen's form has been fine, but you're right he's been dogged with injury unfortunately. I don't see what good taking the captaincy off him would do though, he's far and away the best captain in the side and we really need him on the top of his game on Sunday.

Well his form and his leadership went badly missing in TP last week. A Is aid on the match thread once we went 12 -0 up Cullen seemed more interested in taking players out than playing rugby .