Aironi vs Leinster; Sat 23rd April; 14:30; NO TV Coverage

CouchSmart

The Leinster squad trained at an Open Session in the RDS on Tuesday morning which was attended by over 1,700 supporters ahead of Saturday's Magners League clash against Aironi Rugby in Stadio Luigi Zaffanella (KO: 2.30pm local time)...



Tuesday’s Open Session was the fourth undertaken by the squad this season after previous visits to Mullingar RFC, Wexford Wanderers RFC and Clondalkin RFC. Shane Jennings successfully came through his first appearance in two months following Saturday night’s 34-26 victory over Ulster in the RDS and the Ireland flanker trained with the rest of the squad.
Gordon D’Arcy and Brian O’Driscoll – who both missed the interprovincial win through minor niggles – also trained on Tuesday and it is expected that both should be available for selection this weekend. There are no fresh injury concerns for the province.
Shane Horgan has now scored seven tries in 14 Magners League appearances so far this campaign. Cian Healy’s next appearance will be his 75th for the province, while fellow prop Heinke van der Merwe scored his first Leinster try in his 26th game this season.
The knocks sustained by Leo Cullen and Kevin McLaughlin in the second half of Saturday’s game are not thought to be serious and both should be in contention for the team which is expected to be named on Friday lunchtime prior to the squad’s departure to Italy.


http://leinsterrugby.ie/newsroom/7956.php

It's a pity there's no coverage but sure that's life. Another important game for Leinser, as always! A win will hopefully leave us in prime position for a home semi.

It'll be interesting to see what team gets picked considering the big one the following week.

thebaz

i'd rest heaslip for this - who is the best alternative 8 - o'brien, ruddock or locky ?

durkadurka

I'm kind of thinking we'll see a half and half team for this.

SOB is an excellent 8, some would say even better than Heaslip!
Jennings will surely play again....

jolley123

Maybe
6.Ruddock
7.Jennings
8.SOB

ongarite

Any chance of radio or text commentary for this?

thebaz

i was thinking

6 ryan
7 jennings
8 ruddock

Blut2

Shame its not gonna be on TV, will probably be a good opportunity to see some of the younger lads like McKinley in action. Hopefully the Italians manage to sort out their tv coverage for next season, its very annoying not having any way to see the game at all (even internet streams are better than nothing).

CIARAN_BOYLE

thebaz wrote: »

i was thinking

6 ryan
7 jennings
8 ruddock

I doubt it, SOB only get 25 minutes or so last week so will need a good amount of gametime to get up to full sharpness for the semi-final

WeeBushy

Based on last weeks line up I think something like this:

15. Nacewa
14. McFadden
13. O'Malley
12. D'Arcy
11. Fitzgerald
10. Madigan
9. Boss
1. Healy
2. Strauss
3. Wright
4. Toner
5. Hines
6. Ruddock
7. Jennings
8. O'Brien

16. Healy
17. Ross
18. JHW
19. Cullen
20. Ryan
21. Reddan
22. Sexton
23. O'Driscoll/Horgan

Hype710

Sexton will play 10, its a must win game.

WeeBushy

Hype710 wrote: »

Sexton will play 10, its a must win game.

But its Aironi, have him on the bench to bring on in case things do get a bit hairy. We need to save him for next week, Toulouse is too big a game too lose

Without being arrogant, on current squad form a Leinster B team should dispatch them easily enough.

PhatPiggins

thebaz wrote: »

i was thinking

6 ryan
7 jennings
8 ruddock

Leinsters strength in depth in the backrow is insanely good.

Hype710

WeeBushy wrote: »

But its Aironi, have him on the bench to bring on in case things do get a bit hairy. We need to save him for next week, Toulouse is too big a game too lose

Without being arrogant, on current squad form a Leinster B team should dispatch them easily enough.

But we lost earlier in the year against Treviso (Madigan at 10) so for me Sexton is crucial. Plus if everything goes according to plan we can take him off before the hour mark just like last week! If we were considering resting guys maybe Strauss could sit on the bench?

sock puppet

Hype710 wrote: »

But we lost earlier in the year against Treviso (Madigan at 10) so for me Sexton is crucial. Plus if everything goes according to plan we can take him off before the hour mark just like last week! If we were considering resting guys maybe Strauss could sit on the bench?

Someone else has to play eventually and we've beaten better teams than Aironi with Madigan at 10.

Hype710

Like many my preference in that case would be McKinley. Has displayed good control, flair and strong defence to date.

CouchSmart

According to a friend who was at the open day, the team seemed to be:

15. Fitzgerald
14. Kearney
13. O'Malley
12. O'Driscoll
11. McFadden
10. Madigan
9. Reddan

1. Healy
2. JHW
3. Ross
4. Hines
5. Toner
6. Ruddock
7. Jennings
8. O'Brien

A much stronger team than anticipated - well basically O'Driscoll involved.

Jack Sheehan

No tv coverage? That's a pity. Any radio station cover it?

durkadurka

Not sure I've ever seen bod with 12 on his back

sock puppet

Hype710 wrote: »

Like many my preference in that case would be McKinley. Has displayed good control, flair and strong defence to date.

I think he's been better than Madigan too whenever he's played. But Madigan seems to be preferred.

CouchSmart

durkadurka wrote: »

Not sure I've ever seen bod with 12 on his back

I'm half guessing, I was just told the players who were going through moves etc and where they seemed to be playing. No doubt he'll wear 13 - it's his favourite!

WeeBushy

Hype710 wrote: »

But we lost earlier in the year against Treviso (Madigan at 10) so for me Sexton is crucial. Plus if everything goes according to plan we can take him off before the hour mark just like last week! If we were considering resting guys maybe Strauss could sit on the bench?

Treviso are better than Aironi, and it was back at the beginning of the season when we were trying to find our feet with a new coach. We're motoring at the moment and a team with Madigan at 10 should have no problems with Aironi, he's a good player. Wouldn't be upset if Sexton started, but I would be if he were to get injured by some Italian lump of a forward, keeping him out of the Toulouse game.

Yeah there is a case for starting JHW and Strauss on the bench, all things considering its close call I think. Wouldn't be to strongly pulled either way.

conf101

WeeBushy wrote: »

Treviso are better than Aironi, and it was back at the beginning of the season when we were trying to find our feet with a new coach. We're motoring at the moment and a team with Madigan at 10 should have no problems with Aironi, he's a good player. Wouldn't be upset if Sexton started, but I would be if he were to get injured by some Italian lump of a forward, keeping him out of the Toulouse game.

Yeah there is a case for starting JHW and Strauss on the bench, all things considering its close call I think. Wouldn't be to strongly pulled either way.

Madigan has also played a lot of rugby since that defeat and has improved a lot as a player. Not saying he's the real deal or anything, just that he's a better player

GerM

conf101 wrote: »

Madigan has also played a lot of rugby since that defeat and has improved a lot as a player. Not saying he's the real deal or anything, just that he's a better player

I rate Madigan. I reckon he's got a nice pass and can run a bit. But he doesn't have the ability to control a game. His kicking isn't at a good enough level to pin the opposition back and, more often than not, concedes territory/possession or does not take advantage of a situation. I'd love to see him tried at 12. Give him a run with Sexton inside him and the speedsters outside him and lets see what they can conjure.

wilmer mclean

Personally prefer McKinley, but were near the end of the season and experience is so important for an outhalf so would go with Madigan. Hope JHW starts. The main worries for Leinster in the H Cup are if Sexton or Strauss get injured there is really a huge drop off in talent and experience. I think its imperative that both these young lads start this week.

funky penguin

I really like Madigan, he runs excellent lines, and has a nice pass. As said above, his territorial game needs work, and his defence (while not awful) is no where near what McKinley has proven (thanks ruggie!):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWvP_mb-tGw

I'd love to see McKinley get game-time at 10. It'd be excellent to have such a big, strong fly-half. Next season will really be the deciding factor between the two. Just hope Berquist doesn't get in the way too much.

molloyjh

WeeBushy wrote: »

But its Aironi, have him on the bench to bring on in case things do get a bit hairy. We need to save him for next week, Toulouse is too big a game too lose

Without being arrogant, on current squad form a Leinster B team should dispatch them easily enough.

I think we really need to look at the home game against Aironi rather than the away game against Treviso here. At home to Aironi with a B side out we were far from convincing. With Aironi finally getting a win under their belt after coming close on a good few occasions at home I'd be loathed not to take them seriously. I think it'll be a mixed team and I think Fitzy will def start at 11 from what Schmidt has been saying about playing him back into form. As for OH I can't see past Sexton starting either. It's a must win game and we're going to need the experience Johnny brings. Madigan will come on in the second half once the job is done.

CatFromHue

i agree with molloyjh we need to play a strong, if not our strongest team in this game.

i think getting a home semi in the magners is very important and beating aironi would be a big part of this. its just too tight in the run in for second to take a game for granted.

there is also the case that the team need a good run out before the semi.

CIARAN_BOYLE

Healy
JHW
Ross
Hines
Toner
Ryan
Jennings
SOB

Redden
Sexton
Fitz
McFadden
O'Driscoll
Horgan
D Kearney

Thats the team I may play if it was my decision, mix of youth and experience, none of the first choice players rested for two weeks in a row but still resting some of the lads

durkadurka

I agree apart from sexton. Schmidt suggested that we'd have a half strength team, so the above is likely

Quint2010

whats the situation with D'Arcy? Is he injured? The uninjured first choice players who didnt play last week must play on saturday

durkadurka

Scmidt said something about one of darcy or bod travelling if they could do contact training on Friday.they're both still nursing knocks

danthefan

durkadurka wrote: »

Scmidt said something about one of far y or bod travelling if they could do contact training on Friday.they're both still nursing knocks

I don't believe that at all, I would say Schmidt doesn't want to send either (BOD especially) over to play Aironi the week before a HEC SF. I never thought we'd have a strong team out for this and he has to have some sort of excuse for resting guys 2 weeks in a row.



I'll probably be made an idiot of when both are named in the team tomorrow now but I don't think either will travel, and imo it's the correct call. At this stage of the season they don't need the gametime really, they need to be as rested and fit as possible.

HEC SF
Glasgow in RDS to secure ML SF
ML SF*
HEC Final*
ML Final*

*if Leinster get there

Schmidt has to plan for having those 5 games in consecutive weeks, adding a 6th, in Italy for the likes of BOD is a non runner. I'm not even sure it's possible for Leinster to win those 5 games.

durkadurka

Half strength I reckon

Burgo

Team to play Aroni:

LEINSTER:

15: David Kearney
14: Fergus McFadden
13: Brian O'Driscoll CAPTAIN
12: Eoin O'Malley
11: Luke Fitzgerald
10: Ian Madigan
9: Eoin Reddan

1: Cian Healy
2: Jason Harris-Wright
3: Mike Ross
4: Devin Toner
5: Nathan Hines
6: Rhys Ruddock
7: Shane Jennings
8: Sean O'Brien

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Richardt Strauss
17: Heinke van der Merwe
18: Stan Wright
19: Leo Cullen
20: Dominic Ryan
21: Isaac Boss
22: Jonathan Sexton
23: Shane Horgan

lemansky

Interesting at 15.

CouchSmart

CouchSmart wrote: »

According to a friend who was at the open day, the team seemed to be:

15. Fitzgerald
14. Kearney
13. O'Malley
12. O'Driscoll
11. McFadden
10. Madigan
9. Reddan

1. Healy
2. JHW
3. Ross
4. Hines
5. Toner
6. Ruddock
7. Jennings
8. O'Brien
LEINSTER:

15: David Kearney
14: Fergus McFadden
13: Brian O'Driscoll CAPTAIN
12: Eoin O'Malley
11: Luke Fitzgerald
10: Ian Madigan
9: Eoin Reddan

1: Cian Healy
2: Jason Harris-Wright
3: Mike Ross
4: Devin Toner
5: Nathan Hines
6: Rhys Ruddock
7: Shane Jennings
8: Sean O'Brien

Some positional errors but otherwise :pac:.

It's a strong team. I'd be disappointed if we didn't win, to say the least.

Hippo

Big games required from Toner, Harris-Wright and Madigan. I know Aironi are bottom of the table but they've lost very narrowly on a few occasions.

crisco10

Am i right in counting 10 changes to the team from last week???

3 in the FR, 1 in the second row, 2 in the back row, 2 half backs, 1 centre, 1 fb.

And 2 positional changes (3 if you count Dev moving from 5 to 4). Luke and Jennings the only ones wearing the same jersey as last week.

Thats some heavy rotation!

Hippo wrote: »

Big games required from Toner, Harris-Wright and Madigan. I know Aironi are bottom of the table but they've lost very narrowly on a few occasions.

indeed. set piece will be vital away from home against this big Aironi team.

durkadurka

Basically the other half of the team play and we rest the irreplaceables.

Wise man is Schmidt .

Any win with no injuries would do me.

Never seen d Kearney at fb before.

I reckon bod might play at 12 but wear 13. Isn't it in his contract or something.

crisco10

durkadurka wrote: »

Basically the other half of the team play and we rest the irreplaceables.

Wise man is Schmidt .

Any win with no injuries would do me.

Never seen d Kearney at fb before.

He lined up there last week when he came on for Isa. :P

ambid

CouchSmart wrote: »

According to a friend who was at the open day, the team seemed to be:

15. Fitzgerald
14. Kearney
13. O'Malley
12. O'Driscoll
11. McFadden
10. Madigan
9. Reddan

1. Healy
2. JHW
3. Ross
4. Hines
5. Toner
6. Ruddock
7. Jennings
8. O'Brien

A much stronger team than anticipated - well basically O'Driscoll involved.

Nice one CouchSmart. You got the team almost exactly.

Do you or your mate have any predictions on the lottery munbers this weekend...?

durkadurka

crisco10 wrote: »

He lined up there last week when he came on for Isa. :P

True, for half an hour Or so.

durkadurka

Aironi:


Montepaschi Aironi
15 Horacio San Martin
14 Kaine Robertson
13 Gilberto Pavan
12 Gabriel Pizarro
11 Danwel Demas
10 James Marshall
9 Tito Tebaldi
8 Nick Williams
7 Gareth Krause
6 Josh Sole
5 Marco Bortolami (cap)
4 Joshua Furno
3 Fabio Staibano
2 Fabio Ongaro
1 Alberto De Marchi
*
16 Luigi Ferraro
17 Salvatore Perugini
18 Luca Redolfini
19 Quintin Geldenhuys
20 Nicola Cattina
21 Pablo Canavosio
22 Matteo Pratichetti
23 Riccardo Bocchino

Any thoughts????
*

thomond2006

Aironi
15 Horacio San Martin
14 Kaine Robertson
13 Gilberto Pavan
12 Gabriel Pizarro
11 Danwel Demas
10 James Marshall
9 Tito Tebaldi

8 Nick Williams
7 Gareth Krause
6 Josh Sole
5 Marco Bortolami (cap)
4 Joshua Furno
3 Fabio Staibano
2 Fabio Ongaro
1 Alberto De Marchi

Replacements:
16 Luigi Ferraro
17 Salvatore Perugini
18 Luca Redolfini
19 Quintin Geldenhuys
20 Nicola Cattina
21 Pablo Canavosio
22 Matteo Pratichetti
23 Riccardo Bocchino

Leinster by 10-15 I reckon. Their strong bench should be key.

GerM

durkadurka wrote: »

Never seen d Kearney at fb before.

He's originally a full back but, as is often the case with promising underage backs, they're moved to the wing when they first come on the scene to take the pressure off. Same with Conway, same with Rob Kearney. Played there for the Ireland U20 team and throughout his SCT career.

Here's a nice one he scored from 15 in the U20 6N, with the try being created by some deft hands from a certain E O'Malley:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yym6Y5GduO0

Quint2010

Burgo wrote: »

Team to play Aroni:

LEINSTER:

15: David Kearney
14: Fergus McFadden
13: Brian O'Driscoll CAPTAIN
12: Eoin O'Malley
11: Luke Fitzgerald
10: Ian Madigan
9: Eoin Reddan

1: Cian Healy
2: Jason Harris-Wright
3: Mike Ross
4: Devin Toner
5: Nathan Hines
6: Rhys Ruddock
7: Shane Jennings
8: Sean O'Brien

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Richardt Strauss
17: Heinke van der Merwe
18: Stan Wright
19: Leo Cullen
20: Dominic Ryan
21: Isaac Boss
22: Jonathan Sexton
23: Shane Horgan

Well there you go-as predicted all first uninjured 15 who didnt start last week start tommorrow-BOD,Reddan, Healy, Ross, Hines, SOB. It would have been crazy not to start them as it would have meant 3 weeks without starting for each of them. Schmidt knows you cant sent players that cold into a Heineken Cup match. The big conundrum for next week is will Schmidt start D'Arcy of he is fit?

durkadurka

Is the time local or Irish?

thebaz

Quint2010 wrote: »

W The big conundrum for next week is will Schmidt start D'Arcy of he is fit?

D'Arcy will definitely start unless he is completely pole-axed - the big call for me is in the back row - and also i would give mcfadden consideration, although i'm nearly sure he will pick Luke F.

durkadurka

Looks like he's giving Jennings every chance to get the match fitness to start.

What's nacewa going to do for the weekend? He ALWAYS plays.

And fitz being given every chance to regain form

CouchSmart

durkadurka wrote: »

Is the time local or Irish?

Local. KO 13:30 Irish time.

BarackPyjama

Does anyone know if there's any way to watch this game at all? Are there even cameras there/can it be viewed on the web? I'm getting fidgety and anxious here. :mad: