Leinster Rugby vs Glasgow Warriors, Saturday 23rd March 19:45, RTE2/BBC Alba

molloyjh

Now that that's over...

So we've finally seen the back of that God awful 6 Nations championship, and with the race for a first place, as well as the race for a home semi-final, hotting up both this weekend and next are vital for the 3 teams vying for top spot. There are 2 points seperating first place Glasgow from both 2nd place Ulster and 3rd place Leinster, who are only behind Ulster by virtue of having conceded 10 points more so far this season. Leinster face Glasgow this week and Ulster next meaning that they could top the table by the end of round 19. With Ulster away to a struggling Edinburgh side under a new coach, and with the return of Muller and Payne, you'd have to fancy them to reclaim top spot tonight. And with a more straight forward run-in than the other 2 you'd have to back them to be league leaders come season end.

That makes this weekends game against Glasgow all the more important. Both teams have a less than handy fixture list between now and the end of the season. Glasgow are away to Scarlets & Connacht and home to Munster & Ospreys. Leinster are away to Munster & Zebre and home to Ulster & Ospreys. Both have plenty of opportunities to drop points in those fixtures.

Leinster have had a very impressive run of form over the course of the 6 Nations getting 19 of a possible 20 points. However Galsgow got the full 20. Leinster have yet to be beaten at home in this seasons Pro12 campaign. However Leinster only lost at home twice in the league last year. To Glasgow and Ospreys, both of whom Leinster have yet to play in the RDS. Leinster will be keen to avenge last seasons defeat though, and have named a fairly strong side given the missing internationals and injuries. Isa Nacewa returns at full-back after announcing his retirement at the end of the season. Also returning to the squad from injury are Heinke van der Merwe, Quinn Roux and Kevin McLaughlin. Many Leinster supporters will be eager to see Quinn Roux in action after he extended his contract with Leinster. Given how little he has featured for the province so far this season it is an indication that the management see great potential in him. Gordon D'Arcy returns from injury/Irish camp along with Sean Cronin, Ian Madigan and Devin Toner.

The Leinster pack looks quite strong and should compete well with a very decent Warriors pack. In the back line Leinster should have the beating of a Glasgow side shorn of Hogg and Maitland through injury. However Glasgow have proven in the past to be well capable of spoiling Leinster ball and rushing up in defense to negate the back line threat. On the bench Leinster have a bit more impact in the forwards, but are probably less well off than Glasgow in the backs. This is a game where Leinster will need to get on top early and control it from there. Ensure clean, quick ball from the rucks and keep the score board ticking over by whatever means necessary.

I'm going to go with Leinster by 5.

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15: Isa Nacewa|15: Peter Murchie
14: David Kearney|14: Tommy Seymour
13: Eoin O'Malley|13: Alex Dunbar
12: Gordon D'Arcy|12: Peter Horne
11: Andrew Conway|11: DTH Van der Merwe
10: Ian Madigan|10: Duncan Weir
9: Isaac Boss|9: Niko Matawalu
|
1: Heinke van der Merwe|1: Moray Low
2: Sean Cronin|2: Dougie Hall
3: Michael Bent|3: Ed Kalman
4: Leo Cullen CAPTAIN|4: Tom Ryder
5: Quinn Roux|5: Al Kellock CAPTAIN
6: Kevin McLaughlin|6: Rob Harley
7: Shane Jennings|7: John Barclay
8: Jordi Murphy|8: Josh Strauss
|
16: Aaron Dundon|16: Pat MacArthur
17: Jack McGrath|17: Gordon Reid
18: Jamie Hagan|18: Jon Welsh
19: Devin Toner|19: James Eddie
20: Dominic Ryan|20: Ryan Wilson
21: John Cooney|21: Henry Pyrgos
22: Brendan Macken|22: Ruaridh Jackson
23: Fionn Carr|23: Sean Lamont

thomond2006

This should be a great game, very important game in the context of the playoffs.

peterako

D'Arcy's back?

Quint2010

peterako wrote: »

D'Arcy's back?

What about D'Arcy's back?

molloyjh

thomond2006 wrote: »

This should be a great game, very important game in the context of the playoffs.

Massive. It's a must win, for both. I can only really see Glasgow going down to Scarlets at this stage where-as Leinster could drop points against any of Ulster, Munster and Ospreys.

justsomebloke

anyone know of any pubs in Kilkenny that would be showing this by any chance

CIARAN_BOYLE

justsomebloke wrote: »

anyone know of any pubs in Kilkenny that would be showing this by any chance

No clash with hurling so I'd say most pubs in the area would show (be willing to show) rugby. A quick internet search reccomends O'Gormans and Langtons as pubs that show matches

.ak

Great write up. I think the key to it is the selection of Locky, Jennings and Murphy. That's a speedy, mobile backrow. I think along with them and Isaac we'll be looking at giving Matawalu a rough time. If he's given space and time, he'll punish us.

leftleg

.ak wrote: »

Great write up. I think the key to it is the selection of Locky, Jennings and Murphy. That's a speedy, mobile backrow. I think along with them and Isaac we'll be looking at giving Matawalu a rough time. If he's given space and time, he'll punish us.

Would it be fair to say that Matawalu has them playing this well. Scrum half is such an influential position.

melekalikimaka

will it even go ahead?

.ak

leftleg wrote: »

Would it be fair to say that Matawalu has them playing this well. Scrum half is such an influential position.

For me that's exactly how I feel - he's the key to their success. Especially in the Ulster game, it was the Matawalu show.

On the other side I think there's a lot of flaws in his game. He's was very exposed throughout the Ulster game, and I felt if Ulster hadn't of lost their shape they could've punished him for it. If we stay tight and keep our shape I don't think he'll be as effective.

.ak

melekalikimaka wrote: »

will it even go ahead?

You mean regarding the weather? Yeah it's quite manky out there today, if it's raining like that tomorrow we'll be in trouble. If it stops for a bit I'd trust the drainage in the RDS. I've never really seen the RDS waterlogged in fairness.

Larbre34

Very decent Leinster side, heartening. Balance of physicality, experience, finishers.

Hopefully rust will be limited, great scope to control the game from early on, scrum only slight concern, look out Glasgow! Verdict Leinster 27-16 Glasgow

totallegend

.ak wrote: »

You mean regarding the weather? Yeah it's quite manky out there today, if it's raining like that tomorrow we'll be in trouble. If it stops for a bit I'd trust the drainage in the RDS. I've never really seen the RDS waterlogged in fairness.

Supposed to clear up a bit tomorrow so hopefully OK by 7.45. Unless the Dodder bursts its banks...

SebBerkovich

I really hoping this works as palate cleanser for the 6N.
Still have the nasty taste of the Italy Game and i can't shift it.

Taco Corp

leinsterrugby ‏@leinsterrugby 3h Good news... There are no water issues with the pitch so we'll be all systems go for kick off at 7.45pm! Tickets on sale around the ground


so no issues with the weather at the moment.



great to see Darcy, Locky and Roux back.

irishbucsfan

Is this on alba?

Edit: just saw it was in the title. For some reason it didn't display properly.

Grimebox

It'll be good to be back because haven't been to RDS is feckin ages. Hopefully we will have something to cheer about. 6N has jaded me a bit

jamiedav2011

Huge fecking game this, I'd be bombing for it if I were Glasgow.

Looking forward to seeing how Murphy, EOM and Madigan in particular get on, could be big players for us in next few years.

.ak

jamiedav2011 wrote: »

Huge fecking game this, I'd be bombing for it if I were Glasgow.

Looking forward to seeing how Murphy, EOM and Madigan in particular get on, could be big players for us in next few years.

Wouldn't expect much from EOM tbh. He's looked a little loose in the cage since back from injury. I'd expect he's been hitting the gym hard since he came back, but you just can't build up that kinda muscle mass over a few weeks.

Still, he's my favourite 13 outside BOD, I expect he'll have a tidy game, will defend well and link up well, but don't expect his usual trade mark bursts or line breaks.

yimrsg

Roux has been super at clearing out rucks so far.

errlloyd

Not happy.

Burgo

Soft try to give.

Wexfordboy89

errlloyd wrote: »

Not happy.

why?

Wexfordboy89

Burgo wrote: »

Soft try to give.

never mind i guess thats why

Wexfordboy89

was joe asked about fitz???

trouttrout

The myth that Ian Madigan can't place kick being eroded even more

durkadurka

Cool as you like madigan

Burgo

Leinter 3 - 7 glasgow 13 mins gone

Big Nelly

Great kick, are RTE going to continue showing Sexton at the Madigan kicks? Like they done with Jackson???

Also I remember them doing it with Sexton when O'Gara was on side lines....its a joke

Big Nelly

Wexfordboy89 wrote: »

was joe asked about fitz???

No just Isa

Wexfordboy89

was that leo avua that was sitting beside BOD?

Big Nelly

Wexfordboy89 wrote: »

was that leo avua that was sitting beside BOD?

No, some of the coaching staff I guess, not a player

Wexfordboy89

Big Nelly wrote: »

No, some of the coaching staff I guess, not a player

ah rite just they had a pit of a maori look about him and only person i could think of was leo

mfceiling

Glasgow are a good side.

Could see them winning the league this year.

Spudmonkey

Weir is a beautiful striker of the ball.

Wexfordboy89

bent struggling again

errlloyd

Perfect strike

P_1

Glasgow are far too dangerous in open play for my liking

durkadurka

Their scrum half is lethal

Tox56

Boss needs to pick it up a bit, hasn't had great protection in fairness to him

jamiedav2011

Doing ok trying to corral Matawalu so far, concentrating on him a bit too much though. His passing isnt great.

Burgo

Leo that was stupid.

Big Nelly

durkadurka wrote: »

Their scrum half is lethal

Would like to see Leinster go after him, with Boss and Redden aging they should be looking.....

The number 9 for Osprey or Scarlets is pure class......think he was signed by someone in Aviva Premiership?

Big Nelly

What the f**k happened there?

Wexfordboy89

Fupp sake :mad:

Burgo

**** sake

mfceiling

Glasgow try again!!

Tox56

Defence hasn't been good all game

jamiedav2011

Big Nelly wrote: »

What the f**k happened there?

Missed tackle and shocking positioning from Conway.

Don't see what all the surprise is about from commentators, these are a quality side.

bluefinger

ffs madigan. awful kick.