Leinster vs London Wasps Sun, Oct 19th 5:15pm

chupacabra

Yera, someone had to do it.

Leinster: Ian Madigan, Zane Kirchner, Gordon D'Arcy, Noel Reid, Darragh Fanning, Jimmy Gopperth, Eoin Reddan; Jack McGrath, Sean Cronin, Michael Bent, Devin Toner, Mike McCarthy, Rhys Ruddock, Dominic Ryan, Jamie Heaslip (capt).

Replacements: Richardt Strauss, Ed Byrne, Tadhg Furlong, Kane Douglas, Jack Conan, Isaac Boss, Mick McGrath, Luke Fitzgerald.

Wasps
15. Andrea Masi
14. Christian Wade
13. Elliot Daly
12. Alapati Leiua
11. Sailosi Tagicakibau
10. Andy Goode
9. Joe Simpson
1. Matt Mullan (c)
2. Carlo Festuccia
3. Lorenzo Cittadini
4. Joe Launchbury
5. Bradley Davies
6. Ashley Johnson
7. Guy Thompson
8. Nathan Hughes

16. Tom Lindsay
17. Simon McIntyre
18. Jake Cooper-Woolley
19. James Gaskell
20. Sam Jones
21. Charlie Davies
22. Rob Miller
23. Chris Bell

former legend

That Wasps tight five is pretty impressive, serious gas on the wings.

Weakest Leinster team for a European opener in a long time I'd say. Key question is whether Bent can hold the scrum together.

Not at all confident but I think we'll do it.

WTO

If he's fit enough for the bench he's fit enough to play. LF to wing & ZK to 15.

Heroditas

Forecast seems to be gusts and showers.
It"s not going to be a classic.

garbanzo

Fingers crossed we can grind out the win,

phog

Hadn't really realised the late KO until yesterday, terrible time on a Sunday evening.

Hard to know how this will go but I think Leinster will do enough to win, not sure if they have a BP win in them.

stephen_n

Not normally a pessimist but given the injuries and the selection I think we'll be lucky to get through this game with a LBP.

nc6000

London Wasps?

thomond2006

Perhaps more for the Ireland thread but Ruddock needs a big game today after POM's performance yesterday.

ArmchairQB

thomond2006 wrote: »

Perhaps more for the Ireland thread but Ruddock needs a big game today after POM's performance yesterday.

Ruddock has been putting in big performances all season so far, POM as good as he is is only back from injury and hopefully he continues to be injury free and continue with his big performances.

phog

ArmchairQB wrote: »

Ruddock has been putting in big performances all season so far, POM as good as he is is only back from injury and hopefully he continues to be injury free and continue with his big performances.

Bar the game in the Aviva

.ak

phog wrote: »

Bar the game in the Aviva

I thought ruddock was still a standout player in that game though in fairness.

Buer

Can we not?

Tox56

.ak wrote: »

I thought ruddock was still a standout player in that game though in fairness.

From our point of view he does that a lot, last season he was frequently the main/only redeeming factor from terrible performances

former legend

Buer wrote: »

Can we not?

This, a million times over.

Jesus.

Tox56

former legend wrote: »

This, a million times over.

Jesus.

In fairness there are probably only 3 starting positions seriously up for discussion with Ireland at the moment, and this is one of them.

molloyjh

Buer wrote: »

Can we not?

So we're playing an English club today.....

molloyjh

Really not at all confident about this one, but I'm even more worried about the reaction if we lose. I've been a vocal critic of MOC (without ever calling for his head) but the times the critics have really come out have been in games where we were never likely to win for various reasons, namely Toulon and Munster. This looks like another one of those to me. With so many injuries it's just impossible to blame the coach. But if we lose he's going to get it in the neck in a big way.

One positive (bizarrely) is the wind. Surely there's no way we can persist with our kicking game in these conditions and we'll be forced to keep it in hand a lot more?

I really hope we can get the result today. Sure it'll spoil Dricos BT debut if we don't. Do it for Drico lads!

Hagz

It's gonna be a good match. Wasps will be pumped to be back in European rugby and coming to the RDS of all places. It should be an open fast paced game.

molloyjh

molloyjh wrote: »

Really not at all confident about this one, but I'm even more worried about the reaction if we lose. I've been a vocal critic of MOC (without ever calling for his head) but the times the critics have really come out have been in games where we were never likely to win for various reasons, namely Toulon and Munster. This looks like another one of those to me. With so many injuries it's just impossible to blame the coach. But if we lose he's going to get it in the neck in a big way.

One positive (bizarrely) is the wind. Surely there's no way we can persist with our kicking game in these conditions and we'll be forced to keep it in hand a lot more?

I really hope we can get the result today. Sure it'll spoil Dricos BT debut if we don't. Do it for Drico lads!

He was on yesterday.

Anyway generally agree with you, think Leinster could easily be beaten here. Just too many injuries, and I've not much faith in MOC either.

molloyjh

Dalary Cuddly Registration wrote: »

He was on yesterday.

Really? For what game? Must have been the Glasgow-Bath one was it? That's the only one I missed.

molloyjh

Hagz wrote: »

It's gonna be a good match. Wasps will be pumped to be back in European rugby and coming to the RDS of all places. It should be an open fast paced game.

Jesus, with their wingers that's the last thing we need!

errlloyd

molloyjh wrote: »

Really? For what game? Must have been the Glasgow-Bath one was it? That's the only one I missed.

Very briefly early in the day.

I am confident enough for some reason.

molloyjh

errlloyd wrote: »

Very briefly early in the day.

I am confident enough for some reason.

I spent a lot of time flicking between stations so I didn't see much of that kind of thing.

Not sure where we can win this one. Our front row isn't great, Ryan isn't at this level sadly (nor is he an openside), our half backs have been poor, Fanning is an honest hard working sort but not what you need at this level, Mads isn't a FB and our bench is pretty callow. I think it could be a long day.

justsomebloke

Tox56 wrote: »

In fairness there are probably only 3 starting positions seriously up for discussion with Ireland at the moment, and this is one of them.

and that is why we have an Ireland thread.

Clegg

Only a few more hours until Fitz pulls out of the squad.

CatFromHue

Equally though in Cronin, McGrath, Toner, McCarthy, and Heaslip we've players who are all internationals and would hope to be involved with Ireland next month. Add in Ruddock and you're starting to get a pretty good pack. Bent is the weak link but I'm not so sure he's as weak as people like to think.

They've a late change with Haskell being ill too.

Wade is an exciting winger but I can't think of anytime Fanning has actually been caught out in defence. He's quite an able performer and has deserved to get this chance.

Gopperth, Reid, and D'arcy I don't know about yet as they're a bit an unproven lineup but have the potential to click nicely.

Overall I wouldn't be so pessimistic and think we're going to do well today.

molloyjh

molloyjh wrote: »

Really? For what game? Must have been the Glasgow-Bath one was it? That's the only one I missed.

Sorry I'm mistaken, it was Friday for the Quins game.

molloyjh

CatFromHue wrote: »

Equally though in Cronin, McGrath, Toner, McCarthy, and Heaslip we've players who are all internationals and would hope to be involved with Ireland next month. Add in Ruddock and you're starting to get a pretty good pack. Bent is the weak link but I'm not so sure he's as weak as people like to think.

They've a late change with Haskell being ill too.

Wade is an exciting winger but I can't think of anytime Fanning has actually been caught out in defence. He's quite an able performer and has deserved to get this chance.

Gopperth, Reid, and D'arcy I don't know about yet as they're a bit an unproven lineup but have the potential to click nicely.

Overall I wouldn't be so pessimistic and think we're going to do well today.

I'd agree Bent isn't as bad as some say. He's a great squad player to have. But he's still only our third or fourth choice TH, and for a reason. We also had plenty of internationals against Connacht and we saw how that went.

I'm not saying we'll lose. In all reality I can't call it. I think it'll be tight. I'm just saying I can't see where we can definitively win it either.

molloyjh

Dalary Cuddly Registration wrote: »

Sorry I'm mistaken, it was Friday for the Quins game.

Ah ok. I was at the A game so missed it. Was he any good?

Buer

molloyjh wrote: »

Jesus, with their wingers that's the last thing we need!

With their wingers and a swirling wind, I think you're going to see a lot more kicking than you hope.

molloyjh

Buer wrote: »

With their wingers and a swirling wind, I think you're going to see a lot more kicking than you hope.

From us? God I hope not. We haven't exactly impressed in that area.

Buer

If Haskell is out that's a big blow to them. Their captain and talisman.

Buer

molloyjh wrote: »

From us? God I hope not. We haven't exactly impressed in that area.

I can see us launching high kicks on their wingers repeatedly. Might get some joy too. Fanning and Kirchner are great chasers. Wade is a rabbit in headlights under a dropping ball in these conditions.

thomond2006

Some pessimism on here!

Hagz

I think we're going to win with a bonus point.

former legend

Hagz wrote: »

I think we're going to win with a bonus point.

I think the BP will be difficult if the weather doesn't clear but I'll say Leinster by 7-10 points.

WTO

Anyone who watches the premiership how have wasps been going?

shuffol

molloyjh wrote: »

I'd agree Bent isn't as bad as some say. He's a great squad player to have. But he's still only our third or fourth choice TH, and for a reason. We also had plenty of internationals against Connacht and we saw how that went.

I'm not saying we'll lose. In all reality I can't call it. I think it'll be tight. I'm just saying I can't see where we can definitively win it either.

Bent should hold his own in the set piece but defensively he's a passenger.

errlloyd

WTO wrote: »

Anyone who watches the premiership how have wasps been going?

Very well, they were unlucky to lose to Saracens in round one, in a neutral venue. They were close to beating Quinns away.

Their worst result was losing away to Sale.

Buer

Wind picking up significantly here now. Going to be a very blustery game. Sky is getting dark also.

phog

.ak wrote: »

I thought ruddock was still a standout player in that game though in fairness.

Standout for Leinster possibly but certainly not of all the backrow players in that game.

molloyjh

phog wrote: »

Standout for Leinster possibly but certainly not of all the backrow players in that game.

Please can we just discuss the Leinster-Wasps game here. Please!?

phog

phog wrote: »

Standout for Leinster possibly but certainly not of all the backrow players in that game.

Yeah awesome stuff, nobody cares though, Leinster v Wasps thread.

awec

Buer wrote: »

Wind picking up significantly here now. Going to be a very blustery game. Sky is getting dark also.

A hip flask may be required today!

I honestly cant see past a Leinster win even with the relatively weak back three.

Might not get a BP but I don't think they will be important in your pool anyway.

awec

awec wrote: »

A hip flask may be required today!

I honestly cant see past a Leinster win even with the relatively weak back three.

And front row (missing 3 of 4 first choice props), and halfbacks. And why in the name of god is Kane Douglas not playing? The difference he makes to the Leinster ruck is absolutely huge. McCarthy was just terrible against Munster.

durkadurka

Back to THIS GAME, Haskell is out apparently with illness

ktulu123

Looking forward to it now! Finally back to European Stuff for Leinster. Remember guys, European Leinster is a different animal all together. Looking forward to seeing how Reid & D'arcy get on today. Could be a great partnership. Disappointing Luck McGrath isn't involved, hopefully Gopperth will have a good game. He needs to at this stage

Snickers Man

"He is so corrupt he would willingly pay for the pleasure of selling himself"

Gustave Flaubert, Sentimental Education


Wasps, a team so corrupt and desperate they would send THEMSELVES to Coventry to make a quick buck.


(Maybe you have to have read Enid Blyton books in a misspent childhood to get that reference)

Leinster look under strength but I hope they will still have enough to visit a righteous judgement of God on these barbarous wretches.

DGRulz

Anyone want to take a stab at what MOC's late curveball switcheroo will be today?

Buer

He's starting.