Leinster V Brive Match Thread

Size=everything

Team announced


LEINSTER:

15: Rob Kearney
14: Shane Horgan
13: Brian O’Driscoll
12: Luke Fitzgerald
11: Isa Nacewa
10: Jonathan Sexton
9: Eoin Reddan

1: Cian Healy
2: John Fogarty
3: Mike Ross
4: Leo Cullen CAPTAIN / Malcolm O’Kelly*
5: Nathan Hines
6: Kevin McLaughlin / Malcolm O’Kelly**
7: Sean O’Brien
8: Jamie Heaslip

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Bernard Jackman
17: CJ van der Linde
18: Ronan McCormack
19: Malcolm O’Kelly / Devin Toner*
20: Stephen Keogh / Kevin McLaughlin**
21: Simon Keogh
22: Shaun Berne
23: Gordon D’Arcy



Rob Kearney back in squad with Nacewa moved to wing and Fitzgerald moved to centre obviously D'arcy wasn't deemed fully fit. Slightly worried that were completely shifting the backline in such an important game!
Also not sure what the 6.Kevin McLaughlin/Malcom O'Kelly means? Is that implying that if Cullen is deemed fit then O'Kelly will slot in at 6???

PhatPiggins

Why is Darcy not starting?

Size=everything

PhatPiggins wrote: »

Why is Darcy not starting?

Apparently he had a facial injury

anonymous_joe

Ask Cheika.

Testing Fitzgerald/Resting/Finding space for Kearney and Nacewa?

Stev_o

PhatPiggins wrote: »

Why is Darcy not starting?

Not in form at all, would rather Berne at 12 though then Fitz as that experiment just didnt work. Im also guessing that Cheika wants all his in form players starting ie Nacewa.

Size=everything

Stev_o wrote: »

Not in form at all, would rather Berne at 12 though then Fitz as that experiment just didnt work. Im also guessing that Cheika wants all his in form players starting ie Nacewa.

Its nothing to do with that. I read in the papers (think it was Thornley's article) that D'arcy had a facial injury and Cheika put Fitzgerald in at 12 in the training drills.

razorblunt

How do people see this going, I'm throwing an accumulator together for the weekends European rugby but I'm stumped for this, on paper Leinster should take it but this games isnt played on paper its on a pitch....in France!!

Nilther

Both McLaughlin and Cullen are doubts. If Cullen is out Mal in second row, Toner to bench. If McLaughlin is gone Mal to 6 though I seriously suspect it's Hines to 6 with Mal joining second row, Toner to bench also. If they're both gone....

Podge_irl

If they're both gone Keogh will come onto the bench, which would be a real sign of trouble. Hines will play 6 if McLaughlin doesn't make it, with MOK slotting into the second row.

Tim Robbins

Podge_irl wrote: »

If they're both gone Keogh will come onto the bench, which would be a real sign of trouble. Hines will play 6 if McLaughlin doesn't make it, with MOK slotting into the second row.

It will be very interesting to SOB starting a tricky H cup game away in France.

andrewdcs

Great to see Big Mal playing twice.

WeeBushy

andrewdcs wrote: »

Great to see Big Mal playing twice.

Well, he is essentially Chuck Norris.

I love the competition we have in the backs, how many teams in europe wouldn't be able to find a place for D'arcy? Home McLaughlin is fit, we seriously need him at the moment.

RugbyFanatic

WeeBushy wrote: »

Well, he is essentially Chuck Norris.

I love the competition we have in the backs, how many teams in europe wouldn't be able to find a place for D'arcy? Home McLaughlin is fit, we seriously need him at the moment.

How many times does this have to be repeated? D'arcy is on the bench as he is carrying an injury.

PhatPiggins

RugbyFanatic wrote: »

How many times does this have to be repeated? D'arcy is on the bench as he is carrying an injury.

Pointing out the obvious

REPORTED

andrewdcs

RugbyFanatic wrote: »

How many times does this have to be repeated? D'arcy is on the bench as he is carrying an injury.

Odd to bring an inured player to France to warm a bench? He either fit enough or not at all, never liked this "we'll give him 20 mins" lark.


Obviously, Cheiks knows what he's doing.... (Saturday evning, Leinster crash out, sound of knives sharpening!!)

Podge_irl

Actually, thinking about it, I would have much preferred to see McFadden in the centre than Fitz.

WeeBushy

RugbyFanatic wrote: »

How many times does this have to be repeated? D'arcy is on the bench as he is carrying an injury.

Jeez, sorry. Then I love the fact that our back line is so good that when everyone is fully fit we have one of the best full backs in the world, on the bench. Better?

RugbyFanatic

WeeBushy wrote: »

Jeez, sorry. Then I love the fact that our back line is so good that when everyone is fully fit we have one of the best full backs in the world, on the bench. Better?

Its just annoying as it was mentioned 3 times by a poster that he had an injury and yet lots of people were speculating he was dropped due to lack of form etc.

And yes, that is better.

RugbyFanatic

andrewdcs wrote: »

Odd to bring an inured player to France to warm a bench? He either fit enough or not at all, never liked this "we'll give him 20 mins" lark.

I think D'arcy along with CJ are being brought along in case **** really does hit the fan and Cheika needs to risk them.

Reloc8

Silly that it takes an injury to get Kearney at 15.

I wouldn't start McFadden at 12 in this game - talk about deep end stuff. I do agree that it is always odd to pull a guy from the 15 because he's injured and stick him on the bench. Where are you if he has to go on/you send him on (hang on he's injured...) and the knock acts up - who do you replace him with etc. etc.

That's presuming the chat about him having a facial injury is the truth and the whole truth.

Team looks pretty nicely balanced one way or another though, I would say - hopefully they do the business.

RugbyFanatic

Coler wrote: »

Silly that it takes an injury to get Kearney at 15.

I wouldn't start McFadden at 12 in this game - talk about deep end stuff. I do agree that it is always odd to pull a guy from the 15 because he's injured and stick him on the bench. Where are you if he has to go on/you send him on (hang on he's injured...) and the knock acts up - who do you replace him with etc. etc.

Thats the risk I reckon Cheika is taking. If **** hits the fan D'arcy will probably come on and Cheika will have to hope his injury doesn't flare up

That's presuming the chat about him having a facial injury is the truth and the whole truth.

It is, in an article Thornley states D'arcy was bandaged up on the face and sitting out of training.

Team looks pretty nicely balanced one way or another though, I would say - hopefully they do the business.

I don't know to be honest, Fitzgerald and Nacewa out of position, Kearney not fully match fit, possibly missing Cullen, might have Hines playing at 6 etc.

phog

RugbyFanatic wrote: »

How many times does this have to be repeated? D'arcy is on the bench as he is carrying an injury.

Risky that isnt it? What happens if one of the centres pulls up shortly into the game will D'arcy be fit enought to play almost 80 minutes of rugby? I think this could be a terrible chance to take if D'arcy is unfit to start then surely he is unfit to bench.

RugbyFanatic

phog wrote: »

Risky that isnt it? What happens if one of the centres pulls up shortly into the game will D'arcy be fit enought to play almost 80 minutes of rugby? I think this could be a terrible chance to take if D'arcy is unfit to start then surely he is unfit to bench.

There lies the problem, either he'll get through the game without bother or his injury will flare up and it will be a catrostophe. Thats the risk Cheika is taking by keeping him in the 23

il gatto

Leinster used to be derided for flakyness and too much flash and not enough substance. They've rectified that and when it goes right, it's total rugby, to borrow a football terminology. For examples, the last two games against Munster and even the HEC final. When it goes wrong they look limited and have no hope of scoring tries. The Quin's 1/4 and last week against LI. Leinster need BPs and they look at their best when attacking. The pack was to be the last piece in the Leinster jigsaw, enabling the backs to score tries. Leinster need tries so the pack should see to it that they provide quick and frequent ball to the backs. This "grinding out a win" stuff doesn't suit Leinster and will see them go out in the pool stages.
By no means will the Brive match be a pushover. I think it will prove very physical and niggly. But Leinster can't go into games with a win at all costs mentality, becausing losing at home to LI has robbed that luxury from them. They need to remember what they're best at and back themselves to score tries from anywhere as swapping penalties is a dead end. Yes, they can now play grinding, physical rugby, but that's not enough at this stage.
I hope they go out there with that mentality and confidence and at least make a spirited defence of their title. All guns blazing.

ch2008

I'd reckon its more down to the gameplan, D'Arcy is perhaps the weakest boot out of the lot of them.

Expect a lot of kicking

Not confident about this one though

[Jackass]

Very very nervous about this game....

off to horse show house now wish us luck....

Believe Leinster..believe...

(come on Scarlets!!)

Stev_o

[Jackass] wrote: »

Very very nervous about this game....

off to horse show house now wish us luck....

Believe Leinster..believe...

(come on Scarlets!!)

The only thing you have to worry about is the match being in France, Brive are nothing special and very limited.

fifth

Think we can do this today, we have to!

Come on Leinster!

il gatto

I really hope we don't see too much kicking from Leinster. Apparently alot of French teams are having a poor season under the high ball, but I hope Leinster limit the kicks to chasable ones and run anything else back at them. Otherwise they'll be limiting the amount of chances the backs get for doing what they're best at.

uberwolf

Leinster have the beating of them from what I've seen here

AnthonyK16

Whats with the camera angle? Fitzy in the centre looks dangerous

bleg

frantic start. ball has barely gone dead. should be 3 all now with this kick

RugbyFanatic

Great support there!!

Excellent kick from Sexton 3-3!

bleg

terrible camera angle

Profiler

knock against the head there for Leinster... can't remember the last time I saw one of those!

RugbyFanatic

Great play from Sexton, Kearney touches down after a lovely angled run

Profiler

Great try for Kearney!

Well worked back move with missed passes and faints before Kearney takes a great angle to take the ball over the whitewash!

Great stuff

RugbyFanatic

Sexton converts 10-3

AnthonyK16

Rob Kearney has "sumptious gifts"...sky commentators wtf????

Profiler

AnthonyK16 wrote: »

Rob Kearney has "sumptious gifts"...sky commentators wtf????

How many more times will he mention Fitz's "banana boots" :rolleyes:

Stev_o

AnthonyK16 wrote: »

Rob Kearney has "sumptious gifts"...sky commentators wtf????

Mark Roboson just........... mute the tv its best for everyone.

Spore

Great turnover by Cullen

RugbyFanatic

Penalty from Sexton 13-3

Profiler

Sexton penalty makes it Brive 3 Leinster 13

Spore

go on Sexton! 13-3 to Leinster

Spore

nearly got caught on the quick tap peno!

Profiler

Goode penalty on 29mins makes it 6 - 13

Spore

SOB lucky not to be carded, Goode peno, 13-6

RugbyFanatic

Sexton penalty 16-6

Spore

Sexton having a blinder so far

Spore

peno against Leinster, MOK high tackle I think