Aironi vs Leinster, Friday, 6pm. NO TV!

durkadurka

LUKEY!!!!!!!




LEINSTER:
15: Luke Fitzgerald
14: Andrew Conway
13: Eoin O'Malley
12: Brendan Macken
11: Fionn Carr
10: Ian Madigan
9: Isaac Boss
1: Heinke van der Merwe
2: Richardt Strauss
3: Nathan White
4: Damian Browne
5: Devin Toner
6: Kevin McLaughlin
7: Shane Jennings CAPTAIN
8: Rhys Ruddock
REPLACEMENTS:
16: Aaron Dundon
17: Jack McGrath
18: Jamie Hagan
19: Leo Auva'a
20: Dominic Ryan
21: John Cooney
22: Noel Reid
23: Isa Nacewa
REFEREE: Andrew Macpherson (SRU), ASSISTANT REFEREES: Stefano Penne, Filippo Bertelli (both FIR), TMO: Alan Falzone (FIR)

durkadurka

Its a great looking pack isnt it, with even more cover on the bench.

Experimental back line with Lukey in his worst position IMO and Conway also just back from injury.


Still we can always bring on that young lad from New Zealand with the curly hair if we need to.......

Cormic

Team seems to have a good balance of experience and youth. Nice to see Luke back and Isa get a well earned break.

I would like to also see Dom Ryan get some serious game time as he was looking great before his injury.

I expect to see Toner all over the park like he has been in so many recent games. I was looking at a picture of him from last year and the fella has seriously bulked up in the last 12 months.

thomond2006

I wonder if Luke is in line for an Ireland callup if he proves his fitness.

Bit nervy about this one. Very young / experimental backline. Nacewa on the bench to reboard the ship if anything happens though I guess.

Pack is a brute, even the subs bench is loaded with guys we'd be happy enough to see playing.

Would happily take a 3 point win at this stage.

Big Nelly

Damn I thought this was on TV somewhere? is it not on RAI? can that be streamed?

Big Nelly

thomond2006 wrote: »

I wonder if Luke is in line for an Ireland callup if he proves his fitness.

Doubt it, his injury was only after the initial squad was announced. To be honest would rather if he wasn't, need him to get a few games in Rabo so he is flying for HC

totallegend

Really happy with that team, delighted to see Luke back as well.

Slightly disappointed to see White starting ahead of Hagan when we know he's moving on at the end of the season.

Big Nelly

Never to question Smit but wondering why Luke isnt in centre? maybe he isnt fully 100% fit?

CatFromHue

This will be Toners 60th start for Leinster.

According to the Pro12 website it's on RAI so there might be a stream available some where on line.

durkadurka

Deleted User wrote: »

Bit nervy about this one. Very young / experimental backline. Nacewa on the bench to reboard the ship if anything happens though I guess.

Pack is a brute, even the subs bench is loaded with guys we'd be happy enough to see playing.

Would happily take a 3 point win at this stage.

The aironi backs aren't up to much though are they?

I know they might get a few Italian internationals back.
I'd pick us to bully them up front and win by ten.

CatFromHue

Big Nelly wrote: »

Never to question Smit but wondering why Luke isnt in centre? maybe he isnt fully 100% fit?

There is far more potential in Macken in the centre and Fitzgerald at full back than in playing Fitzgerald at 12.

I really think the only people interested in playing him at 12, injury needs excepted, are online. While he can do a job there I don't see any future for him there.

Big Nelly

Big Nelly wrote: »

Damn I thought this was on TV somewhere? is it not on RAI? can that be streamed?

You can stream RAI online, problem is you need to mask your IP so it looks like it comes from Italy. I can't remember the name of software at moment but it is out there, mate can use Netflix from US using it!!

Big Nelly

CatFromHue wrote: »

There is far more potential in Macken in the centre and Fitzgerald at full back than in playing Fitzgerald at 12.

I really think the only people interested in playing him at 12, injury needs excepted, are online. While he can do a job there I don't see any future for him there.

Was playing in centre at start of year in a few games and was great, only Madigan was outshining him.

Playing Fitzgerald at centre and Isa at 15 would be a lot stronger

WeeBushy

Big Nelly wrote: »

Never to question Smit but wondering why Luke isnt in centre? maybe he isnt fully 100% fit?

I would say it's because we have centres and Schmidt wanted to give Nacewa a break, he's played a lot of rugby this season.

If he wasn't 100% fit he wouldn't be thrown in at full back imo.

durkadurka

CatFromHue wrote: »

This will be Toners 60th start for Leinster.

According to the Pro12 website it's on RAI so there might be a stream available some where on line.

89th according to www.Leinsterrugby.ie

CatFromHue

CatFromHue wrote: »

There is far more potential in Macken in the centre and Fitzgerald at full back than in playing Fitzgerald at 12.

I really think the only people interested in playing him at 12, injury needs excepted, are online. While he can do a job there I don't see any future for him there.

He was better at 12 for Leinster for the start of the season than D'Arcy was for Ireland in the same timeframe.

I still can't understand people knocking the idea of it to be honest. He's not got top line pace at full stretch (a serious asset for a winger), he's got super acceleration though, great hands, and most important at 12, a brain. I imagine that McFadden will take the reins at 12 when D'Arcy hangs the boots up, but Fitz to 12 has not been a failure nor a waste of time at any stage of his career.

Big Nelly

Deleted User wrote: »

He was better at 12 for Leinster for the start of the season than D'Arcy was for Ireland in the same timeframe.

I still can't understand people knocking the idea of it to be honest. He's not got top line pace at full stretch (a serious asset for a winger), he's got super acceleration though, great hands, and most important at 12, a brain. I imagine that McFadden will take the reins at 12 when D'Arcy hangs the boots up, but Fitz to 12 has not been a failure nor a waste of time at any stage of his career.

Was it against Aironi or Connacht early in season when losing at half time Madigan came on and ran the show with Fitz at 12, Fitz got man of match and said he didn't mind playing centre.....god my memory is going, have to stop boozing at match's;)

Still I hope he is 100% fit and gets a good run of games

durkadurka

One other relevant fact.

Aironi played on Sunday, giving them a pretty tight turnaround time for a Friday game.

chris85

Great to see Luke back in the mix this week.

Up front Leinster will be a hand ful alright. Some depth at the moment we have.

JustinDee

CatFromHue wrote: »

This will be Toners 60th start for Leinster.

According to the Pro12 website it's on RAI so there might be a stream available some where on line.

If anyone lives in city centre south, I'm pretty sure Slatterys on Shelbourne Rd have the decoder for showing RAI matches.

ktulu123

Big chance for Madigan show his place kicking seeing as Isa is on the bench!

I use the chrome add-on stealthy to watch US netflix here, would that work for RAI website?

Mr.Applepie

durkadurka wrote: »

Still we can always bring on that young lad from New Zealand with the curly hair if we need to.......

Is that Isa O'Cewa you're talking about. Yeah he's a good prospect alright, has an Irish granny AFAIK.

It's a nice team with a strong back. It'll be interesting to see how that backline go if they get some decent ball

CatFromHue

durkadurka wrote: »

89th according to www.Leinsterrugby.ie

Yep his 89th appearance but his 60th start. All going to plan he should get his 100th appearance in the first couple of games next season. Not too bad for someone who's had Mal O Kelly, Cullen, and Hines to compete with.

Deleted User wrote: »

He was better at 12 for Leinster for the start of the season than D'Arcy was for Ireland in the same timeframe.

I still can't understand people knocking the idea of it to be honest. He's not got top line pace at full stretch (a serious asset for a winger), he's got super acceleration though, great hands, and most important at 12, a brain. I imagine that McFadden will take the reins at 12 when D'Arcy hangs the boots up, but Fitz to 12 has not been a failure nor a waste of time at any stage of his career.

That's probably true regarding D'Arcy but it looks like it doesn't matter how D'Arcy plays, he'll still get picked for Ireland.

Not a failure or a waste of time but not enough of a success to continue with it in my opinion. Considering the other guys in the pipeline at 12 I don't think it warrants anymore game time, especially when you add in that he seemingly doesn't like playing there.

GerM

CatFromHue wrote: »

There is far more potential in Macken in the centre and Fitzgerald at full back than in playing Fitzgerald at 12.

I really think the only people interested in playing him at 12, injury needs excepted, are online. While he can do a job there I don't see any future for him there.

He's appeared there in Pro12, HEC and international rugby at 12. There are a lot more people interested in seeing him there than those online. He's got all the raw materials to be a very handy inside centre. I don't think Macken is suited to 12 at all. He's a big, direct 13 who looks for the outside break. I don't think he's going to bring many others into proceedings from there. Wouldn't be surprised to see Luke shift into centre if Nacewa is brought on.

irishbucsfan

I think Luke would be a great 12.

Joe Schmidt said he liked him there but Fitzgerald didn't like playing there. So maybe its unlikely hell end up there.

Teferi

Honest question here lads - Why does Fitz/Management continue with him at 15? It's not that he is bad in that position it's just that there are better options. He always does the job but I've never seen an utterly spectacular performance from him at 15. I always feel he does better on the wing or centre. I know he feels its his best/favourite position but you would think somebody would have a frank discussion with him...

CatFromHue

GerM wrote: »

He's appeared there in Pro12, HEC and international rugby at 12. There are a lot more people interested in seeing him there than those online. He's got all the raw materials to be a very handy inside centre. I don't think Macken is suited to 12 at all. He's a big, direct 13 who looks for the outside break. I don't think he's going to bring many others into proceedings from there. Wouldn't be surprised to see Luke shift into centre if Nacewa is brought on.

In fairness the HEC and international games were in 08/09. To me he looks like a winger playing 12 when he plays there i.e. uncomfortable. Having the raw materials is one thing, getting the stylish end product is another.

Did you see his games at the start of the season?

He was classy. He broke the gameline every time!

shuffol

Agree with the above, I think Fitz is the closest thing Ireland has to a top class 12 but I dont see it happening anytime soon. Mind you I also think Earls best position could be fullback so I'm not to be trusted.

Dont like Macken at 12 at all, from what I've seen of him his whole game is built towards getting on the outside of opponents. Would far prefer EOM there.

irishbucsfan

Brynn Delicious U-boat wrote: »

Did you see his games at the start of the season?

He was classy. He broke the gameline every time!

He was excellent but if he doesn't want to be a 12 then that's that.

With his defense, skill, acceleration and step I think he could be a brilliant center. I think he'd be better there than on the wing. I'm happy with him wherever though.

leftleg

Deleted User wrote: »

Did you see his games at the start of the season?

He was classy. He broke the gameline every time!

He seems to work better in closed spaces; at 15 i think he has too much time to think about his decisions,

.ak

It's funny you said that, in an interview he had last year he mentioned that lot of his 'problems' during that phase of bad form came from him 'over thinking' and often over-running the ball in open space. That interview was before he started playing at 12. The difference in form was noticeable straight away. Maybe you're right, he operates better instinctually in closed spaces, he's the opposite of Nacewa who operates better in open space with time.

andrewdcs

On the streaming thingy, I can access RAI, have all the channels yadayada (using mgeni) but the game isn't listed as being on on any channel of their 15 or so.

There are some "web only" stream portals with blank TV guides, but could this be one of those exceedingly annoying "red button" type deals where its only available terrestrially to people with red button access?

EDIT: Tard alert.... I'm looking at the wrong day. It's on RAISport2, I can configure a tunneling ssh proxy, but not read a tv guide... in my defence its in Italian, Julian calendar or roman numerals or something I'm sure...

totallegend

Aironi team:

15 Giulio Toniolatti; 14 Riccardo Pavan, 13 Roberto Quartaroli, 12 Gabriel Pizarro, 11 Sinoti Sinoti; 10 Naas Olivier, 9 Tito Tebaldi; 8 Josh Sole, 7 Simone Favaro, 6 Nicola Cattina; 5 Carlo Del Fava, 4 George Biagi; 3 Lorenzo Romano, 2 Roberto Santamaria (cap), 1 Matias Aguero.

Replacements: 16 Fabio Ongaro, 17 Alberto De Marchi, 18 Salvatore Perugini, 19 Luca Redolfini, 20 Filippo Ferrarini, 21 Tyson Keats, 22 Luciano Orquera, 23 Gilberto Pavan.

Podge_irl

Leinster will equal Munster's record for games unbeaten if they win (or draw) this one. They'll beat it if they can then overcome Ospreys at home in the next game.

That would be nice.

totallegend

Podge_irl wrote: »

Leinster will equal Munster's record for games unbeaten if they win (or draw) this one. They'll beat it if they can then overcome Ospreys at home in the next game.

That would be nice.

Is that 20 games? When did Munster set that record?

Podge_irl

totallegend wrote: »

Is that 20 games? When did Munster set that record?

Last season. It's a Rabo/ML only record. I would imagine Leinster almost definitely hold it as a European wide record, think they've gone 19 games unbeaten in all competitions.

Would be very surprised if Leinster beat their record overall last season though. Munster absolutely trounced the league.

GerM

Those on plane have said Nacewa isn't travelling. Hudson on plane.

Hagz

Can't believe this isn't on tv. Sucks.

irishbucsfan

Hagz wrote: »

Can't believe this isn't on tv. Sucks.

There'll be a stream, fingers crossed. Given I live in Engerland I have to resort to that quite a bit these days

CatFromHue

Podge_irl wrote: »

Would be very surprised if Leinster beat their record overall last season though. Munster absolutely trounced the league.

They won 19 games last season so we have to win all our remaining games to equal that.

Podge_irl

CatFromHue wrote: »

They won 19 games last season so we have to win all our remaining games to equal that.

Pretty much what I was getting at. We've a tough run in coming up.

GerM

GerM wrote: »

Those on plane have said Nacewa isn't travelling. Hudson on plane.

Not good for my nerves...

This is a pretty important game given the schedule ahead of us

wicklowdub

Its on Rai Sport 2. No doubt a stream will appear tomorrow.

irishbucsfan

Can't decide if Madigan will be helped or hindered by no Nacewa

.ak

You mean for kicking? Don't think it will matter. Isa was named on the bench anyhow.

Aironi have a bad history with Madigan's kicking anyway.

PhatPiggins

Deleted User wrote: »

Not good for my nerves...

This is a pretty important game given the schedule ahead of us

Lucky its against the worst team in the league so

irishbucsfan

.ak wrote: »

You mean for kicking? Don't think it will matter. Isa was named on the bench anyhow.

Aironi have a bad history with Madigan's kicking anyway.

What I mean is, would it help him to know Nacewa is ready to dig him out of a sextonesque disaster or will he be spurred on by the fact he's on his own?

Tox56

irishbucsfan wrote: »

What I mean is, would it help him to know Nacewa is ready to dig him out of a sextonesque disaster or will he be spurred on by the fact he's on his own?

He's a big boy now.

Also, and perhaps more importantly, it's Aironi.

irishbucsfan

Tox56 wrote: »

irishbucsfan wrote: »

What I mean is, would it help him to know Nacewa is ready to dig him out of a sextonesque disaster or will he be spurred on by the fact he's on his own?

He's a big boy now.

Also, and perhaps more importantly, it's Aironi.

Who pushed our second team around this time last year and probably would have beaten us if not for Morris/McKinley.