Leinster v Castres 15/10/2016, RDS, 3.15 - BT Sports 3

former total

15. Rob Kearney; 14. Zane Kirchner, 13. Garry Ringrose, 12. Robbie Henshaw, 11. Isa Nacewa; 10. Joey Carbery, 9. Luke McGrath; 1. Jack McGrath, 2. Sean Cronin, 3. Tadhg Furlong, 4. Devin Toner, 5. Ian Nagle, 6. Rhys Ruddock, 7. Josh Van Der Flier, 8. Jamie Heaslip

16. James Tracy, 17. Cian Healy, 18. Mike Ross, 19. Ross Molony, 20. Daniel Leavy, 21. Jamison Gibson-Park, 22. Cathal Marsh, 23. Noel Reid

15. Geoffrey Palis; 14. Remi Grosso, 13. Thomas Combezou, 12. Robert Ebersohn, 11. David Smith; 10. Benjamin Urdapilleta, 9. Antoine Dupont; 1. Antoine Tichit, 2. Jody Jenneker, 3. Daniel Kotze, 4. Victor Moreaux, 5. Rodrigo Capo Ortega, 6. Mathieu Babillot, 7. Steve Mafi, 8. Alex Tulou

16. Brice Mach, 17. Mihaita Lazar, 18. Damien Tussac, 19. Thibault Lassale, 20. Anthony Jelonch, 21. Rory Kockott, 22. Maxime Javaux, 23. Florian Vialelle

It is absolutely bucketing down in Dublin so hopefully it clears up soon, a wet day could level out a game in which Leinster are otherwise clear favourites.

Castres are not renowned for going hammer and tongs in Europe, especially away from home. Naming Kockott on the bench is not an indication that this might change today, but they have some very large men up front and a dangerous back three.

Big talking point for Leinster is, of course, the absence of Jonny Sexton and the European debut of Joey Carbery. It's a huge day for Carbery but he's looked very comfortable so far this season. A good showing today would be very comforting for Leinster fans.

The other point of interest in the Leinster lineup is Ian Nagle who has exceeded most expectations and keeps Ross Molony and Mick Kearney out of the side while McCarthy remains injured.

The Ringrose-Henshaw partnership got off to a flying start last week, hopefully more of the same today.

You'd expect Leinster to win here but Castres will make it uncomfortable. If the forwards can get the upper hand, Leinster should take this by 10 points.

molloyjh

Weather is due to clear around 10 and go to pot again around 5. Hopefully it holds off until after the final whistle.

vienne86

molloyjh wrote: »

Weather is due to clear around 10 and go to pot again around 5. Hopefully it holds off until after the final whistle.

I would expect bad weather to suit us better than them, but would not suit us fans. It's awful now and the ground is wet, but the RDS pitch always seems to hold up well.

I'm feeling quite confident though without Sexton, a TBP is less likely IMO. If Carbery performs well on this big stage, I will be happy out.....and I pray that we don't need to call on Marsh.

Quint2010

Fuc*ing BT Sport

PS Whats wrong with Sexton? He was named in the team yesterday??

.ak

Quint2010 wrote: »

Fuc*ing BT Sport

PS Whats wrong with Sexton? He was named in the team yesterday??

He wasn't?

Just a tight hammer. Erred on the side of caution.

Losty Dublin

Quint2010 wrote: »

Fuc*ing BT Sport

PS Whats wrong with Sexton? He was named in the team yesterday??

And live to all Eir phone, TV and broadband customers.

You are on UPC, aren't you?:pac:

vienne86

Lovely sunny day now - not too much wind. Really looking forward to this.

Quint2010

.ak wrote: »

He wasn't?

Just a tight hammer. Erred on the side of caution.

Must have been seeing things-maybe distracted by seeing Marsh's name on the bench and wondering where Carberry was.

Losty Dublin wrote: »

And live to all Eir phone, TV and broadband customers.

You are on UPC, aren't you?:pac:

Yes. The media that's never had sex before...

swiwi_

Hopefully Leinster win easily.

Then I can tell my work colleagues on Monday that the players from the French southwest "ont été castrés..."

molloyjh

swiwi_ wrote: »

Hopefully Leinster win easily.

Then I can tell my work colleagues on Monday that the players from the French southwest "ont été castrés..."

Hahahaha


I've no idea what that means!


Weather is pretty decent here. Pissed rain most of the night and morning though so the ball will be greasy. But they have wood fired pizzas so that's me happy for the next few mins.....

Neil3030

I'm hearing rumours that Carberry pulled up this morning....


in his car... and walked into the dressing room

Neil3030

molloyjh wrote: »

But they have wood fired pizzas so that's me happy for the next few mins.....

Hope they have enough pineapple for everyone...

molloyjh

Neil3030 wrote: »

I'm hearing rumours that Carberry pulled up this morning....


in his car... and walked into the dressing room

You b*****d!

Rigor Mortis

Good take by Kearney to set that up

funtime93

<mod snip>

TeoReid

And that's why you need wingers with pace...

Adbrowne

mcgrath must have been practising boxkicks with conor murray this week.

Neil3030

Too many box kicks for my liking but a very bright start.

Rigor Mortis

very positive start though
beautifull hands from carberry

irishbucsfan

Carberry and Kearney have been very good so far. Luke McGrath would want to improve that kicking before he puts us under any more pressure.

Neil3030

Toner just stepped around a tackler.

TONER JUST STEPPED AROUND A TACKLER!

Rigor Mortis

Henshaw looks good too

Neil3030

This Carberry-Henshaw-Ringrose axis could become something very very special.

Rigor Mortis

ANdy Farrell in full clubwear. From here to Lillies

Clegg

Luke McGrath is having a stinker.

Teferi

Will Nagle get pinged for that post-match? Duty of care job.

irishbucsfan

Teferi wrote: »

Will Nagle get pinged for that post-match? Duty of care job.

I'd say so, he jumped on someone's head

Adbrowne

irishbucsfan wrote: »

I'd say so, he jumped on someone's head

he jumped and a castres player did give him a shove while he was off the ground so I doubt much will come of it

Rigor Mortis

This is the Sean Cronin that the Munster fans were looking forward to targeting last weekend

irishbucsfan

Good man Cronin! Great scrummaging from him a few minutes before as well.

Or as Mark Robson once attempted to nickname him "the candyfloss man"

sydthebeat

Dancing feet baby !!#

Rigor Mortis

Great tackle Joey

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Start them in Chicago, I say!

Neil3030 wrote: »

This Carberry-Henshaw-Ringrose axis could become something very very special.

hogandrew

About time the referee has called an offside, the line has been getting more and more offside for the last 10 mins

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

This is going well.

irishbucsfan

How are Castres players, and O'Driscoll, unaware of that law?

TeoReid

Furlong had been going well. Off now. Injured?

Clegg

McGrath shouldn't be brought back on.

ongarite

Not so good now.
PT and Luke in the bin

Swan Curry

really poor finish to the half

leakyboots

Leinster should be further ahead than this

Neil3030

Completely needless pressure on us here - stupid penalty on our own possession in midfield, then a yellow card and sin bin off the resulting penalty/lineout-maul. Daftness.

Clegg

Under very little pressure but we've let Castres back in the game.

irishbucsfan

Luke McGrath has really struggled. Definitely worth looking to JGP in the second half.

Overall a good performance though. A bonus point win should be the minimum target from here.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

This is where Leinster will miss Madigan and his ability to play 9.

Peregrine

irishbucsfan wrote: »

How are Castres players, and O'Driscoll, unaware of that law?

Surprising that O'Driscoll said "I've never seen that before". I'm pretty sure it happened for Toulon during a Leinster match in the 2014 HC. QF, I think.

Hagz

Luke McGrath has been lightning at the breakdown but his box kicking has been brutal.

kingofthekong

Rob Kearney has completely lost any attacking threat with ball in hand, he consistently slows down before contact does'nt use his feet and gets dumped on his ass every single time, thank god he can catch a high ball though....

hogandrew

Clegg wrote: »

McGrath shouldn't be brought back on.

He's been shocking today, over ran for the ringrose break, and very sloppy passing and a few sloppy box kicks. Conditions aren't helping but sometimes players just have them days

Hagz

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

This is where Leinster will miss Madigan and his ability to play 9.

Well now that you mention it, Joey Carbery played 9 at underage level. Pretty sure he played 9 for the u18s.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Hagz wrote: »

Well now that you mention it, Joey Carbery played 9 at underage level. Pretty sure he played 9 for the u18s.

Excellent, we can start both him and Sexton in Chicago