Leinster v Biarrtiz Olympique - RDS 27/04/13, 14:30 SS1 (Print your tickets!!)

totallegend

Right, the most coveted prize in World Rugby, the Amlin Challenge Cup, enters its penultimate stage this weekend as Stade Francais and Perpignan do battle on Friday night and Leinster take on Biarritz on Saturday afternoon.

Possibly the most consistent Heineken Cup performers never to have won the big prize, Biarritz's star has waned in recent years as they have struggled to compete with the big-spending nouveau riche of the Top 14. Their ninth-place finish last season won't be improved upon this season, so Biarritz find themselves needing a win in the Amlin to qualify for a spot at the top table next season... and that's just what they did last year, out-pointing Toulon in a very forgettable Amlin final in London.



So with nothing else to play for this season, there is no question that Biarritz will be coming to Dublin to put up a fight.

But Leinster are no slouches when it comes to knock-out rugby and will be looking to end the season with European silverware, even if it's not the trophy they'd have been hoping for at the start of the season.


Drico's last chance at European silverware?

The injury curse that hung over the squad at the start of the season finally seems to have lifted with only Eoin Reddan and Luke Fitzgerald definitely ruled out of contention. The sparkling performance of Jonathan Sexton against Zebre will have presented Joe Schmidt with a selection dilemma at out-half, but the smart money will be on Sexton being given the nod to steer the ship and stake his claim for the Lions jersey while he's at it. With Sexton restored, Leinster will look to play the same high-tempo game that brought them to the pinnacle of European rugby.

Will it work against Biarritz? The Basque team have always had a reputation for perhaps having less flair or style than some of their compatriot teams, relying heavily on their star-men of Imanol Harinordoquy and Dmitri Yachvili to pull the strings; but a four-try, 41-point haul at Kingsholm in the quarter-final came as a surprise to many people. In Teddy Thomas and Zee Ngwenya, they have genuine pace out wide while Benoit Baby brings a creative presence to midfield. Harinordoquy's presence in the back-row has been augmented by the power of Raphael Lakafia while blind-side flanker Wenceslas Lauret makes a timely return from injury. Ian Balshaw's season is over after injury but Marcelo Bosch is an able deputy at full-back.

The bookies make Leinster odds-on favourites not just for this match but to win the tournament outright. Home advantage will be critical but there is a real 'end of an era' feel to Leinster right now; the departures of key players in Jonathan Sexon and Isa Nacewa as well as the likely promotion of Joe Schmidt will rob Leinster of three of the main pillars of their recent success and the clock is ticking on some of their stalwarts like Brian O'Driscoll, Leo Cullen and Gordon D'Arcy. Emotions will be running high in the camp and if they can focus and channel them properly, they will be too good for Biarritz.

Forecast: Leinster to win.

Teferi

totallegend wrote: »

the most coveted prize in World Rugby, the Amlin Challenge Cup

Best bit of the entire preview.

Swiwi

Ian Madigan

Since .ak is about to merge the threads...it's Sexton for me. No-brainer IMO. It's like Carter & Cruden, Dan the Man wins every time.

.ak

Chips.

.ak

totallegend wrote: »

The injury curse that hung over the squad at the start of the season finally seems to have lifted with only Eoin Reddan definitely ruled out of contention.

.. and Fitz.

P_1

.ak wrote: »

Chips.

So Madigan is the daddy? Ta mé an-confused

shuffol

Sextons obviously the best option to start but I'd love to see how Madigan would respond to getting the nod ahead of him in a big game. He's showed a maturity to his game in recent weeks to go with his usual flair.

vienne86

Ian Madigan

It has to be Sexton ahead of Madigan at 10. I can't think of a single reason not to have Sexton.

.ak

P_1 wrote: »

So Madigan is the daddy? Ta mé an-confused

Chips is just better.

shuffol

.ak wrote: »

Chips.

.ak wrote: »

.. and Fitz.

Fitz and chips:D

P_1

I'll also have some chips maybe with a bit of salt and vinegar on top.

Against Biarritz I think we need to play a structured game. We all saw what they did to Gloucester in the sun when Gloucester played an unstructured game.

As much as I love Madigan's beautiful brand of organised chaos I think Sexton should get the nod for this one.

Irlandczyk

Madigan is too good to leave out and should be accommodated at 12 or 15

shuffol wrote: »

Sextons obviously the best option to start but I'd love to see how Madigan would respond to getting the nod ahead of him in a big game. He's showed a maturity to his game in recent weeks to go with his usual flair.

I selected Madigan in the poll just for this reason. I think he's a huge talent and it would be very interesting to see him start in this game... Realistically though, Sexton will be starting, and apart form the interest factor of seeing Mads start, there's very little you could argue against a Sexton start!

P_1

Daddy or chips aside what 23 do we think is best? For me I'd have to go with

1 - Healy
2 - Strauss
3 - Ross
4 - Cullen
5 - Toner
6 - O'Brien
7 - Ryan
8 - Heaslip
9 - Boss
10 - Sexton
11 - Nacewa
12 - D'Arcy
13 - His Holiness
14 - McFadden
15 - Kearney

16 - Cronin
17 - McGrath
18 - Hagan
19 - Roux
20 - Jennings
21 - Cooney
22 - Madigan
23 - Kearney Óg

Podge_irl

Madigan is going to start at least one knock-out game I would think. He'll get opportunities, but there is silverware on the line and Sexton is the better player.

Hype710

Ian Madigan

Be nice to see Madigan start the Rabo semi since he's been one of the leagues best players this year across all 12 teams, but Sexton for this one.

opinionatedfan

Ian Madigan

1. Healy
2. Strauss
3. Ross
4. Cullen
5. Toner
6. McLaughlin
7. SOB
8. Heaslip
9. Boss
10. Sexton
11. Nacewa
12. Darcy
13. BOD
14. McFadden
15. Kearney
16. Cronin
17. McGrath
18. Hagan
19. Roux
20. Jennings
21. Cooney
22. Madigan
23. Kearney OR Conway

molloyjh

Ian Madigan

Do people think D Kearney will be back this week? I doubt it myself. I reckon we won't see him until at least the Ospreys game.

totallegend

Ian Madigan

opinionatedfan wrote: »

1. Healy
2. Strauss
3. Ross
4. Cullen
5. Toner
6. McLaughlin
7. SOB
8. Heaslip
9. Boss
10. Sexton
11. Nacewa
12. Darcy
13. BOD
14. McFadden
15. Kearney
16. Cronin
17. McGrath
18. Hagan
19. Roux
20. Jennings
21. Cooney
22. Madigan
23. Kearney OR Conway

Yeah, can't see it deviating much from that, assuming D'Arcy is fit. From what Joe has been saying, Dave Kearney is unlikely to be fit so Conway and Carr will be fighting it out, Conway always seems to get the nod for the bench though.

tolosenc

Ian Madigan

molloyjh wrote: »

Do people think D Kearney will be back this week? I doubt it myself. I reckon we won't see him until at least the Ospreys game.

It's 3 weeks minimum for a concussion, isn't it?

Podge_irl

tolosenc wrote: »

It's 3 weeks minimum for a concussion, isn't it?

Nah, they've replaced that with neurological tests.

Would still be incredibly surprised to see DK though, I'd say Ospreys at the earliest.

.ak

Yeah, that was some concussion, hardly a slight knock to the head or anything. I hope he's rested for this.

Buer

Ian Madigan

Here's an interesting statistic, Madigan has zero try assists for Leinster in 2013 in 11 appearances. Sexton has 3 in his 4.

Nesie

Madigan is too good to leave out and should be accommodated at 12 or 15

Buer wrote: »

Here's an interesting statistic, Madigan has zero try assists for Leinster in 2013 in 11 appearances. Sexton has 3 in his 4.

What's the try v try ratio?.

.ak

Buer wrote: »

Here's an interesting statistic, Madigan has zero try assists for Leinster in 2013 in 11 appearances. Sexton has 3 in his 4.

That is interesting, because he was leading the try assist stat before the new year.

Buer

Ian Madigan

Nesie wrote: »

What's the try v try ratio?.

4 tries for Madigan, 1 for Sexton. 8 vs 3 for the season. It was more indicative of how they link with those around them than their scoring. With Madigan, he tends to have a cut himself. Sexton looks to have a go but always looking for the pass to put someone through then.

totallegend

Ian Madigan

Buer wrote: »

Here's an interesting statistic, Madigan has zero try assists for Leinster in 2013 in 11 appearances. Sexton has 3 in his 4.

Did he not give the pass for D'Arcy against Wasps?

Tox56

Ian Madigan

totallegend wrote: »

Did he not give the pass for D'Arcy against Wasps?

That was Ferg, although you could say Madigan's looping line was what opened the defence.. hard to use stats like that in rugby, you could make a scintillating 80m break that creates a try and not be credited with anything if it goes through more than 1 set of hands

CatFromHue

Ian Madigan

If Biarritz, and all the French teams in the Amlin, don't win the comp they don't get into the HEC next season. Montpellier are in 6th in the Top 14 7 points ahead of Perpignan with only one game left to play.

tolosenc

Ian Madigan

CatFromHue wrote: »

If Biarritz, and all the French teams in the Amlin, don't win the comp they don't get into the HEC next season. Montpellier are in 6th in the Top 14 7 points ahead of Perpignan with only one game left to play.

Perpignan and Biarritz can still get in if Leinster win the Amlin. Unlikely, but possible (Leinster and Munster win = Biarritz and Connacht into the Heineken, Leinster and Clermont/Toulon win = Perpignan and Connacht into the Heineken)

andrewdcs

Not realised how much is at stake for Biarritz re euro qualification. .

totallegend

Ian Madigan

Eh, it looks like Biarritz have named their team for Saturday, according to l'Equipe anyway. Getting it out of the way early...

L'Equipe have named the following 'probable' Biarritz team:
Bosch - Ngwenya, Baby, Traille , Brew, Barraque, Yachvili - Lakafia, , Harinordoquy (cap.), Dubarry - Taele, E.Lund - Broster, Heguy, Synaeghel

Midi Olympique reckon that Dane Haylett-Petty will play ahead of Baby who is carrying an injury.

Can't claim I know anything about that front row to be honest, but it's a strong team otherwise.

ssaye

totallegend wrote: »

Eh, it looks like Biarritz have named their team for Saturday, according to l'Equipe anyway. Getting it out of the way early...

Bosch - Ngwenya, Baby, Traille , Brew, Barraque, Yachvili - Lakafia, , Harinordoquy (cap.), Dubarry - Taele, E.Lund - Broster, Heguy, Synaeghel

http://www.lequipe.fr/Rugby/Actualites/Au-complet-a-dublin/365721

Can't claim I know anything about that front row to be honest, but it's a strong team otherwise.

Stop Yachvili, Harinordoquy and quick ball to Ngwenya and we should be ok.

Defence has been leaking tries all over the shop this season. Avg 2 per game i think

.ak

Can't wait to see Ngwenya and Baby in the flesh.

Also the missus has a thing for hairydonkey I think!

totallegend

Ian Madigan

.ak wrote: »

Can't wait to see Ngwenya and Baby in the flesh.

Also the missus has a thing for hairydonkey I think!

If your missus knew how often she gets mentioned on a random internet forum...

Are we getting another picture if Leinster win?

jamiedav2011

Ian Madigan

Very surprised to not see Thomas starting, he's been excellent any time I've seen him.

Backline is strong enough, reckon we could do well in the set piece though.

.ak

Depends on how drunk I can get her... And it's really me that wants to see Hairydonkey!

Buer

Ian Madigan

They're going for a set piece based approach. Their line out will be strong. Back row of 6'3, 6'4 and 6'6. Second row of 6'6 and 6'8. Broster is over 18 stones and Synaeghal is over 19 stone. We'll need to take them at the breakdown and get in behind their three quarters. Ngwenya and Brew are both poor with the ball behind them. Traille is a monster and slow to turn.

I'd expect us to prod the ball in behind them and turn them around as often as we can. Make them move around the park and tire the monsters out. Win it in the third quarter.

awec

Hope it's a cracking sunny day!

justsomebloke

awec wrote: »

Hope it's a cracking sunny day!

yep, if it is nice this will be justsomebabies first game of rugby that he is brought too

Heroditas

justsomebloke wrote: »

yep, if it is nice this will be justsomebabies first game of rugby that he is brought too

If we lose, we know whose fault it is.

.ak

10°c with a chance of showers but mostly sunny. Could be a good day out.

andrewdcs

Sorry if already posted, leinsterfans rumour forum saying BOD will be announcing a 1 year extension. http://forum.leinsterfans.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=22007&start=2140

gah... wrong thread...

P_1

We need to keep the ball away from Zee or else force him to kick it as much as possible. If he runs at us we might have some problems

ionadnapokot

Madigan is too good to leave out and should be accommodated at 12 or 15

I think its a great opportunity for Leinster to start Madigan in another European knock-out game. Unfortunately Sexton is Leinsters past (very soon anyway), & the more exposure Madigan gets in knock-out rugby the better.

Biarritz havent won away from home in top14 this year (6 games)
11th in the top14
11th in the table for pts scored
13th for trys scored
They did however smash Gloucester in the 1/4 final in Kingsholm

Leinster to win this 1 by at lest 10pts. Yashvili to keep the contest alive until the 60th minute & then madigan will do the show & go. bye bye
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIEaRkoIx_M

Buer

Ian Madigan

Gloucester tried to fling it around and not take them on in the breakdown against a side with flyers out wide. They didn't ask questions of them defensively or try and make any mismatches. They conceded 24 points with men in the bin too still trying to do that which ended the game. Biarritz did their thing and badly disrupted Gloucester's line out, got in front and won handily.

Leinster would be best off trucking it up, hammering them in the middle and making their pack work and tackle constantly, dragging them in narrowly before trying to move it. Force their three quarters to come up and in to cover any holes being punched. Could see cross kicks coming in then to Nacewa and go from there.

Madworld

Madigan is too good to leave out and should be accommodated at 12 or 15

I'd agree with much of the above.

Although I want to win, it's not the end of the world if we don't win the Amlin. In out present situation, we have two excellent fly-halves.

One is experienced and leaving. The other is less experienced and staying.

Building for the future, Madigan should start. This may be unpopular but I'd be in favour of dropping Sexton for the rest of the season, save for some cameo roles at the end of games.

andrewdcs

ionadnapokot wrote: »

Biarritz havent won away from home in top14 this year (6 games)

They did however smash Gloucester in the 1/4 final in Kingsholm

They are really targetting an Amlin win. They put out a weak side against UBB last weekend / nothing to play for in the top14 so this is their season game, whereas Leinster have a) guarenteed HC next year and b) the Rabo.

I think we should still win it, think it'll be a nail biter.

.ak

The players will be gagging for it, no doubt, both sets. Regardless of how the fans feel about the Amlin, Leinster will be aiming to get as much silverware as possible... and European silverware is still European silverware.

thomond2006

Ian Madigan

.ak wrote: »

The players will be gagging for it, no doubt, both sets.

Podge_irl

Madworld wrote: »

Building for the future, Madigan should start. This may be unpopular but I'd be in favour of dropping Sexton for the rest of the season, save for some cameo roles at the end of games.

You don't build for the future in semi-finals - you go out to win them.

little173

.ak wrote: »

The players will be gagging for it, no doubt, both sets. Regardless of how the fans feel about the Amlin, Leinster will be aiming to get as much silverware as possible... and European silverware is still European silverware.

Yeah its huge game, Lions places up for grabs, final in Dublin, silverware on the line, Sexton, BOD etc, vs Heavyweight french opposition, it does matter a lot.