Leinster squad for this weekend named

purcela

The Leinster squad to face Toulouse in Saturday's Heineken Cup semi final in Le Stadium, Toulouse (KO: 3.45pm, Irish time) has been named...
Leo Cullen is one of 15 Ireland internationals named in the provisional panel which also includes the likes of Shane Horgan who has scored 26 tries in 77 Heineken Cup appearances for the province. Gordon D'Arcy, who has touched down on four occasions so far in this year's competition, is joined by Brian O'Driscoll's whose 28 career tries in Europe leaves him in third place in the overall standing.

Scotland's Nathan Hines and South Africa prop CJ van der Linde join Jonathan Sexton - who has kicked 60 points so far this year - in the extended squad and the team is expected to be named on Friday lunchtime.

Upwards of 4,000 Leinster supporters are expected to make the trip to the south of France this weekend. To facilitate those travelling, the Official Leinster Supporters Club, in association with Bank of Ireland, have published an away guide which can be DOWNLOADED HERE

Meanwhile, following the opening of public sale of next season's Leinster Season Tickets on Monday, over 8,500 places have already been booked for the 2010/11 season. Prices range from €99 (Junior members), €239 (adult) and €649 (family of four). The best prices are available under the 'Early Bird' offering which runs until June 1st. Click HERE for details.

Leinster squad to face Toulouse...

FORWARDS: Leo Cullen, John Fogarty, Cian Healy, Jamie Heaslip, Nathan Hines, Bernard Jackman, Shane Jennings, Stephen Keogh, Ronan McCormack, Kevin McLaughlin, Malcolm O'Kelly, Mike Ross, Richardt Strauss, CJ van der Linde, Stan Wright

BACKS: Shaun Berne, Gordon D'Arcy, Girvan Dempsey, Shane Horgan, Rob Kearney, Fergus McFadden, Isa Nacewa, Paul O'Donohoe, Brian O'Driscoll, Eoin O'Malley, Eoin Reddan, Jonathan Sexton

REFEREE: Nigel Owens (WRU), ASSISTANT REFEREES: Andrew Small (RFU), James Jones (WRU), 4th OFFICIAL: Nigel Whitehouse (WRU), 5th OFFICIAL: Hugh Watkins (WRU), TMO: Derek Bevan (WRU)

outwest

leinster have a chance, sexton will be playing

great to see him back,

hopefully an all irish final know,

for the love of good, cheika have macfadden on the bench as outhalf cover,


leinster with a last min drop kick to win,

thomond2006

outwest wrote: »

leinster have a chance, sexton will be playing

great to see him back,

hopefully an all irish final know,

for the love of good, cheika have macfadden on the bench as outhalf cover,


leinster with a last min drop kick to win,

Just because Sexton is in the squad, doesn't necessarily mean he will play.

outwest

why else would he be named, surely he wouldnt of been named if not fit,

could a leinster fan confirm if he he ok to play or not

crisco10

Interesting that O'Malley effectively got picked ahead of Conway as back backup..

It's sick to think that Reddan is the ONLY 1st choice back not to be injured. (Assume Isa missed the Connacht match due to minor injury)

crisco10

outwest wrote: »

why else would he be named, surely he wouldnt of been named if not fit,

could a leinster fan confirm if he he ok to play or not

Can't confirm, over on LFs the speculation is just that speculation.

thomond2006

outwest wrote: »

why else would he be named, surely he wouldnt of been named if not fit,

By naming in the squad, it only shows that they will give him every opportunity to prove his fitness.

PhatPiggins

outwest wrote: »

why else would he be named, surely he wouldnt of been named if not fit,

could a leinster fan confirm if he he ok to play or not

Its an extended squad, often players with less then a 50/50 chance are named in it.

I think Berne is a bit under rated. He's had a fine season and if it came down to him or McFadden for a last minute DG I'd want Berne on the pitch.

Obviously Sexton would be ideal but Leinster will need to unlock Toulouse's some what ponderous 9/10/12 combo to win and Berne is fairly useful when he stands flat.

TheTMO

Should Sexton and Kearney not make it.

9.Reddan
10.Berne
11.McFadden
12.D'arcy
13.O'Driscoll
14.Horgan
15.Nacewa

oh god....

tolosenc

purcela wrote: »

Upwards of 4,000 Leinster supporters are expected to make the trip to the south of France this weekend.

4,000?! I thought the ticket allocation was 50:50 for the semis?

shawpower

Toulousain wrote: »

4,000?! I thought the ticket allocation was 50:50 for the semis?

It is. That's a disappointing number alright. But it sounds about right. I reckon about 50% of the season ticket holders I know are going, at most. 11,000 STs so the maths works out about right. Shame.

crisco10

shawpower wrote: »

It is. That's a disappointing number alright. But it sounds about right. I reckon about 50% of the season ticket holders I know are going, at most. 11,000 STs so the maths works out about right. Shame.

From a personal point of view, I was dying to go. But, struggled to justify spending 250+ on flights only. Out of the group of 5 or 6 that I stand with at matches, not one of us could afford it. despite all being there in 06. This time the prices just seemed off the scale. :(

durkadurka

shawpower wrote: »

It is. That's a disappointing number alright. But it sounds about right. I reckon about 50% of the season ticket holders I know are going, at most. 11,000 STs so the maths works out about right. Shame.

Theres a recession on you know

durkadurka

durkadurka wrote: »

Theres a recession on you know

Not for Leinster

shawpower

crisco10 wrote: »

From a personal point of view, I was dying to go. But, struggled to justify spending 250+ on flights only. Out of the group of 5 or 6 that I stand with at matches, not one of us could afford it. despite all being there in 06. This time the prices just seemed off the scale. :(

You were looking at the wrong flights. I've flights and accomodation for two nights all for €320. Add in tickets and it comes in at €350 ish.

Out of the group of 12 who are normally on the Anglesea terrace with me, 6 are going.

It was a tough call in fairness, but we had such a great trip to Toulouse last time in '07 (never mind '06) we said we'd go back again.

[edit]Re-reading that, my tone shouldn't be taken as being a smart ass. Just that there were cheap enough options out there. We're flying into Nantes and taking train to Toulouse on the Friday (€70), but home from Toulouse on the Sunday (€150). If we'd have taken the train back to Nantes instead of the direct flight home, we'd have saved another €70 off the total at a minimum. We also could have gone total budget hotel to save another €40-€50 as well.]

Riskymove

thomond2006 wrote: »

By naming in the squad, it only shows that they will give him every opportunity to prove his fitness.

O'Connell was named in the Munster squad for Northampton

crisco10

shawpower wrote: »

You were looking at the wrong flights. I've flights and accomodation for two nights all for €320. Add in tickets and it comes in at €350 ish.

Out of the group of 12 who are normally on the Anglesea terrace with me, 6 are going.

It was a tough call in fairness, but we had such a great trip to Toulouse last time in '07 (never mind '06) we said we'd go back again.

[eidt]Re-reading that, my tone shouldn't be taken as being a smart ass. Just that there were cheap enough options out there. We're flying into Nantes but home from Toulouse on the Sunday. If we'd have taken the train back to Nantes instead of the direct flight home, we'd have saved another €70 off the total at a minimum.]

I get you weren't being a smart ass.

To be fair, I know some of those flights are good on Friday but I need to be in work in Donegal until about 2/3pm on Friday afternoon so meant I couldn't knock off early to get the cheaper flights.

Biarritz-Dublin home was almost booked to get home on Sunday morning but the outbound flight was the limiting factor. :9

molloyjh

For as much as I'd love to be going myself I just can't afford it either. Even if I could I couldn't justify it. I need to be in Dublin on Sunday morning so the only real option I had was the chartered flights from either Abbey or Trevor Brennans outfit. That would be flights there, straight to the game, and straight back onto the plane home (no tickets) for €340. Add a ticket to that and you're talking €400. Just to go to a game.

If money was no object I'd be there in a heartbeat and I'm gutted as it is that I won't be, but how would I get to Paris if I broke the bank getting to Toulouse!?

My dad and sisters are heading out Friday evening and flying back on Monday. They have flights and accomodation for about €430-€450 if memory serves. So including tickets you're talking €500 for the full semi-final weekend in Toulouse. Not bad value at all.

Might have to have a wander down to The Bowl in UCD now to see are the lads training there again today. Would be curious to see what kind of training (if any) that Johnny is doing.

anonymous_joe

If I wasn't a broke student with exams in two weeks I'd be going. As it stands though, that's not likely to change in the immediate future.

Would love to be there, Toulouse is a lovely spot.

andrewdcs

Forecast is for heavy rain, so that'll help heat wise (it's been up to 30 degrees down there according to bbc)

How do people fancy our chances up the jumper vs. the Toulouse pack?
Some 'fascinating individual battles' to flog a cliche.