Glasgow Warriors v Leinster, 15/1/2012, 1245, live on Sky Sports 2 & RTE Radio 1(LW)

totallegend

GLASGOW WARRIORS:
15: Rory Lamont
14: Tommy Seymour
13: Stuart Hogg
12: Graeme Morrison
11: Colin Shaw
10: Duncan Weir
9: Chris Cusiter
1: Jon Welsh
2: Pat MacArthur
3: Ed Kalman
4: Richie Gray
5: Al Kellock CAPTAIN
6: Rob Harley
7: Chris Fusaro
8: John Barclay
REPLACEMENTS:
16: Dougie Hall
17: Gordon Reid
18: Ryan Grant
19: Tom Ryder
20: Johnnie Beattie
21: Colin Gregor
22: Troy Nathan
23: Scott Wight
LEINSTER:
15: Rob Kearney
14: David Kearney
13: Fergus McFadden
12: Gordon D'Arcy
11: Isa Nacewa
10: Jonathan Sexton
9: Eoin Reddan
1: Cian Healy
2: Sean Cronin
3: Mike Ross
4: Leo Cullen CAPTAIN
5: Devin Toner
6: Sean O'Brien
7: Shane Jennings
8: Jamie Heaslip
REPLACEMENTS:
16: Aaron Dundon
17: Heinke van der Merwe
18: Nathan White
19: Damian Browne
20: Rhys Ruddock
21: Isaac Boss
22: Ian Madigan
23: Eoin O'Malley

REFEREE: Nigel Owens (WRU), ASSISTANT REFEREES: Gwyn Morris, Jon Mason (both WRU), 4th OFFICIAL: Gus Tweedale (SRU), 5th OFFICIAL: Tom McNicol (SRU), TMO: Derek Bevan (WRU)

durkadurka

Where's Luke, Strauss and locky?

JonnyF

where's kev? did he get a concussion last week? looked like a knock to the head before he came off but no news about it this week

totallegend

A few surprises there and a big day for Kearney jr. I would have thought he'd play McFadden on the wing and O'Malley in the centre, but maybe the physical strength of McFadden is a better bet against Morrison who is limited but very big and very strong.

I'm glad to see he's picked the 'home' team of Healy, Toner, Reddan and Jennings; hopefully Leinster can get real pace on the game because if they do, I don't think Glasgow will be able to live with them.

The loss of Moray Low and Ruairi Jackson is a big blow for Glasgow; they have a decent set of loose forwards but other than that, Leinster have a real edge here.

Big Nelly

We should be well capable of winning with that team. Wonder where Fitz is? heard nothing about injury. Number 13 is still the major question point. Will McFadden finally nail down the 13 spot or will we need to bring on O'Malley on in second half.

Bit of a change from away match's this season. Toner and Redden playing. Will be good to see how Toner gets on in away match in HC. Will need him capable for rest of season to play away match's.

Looks like Leinster are going for a win and maybe a bonus point. Playing Redden from start suggests this.

Also good for Ireland that Cronin is playing. Has been very good this season.

Again no sign of Carr, he must be playing on Sunday match.

totallegend

durkadurka wrote: »

Where's Luke, Strauss and locky?

Strauss has a broken nose I think. Not sure what is wrong with Luke, but sitting out both the games against Connacht and Cardiff was not a good omen.

chancer12

V strange that Kearney would be called up ahead of Luke, he's had a great season. Glad to see Madigan on the bench and hope he gets a few minutes at the end. Bit disappointed to see McF ahead of EOM. Good also to see the Reddan/Sexton combo and nice to see Leo back w the captain's armband. Hope he's not binned again!

Tox56

Dissapointing selection. As mentioned above, he's gone with the "home" team selections of Reddan, Healy, Toner, Jennings, but gone with the traditional "away" of Ferg/D'Arcy.

Relatively annoying, as Bath away showed how ineffective they are together, whilst also showing how much more effective EOM/Ferg is.

Can undersand his chioce though, it is an away game, and I highly doubt we will be playing the same high tempo sort of game we were against Bath and I would hope EOM/Ferg will be back for Montpellier.

Just a shame EOM/Ferg couldn't get more big-games together, but I accept is a very important game.

.ak

Even though I'm a big fan of McFadden I'm surprised to see EoM not starting more games at 13. Although Joe has a habit of picking the tried and tested work-horses of the squad for away games... Having said that I would've expected Browne and Boss to start.

Still, can't wait for this game now. Think it'll be a dog fight, we'll be doing well to get anywhere near 4 tries.

.ak

...and yeah, madness that Luke hasn't played since the Bath game. I'd imagine there was discussions coming from the national team, keep him away from possible injury until the 6n, which may be a good indicator we'll have Luke at 11 and Earls at 13 for the Wales game.

leakyboots

.ak wrote: »

...and yeah, madness that Luke hasn't played since the Bath game. I'd imagine there was discussions coming from the national team, keep him away from possible injury until the 6n, which may be a good indicator we'll have Luke at 11 and Earls at 13 for the Wales game.

Pure internet muck speculation. Luke "strained his neck a fortnight ago and is taking it on a week by week basis" according to Leinster Rugby via Sinéad Kissane on Twitter

molloyjh

leakyboots wrote: »

Pure internet muck speculation. Luke "strained his neck a fortnight ago and is taking it on a week by week basis" according to Leinster Rugby via Sinéad Kissane on Twitter

Strained his neck???? Don't think I've heard that one before. Wonder what he was up to!?

Still though with that pack and with Reddan and Sexton behind it I can't see anything but a Leinster win. It may not be pretty at times, and we may not get the TBP (although I'd hope we go for it), but it's certainly a winnable game on paper.

jacothelad

molloyjh wrote: »

Strained his neck???? Don't think I've heard that one before. Wonder what he was up to!?

Looking back for the ball after an over run.:D:D:D:D:D

CIARAN_BOYLE

leakyboots wrote: »

Pure internet muck speculation. Luke "strained his neck a fortnight ago and is taking it on a week by week basis" according to Leinster Rugby via Sinéad Kissane on Twitter

I didn't see that previously thanks for letting us know. Interesting to see that D Kearney is ahead of Carr still

leakyboots

molloyjh wrote: »

Strained his neck???? Don't think I've heard that one before. Wonder what he was up to!?

Still though with that pack and with Reddan and Sexton behind it I can't see anything but a Leinster win. It may not be pretty at times, and we may not get the TBP (although I'd hope we go for it), but it's certainly a winnable game on paper.

Knowing yere strength in depth of young backs, probably looking over his shoulder to see if his place is safe!

The more I read that post by AK the more it pisses me off. Mindless inflammatory bull**** that often gets repeated

Legion2008

chancer12 wrote: »

V strange that Kearney would be called up ahead of Luke, he's had a great season. Glad to see Madigan on the bench and hope he gets a few minutes at the end. Bit disappointed to see McF ahead of EOM. Good also to see the Reddan/Sexton combo and nice to see Leo back w the captain's armband. Hope he's not binned again!

We've managed ok in the last 2 Cups games going down to 14 men ... if I recall correctly we've scored tries each time

molloyjh

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

I didn't see that previously thanks for letting us know. Interesting to see that D Kearney is ahead of Carr still

I'd rate DK ahead of Carr by a good distance at the moment. For my money he is the heir to Shaggys jersey. Good in the air (although missing Shaggys height) and a strong ball carrier. He's come a long way in the last 2 seasons and I reckon there's more to come from him.

Carr has improved over the last couple of months so hopefully he can push on, but as of now he's def behind Nacewa, Fitzy and D Kearney. And of course Shaggy assuming he returns.

Legion2008 wrote: »

We've managed ok in the last 2 Cups games going down to 14 men ... if I recall correctly we've scored tries each time

2 tries each time IIRC. 2 against Glasgow when Toner was off and 2 against Bath when Leo was off.

durkadurka

Ah lighten up! Where would we be without baseless speculation?

leakyboots

durkadurka - I dunno, informed? But it is how a lot of myths get perpetuated.

Fitz has 'also strained his glute muscles' according to the same source

.ak

leakyboots wrote: »

The more I read that post by AK the more it pisses me off. Mindless inflammatory bull**** that often gets repeated

Woah there cowboy. It may be mindless, and it may be bull****, but it certainly doesn't get.. wait, what was the last thing you said?

In all seriousness though, lighten up. This here be an internet forum, a place where one can come to speculate to their minds content. I never said I heard it from another source or anything, all I said was I wondered if that was the case. And if that pisses you off, or further more you had to read it more than once, then I think you need to make yourself a cup of tea and chill beans sir.

Zuffer

Tough on Carr not to get into the squad despite the injury to Fitz.

Big game for McFadden at 13. I've been a big fan of his for a couple of years, but him and Darcy haven't looked a good combination this season, and for me O'Malley has done better at 13.

accensi0n

molloyjh wrote: »

I'd rate DK ahead of Carr by a good distance at the moment. For my money he is the heir to Shaggys jersey.

I've been surprised by how often I've seen DK bounce would be tacklers this season.

boynesider

D Kearney looks like a beast with ball in hand and he has a formidable hand-off but for some reason his tackling can be surprisingly weak at times (a bit like his brother).

I think a lot of him though and if he can improve his defense he can definitely become a regular in the next few years.

I would also love to see Toner lay down a 6 nations marker against Richie Gray.

roycon

would prefer to see conway in ahead of kearney but as expected really considering the injuries. Toners only going to get better for the next 10 consecutive years. Cant wait!

jacothelad

leakyboots wrote: »

durkadurka - I dunno, informed? But it is how a lot of myths get perpetuated.

Fitz has 'also strained his glute muscles' according to the same source

That's a bit of a bummer. :pac:

errlloyd

Interesting team, lets not be cocky. Glasgow haven't been beaten at home in ****ing ages. I know we all watch about too much sky and they talk about us like we're jesus jizz or something, but we gotta take it one match at a time.

Speaking of one match at a time, it seems Quins will qualify second from their group and be the first second place qualifier (7th) so we really wanna be first qualifier don't we. Like Quins would be tough.

CouchSmart

Really looking forward to this one. It's going to be a real test. Glasgow away is never easy and I know we haven't really sent a full strength team there in years but we always struggle. No doubt we need to be at our best for the 80 minutes.

Pity that Luke misses out but it's great to see D. Kearney getting a shot. He's probably our long term prospect at 14, when Shaggy and Nacewa retire and move on. He always does well, perhaps a bit suspect in defense at times but he's definitely earned this start. Well deserved. The rest of the team is as expected really. Very solid through out. Maybe missing a bit of creativity in the centre but they won't let us down and are probably better equipped to take the down Glasgow's big carriers.

Two wins over the next two weeks, hopefully, sets us up very nicely. We'll definitely need to be at our clinical best on Sunday, can't have a Bath away repeat, every opportunity counts.

durkadurka

Getting nervous.

Away from home we're only grinding out results. This is a banana skin.

And ulsters magnificence last night only makes it worse! Munster will surely steam through casters today too.

Any kind of 10-9 win will do please.

Interesting that joe has picked the home team though. I wonder if he fancies having a cut at them. Hope there's no complacency creeping in.

.ak

I think from all the team interviews and whatnot there isn't any complacency. Healy especially noted their tactics for slowing ball on the ground and that's generally how they grind out a win, but he also said at some point Leinster will look to play fast rugby and he knows Glasgow will try their best not to let that happen. They've always thought that Glasgow away will be one of the harder ones, and are well aware of their home record. Should be interesting.

I could see a repeat of the Cardiff game tbh (except with better H-cup reffing), i.e couple of early tries, catch them napping, and then Glasgow grinding their way back into it, and it being a full 80 minute trial once again.

Principal Skinner

.ak wrote: »

I think from all the team interviews and whatnot there isn't any complacency. Healy especially noted their tactics for slowing ball on the ground and that's generally how they grind out a win, but he also said at some point Leinster will look to play fast rugby and he knows Glasgow will try their best not to let that happen. They've always thought that Glasgow away will be one of the harder ones, and are well aware of their home record. Should be interesting.

I could see a repeat of the Cardiff game tbh (except with better H-cup reffing), i.e couple of early tries, catch them napping, and then Glasgow grinding their way back into it, and it being a full 80 minute trial once again.

Don't know about that now, I can't see Glasgow letting in early tries they're going to be so fired up for this one that I think Leinster will have to weather the storm for the first 15-20 mins

Digifriendly

Glasgow only edged Bath at Firhill whereas Leinster thumped Bath at the Aviva. Leinster to win with a bit to spare.

shuffol

Just noticed there that Reddan is in ahead of Boss, think thats the first time thats happened in a HC away game under Schmidt.

profitius

14 Irish players starting for Leinster. Is that a record for them?

CIARAN_BOYLE

profitius wrote: »

14 Irish players starting for Leinster. Is that a record for them?

Not at all, we've had teams with 15 Irish players this season if you mean a HEC record maybe but I think we did it before this season

errlloyd

Hold on do you mean Irish qualified or Irish capped? Don't think DK has been capped at senior level.

profitius

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

Not at all, we've had teams with 15 Irish players this season if you mean a HEC record maybe but I think we did it before this season

Yeah I ment the HEC.

irishbucsfan

I think Leinster have had 19/20 Irish players in their XXIII for each game this season.

This is the first time they've started 14 Irish players though, until now they've always had at least 2 of VDM, Strauss or Nacewa starting.

I think against Saracens in the RDS they had 14 Irish players perhaps? EDIT: Actually no, forgot Hines, it was 13.



When Strauss naturalises next season they could have 14 Irish players week-in wekk-out. McGrath should be taking VDM's place so the only "foreigner" wouild be Nacewa.

danthefan

shuffol wrote: »

Just noticed there that Reddan is in ahead of Boss, think thats the first time thats happened in a HC away game under Schmidt.

He started against Clermont last season away I'm pretty sure. Or maybe Saracens away, one or the other.

shuffol

Yea he started against Saracens away now that I think about it, with Jennings in he's obviously looking to play a quicker game.

Foxtrol

Talking about records and this team I just noticed that the backline from 12-15 all went to Clongowes. It's quite an impressive stat for the school.

cruiserweight

FYI a bit of info for anybody going to the game tomorrow. Pretty cold here in Glasgow at the moment, but Warriors have had the undersoil heating on all weekend so there should not be any problems.

Also there should be a big enough crowd. Glasgow are running a special offer for season ticket holders, where by they can bring a friend tomorrow for free. It will be the first time that I have gone to Firhill where all of the stands will be open, normally the Jackie Husband Stand is the only one open.

durkadurka

Three hours to go and getting very twitchy about this.

.ak

Aye, I'm quite nervous about this. Have we ever won in Firhil? Still, hope it's a good game!

durkadurka

We don't have a good record there but we usually send a weak team.
Never won there in HEC I think .

Glad of an early kick off I think, might deaden the atmosphere a bit.

irishbucsfan

Foxtrol wrote: »

Talking about records and this team I just noticed that the backline from 12-15 all went to Clongowes. It's quite an impressive stat for the school.

Fair play. Clongowes must be the most represented school in the squad including the academy as well.

durkadurka

A perspective from iain Morrison in The Scotsman.


Glasgow need warrior spirit to overcome Leinster
Published: 15 January 2012


Walking tall: MacArthur is keeping two Scotland hookers out the Glasgow team. Picture: Lynne Cameron/PA
0 comments
By Iain Morrison
I SUPPOSE it says something for the progress of Scotland’s pro teams that Glasgow’s Heineken Cup hosing by Leinster a few months ago was received, not with the habitual shrug of the shoulders that Scottish rugby fans have employed for many a year, but a genuine what-the-hell-just-happened disbelief.


Hooker Pat MacArthur says Firhill side’s Euro hopes rest with more dynamism in the contact area against holders

This Glasgow Warriors side doesn’t often suffer this sort of indignity. They may not be the prettiest team in the world but they are surely among the grittiest, although not that afternoon.

Leinster are not European champions for nothing and they bring a muscular directness to almost everything that they do. They brushed Glasgow aside at the breakdown like they were ants at a picnic. Sean Lineen used the phrase “men against boys” in the aftermath but still his side made it horribly easy for the Dubliners on the day, falling off tackles, failing to hold on to the ball and then committing the cardinal sin of allowing the hosts to score two tries while the tree-tall lock Devin Toner was in the sin bin.

Little wonder that Lineen ordered the video nasty to be played on the wall as his players trained indoors last week just to rub their noses in a humiliation that was all the more painful for being widely unexpected. After all, Glasgow had ended Leinster’s long winning run in Dublin in the league in the opening month of the season.

Pat MacArthur has elbowed his way past not one but two Scotland Test players this season to make the Glasgow hooker’s spot his own ahead of Dougie Hall and Fergus Thomson. He started in both this season’s games against Leinster, so what went so wrong in Dublin?

“Our work at the contact area was not good,” says the hooker, opting for understatement. “They are very strong in contact, on the physicality side. In the first game we dealt with it well, we got a lot of quick ball, and in the second game we didn’t get too much ball, we let them play too much rugby.

“The contact is a big thing in Irish rugby. They all have a big focus on the contact [area] and disrupting ball and getting quick ball for themselves to play with. They bring a high tempo to the game. So it’s down to us to get quick ball for ourselves and slow their ball down. We have to stop them playing a high-tempo game.”

MacArthur is repeating a truth that is widely acknowledged in the game; the Irish make a bloody nuisance of themselves at the breakdown. It used to be a preserve of the Scottish flankers but now the Irish have stolen their reputation for clattering into rucks and mauls like they just don’t care or else edging unsubtly around the side and hacking the ball out the back. In short, they will do anything and everything to ensure the opposition gets nothing remotely like good, quick, clean ball.

How do they manage it? Well, it helps that Leinster boasts a back row unit including two of Europe’s bigger beasts in Jamie Heaslip and Sean O’Brien, two men that Glasgow will have to tackle around the ankles, and Sean Lineen has selected accordingly. Still, there are risks involved in picking two out-and-out openside flankers in John Barclay and Chris Fusaro to help counter the threat of Leinster’s big ball carriers and to turn the tables come ruck and maul.

Lineen might have had another flanker in the back row mix had things turned out a little differently. “I last played at seven for the under-19s, I think it was,” says MacArthur, racking his memory for the exact date. “It was Peter Wright who suggested that I make the move to the front row and, because I was at West of Scotland for a year while studying engineering in Glasgow, John Beattie [senior], who was coaching there, also encouraged me to move. I could always throw the ball.”

He still can, although MacArthur concedes that finding the twin towers of Al Kellock and Richie Gray from the sidelines isn’t the hardest task he’s ever been assigned. Still, the 24-year-old might have second thoughts about his move from the back to the front row when he glances up at the first scrum and notices the Irish international trio beaming back at him. Cian Healey returns to action after several weeks side-lined with injury and he is joined by Sean Cronin and Mike Ross. The Test trio will fancy their chances of squeezing Glasgow’s scrum till it squeals, especially since the home side are down to their third-choice tighthead after injuries to Moray Low and Mike Cusak.

Cambridge University graduate Ed Kalman will have to utilise brawn to go with his obvious brains this afternoon. Should Glasgow triumph, much of the credit will surely go to the front row but MacArthur insists that the whole team have much more to offer than they have shown in recent games.

“Our scrum has been a real weapon for us,” says the man very literally in the middle of it all. “This is a Leinster front row that has performed on the international stage but we have to go into the game with our own plan to counter them. Ed [Kalman] is a good scrummager, he doesn’t weaken our scrum at all, he’s very physical. We’ve done our analysis on them and worked out how we are going to take them on in the scrum.

“We keep on saying that when we play to our potential we will take any team apart. We’re playing well and winning games, which is the important part, but we know we have so much more to give, especially in attack. Our defence has been good. Our set piece is a real weapon for stopping the opposition getting to ball and setting ourselves up. Big Al is very good at calling the lineouts and my throwing is good. It’s all about confidence. If you go out with confidence you will often get the results you want whereas if you go out there down on yourself at all then that’s going to count with 10,000 folks shouting at you.”

Glasgow have yet to appear in the Heineken quarter finals and any hopes of doing so this year rest upon victory this afternoon. It is an ominous task for the home team.

“This year we’ve shown a great amount of spirit and work rate and that’s has helped us win matches that you think we may not deserve to,” says their optimistic hooker. “Winning is very much a habit and if we can keep this habit then that’s the best thing we can do.”

Winning is a habit all right and Leinster haven’t lost since 17 September of last year. Glasgow played to something like their full potential that day to earn an unexpected victory in the league and they will need to repeat that effort and some to have any chance this afternoon.

.ak

Interesting words from the hooker. Today could be a real dogfight, if we don't score tries early I don't think we will at all.

errlloyd

I know this sounds strange, but I think Edinburgh success on Friday will motivate Glasgow, nothing like the fear of falling behind your domestic rivals to get you gunning. But I think we've thrown a swerve ball, two opensides to cut down barreling blindsides, but reddan is gonna spread that further afield.

Higher

I don't think Leinster will get this one considering Glasgow's form at home. I would be happy with LBP

Inspector Coptoor

Anyone have a link for this game?

Higher

Check stream thread. I posted link