Pro12: Glasgow Warriors vs Leinster Rugby, 23rd November K.O 7:35PM, BBC Alba/RTE

.ak

Leinster Rugby wrote:

The Leinster team to face the Glasgow Warriors in Friday night's RaboDirect PRO12 clash in Scotstoun (KO: 7.35pm) has been named...Sean O'Brien will make his first appearance of the season (and his 72nd Leinster cap) and he is named at number eight in an all-Ireland back-row alongside Shane Jennings and Kevin McLaughlin.
With a number of players away on international duty this weekend, including Heinke van der Merwe who is away with the Springboks, there is a mix of youth and experience as well as several returning players from injury.

Amongst the returnees from injury is Isa Nacewa who is named at full-back, with Ian Madigan starting at out-half in his 60th appearance for the province.

Leo Cullen leads the team and will be partnered by Quinn Roux while, Aaron Dundon makes his first appearance at hooker since picking up an injury in the opening round of the league campaign.

The replacements bench includes a panel of Academy graduates, amongst them Ireland second row Devin Toner.

*In addition to RTE Two who will show the game live on Friday evening, the Official Leinster Supporters Club (OLSC) can confirm the following international broadcast arrangements for those supporters around the world.

UK & Ireland - Live on RTE Two and BBC Alba from 7.35pm Friday
New Zealand - Live coverage on The Rugby Channel from 8.30am Saturday
Australia - Delayed on Setanta Australia at 8.25am Saturday USA - Delayed coverage on Fox Soccer Plus from 5.00pm Friday
Canada - Delayed coverage on Sportsnet World from 5.00pm Friday
Africa - Delayed coverage on Setanta Africa from 3.30am GMT Saturday
Asia - Delayed coverage on Setanta Asia from 5.45am Saturday

Our bases in London, Newcastle, Dubai, New York and Christchurch will all be showing the game live (where this is not possible it will be delayed). For details of these bases and other information for supporters abroad please CLICK HERE

GLASGOW WARRIORS:

15: Peter Murchie
14: Tommy Seymour
13: Alex Dunbar
12: Peter Horne
11: DTH Van Der Merwe
10: Ruaridh Jackson
9: Sean Kennedy

1: Gordon Reid
2: Pat MacArthur
3: Mike Cusack
4: Tim Swinson
5: Tom Ryder
6: Rob Harley
7: Chris Fusaro CAPTAIN
8: Josh Strauss

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Finlay Gillies
17: Ofa Fainga'anuku
18: Moray Low
19: James Eddie
20: Ryan Wilson
21: George Graham
22: Scott Wight
23: Byron McGuigan

LEINSTER:

15: Isa Nacewa
14: Dave Kearney
13: Brendan Macken
12: Andrew Goodman
11: Fionn Carr
10: Ian Madigan
9: Isaac Boss

1: Jack McGrath
2: Aaron Dundon
3: Jamie Hagan
4: Leo Cullen CAPTAIN
5: Quinn Roux
6: Kevin McLaughlin
7: Shane Jennings
8: Sean O'Brien

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Thomas Sexton
17: Jack O'Connell
18: Martin Moore
19: Devin Toner
20: Jordi Murphy
21: John Cooney
22: Noel Reid
23: Andrew Conway

REFEREE: Neil Hennessey (WRU), ASSISTANT REFEREES: Andy Macpherson, Bob Nevins (both SRU), TMO: Andy Ireland (SRU)

Anyone who wants to write a match review PM me and I'll edit it into the OP.

SOB's back!!! No EOM though.

CIARAN_BOYLE

harsh on Conway to be behind Carr

The Cullen Roux partnership should be interesting to see more of. To be honest I'd prefer a Toner Roux partnership.

irishbucsfan

Isa and Aaron Dundon are surprise inclusions. Sean O'Brien getting a start is a suprise to me. Quinn Roux as well!

Looking forward to it. Great to see McGrath starting against that strong Glasgow scrum. A massive test for himself and Hagan.

.ak

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

harsh on Conway to be behind Carr

The Cullen Roux partnership should be interesting to see more of. To be honest I'd prefer a Toner Roux partnership.

Yeah, tbh I think both wingers have been playing like drains. If Kearney is back before Fitz I'd imagine a back three of 2x Kearney & 1x Isa will do nicely though!

Fishooks12

SOB and Isa being back is huge

Wexfordboy89

is not a bit risky start SOB from the start would have thought with him only just back from injury they would have brought him on with 20/30mins to go???

irishbucsfan

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

The Cullen Roux partnership should be interesting to see more of. To be honest I'd prefer a Toner Roux partnership.

Toner might be away training with Ireland at points this week. That and Leo is captain which is much needed during this period with our veterans away.

Hopefully Roux will play well.

ScissorPaperRock

Great news that SOB is back!

ray jay

Considering how many players are unavailable, that is a pretty decent team. I'm looking forward to seeing more of Goodman and Roux, and hopefully Moore gets a good run out too.

.ak

Can't wait to see EOM outside of Goodman tbh.

cruiserweight

My first game of the season and first trip to Scotstoun, looking forward to it

jamiedav2011

Very surprised with Conway out for Carr.

Good that Auva'a misses out after his shambolic performance the last time out.

Reckon we could sneak a win in this one.

chancer12

Also really disapponted for Conway. While he hasn't come into his own yet this season he is a far better prospect than Carr who seems to get worse at each outing. Delighted 'tho that Isa is back, he makes a huge difference to the back line. Hope Mads has a good game too, he was unfortunate to lose out to Jackson

Fireball07

That's a strong Leinster team. The back row is of HC standard...okay it's SOB's first game back, but still.

The front row is the most inexperienced line but McGrath has never let Leinster down in the past, and Hagan's did well the last time he played, so it's a big opportunity for them.

And having Boss with Madigan makes for a formidable half-back pairing...Nacewa back is obviously a huge boost too.

I'd tip Leinster for a win here.

molloyjh

I have to say there are a few unfamiliar names in that Glasgow side so I'm not at all sure what to make of them. I'm fairly happy with our pack given the internationals aren't available. SOB and Locky returning to the back row is good to see.

The one thing we missed in spades against Ospreys was leadership, but with both Cullen and Isa back in the side too we should be reasonably ok there tomorrow.

This will most likely be a game that will require the legendary "game management". For all Madigans skills his kicking from hand is erratic at times. It will be interesting to see if Goodman plays a role there. I'll be watching Roux too to see how he goes. I know it's a bit premature to label him another Sykes, and probably a bit unfair to be projecting our experiences with Sykes on him, but we need to be very critical of signings like these as it's not the same as bringing through a young local fella. I'd imagine we'll see Toner on for Cullen in the second half at some stage.

CatFromHue

Just looking at Glasgow's results so far this season. They've P8 and W6 which seems pretty good but the wins came from three home games to Connacht, Zebre and Dragons and from away games to Ospreys, Cardiff, and Treviso i.e. apart from Ospreys the games they've won have been against bottom 6 teams (or thereabouts). Both Lanelli and Ulster have beaten them with Lanelli winning in Glasgow.

They've lost both their games in Europe too so I think that Leinster team should win.

Quint2010

Great to see SOB back and starting. He wouldn't be unless he was injury free and what he needs now are games to get him to match fitness for Clermont. Leinster should win this handy enough.

CatFromHue

I don't know if we'll win handy enough now, but we can/should have enough to do it all the same.

Interesting stat from last season, Glasgow were undefeated during the 4 games they played during the 6N. They played 4, won 2, and drew 2.

Podge_irl

I think Toner is with Ireland at the moment, so understandably on the bench.

I love the look of that team though - a lot stronger than I was expecting. Didn't think we'd actually see any of SOB, Nacewa, Roux or Dundon. I think the return of DK could be huge - he was excellent all of last year and I would be much, much more comfortable having him in the squad for Clermont over Carr or Conway.

justsomebloke

F*** me that is a much better team selection then I was expecting so hopefully I should get to see at least one good game of rugby this weekend

actually with Nacewa, Roux, SOB and Goodman in the squad I'm kind of like a giddy kid at christmas waiting to see how good my present is

Tox56

molloyjh wrote: »

I have to say there are a few unfamiliar names in that Glasgow side so I'm not at all sure what to make of them. I'm fairly happy with our pack given the internationals aren't available. SOB and Locky returning to the back row is good to see.

The one thing we missed in spades against Ospreys was leadership, but with both Cullen and Isa back in the side too we should be reasonably ok there tomorrow.

This will most likely be a game that will require the legendary "game management". For all Madigans skills his kicking from hand is erratic at times. It will be interesting to see if Goodman plays a role there. I'll be watching Roux too to see how he goes. I know it's a bit premature to label him another Sykes, and probably a bit unfair to be projecting our experiences with Sykes on him, but we need to be very critical of signings like these as it's not the same as bringing through a young local fella. I'd imagine we'll see Toner on for Cullen in the second half at some stage.

Exactly the sort of game Madigan needs for his development as a player. He has shown his flair but as you say he needs to learn to control the game, and the only way he can learn is through experience.

Larbre34

Quite heartened by that XV, ambitious runners and carriers aplenty, if we can get close to parity in the tight you'd have to fancy the backrow / back three to be the difference.

Also, Glasgow are in a worse state with their contribution to Scotland so only 3 or 4 of their players would be in the running to eclipse their opposite numbers

On what will be a cold breezy night on the banks of the Clyde, I'd go for
Glasgow 11-23 Leinster

j'a reckon we'd beat Ireland?

.ak

Deleted User wrote: »

j'a reckon we'd beat Ireland?

No contest, we'd wipe the floor with them.

Ireland XV however... Now that'd be a good match. Oh, wait, that'll happen in December.

cruiserweight

Gordon Reid has been called up to the Scotland team and Ofa Fainga'anuku will replace him at loose-head for Glasgow, with George Hunter on the bench.

Third_Echelon

Very strong leinster 15 seeing that it's an international week! Wasn't expecting anything near that type of strenght. Interested to see how Goodman works out...

molloyjh

cruiserweight wrote: »

Gordon Reid has been called up to the Scotland team and Ofa Fainga'anuku will replace him at loose-head for Glasgow, with George Hunter on the bench.

So are they down to 3rd string LH as well so? Should help Hagans cause. And with McGrath the other side our front row is starting to look pretty decent for this evening. If Roux can make an impression then our pack could be in very good shape indeed....

padser

.ak wrote: »

No contest, we'd wipe the floor with them.

Ireland XV however... Now that'd be a good match. Oh, wait, that'll happen in December.

Wish Ireland XV were playing tomo....

phog

Great to see SOB back,.

REFEREE: Neil Hennessey (WRU), ASSISTANT REFEREES: Andy Macpherson, Bob Nevins (both SRU), TMO: Andy Ireland (SRU)

I think that's the ref we had recently in TP and made a right mess of reffing the breakdown, it will be interesting to see how he manages it in this game.

goreyguy

Hook doubting Sexton.

jamiedav2011

Cracking scrum to start. Well done front row.

freyners

nice scrum, well done hagan in particular.

molloyjh

jamiedav2011 wrote: »

Cracking scrum to start. Well done front row.

Very happy with that. 3rd choice front row doing the business. 0-3 Madigan.

jamiedav2011

I have big issues with Macken's tackling style, will be watching with intent tonight, should be interesting.

Burgo

Who is that tiny man playing 8 for Leinster, where's SOB?

irishbucsfan

Was that Goodman? That was extremely pedestrian!

irishbucsfan

Some kick from Boss, he's very good at that.

Tox56

Has there been a single scrum where the Glasgow LH hasn't immediately dropped his bind..??

Burgo

ah crap was a great steal tbf.

goreyguy

****ing carr

crisco10

bit meh on the move off the scrum...

jamiedav2011

That was poor. We had two great chances there.

Really like the look of Goodman as a 12 though.

goreyguy

people writing of hagan are speaking too soon.

Clegg

Leinster haven't a chance of winning this if they keep making these stupid mistakes.

This is very similar to the Ospreys game from a few weeks back

Banbridgeman2

freyners wrote: »

nice scrum, well done hagan in particular.

McGrath won that penalty

crisco10

Another fruitless visit to the 22.

A-Train

So many silly mistakes so far killing Leinster!

Banbridgeman2

Lol the wee lad caught out

Really liking this 'small numbers' lineout business that Glasgow have used a few times. Really tidy lineout play.

jamiedav2011

Jesus it's great to have SOB back!

crisco10

Deleted User wrote: »

Really liking this 'small numbers' lineout business that Glasgow have used a few times. Really tidy lineout play.

Yeah was just thinking that.