Glasgow vs Leinster (Firhill 3rd September 2010)

cruiserweight

Another slightly understrength Leinster squad heading to Glasgow, but will be good to see some of the younger players. I will be heading up after watching the soccer in the pub, Friday afternoon will be very productive work wise

Stan Wright (Achilles), Leo Cullen (shoulder) and Kevin McLaughlin (shoulder/knee) remain long-term absentees ahead of Leinster's opening Magners League encounter against the Glasgow Warrios on Friday.

Aside from a number of bumps and bruises the panel is unchanged from the pre-season friendly against Leicester Tigers in Welford Road last weekend.

Leinster are hopeful that Mike Ross (calf) will be available for selection for the clash in Firhill. The prop will train on Wednesday and a decision on his availability will be made when the team is announced after training on Wednesday afternoon.

Leinster's international contingent continued their strength and conditioning programme this week and there's a possibility that up to two Ireland players could be available, depending on the outcome of fitness tests within the squad.

cython

cruiserweight wrote:

Glasgow vs Leinster (Firhill 3rd September 2011)

Announcing teams well in advance these days..... :P

cruiserweight

cython wrote: »

Announcing teams well in advance these days..... :P

Argh not thinking

LeeroyJones

GLASGOW WARRIORS:

15: Bernardo Stortoni CAPTAIN
14: DTH van der Merwe
13: Max Evans
12: Graeme Morrison
11: Federico Aramburu
10: Ruaridh Jackson
9: Henry Pyrgos

1: Jon Welsh
2: Fergus Thomson
3: Moray Low
4: Tom Ryder
5: Richie Gray
6: Ryan Wilson
7: Chris Fusaro
8: Richie Vernon

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Pat MacArthur
17: Ed Kalman
18: Ryan Grant
19: Aly Muldowney
20: Rob Harley
21: Duncan Weir
22: Hefin O'Hare
23: Peter Murchie

Leinster squad to face Glasgow Warriors...

FORWARDS: John Fogarty, Mariano Galarza, Jamie Heaslip, Nathan Hines, Stephen Keogh, Jack McGrath, Sean O’Brien, Ed O’Donoghue, Ben Prescott, Mike Ross, Dominic Ryan, Simon Shawe, Richardt Strauss, Heinke van der Merwe

BACKS: Isaac Boss, Luke Fitzgerald, Shane Horgan, Ian Madigan, Fergus McFadden, Niall Morris, Isa Nacewa, Paul O’Donohoe, Eoin O’Malley, Eamonn Sheridan

PhatPiggins

Thats one crap Glasgow pack compared to last season

anonymous_joe

Worst Glasgee backrow imaginable. We've really got to take the chance we've been given here.

sock puppet

anonymous_joe wrote: »

Worst Glasgee backrow imaginable. We've really got to take the chance we've been given here.

Really? I was just thinking that they'll have too much for us. Very good tight five and some decent backs too.

thomond2006

Brown and Parks gone. Kellock, Barclay, Beattie and Cusiter injured. Thom Evans retired.

Paraphrasing Bill O'Herlihy, "Good night and God Bless" to Glasgow.

If the strongest team is named from that squad, I wouldn't put it past a Leinster BP win.*

/logs on to PP


















*Jinxed.

PhatPiggins

I wouldn't go that far thomond, I think Leinster would be delighted to scrape a win myself

Digifriendly

sock puppet wrote: »

Really? I was just thinking that they'll have too much for us. Very good tight five and some decent backs too.

Who's Tom Ryder and who's Jon Welsh? In their backs I agree but who's Henry Pyrgos?

danthefan

Digifriendly wrote: »

Who's Tom Ryder and who's Jon Welsh? In their backs I agree but who's Henry Pyrgos?

Jon Welsh is a very good young prop, very strong scrummager.

Not sure about a few of the others.

sock puppet

Digifriendly wrote: »

Who's Tom Ryder and who's Jon Welsh? In their backs I agree but who's Henry Pyrgos?

Welsh is a great young prop. He'll be a regular international soon enough. Don't know much about Ryder other than he's there on loan from Saracens. And I've never heard of Pyrgos. They seem to be scraping the bottom of the barrell as far as the backrow is concerned.

funky penguin

Any guesses on the Leinster captain?

Heaslip?

anonymous_joe

sock puppet wrote: »

Really? I was just thinking that they'll have too much for us. Very good tight five and some decent backs too.

One of the Three B's is gone, the others are injured. Best backrow in the Magners last season I'd reckon.

GAA_PUNTER

Some good audio clips ahead of this weeks match

http://www.sportsnewsireland.com/2010/09/01/glasgow-warriors-v-leinster-preview-team-news-live-scores-commentary-result-friday-kick-off-7-05pm/

redroar1942

danthefan wrote: »

Jon Welsh is a very good young prop, very strong scrummager.

Not sure about a few of the others.

Watched him demolish Buckley at the start of last season in what I think was only his 3rd/4th start in the Magners.

Without a shadow of a doubt he's going to have a long international career

danthefan

redroar1942 wrote: »

Watched him demolish Buckley at the start of last season in what I think was only his 3rd/4th start in the Magners.

Without a shadow of a doubt he's going to have a long international career

I remember that alright, himself and Horan were absolutely destroyed, Low started that day too I think.

LeeroyJones

LEINSTER:

15: Luke Fitzgerald
14: Shane Horgan
13: Eoin O’Malley
12: Fergus McFadden
11: Niall Morris
10: Isa Nacewa
9: Isaac Boss

1: Heinke van der Merwe
2: Richardt Strauss
3: Simon Shawe
4: Nathan Hines
5: Ed O’Donoghue
6: Dominic Ryan
7: Sean O’Brien CAPTAIN
8: Jamie Heaslip

REPLACEMENTS:

16: John Fogarty
17: Jack McGrath
18: Ben Prescott
19: Mariano Galarza
20: Stephen Keogh
21: Paul O’Donohoe
22: Ian Madigan
23: Eamonn Sheridan

I like the look of this, BP win is achievable I reckon. Just so long as we can get off to a good opening day away win I'll be content

smurphy29

15: Luke Fitzgerald
14: Shane Horgan
13: Eoin O’Malley
12: Fergus McFadden
11: Niall Morris
10: Isa Nacewa
9: Isaac Boss

1: Heinke van der Merwe
2: Richardt Strauss
3: Simon Shawe
4: Nathan Hines
5: Ed O’Donoghue
6: Dominic Ryan
7: Sean O’Brien CAPTAIN
8: Jamie Heaslip

REPLACEMENTS:

16: John Fogarty
17: Jack McGrath
18: Ben Prescott
19: Mariano Galarza
20: Stephen Keogh
21: Paul O’Donohoe
22: Ian Madigan
23: Eamonn Sheridan

Sean O'B as captain, very interesting. Looks as if Schmidt is putting a big investment in the Carlow man. And why not? If the game is indeed going to be about ball retention this year, you'd fancy that his carrying ability will be of more value than Jennings' groundwork. Could be a big year for him.

Elsewhere, looks a decent side, I dare say we might have a chance. Isa at 10 indicates we will try and run the ball as much as we can.

danthefan

Ah here, a BP win!? It's not that dissimilar to the teams that were destroyed by Leicester and Wasps and it's in a ground we don't have a great record in.

LeeroyJones

danthefan wrote: »

Ah here, a BP win!? It's not that dissimilar to the teams that were destroyed by Leicester and Wasps and it's in a ground we don't have a great record in.

I'll admit my glasses are very blue tinted today!

It's that start of the season feeling perhaps!

[Jackass]

I'm pretty happy with the team selected from the players available.

It's an interesting point on the back row. Especially with academy player Dom Ryan being selected, who is an absolute wrecking ball of a 6 and O'Brien being captain.

I'm very disapointed that this wasn't given to Heaslip. Very very disapointed, as I thinkit's crucial that Heaslip is made Leinster captain. If not this season with new coach, then certainly post world cup.

A back-row of 6. McLoughlin 7. O'Brien 8. Heaslip is probably the most physical back-row with the strongest 3 ball carriers you would find anywhere in Europe.

As much as I love Jennings, this is something I'd really like to see being given a string of matches together.

Ciaran-Irl

danthefan wrote: »

Ah here, a BP win!? It's not that dissimilar to the teams that were destroyed by Leicester and Wasps and it's in a ground we don't have a great record in.

Agreed. We have a chance of a win if, and only if, we don't get completely mullered in the scrum. That is going to be difficult.

Risteard

[Jackass] wrote: »

I'm very disapointed that this wasn't given to Heaslip. Very very disapointed, as I thinkit's crucial that Heaslip is made Leinster captain. If not this season with new coach, then certainly post world cup.

I keep hearing that Heaslip will make a good captain but I don't understand where it's come from. Great player sure, but great players don't always make great captains.

Gracelessly Tom

Have to agree Risteard. Just can't see Heaslip as a captain. He appears to be too much of a lad and a bit immature at the minute. Fantastic player, one of the best 8's in the world without doubt but not a captain yet IMO.

outwest

leinster getting a bp win is a longshot. i give them a slight chance in glasgow.

it will be a great start to get a win. but leinter try scroing record last year was the worse in the magenrs bar connacht.

Gracelessly Tom

BP win is head in the clouds stuff in fairness lads. I'll take a 1 point win. I know Glasgow are missing a few from last season but it's still a horrible place to try and get a win.

thebaz

great to see Dom Ryan selected given he didnt get a contract - met him down the 40 foot , dead on , as our most of the team

smurphy29

Leinster managed a solitary bonus point last year with the last kick in our last match of the league program. The idea that a patched up side will somehow win one in Firhill in the first match of the season is a bit mad to say the least. If we get any sort of win I'll be delighted. Back row looks decent, the backs don't look bad, hopefully we will play a bit of running rugby and hopefully, hopefully we'll get Fitz into the game as much as possible. I, for one, just cannot wait to see him back in action.

PhatPiggins

outwest wrote: »

leinster getting a bp win is a longshot. i give them a slight chance in glasgow.

it will be a great start to get a win. but leinter try scroing record last year was the worse in the magenrs bar connacht.

Lucky for them they had the best defensive one then :eek:

Low scoring borefest me thinks

padser

Gracelessly Tom wrote: »

Have to agree Risteard. Just can't see Heaslip as a captain. He appears to be too much of a lad and a bit immature at the minute. Fantastic player, one of the best 8's in the world without doubt but not a captain yet IMO.

I would buy that argument if, for example BOD or Darcy or Horgan, or even Kearney or Fitz were being given the captaincy over Heaslip - but when it's a 19 year old who has never even established himself as automatic first choice for the starting XV (last season there were some HC matches where we had SOB fit that we went with McLaughlin, Jennings and Heaslip) saying that Heaslip is 'immature' seems a bit nonsensical.

Is there any chance this has happened because of the All Blacks match? Seems pretty wierd if so.

It strikes me as really wierd that Heaslip, Fitz, Horgan, Nacewa and Hines have all been passed over in favour of O Brien as captain. Hopefully its a sign that the coach thinks SOB is going to mature into a world class 7 this year - that would be awesome!

danthefan

SOB is about 23.

durkadurka

I'd be thrilled with a win here. I expect to lose though.

Grimebox

I'm a bit out of the loop. Wheres Reddan? I didn't expect Boss to start over him so soon

CatFromHue

Sean O Brien was captain for the 2 friendlies so there is a bit of consistancy in picking him again.

Hard to say why but even harder to say why not. Heaslip while he has more appearances this does not neccarily make him the captain.

Heaslip is a definiie starter for Ireland and is part of the player management scheme. I dont't know if O Brien is part of this but while he has the potential is not a definite starter for Ireland yet so this may mean he will be available for Leinster for the games played during the Autumn Internationals.

Also I think people are reading far too much into this.

I presume Leo Cullen is still the team captain but is injured.

Interesting to see Fitzgerald at full back, isn't Morris usually a full back? Strong enough back line with McFadden and O Malley looking handy enough last season.

More interesting to see set piece and front row get on though! Quite a few newbies in the pack

profitius

Maybe SOB is a natural leader, a player who never loses his cool, a player who is mature and not interested in being seen around town, who knows. I say if they've the right mentality they're good enough.

wixfjord

profitius wrote: »

Maybe SOB is a natural leader, a player who never loses his cool, a player who is mature and not interested in being seen around town, who knows. I say if they've the right mentality they're good enough.

That a dig at heaslip?

Judgement Day

Is Shaun Berne still at Leinster? Is he injured or how is it that Isa Nacewa is at 10 instead of him?

thomond2006

wixfjord wrote: »

That a dig at heaslip?

Sure he's a bit weak at the knees. :pac:

Couldn't resist! Sorry Off Topic!

funky penguin

Judgement Day wrote: »

Is Shaun Berne still at Leinster? Is he injured or how is it that Isa Nacewa is at 10 instead of him?

He's out with an achilles injury.

thomond2006

funky penguin wrote: »

He's out with an achilles injury.

Never heard this, is it serious?

P_1

thomond2006 wrote: »

Never heard this, is it serious?

Think I read on lf.com that he's due back sometime around October.

Quite excited to see Nacewa at 10 again, I think the new law interpretations will really suit him.

durkadurka

He's an ok goalkicker too

PhatPiggins

pithater1 wrote: »

Think I read on lf.com that he's due back sometime around October.

Quite excited to see Nacewa at 10 again, I think the new law interpretations will really suit him.

I really like Nacewa as a player but I hope we get the Auckland Blues version at 10 as opposed to what we've seen from him for Leinster in that position.

profitius

wixfjord wrote: »

That a dig at heaslip?

Nope. I don't know anything about Heaslips personal life.

ALH-06

pithater1 wrote: »

Quite excited to see Nacewa at 10 again, I think the new law interpretations will really suit him.

PhatPiggins wrote: »

I really like Nacewa as a player but I hope we get the Auckland Blues version at 10 as opposed to what we've seen from him for Leinster in that position.

The forum has been VERY outspoken over the last two seasons about how Nacewa should never again be seen in the 10 shirt at Leinster.

I doubt that what we saw of him in that position in the Super 14 will transpire at Firhill, or anywhere else in this Magners League. It goes without saying that the brand of rugby is massively different.

danthefan

ALH-06 wrote: »

The forum has been VERY outspoken over the last two seasons about how Nacewa should never again be seen in the 10 shirt at Leinster.

I doubt that what we saw of him in that position in the Super 14 will transpire at Firhill, or anywhere else in this Magners League. It goes without saying that the brand of rugby is massively different.

Can you remember the last game he played at 10 for Leinster?

Gracelessly Tom

padser wrote: »

I would buy that argument if, for example BOD or Darcy or Horgan, or even Kearney or Fitz were being given the captaincy over Heaslip - but when it's a 19 year old who has never even established himself as automatic first choice for the starting XV (last season there were some HC matches where we had SOB fit that we went with McLaughlin, Jennings and Heaslip) saying that Heaslip is 'immature' seems a bit nonsensical.

It strikes me as really wierd that Heaslip, Fitz, Horgan, Nacewa and Hines have all been passed over in favour of O Brien as captain. Hopefully its a sign that the coach thinks SOB is going to mature into a world class 7 this year - that would be awesome!

SOB is 23, not 19, and has captained Leinster previously. When I said immature I didn't mean age wise or playing ability wise. Some guys, no matter how good, are just not captain material. He may well develop into a captain but I don't see him as one now. Just my own opinion.

Maybe they want him to just play his game and not worry about the captaincy, some players are poorer on the field with the weight of the armband!

thomond2006

danthefan wrote: »

Can you remember the last game he played at 10 for Leinster?

I remember around January 2009 when Leinster played Wasps at Twickenham that lots of posters were not happy with him at 10.

danthefan

thomond2006 wrote: »

I remember around January 2009 when Leinster played Wasps at Twickenham that lots of posters were not happy with him at 10.

That's nice.

sock puppet

He was good against Edinburgh. He's probably better than Berne as backup 10 anyway.