Leinster V Ulster Monday 5.30pm

durkadurka

LEINSTER:
15: Luke Fitzgerald
14: David Kearney
13: Fergus McFadden
12: Gordon D'Arcy
11: Fionn Carr
10: Ian Madigan
9: Eoin Reddan
1: Cian Healy
2: Sean Cronin
3: Mike Ross
4: Damian Browne
5: Devin Toner
6: Kevin McLaughlin
7: Shane Jennings CAPTAIN
8: Leo Auva'a
REPLACEMENTS:
16: Richardt Strauss
17: Jack McGrath
18: Jamie Hagan
19: Steven Sykes
20: Rhys Ruddock
21: Isaac Boss
22: Eoin O'Malley
23: Andrew Conway


ULSTER:
P Nelson;
C Cochrane, M Allen, C Farrell, S Danielli;
J McKinney, P Marshall;
Black, N Brady CAPTAIN, A Macklin,
T Barker, L Stevenson,
N McComb, A Birch, R Diack

REPLACEMENTS: N Annett, J Cronin, T Court, J Simpson, C Joyce, I Porter, S Olding, C Gaston

REFEREE: Peter Fitzgibbon (IRFU), ASSISTANT REFEREES: George Clancy, Trevor Collins (both IRFU), 4th OFFICIAL: Paul Haycock (Leinster Rugby Referees), 5th OFFICIAL: Dan Wallace (Leinster Rugby Referees), TMO: Jude Quinn (IRFU)


Looking forward to this , good strong team out.

totallegend

Hi durkadurka,

I think you've made a mistake there and posted the Ulster Ravens team for their next B&I Cup game. They would never send that team down to the RDS for an interpro game.



Would they?

CIARAN_BOYLE

Will be interesting to see how the ulster team performs. There is a few debutants in there

durkadurka

I copied it from the Leinster website. Have to say it looks unfamiliar to me.

Hagz

So is that the Ravens or what? That team will get annihilated...

irishbucsfan

Hope Olding gets some game time, Jaco said he's a good prospect.

CIARAN_BOYLE

durkadurka wrote: »

I copied it from the Leinster website. Have to say it looks unfamiliar to me.

Macklins first start I think, Blacks first cap, McComb is usually a 6, McKinney's first cap, Allen and Cochrane making their debuts and Farrell and Nelson called in from the subacademy to make their debuts.

7 debutants will be interesting, was rumoured though

Both starting XVs are 100% IQ

Big Nelly

See you all in Aviva for this one!!!:D

durkadurka

Big Nelly wrote: »

See you all in Aviva for this one!!!:D

Youll be lonely

totallegend

durkadurka wrote: »

I copied it from the Leinster website. Have to say it looks unfamiliar to me.

Nah, it's the right team, I was only mentioning the Ravens to highlight the ludicrous team selection.

I would expect Leinster to put 7 or 8 tries past that Ulster line-up. A shocking decision to send such an inexperienced team down, they are going to get annihilated.

I was p*ssed off that I couldn't go, now I'm nearly glad.

BTW, if anyone has a Leinster season ticket and hasn't already used the facility to email your ticket onto a friend, it's a really good system.

irishbucsfan

Simon Danielli is the only NIQ starting for leinster ulster or Munster this weekend.

porterbelly

We only have 2 as well

3 NIQ's in the starting 60 players

Very poor on Ulster's part to send such a weakened team down to Dublin. Fair enough shuffle the deck a bit but making that many changes shows a complete disrespect to the fixture.

ongarite

That's a pretty shocking team alright.
Its not like Ulster's Heineken Cup game is next week and they want to rest key players.

I'm half thinking of not going to the match now if its going to be a dud of a game and just watch it at home/pub instead.

Digifriendly

porterbelly wrote: »

We only have 2 as well

3 NIQ's in the starting 60 players

Very poor on Ulster's part to send such a weakened team down to Dublin. Fair enough shuffle the deck a bit but making that many changes shows a complete disrespect to the fixture.

I tend to agree. But this unfortunately seems to be the way these fixtures have been treated in recent years. Out of interest I've been doing a bit of research via another forum and last time both Ronan O'Gara and Paul O'Connell appeared together at Ravenhill wearing the red of Munster was in 2002 (Inter pro not a Celtic League fixture). Next Friday's game at Ravenhill is a sellout but will the crowd feel sold out as well? Some of the Leinster supporters will certainly feel this way on Monday I guess.

porterbelly

Don't really mind 1 or 2 players being rested even if its O Connell and O Gara. But 10 and over is ridiculous

Many could point to a weak Munster team against us but you still have a Horan, Hayes, Fogs, MOD and DOC front 5, vastly experienced, Ronan, Keatley, O Leary, Earls, Zebo. Its a strong Munster side.

5 debuts is taking the piss. It's just conceding a game. They should get a rap on the knuckles for this

GerM

Boyle Sports still have Leinster at -11. Others have suspended betting and Bet365 have come back in at -23. Get to your local Boyle Sports folks for a quick earner!

wixfjord

durkadurka wrote: »

LEINSTER:
15: Luke Fitzgerald
14: David Kearney
13: Fergus McFadden
12: Gordon D'Arcy
11: Fionn Carr
10: Ian Madigan
9: Eoin Reddan
1: Cian Healy
2: Sean Cronin
3: Mike Ross
4: Damian Browne
5: Devin Toner
6: Kevin McLaughlin
7: Shane Jennings CAPTAIN
8: Leo Auva'a
REPLACEMENTS:
16: Richardt Strauss
17: Jack McGrath
18: Jamie Hagan
19: Steven Sykes
20: Rhys Ruddock
21: Isaac Boss
22: Eoin O'Malley
23: Andrew Conway


ULSTER:
P Nelson;
C Cochrane, M Allen, C Farrell, S Danielli;
J McKinney, P Marshall;
Black, N Brady CAPTAIN, A Macklin,
T Barker, L Stevenson,
N McComb, A Birch, R Diack

REPLACEMENTS: N Annett, J Cronin, T Court, J Simpson, C Joyce, I Porter, S Olding, C Gaston

REFEREE: Peter Fitzgibbon (IRFU), ASSISTANT REFEREES: George Clancy, Trevor Collins (both IRFU), 4th OFFICIAL: Paul Haycock (Leinster Rugby Referees), 5th OFFICIAL: Dan Wallace (Leinster Rugby Referees), TMO: Jude Quinn (IRFU)


Looking forward to this , good strong team out.

Liking that Leinster team. Should be looking for a 4 try BP here I'd say.
Interesting that Ferg is back at 13, suppose he'll be kicking.
Also, interesting that Boss doesn't start.
Great to see Conway back too.

durkadurka

I agree. Resting a few is one thing, but effectively throwing the game is another.

totallegend

wixfjord wrote: »

Liking that Leinster team. Should be looking for a 4 try BP here I'd say.
Interesting that Ferg is back at 13, suppose he'll be kicking.
Also, interesting that Boss doesn't start.
Great to see Conway back too.

I think it's more interesting that Cooney isn't on the bench; surely this is the sort of game we should be using to give guys like him 20 minutes?

durkadurka

I'd say if Joe knew that ulster team he'd be starting Conway and Cooney .

Hagz

meh...I don't really see Cooney as a long term player. Glad to see Conway back, and looking forward to watching Fitz at full-back.

totallegend

Hagz wrote: »

meh...I don't really see Cooney as a long term player. Glad to see Conway back, and looking forward to watching Fitz at full-back.

Neither do I tbh, but if Reddan or Boss gets injured, it would be useful to have a guy with some level of experience to fall back on.

Tox56

Really disappointed to not see O'Malley starting, and in particular that McFadden is at 13. He is a far better 12, and that is where his future should be at (if not at wing). D'Arcy won't really gain much from playing in this game, and a McFadden/O'Malley 12/13 combination is something we should be trying for the future. It would have been good for O'Malley's confidence too to get a few tries against this Ulster team.

wixfjord

Tox56 wrote: »

Really disappointed to not see O'Malley starting, and in particular that McFadden is at 13. He is a far better 12, and that is where his future should be at (if not at wing). D'Arcy won't really gain much from playing in this game, and a McFadden/O'Malley 12/13 combination is something we should be trying for the future. It would have been good for O'Malley's confidence too to get a few tries against this Ulster team.

Ah in fairness McFadden can do a job at 13, and Darcy didn't play last week so he needs a game.

I'd be slightly annoyed if i had paid for a ticket to this tbh, but can certainly see Ulster's reasoning.

Anyone warrant a guess as to whether Leinster will do the same next week against Connacht?

Hagz

wixfjord wrote: »

Anyone warrant a guess as to whether Leinster will do the same next week against Connacht?

Probably, but I'd happily pay money to see our second-string team:D

Tox56

wixfjord wrote: »

Ah in fairness McFadden can do a job at 13, and Darcy didn't play last week so he needs a game.

I'd be slightly annoyed if i had paid for a ticket to this tbh, but can certainly see Ulster's reasoning.

Anyone warrant a guess as to whether Leinster will do the same next week against Connacht?

He can do a job there, but surely we should be playing him where he is most (Or more) effective. It was clear in the away game at Bath, when he moved to 12 he had more impact.

With BOD's injury, we should be looking to find a solution at 13, and O'Malley has more to give in that position, and should be given good time to gain experience there.

I was just thinking this would be a perfect game with not much riding on it to test him out. If D'Arcy needs a game put him 12 with O'Malley 13.

Maybe I'm just reading too much into this.

totallegend

wixfjord wrote: »

Ah in fairness McFadden can do a job at 13, and Darcy didn't play last week so he needs a game.

I'd be slightly annoyed if i had paid for a ticket to this tbh, but can certainly see Ulster's reasoning.

Anyone warrant a guess as to whether Leinster will do the same next week against Connacht?

Leinster could put out the following entirely changed team for next week:

Rob Kearney
Dave Kearney
Eoin O'Malley
Brendan Macken
Isa Nacewa
Jonny Sexton
Isaac Boss
Heinke van der Merwe
Richardt Strauss
Jamie Hagan
Leo Cullen
Steven Sykes
Sean O'Brien
Rhys Ruddock
Jamie Heaslip

I'd pay good money to see that team in action... Although you're right, they probably will give a few guys who've seen a lot of action another week off and give a few young guys a start, hopefully Conway, McGrath (Jack), Macken etc.

GerM

durkadurka wrote: »

I agree. Resting a few is one thing, but effectively throwing the game is another.

I'd say he's more irritated about using up one of Mike Ross' allocated games on this fixture than anything. You could argue Healy and D'Arcy need games but Ross has played 7 times already since returning from the WC.

Ulster obviously viewed this as a relatively unlikely win and are targetting the match 4 days later against Munster with all their resources.

I am pie

Stupid ( again) selection by mclaughlin. No benefit to the young ravens at all. What will they learn in shipping a boat load of points against a vastly superior team. As an ulster fan this is a very disappointing team selection and mire evidence of the need to make changes at the top.:mad:

GerM

I am pie wrote: »

Stupid ( again) selection by mclaughlin. No benefit to the young ravens at all. What will they learn in shipping a boat load of points against a vastly superior team. As an ulster fan this is a very disappointing team selection and mire evidence of the need to make changes at the top.:mad:

Ulster have a very short turnaround in fairness between this and Munster at home. McLaughlin has obviously put his focus on the Munster game where they've a good chance of picking up 4 points. Munster have decent depth but have 4 or 5 first choice players playing against Connacht with a few more on the bench so they probably won't be at full strength against Ulster. Whilst I don't like seeing a side as weak as the one McLaughlin is sending down (he definitely could have selected a stronger side) I think his approach does have some level of merit. He has a decent shot at getting a win at home to Munster if he has his lads well rested and raring to go.

McLaughlin probably wasn't expecting Leinster to put out quite as strong a side either. Would have thought there would be 2 or 3 fewer first team players involved.

decisions

On the basis of the Ulster lineup I'd be disappointed if we don't put 5 or six tries past them.

shuffol

There's a bit of frustration for Ulster in that its the second year in a row at least that they've had both Leinster and Munster over christmas whereas both Munster and Leinster have the less daunting prospect of facing Connacht in one of their 2 games. It is effectively throwing the game but Ulster were never really likely to get anything out of this game barring a losing BP. With a full side next week they should beat Munster at home and be in good stead for the next round of the HC.

irishbucsfan

Re: McFadden

I think he's in the team because he's kicking.... because Darcy was out last week it just ends up this way.

I much prefer McFadden on the wing or at 12 but I don't see this as meaning he's ahead of O'Malley.

Digifriendly

shuffol wrote: »

There's a bit of frustration for Ulster in that its the second year in a row at least that they've had both Leinster and Munster over christmas whereas both Munster and Leinster have the less daunting prospect of facing Connacht in one of their 2 games. It is effectively throwing the game but Ulster were never really likely to get anything out of this game barring a losing BP. With a full side next week they should beat Munster at home and be in good stead for the next round of the HC.

Maybe I'm wrong here but is there not an Irish training camp beginning next weekend and all Irish squad members will be absent?

CatFromHue

The Ulster line up remind me of the Leinster team sent to The Dragons a couple of years ago that was made up of academy players and Jackman, possibly Mal O Kelly too. The difference is that this Leinster team is a lot better than The Dragons. I think we're looking at our third 50 pointer of the season here, if not more!

jacothelad

durkadurka wrote: »

I agree. Resting a few is one thing, but effectively throwing the game is another.

Hagz wrote: »

Probably, but I'd happily pay money to see our second-string team:D

That would be a good thing, not this.

It's an absolute scandal. If this was a soccer team in the Premiership or a cup competition they would be heavily fined. This is so completely and utterly wrong. To expose so many young players to an absolute hiding apart from anything else, shows a callous and total disregard for the well-being ans welfare of the players involved. Deliberately throwing a game is not anything that I wish to be a part of.

Admitting that a game is difficult is one thing, deliberately sending down a group of academy and sub-academy players to get lynched is a despicable act. A lot of them have hardly had any game time this season such is the crass manner in which they and the Ravens have been managed. Ulster have good players available for this game. This just shows how awful and totally out of their depth the Ulster cretins management set up is. The IRFU should step in and sack demand an explanation. Why would a T.V. station pay to show this?. Why would anyone with a genuine interest in the success of Irish Rugby pay to go and see this farce? What value is it to the young players? It's not even a Ravens team. The Ravens sides that have been vaguely thrown together this season have been stronger. GHeads should roll but in the back Scratching Look After Your Mates world of Ulster Rugby it won't.

wixfjord

jacothelad wrote: »

That would be a good thing, not this.

It's an absolute scandal. If this was a soccer team in the Premiership or a cup competition they would be heavily fined. This is so completely and utterly wrong. To expose so many young players to an absolute hiding apart from anything else, shows a callous and total disregard for the well-being ans welfare of the players involved. Deliberately throwing a game is not anything that I wish to be a part of.

Admitting that a game is difficult is one thing, deliberately sending down a group of academy and sub-academy players to get lynched is a despicable act. A lot of them have hardly had any game time this season such is the crass manner in which they and the Ravens have been managed. Ulster have good players available for this game. This just shows how awful and totally out of their depth the Ulster cretins management set up is. The IRFU should step in and sack demand an explanation. Why would a T.V. station pay to show this?. Why would anyone with a genuine interest in the success of Irish Rugby pay to go and see this farce? What value is it to the young players? It's not even a Ravens team. The Ravens sides that have been vaguely thrown together this season have been stronger. GHeads should roll but in the back Scratching Look After Your Mates world of Ulster Rugby it won't.

That's an interesting point alright. Wolves and Blackpool have been fined in recent years iirc. For a showpiece Christmas game it's making a mockery of it, although Ulster's hands are tied slightly, so part of the blame has to go to the IRFU.

thomond2006

That Ulster side is gonna get hammered!

jacothelad

wixfjord wrote: »

That's an interesting point alright. Wolves and Blackpool have been fined in recent years iirc. For a showpiece Christmas game it's making a mockery of it, although Ulster's hands are tied slightly, so part of the blame has to go to the IRFU.

Having to play Leinster and Munster within 4 days of each other just shows up the irish Player Welfare Scheme for what it is. A way to protect the international players and to hell with the young lads. There is something totally rotten to the core about this team selection. I'm sure the young guys will be delighted to be picked and I'm sure they will give their all but what happens if and when it all goes tits up for them? Will Humphreys and McLaughlin blather on about steep learning curves and the usual drivel we expect from them? I'm sure they will. If there was a Heineken Cup for stupidity they would be in the running.

CatFromHue

Ulster are at home to Munster on Friday night. A 4 day turn around in rugby is extremely hard on the players.

The Connacht Leinster game is on next Sunday, I don't see why the Ulster game isn't on Sunday too!

[Jackass]

Surprised by both teams to be honest.

Great to see Conway finally back, hopefully he can stay fit now and get a run of games.

Interesting that O'Malley is presumably covering 10 from the bench. He was a good schools 10, but hopefully wont have to see him there on Monday.

Back three is electric and pack isn't half bad either considering.

On the face of it, I would say given the Ulster team (very strange, and frustrating, feels like the match is massively devalued now) we could be looking at a bonus point win here, hopefully.

Very disappointed with the Ulster selection though. Maybe they'll prove me wrong, but since I haven't even heard of half of their team, I doubt it. Looking forward to seeing Marshall though, absolutely class player. A shame Pienar can't (by contract) play 10, as that would be some pairing.

wixfjord

[Jackass] wrote: »

Surprised by both teams to be honest.

Great to see Conway finally back, hopefully he can stay fit now and get a run of games.

Interesting that O'Malley is presumably covering 10 from the bench. He was a good schools 10, but hopefully wont have to see him there on Monday.

Back three is electric and pack isn't half bad either considering.

On the face of it, I would say given the Ulster team (very strange, and frustrating, feels like the match is massively devalued now) we could be looking at a bonus point win here, hopefully.

Very disappointed with the Ulster selection though. Maybe they'll prove me wrong, but since I haven't even heard of half of their team, I doubt it. Looking forward to seeing Marshall though, absolutely class player. A shame Pienar can't (by contract) play 10, as that would be some pairing.

:eek::eek::eek:
You sure you're thinking of the same guy?!
Luke Marshall perhaps?

CIARAN_BOYLE

CatFromHue wrote: »

Ulster are at home to Munster on Friday night. A 4 day turn around in rugby is extremely hard on the players.

The Connacht Leinster game is on next Sunday, I don't see why the Ulster game isn't on Sunday too!

Ulster play all home games on friday due to a deal with BBC NI

[Jackass]

wixfjord wrote: »

:eek::eek::eek:
You sure you're thinking of the same guy?!
Luke Marshall perhaps?

No, no, Paul, hadn't seen a whole load of him before this season, but have you been watching him this season? He's been absolutely superb! One of the form scrummies in the country!

durkadurka

Do we really think o malley is covering ten?

wixfjord

[Jackass] wrote: »

No, no, Paul, hadn't seen a whole load of him before this season, but have you been watching him this season? He's been absolutely superb! One of the form scrummies in the country!

Jaysus, he's grand and quick, and scrappy, but incredibly brainless from what I've seen. I'm of the opinion that he's actually a hindrance to Ulster tbh.

Amazotheamazing

With respect to the Ulster guys, some of the mismatches are verging on dangerous.

The only question is how much Leinster will win by, can they break 50 points? Can they break 75?

GerM

[Jackass] wrote: »

No, no, Paul, hadn't seen a whole load of him before this season, but have you been watching him this season? He's been absolutely superb! One of the form scrummies in the country!

There's a reason he was barely on the radar outside Ulster before this season despite being 26 now. He's a livewire but completely erratic. The scrum half version of Humphreys would be one way of describing him. Fantastic runner around the fringes, very nippy, great pass but that pass can go anywhere and his decision making is very iffy from what I've seen of him over the last 2 or 3 seasons. This season has seen him improve significantly though and perhaps it was just a run of games that was needed. With that said, he still has had some stinkers. The home defeat to Treviso was painful at times. He'd make a 40m break and then zip the ball 3m behind a forward in the midfield at the next breakdown.

profitius

The young Ulster lads are really being thrown in a the deep end here.

Farrell in the center is one to watch though he must only be about 18?

GerM

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

With respect to the Ulster guys, some of the mismatches are verging on dangerous.

The only question is how much Leinster will win by, can they break 50 points? Can they break 75?

Think people are going over the top; the margin won't be obscene. The Ulster back line is extremely inexperienced admittedly but the pack is older than it looks on paper. Diack and McComb are both in their mid-late twenties. Macklin is 22 but has been in and around the squad for a while similar to someone like Jack McGrath. Birch is 23 and is a novice. The rest are all mid twenties to early thirties. Black and Stevenson have solid Aviva Premiership experience. Brady and Barker are old hands.

I've no doubt Ulster are going to be spanked but Leinster are going to ease to victory rather than go out to thump them. Healy, Ross, D'Arcy and Fitzgerald aren't going to go smashing people or killing themselves. I reckon we'll see something along the lines of 35-6. I'd be surprised if 50 came up on the board. Post-Christmas games are generally damp squibs. Once Leinster get the BP I can see it completely fizzling out.

CatFromHue

GerM wrote: »

I'd be surprised if 50 came up on the board.

I'm not so sure, and I think 50 could be a very real score for Leinster. We did it against Cardiff not so long ago.

When I look at the Ulster team I see players who've never played before together. Then there is all the debutants, 5 I think. There team is possibly weaker than a pre season friendly team and may not have as much time together as one.

The Leinster team is far better in player alone quality and also in positional unit quality. We've a good front row, second row, back row, half back pairing, centre pairing, and all who have played together before. As the game goes on this will show more and more. Then there is our bench too.....the omens are very bad for this Ulster team.

Of course the 5 new debutants could all be the next Brian O Driscoll and we will see something magical happen.