Cardiff Blue v Leinster; Sat 7th Jan; KO 18:15; Live TG4/S4C

CouchSmart

Not much mentioned on the yet. It's a big game. Cardiff flying under the radar a bit with game in hand. They're very much keeping pace though. Should be a real test for Leinster. Hopefully we'll see two near full strength teams, it'd make for a real spectacle.

Word has it Strauss broke his nose last week, so he'll probably miss this one. Good chance for Dundon or Sexton. Pressures on Cronin now to continue his good form.

I can see us going full strength for this although it's so tough to call with the player management stuff and Schmidt's constant rotation. Based on who's played lately and who hasn't we might see:

Healy Cronin Ross
Toner Cullen
McLoughlin O'Brien Heaslip

Reddan Sexton
Fitz D'Arcy McFadden Nacewa Kearney

Could easily see; Heinke, Browne, Jennings, Boss, O'Malley start too though. Nice bit of depth.

I'd say Leinster by 8

[Jackass]

Yeah I think that team is pretty accurate to what Joe will go with, except he'll have Boss in for Reddan and maybe Browne in for Toner.

Will be interesting to see who he favours in these games over Healy and VDM. I would say Healy will play Montpellier at home and VDM will play Cardiff and Glasgow.

Massive game in the context of the league. We got a "freebe" last weekend, a game we definitely should have lost, and perhaps would have been lucky to get a losing BP, and we came away with a win, so I'm really hoping that a full strength side goes out and puts some momentum back in to our performance.

A win here will keep our stride going in to the last round of pool games in the Heineken Cup and in good form to go for a home quarter-final, but will also, crucially, give us an extremely commanding lead in the league.

With the remaining fixtures, this would have to be considerd one of our most difficult remaining games, along with Ulster & Munster away, and a tough home game against Ospreys, and to take a win here would remove one of the remaining major banana skins and give us a lot of breathing room for any slip up during the 6 nations etc.

So in that context, it comes at a good time, as I think we will be at full strength and will be really going for a good win to keep our momentum going into the Heineken Cup, and I think we will be in absolutely superb shape going in to the business end of the season if we can pull this one off, but it is a massive game in the context of our season imo. It's not the end of the world if we lose, but considering the position we will be in if we win, it is massive.

It will be a massive game for Cardiff though, they need their game in hand to count in the league to get into the play-offs, and wont want to give up that advantage at home, and they will also be at full strength and be motivated by getting into their stride ahead of the Heineken Cup pool games where they will be looking to topple Edinburgh and get first spot, but most of all, they'll be talking about their humiliation in the RDS all week, and will badly want to put the record straight from their point of view, so it's going to be something else.

Bring it on, really looking forward to this game.

durkadurka

It sounds like he'll put near enough the HEC team out.

I've given up trying to call the team. If I get more than 12 names right I'm doing well because Joe always throws a surprise in.

A win would be huge for the reasons jackass outlined.
Wouldn't surprise me if we were a bit ropey though. Remember ospreys last year before the January HEC games? We had the full team out and were well dodgy. It looks like it was just used as a warm up, because we then went out and smashed Saracens and Racing to bits.

I predict a Strong line up and we grind out an 18-13 or something.

geekington

Really looking forward to this, I think Jackass has summed it up perfectly so I won't say any more!

Kinger83

Cardiff team announced...

Cardiff Blues Team v Leinster : 15 Gavin Henson, 14 Leigh Halfpenny, 13 Casey Laulala, 12 Gavin Evans, 11 Tom James, 10 Dan Parks, 9 Lloyd Williams 8 Xavier Rush, 7 Sam Warburton (c), 6 Maama Molitika, 5 Michael Paterson, 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Scott Andrews, 2 Marc Breeze, 1 Gethin Jenkins

vinny chase

Kinger83 wrote: »

Cardiff team announced...

Cardiff Blues Team v Leinster : 15 Gavin Henson, 14 Leigh Halfpenny, 13 Casey Laulala, 12 Gavin Evans, 11 Tom James, 10 Dan Parks, 9 Lloyd Williams 8 Xavier Rush, 7 Sam Warburton (c), 6 Maama Molitika, 5 Michael Paterson, 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Scott Andrews, 2 Marc Breeze, 1 Gethin Jenkins

That's a strong side; especially in the backs.

Don't know a lot about Marc Breeze or Michael Paterson in the tight five, but they're pretty strong across the rest of the field.

andrewdcs

Should be the "HC" teams out for this so a fantastic game to have pre HC pool finale.

Cant wait to look at the backrows up against each other. I reckon we could get Cardiff in the HC Quarters! Anything could happen, I just have this feeling.

However that group (LI, Cardiff, Racing, Edinburgh) are taking points off each other in every game, so likely only 1 will go through as the lowest of the top seeds.

Cant wait for this match.

durkadurka

15: Rob Kearney
14: Dave Kearney
13: Fergus McFadden
12: Gordon D'Arcy
11: Andrew Conway
10: Jonathan Sexton
9: Eoin Reddan

1: Cian Healy
2: Sean Cronin
3: Mike Ross
4: Damian Browne
5: Devin Toner
6: Kevin McLaughlin
7: Sean O'Brien
8: Jamie Heaslip CAPTAIN

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Aaron Dundon
17: Heinke van der Merwe
18: Jamie Hagan
19: Rhys Ruddock
20: Leo Auva'a
21: Isaac Boss
22: Isa Nacewa
23: Fionn Carr

durkadurka

Hmmm no madigan on bench and no Luke or Cullen to get binned...

vinny chase

durkadurka wrote: »

Hmmm no madigan on bench and no Luke or Cullen to get binned...

Jennings gone out of the squad too, as is EO'M.

Wonder what it is with Luke? Simple rotation or something more? I was amazed he didn't come in against Connacht on New Years Day.

vinny chase

Good show of confidence though in Dave Kearney and Andrew Conway, and a big opportunity for both of them. Conditions in Galway made it difficult for them to thrive, hopefully this will be an expansive game at the weekend where we can see Andrew Conway at his very best!

phog

The Cardiff team, some list of injuries too.

15 Gavin Henson 14 Leigh Halfpenny 13 Casey Laulala 12 Gavin Evans 11 Tom James 10 Dan Parks 9 Lloyd Williams

8 Xavier Rush 7 Sam Warburton (c) 6 Maama Molitika 5 Michael Paterson 4 Bradley Davies 3 Scott Andrews 2 Marc Breeze 1 Gethin Jenkins

16 Rhys Williams 17 John Yapp 18 Sam Hobbs 19 Macauley Cook 20 Josh Navidi 21 Richie Rees 22 Ceri Sweeney 23 Richard Mustoe

Not available due to injury

Alex Cuthbert - groin
Ryan Tyrell - hamstring
Paul Tito - head
Chris Czekaj - hamstring
Jamie Roberts - knee
Dafydd Hewitt - hamstring
Thomas Rhys Thomas - neck/shoulder
Taufa'ao Filise - shoulder
James Down - ankle
Andries Pretorius - knee
Deiniol Jones - shoulder
Martyn Williams - arm
Kristian Dacey - shoulder

andrewdcs

Yeah, where is Fitz? He's been out of his skin past few games I saw. Need him to keep playing his way into 6N!

iamjenko

Decent side out from Cardiff, test for some of the younger lads in our side. I am a big fan of Mcfadden's but have to say not when he is at 13.

Should be a good game, certainly more competitive than the last run out against Cardiff!

andrewdcs

iamjenko wrote: »

Decent side out from Cardiff, test for some of the younger lads in our side. I am a big fan of Mcfadden's but have to say not when he is at 13.

Should be a good game, certainly more competitive than the last run out against Cardiff!

Oh yeah, forgotten that was the same team! badly humiliated, be a million miles from that match I'd say, they had all their welsh players taking on Australia!

iamjenko

Yeah they were missing 5 or 6 from international call ups that day

CatFromHue

Cardiff's last few games:

Ospreys 17 (1T) - 12 (0T) Cardiff
Cardiff 28 (3T) - 9 (0T) Dragons
Edinburgh 19 (1T) - 12 (0T) Cardiff
Cardiff 25 (1T) - 8 (1T) Edinburgh
Leinster 52 (6T) - 9 (0T) Cardiff
Cardiff 38 (4T) - 0 (0T) Aironi

They don't seem to score many tries and have a nice record at home. We should have enough to beat them though.

durkadurka

That's an all irish team too. With 12 internationals.

Zzippy

durkadurka wrote: »

That's an all irish team too. With 12 internationals.

Great to see that. The way Leinster's academy is producing players they will be least affected when the new rules on overseas players come in.
Strong side from Cardiff there, should be a good game. The backrow battle should be interesting...

Mr.Applepie

CatFromHue wrote: »

Cardiff's last few games:

Ospreys 17 (1T) - 12 (0T) Cardiff
Cardiff 28 (3T) - 9 (0T) Dragons
Edinburgh 19 (1T) - 12 (0T) Cardiff
Cardiff 25 (1T) - 8 (1T) Edinburgh
Leinster 52 (6T) - 9 (0T) Cardiff
Cardiff 38 (4T) - 0 (0T) Aironi

They don't seem to score many tries and have a nice record at home. We should have enough to beat them though.

Well the reason for that seems fairly obvious - they have Dan Parks at outhalf. How are their back supposed to see any ball

michelledoh

Another strange team at first glance, but I suppose there are reasons for most things.
Shane Jennings lack of an appearence is a bit strange.
Would have liked to seen O Malley go up against Laulala too.

ucdier

Yeah. I'd say Cardiff will be well up for this. And they need the win more than we do. Us with our 6 point cushion at the top. And them languishing in 5th place. Especially with them at home, and having lost to Ospreys last week. Think we'll be up against it to get a result.

Bit disappointed not to see Madigan on the bench. Think he's done enough to deserve it. And as great as Isa has been playing, don't think he's had very many good games at 10.

Would have liked to see Sexton get the nod for captain. Jamies only been doing enough lately to get his place. If Jamie wants it again I think he needs to put a marker down and step up his game in this match. A return to his pre Sean O'Brien form days!

danthefan

ucdier wrote: »

Bit disappointed not to see Madigan on the bench. Think he's done enough to deserve it. And as great as Isa has been playing, don't think he's had very many good games at 10.

I would imagine it's a combination of he's rested having played a bit recently and letting other players into the 23. Wouldn't see it as him being dropped at all.

michelledoh

Brad Davies is out for Cardiff now.

WeeBushy

ucdier wrote: »

Would have liked to see Sexton get the nod for captain. Jamies only been doing enough lately to get his place. If Jamie wants it again I think he needs to put a marker down and step up his game in this match. A return to his pre Sean O'Brien form days!

Sexton has enough responsibilities as it is. Besides, Heaslip is a good captain and well regarded member of the squad.

And he's barely holding onto his place? Who's challenging him?! Heaslip has been in great form this season.

durkadurka

We're back to the strange myth that heaslip isn't playing well. I just don't get it. He is the best 8 in Ireland by a mile and has been all season.

CIARAN_BOYLE

durkadurka wrote: »

We're back to the strange myth that heaslip isn't playing well. I just don't get it. He is the best 8 in Ireland by a mile and has been all season.

part time fans that judge performance by ball carrrying

ucdier

Never said Heaslip isn't playing well. I think he is doing enough to get his place. But he's set an unbelievably high bar for himself - post Rocky season (I think) it seemed like he took every second man of the match award. I think he's doing enough to get his place, but do you really think he's playing as good now as he has ever played? I don't. And it's a bit more pressure now that we have an embarrassing number of very good back row forwards. There's no one else I'd pick over him for the Irish number 8 shirt at the moment, but the distance between him and the others lining up for his shirt has got shorter in my opinion.

I think Sexton is the type of player who would revel with the extra responsibilities. Give him an easy kick he'll probably get it. Give him a kick from the touchline at the end of a HC pool game to tie the match with thousands of angry french fans shouting at him and he'll nail it. Maybe its still a bit early. But if you don't try it, you don't know.

molloyjh

ucdier wrote: »

Yeah. I'd say Cardiff will be well up for this. And they need the win more than we do. Us with our 6 point cushion at the top. And them languishing in 5th place. Especially with them at home, and having lost to Ospreys last week. Think we'll be up against it to get a result.

They are just 3 points behind Munster so a win against us will put them into the top 4 and level on games until Munster play theirs that evening. It's a big game for Cardiff, plus there's the revenge factor! It's going to be a tough game...

decisions

Anyone doing English commentary for the game..?

irishbucsfan

decisions wrote: »

Anyone doing English commentary for the game..?

It's on S4C, so interactive has English commentary on that channel.

Happy for Kearney and Conway, but with McFadden at 13 I'd question how much ball they'll get.

Lads, can I get S4C on Sky? (In England)

danthefan

Deleted User wrote: »

Lads, can I get S4C on Sky? (In England)

If you can get it in Ireland I would be astonished if you couldn't in England.

CatFromHue

Deleted User wrote: »

Lads, can I get S4C on Sky? (In England)

If it's not on your tv listings as it is you can tune it in.

Just do a search on Google or here for the frequency and how to do it. It's pretty straight forward actually.

danthefan

danthefan wrote: »

If you can get it in Ireland I would be astonished if you couldn't in England.

correct, probably should've googled. Has become second nature to ask on here anything rugby related though.

Sometimes just to laugh at the random and tinted answers

irishbucsfan

Deleted User wrote: »

Lads, can I get S4C on Sky? (In England)

Yep, that's how I'll be watching. Ch. 134 for me.

decisions

Can you get that on UPC..?

Else is there any radio commentary..?

jacothelad

Deleted User wrote: »

Lads, can I get S4C on Sky? (In England)

If you go to the channel and 'phone the number they will activate it for you. Takes a few minutes only.

JRant

April Aggressive Spike wrote: »

Lads, can I get S4C on Sky? (In England)

Go to the tv guide section on ur sky box, select 'other stations' and it should be there. Worked for me anyhows.

davidpfitz

Anyone know how to get rid of the "English Commentary Back Up to exit" sign from the bottom of the screen when using the English commentary option on S4C (Sky)?

molloyjh

That kick was def out on the full....

lologram

davidpfitz wrote: »

Anyone know how to get rid of the "English Commentary Back Up to exit" sign from the bottom of the screen when using the English commentary option on S4C (Sky)?

Don't think it's possible

RuggieBear

sweet

crisco10

3 scrums.3 free kicks.


Nice try.

durkadurka

Try seanie!!! Great from heaslip

Taco Corp

Try Leinster! SOB, well worked

molloyjh

Great stuff from Seanie and Heaslip there.

.ak

Seanie and Jamie are really off-form aren't they. :rolleyes:

duckysauce

sweet:D

randomname2005

Nice from Kearney

Seph503

Ah man what a try!!!!:D