Leinster v Aironi Match Thread Thursday 10 Feb 7.05pm RTE 2

durkadurka

LEINSTER:

15: Isa Nacewa
14: Andrew Conway
13: Brendan Macken
12: Eoin O'Malley
11: David Kearney
10: Ian Madigan
9: Paul O'Donohoe

1: Heinke van der Merwe
2: Richardt Strauss
3: Clint Newland
4: Kevin McLaughlin
5: Devin Toner
6: Rhys Ruddock CAPTAIN
7: Dominic Ryan
8: Stephen Keogh

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Jason Harris-Wright
17: Jack McGrath
18: Simon Shawe
19: Ed O'Donoghue
20: Paul Ryan/Shane Jennings
21: Isaac Boss
22: Ian McKinley
23: Niall Morris

AIRONI:

15: Paolo Buso
14: Kaine Robertson
13: Gabriel Pizarro
12: Horacio San Martin
11: Danwel Demas
10: James Marshall
9: Tito Tebaldi

1: Alberto De Marchi
2: Roberto Santamaria
3: Fabio Staibano
4: Marco Bortolami CAPTAIN
5: Joshua Furno
6: Nicola Cattina
7: Jaco Erasmus
8: Nick Williams

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Luigi Ferraro
17: Andrea De Marchi
18: Luca Redolfini
19: George Biagi
20: Andrea Benatti
21: Pietro Travagli
22: Alberto Benettin
23: Matteo Pratichetti

REFEREE: Nigel Owens (WRU), ASSISTANT REFEREES: Dave Wilkinson (IRFU), Mark Hermin (IRFU), 4th OFFICIAL: John Montayne (Leinster Rugby Referees), 5th OFFICIAL: James Fegan (Leinster Rugby Referees), TMO: Peter Ferguson (IRFU)

Boss on the bench. No Berne, Wow Schmidt really promotes youth doesnt he.

Interesting to see Locky in second row because its an area where we have 2 great guys coming to the end of their careers and we need to see some new blood.

yimrsg

Looking forward to see how the youngsters in the pack get on. I wonder if the height difference at 2nd row will mean a problem at scrums. I'm a little bit surprised Ruddock has the captaincy (I think he was Irelands U20's captain) but I'd have thought Nacewa would have it on experience. It's probably an indication of how highly rated he is by Schmidt.

Nuigforce

Ruddock with the armb\nd is an interesting one..

durkadurka

Is Berne Injured or totally out of favour?

If he doesnt make that team what team does he make?

irishbucsfan

durkadurka wrote: »

Is Berne Injured or totally out of favour?

If he doesnt make that team what team does he make?

I'm guessing he's totally out of favour. Its interesting that McKinley is ahead of him on the bench, Berne could cover center and OH there.

CouchSmart

Following the Leinster and Irish team announcements, I'm now more excited about this game than Sunday..

thomond2006

Where's Ludovic Mercier these days? Injured?

durkadurka

irishbucsfan wrote: »

I'm guessing he's totally out of favour. Its interesting that McKinley is ahead of him on the bench, Berne could cover center and OH there.

It's pretty odd, he's a very solid magners player.

Burgo

When is bernes contract up? the end of this season or the next?

GerM

Burgo wrote: »

When is bernes contract up? the end of this season or the next?

Out of contract this summer which will free up a NIQ spot within the squad. Would expect Leinster to look at picking up someone following the WC although I'm not sure in which position. We're in a much stronger position in terms of squad depth than we've been previously and I don't see the point of us signing another 10/12 when we have Madigan coming through now and Nacewa capable of filling that role also.

Lock and scrum half have traditionally been the spots where we're weak but Hines is the only man who is out of contract there this summer and if he leaves we'll just use his NIQ spot to sign a replacement.

Also, reported in the Galway Independent this morning that Hagan will be signing for 3 years.

WeeBushy

Very excited to see McLaughlin at 2nd row. I know its (only) Aironi, but if it works out it could be as important a positional switch as D'Arcy moving to centre, what with the lack of 2nd row talent coming through in Ireland at the moment.

/hyperbole

seanin4711

GerM wrote: »

Out of contract this summer which will free up a NIQ spot within the squad. Would expect Leinster to look at picking up someone following the WC although I'm not sure in which position. We're in a much stronger position in terms of squad depth than we've been previously and I don't see the point of us signing another 10/12 when we have Madigan coming through now and Nacewa capable of filling that role also.

Lock and scrum half have traditionally been the spots where we're weak but Hines is the only man who is out of contract there this summer and if he leaves we'll just use his NIQ spot to sign a replacement.

Also, reported in the Galway Independent this morning that Hagan will be signing for 3 years.

is this for Leinster or Connacht???

seanin4711

http://www.setanta.com/ie/Articles/2011/2/09/Hagan-move-disappoints-Elwood/gnid-87960/

Taco Corp

Nuigforce wrote: »

Ruddock with the armb\nd is an interesting one..

I think it's a good move by Schmidt. He's giving the young guys the experience they need and getting into a leadership role early. It's seems like a similar move to the Glasgow earlier in the season with O'Brien as captain for that game.

[Jackass]

Really excited by this team for a number of reasons...

First of all, and most importantly, is the switch of McLaughlin to second row.

It's something that has been suggested before, and is a very attractive resolution to a Leinster problem if he can excell there, as having another huge hitter in the pack and big ball carrier and a good lineout operator, in addition to a back row of O'Brien, Heaslip & Jennings / Ruddock / Ryan means we have a lot of ball winners and carriers in the pack, especially added to a front row of Healy, Strauss & Ross / Wright, it's a monster pack.

McLoughlin switching to second row is crucial for Leinster as we just don't have the talent coming through, and I really hope he can make a great impression there.

I love that Schmidt always thinks outside the box and goes for the most exciting options and isn't afraid to try things. You'd imagine Cheika would hve settled for O'Donoghue - he might not be good enough for the top level, but we'll make do with him, where as Schmidt looks for a better solution and a long term answer to a question being asked of Leinsters squad....

Secondly, am very excited to see Macken FINALY make his debut. I have really high hopes for him, and seeing as McFadden has now made the breakthrough to international rugby, it's great to have another fantastic player straight off the converbelt to replace him. I hope he can have a great game, between himself and Conway, they're the most exciting young young talents at Leinster (both still teenagers?)

It's also great to see Ruddock get the captaincey. O'Brien got the armband when forcing his way into the team erarlier in the season, and it's nice to see these guys so highly rated. People felt Ruddock had fallen out of favour at Leinster as
dom Ryan and O'Brien were getting so much game time ahead of him, but I think it's more a case of truckloads of players in contention, and seeing as he's been training with Ireland this season, there's no doubt how highly rated he is.

Also great to see Dom Ryan at seven. It's great we have so much talent in the backrow, but different types too. I see Ryan as a natural successor to Jennings, and potentially even better. He's your typical 7 but a ferocious hitter and great ground hog. Another great bonus to see how he's come on this season.

Daver Kearney has had a great season so far, hope to see the continued improvement from him to give us more back-three options. Rumour has it that Fionn Carr has changed his mind and gone to Ulster, so either D. Kearney or Morris will need to step it up to be contenders for the jersey next season, with the other one going to Connacht.

My last positive is how great it is to see Madigan and McKinley battle for the back-up 10 jersey. It's great that we have two really promising out-halfs behind Sexton and that Berne (as much of a great servant he has been when called upon) appears surplus to requirements and Schmidt, as usual has take the exciting options and building for the future. If we can develop both of these guys we'll have some depth at 10 also, and along with McLoughlin in the second row, the two areas of potential weakness long term are being addressed. Madigan has improved a lot over the last year and I hope to see that continue. His main area to improve on has been his game management and place kicking, but I'm looking forward to seeing how this has come on, as he is superb with ball in hand and a great running 10.

On the downside, might have liked to see Harrsis-wright get a start, and also, would have liked Maguire on the bench instwad of shaw, and maybe at some point have the academy front row of McGrath, Harris-Wright and Maguire on the field, as that's a massive unit full of promise also.

Also, it would have been nice to see Sherriff get the bench spot in front of O'Donoghue and give him some senior game time, as he's our most promising second row coming through and it'd be great to see him have a shot at senior level, as he's been so good this season for the A's.

This is definitely the game of the weekend for me.

Jackass

Jackass wrote:

Also great to see Dom Ryan at centre.

what now?

[Jackass]

Deleted User wrote: »

what now?

my bad! Meant to say seven.

Fixed now.

durkadurka

Deleted User wrote: »

what now?

I can just see Schmidt trying it

durkadurka

durkadurka wrote: »

I can just see Schmidt trying it

I was going to say that it wouldn't be an outrageous decision!

I double checked first though, thought it was an odd combo of Macken and Ryan in centres!

durkadurka

Leinster are -24 in handicap betting with that team:eek:

RMD

durkadurka wrote: »

Leinster are -24 in handicap betting with that team:eek:

Ye, I was just looking at it there. Obviously it's Leinster who will win but with Aironi on a +24 handicap I'll be putting money on Aironi, don't see such an inexperienced side putting 24 points up on any team to be quite honest. Statistically Aironi lose by 17 points in each game but considering the Leinster side that will be out, I don't see them breaking 24 points. Anyone know if Aironi have many Italian national players or will they be putting out a pretty much full team?

Edit: Even by Aironis standards it sounds like they'll have a poor team out. http://www.magnersleague.com/teams/aironi/7124.php

durkadurka

Completely new xv? Vs their last game at home to ulster in the HEC presumably.

Well I reckon Our second string beats their second string in rds....

Looking forward to it.

thebaz

good to see mcloughlin in second row - it was first mentioned here - if he is to prosper , i believe it will be in 2nd row , ruddock and ferris will make it difficult for him to progress as a 6 - has the ability to be an international second row

RMD

durkadurka wrote: »

Completely new xv? Vs their last game at home to ulster in the HEC presumably.

Well I reckon Our second string beats their second string in rds....

Looking forward to it.

No doubt they'll beat them, but I don't know if they'll beat them by +24 points. I've 20 quid to bet this weekend and I need 40 quid for the pub by saturday night, need to choose my bets carefully. :pac:

trackguy

thebaz wrote: »

good to see mcloughlin in second row - it was first mentioned here - if he is to prosper , i believe it will be in 2nd row , ruddock and ferris will make it difficult for him to progress as a 6 - has the ability to be an international second row

Would be a great option - Ireland need some dynamism in the 2nd row.

irishbucsfan

KMcL could be a top-class second row. Very excited to see him play there. I can just imagine him and Toner in the second row after the world cup, Toner offering the lineout option at the front and KMcL being the ball-carrying grafter. Great balance.

Might head along to this now. So much to see from this game. One of the reasons I love this schmidt management team!

CouchSmart

Can't wait for this now, I'm getting Leinster withdrawls! :P

Expecting a bonus point win, hoping anyway.

tolosenc

Leinster no handicap is 1/100 lol.

Have them at -18 and Kearney to score a try. Can't wait...

thebaz

Schmidts selections for Leinster , make every game as exciting and worth watching - in contrast to lucky Deccies conservative yawn inducing selections - so big up to him , for making blue rugby so exciting

thebaz

thebaz wrote: »

Schmidts selections for Leinster , make every game as exciting and worth watching - in contrast to lucky Deccies conservative yawn inducing selections - so big up to him , for making blue rugby so exciting

It really does make me want to watch more Leinster matches. Great to see the up and commers getting a senior cap.

wixfjord

Headed down to this and can't wait!
First Leinster game since Clermont in the Aviva.
Will be very exciting to see that backline and Locky at SR.
Come on yew boys in blue!

thebaz

feal more excited about this, than Ireland v France - whats wrong with me ?

[Jackass]

Attendence looks shocking...

iamjenko

[Jackass] wrote: »

Attendence looks shocking...

To be expected i suppose. I was gonna head in but then .... shoulda, woulda, coulda!!

Saviola

Does no-one else think Toner is just a useless lump?

SomeFool

Have to give Aironi credit, well up for a game tonight!

Superbus

Saviola wrote: »

Does no-one else think Toner is just a useless lump?

Yes, no one else does.

profitius

Idiotic penalties been given away.

SomeFool

ooohhhh that looked good to me, should be 6-3

Stev_o

How was that not reviewed? Clearly went through.

SomeFool

Stev_o wrote: »

How was that not reviewed? Clearly went through.

Wouldn't it be up to the captain/kicker to insist on it?

RuggieBear

owens is getting worse

iamjenko

Great scrum!!!

RuggieBear

macken has a broken collar bone seemingly. shame.

SomeFool

RuggieBear wrote: »

macken has a broken collar bone seemingly. shame.

really harsh if true.

Timothy Bryce

Is there a stream going of this one?

yup, check the streams thread. Available on rte.ie if you're in Ireland, and also on RTÉ2

RuggieBear

try for aironi

iamjenko

Horrible mess of a game so far. Hope Leinster pick it up a bit

Morris with a 5 pointer

iamjenko

Back line moves are all very sluggish and telegraphed. No real sharpness there at all