Leinster v Northampton 17/12/16 19:45 - BT Sport2

CMOTDibbler

Appearing at the Ballindrome, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 (AKA Lansdowne Road, AKA The Aviva Stadium) on Saturday Evening, 17th December 2016 at 19:45

The Backlash!

Leinster||Northampton

||

Zane Kirchner|15|Ahsee Tuala
Adam Byrne|14|Ken Pisi
Garry Ringrose|13|George Pisi (capt)
Robbie Henshaw|12|JJ Hanrahan
Isa Nacewa (capt)|11|Tom Collins
Ross Byrne|10|Steve Myler
Luke McGrath|9|Nic Groom
Jack McGrath|1|Ethan Waller
Sean Cronin|2|Charlie Clare
Tadhg Furlong|3|Kieran Brookes
Devin Toner|4|Api Ratuniyarawa
Hayden Triggs|5|James Craig
Sean O'Brien|6|Jamie Gibson
Josh Van Der Flier|7|Calum Clark
Jamie Heaslip|8|Teimana Harrison
{colsp=3}

Replacements

James Tracy|16|James Fish
Cian Healy|17|Alex Waller
Michael Bent|18|Paul Hill
Rhys Ruddock|19|Michael Paterson
Jack Conan|20|Ben Nutley
Jamison Gibson-Park|21|Tom Kessell
Noel Reid|22|Rory Hutchinson
Rory O'Loughlin|23|James Wilson


Match Officials
Referee Romain Poite (France)
Touch Judge 1 Tual Trainini (France)
Touch Judge 2 Mathieu Noirot (France)
TMO Eric Briquet-Campin (France)
Citing Commissioner Patrice Frantschi (France)

Overview
Having been humiliated in their last encounter; both by the scoreline and the antics of their hooker and erstwhile captain, Northampton (not quite) Saints head to Dublin for the second leg of their back to back matches against their ritual humiliators Leinster. The head to head stats would suggest that this could well be another tough day at the office with the score standing 5-1 to the hosts.

Leinster
Leinster, having been careless enough to lose both starting tens and a backup in the last month or so, have managed to find Ross Byrne down the back of the sofa and are hoping he can repeat the solid start he made to his European Rugby career last week. I'm sure Leocastempsy have drummed the hippocratic oath into him and he will 'first do no harm'. Ill-advised kicks to nowhere after a turnover will not be on the menu. Out-half aside, Leinster are playing with as full a deck as can be expected at this stage of the season and the team is bedecked with hardened initernationals. The Henrose partnership, though still in its infancy will be expected to find another gear and give us some more of these.



Northampton
The 'D' word will be uppermost in their minds (and I don't mean defence), having coughed up 14 penalties to 4 in the previous encounter. There will be some relief in the knowledge that the gift that keeps on giving will be cooling his heels on the sidelines in blazer and tie, but there are other not so saintly Saints to be watchful of as well. Not least the infamous Calum Clark in the back row. Northampton know they have to win this to have a chance (however slim) of staying in the compeitition and of Mallinder keeping his job. Expect fireworks in the opening quarter and whoever gains ascendancy in that crucial period will have a decent shot at winning the damn thing.



Prediction
Leinster need to hit the ground running and play the kind of clever rugby that had Northampton frustrated and scoreless last week. A bit of indiscipline from the visitors would also be a help. Unlike the last time these sides had back to back matches in European rugby, Leinster know that they have to expect a backlash and be prepared to fight for every inch of ground and grind out a score if needs be. The bookies have started with an ungenerous sixteen point margin in favour of the hosts and now extended that to eighteen points today. We can only hope...

irishbucsfan

Images aren't centered

Stheno

Table check
Equal logos check

But
{colsp=3)


Whats this doing in the table?

CMOTDibbler

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Images aren't centered

That was an artistic decision.

The text isn't centred either :P

Stheno

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Images aren't centered

And are touch judges not now referred to as assistant refs?

CMOTDibbler

Stheno wrote: »

Table check
Equal logos check

But
{colsp=3)


Whats this doing in the table?

I'm an old timer and still use the old interface. The new one doesn't support the extended vBulletin table code

The table columns are uneven in width.

it is a nice table though.

CMOTDibbler

Stheno wrote: »

And are touch judges not now referred to as assistant refs?

Not according to EPCR.


You have to do better than that.






Although to be fair, I thought it was a bit odd too. But who am I to criticise the mighty EPCR?

Missing a fada on the "á" in Seán O'Brien

Stheno

CMOTDibbler wrote: »

Not according to EPCR.


You have to do better than that.

I shall leave it to those more skilled

Anyway leinster to win with a tbp

Stheno

Actually ive just noticed the use of the word Henrose

The title is wrong, It's Leinster Rugby v Northampton Saints

Stheno

[Deleted User] wrote: »

The title is wrong, It's Leinster Rugby v Northampton Saints

/makes careful note to never ever do another match thread on here, got away with murder in the rwc

irishbucsfan

CMOTDibbler wrote: »

Not according to EPCR.

If Mark McCafferty told you to jump off a cliff would you do it?

They are Assistant Referees!

irishbucsfan

I think the most cripplingly disappointing thing about this match thread is how disappointed I was by how undisappointing it is.

irishbucsfan

irishbucsfan wrote: »

I think the most cripplingly disappointing thing about this match thread is how disappointed I was by how undisappointing it is.

Yeah if one of the mods could come in with the editing tool and shit all over the formatting that would be great.

In fact that sounds like a job for awec...

Buer

It really isn't a great opening post. Multiple issues.

But I think we can all agree it's a massive improvement on last week's abomination.

irishbucsfan

Buer wrote: »

It really isn't a great opening post. Multiple issues.

But I think we can all agree it's a massive improvement on last week's abomination.

Honestly looking at last week's one now, its like someone ate this week's one and then vomited it back up onto the screen.

former total

The only concern is that some of their second string will be out to make an impression and might lift their game.

But realistically, if Byrne has a decent game, we should be looking to win well.

former total

former total wrote: »

The only concern is that some of their second string will be out to make an impression and might lift their game.

But realistically, if Byrne has a decent game, we should be looking to win well.

Sure who cares about that, what are your main complaints with the match thread?

Lake1989

Deleted User wrote: »

Sure who cares about that, what are your main complaints with the match thread?

Graham Henry needs to be brought in to help improve match threads .....

.ak

Remember when Venjur tried to make a thread last week?

.ak

.ak wrote: »

Remember when Venjur tried to make a thread last week?

If I'd snuck in a picture of Darcy's beard you'd be declaring it the thread of the decade, a lazarus rising from the dead match thread, the Ian Nagle of match threads.

Lake1989

any idea how tickets sales are going for this?

Stheno

Lake1989 wrote: »

any idea how tickets sales are going for this?

Pretty good i tried to get some earlier this week and they were 58 a head

CMOTDibbler

Well thank you all, I think.

When you consider that I was in the door at six-thirty, had a bite to eat, erected a ten foot christmas tree and did a match thread and back in the car to collect the other half from Christmas drinks at eight, it's not that bad.

Just think what I could have done if I'd had ten minutes more

Anyhoo, I've put my money where my mouth is and am backing Leinster to beat the handicap.

.ak

Deleted User wrote: »

If I'd snuck in a picture of Darcy's beard you'd be declaring it the thread of the decade, a lazarus rising from the dead match thread, the Ian Nagle of match threads.

I'd be impressed if you didn't mess up the image insert.

durkadurka

.ak wrote: »

I'd be impressed if you didn't mess up the image insert.

What an outstanding op that could not be improved upon in any way.

Fully expect us to have learned the lessons of two years ago and smash this lot into nextweek.

hogandrew

Can anyone recommend somewhere to watch the game in Prague?

Buer

hogandrew wrote: »

Can anyone recommend somewhere to watch the game in Prague?

Have watched Ireland match in The Dubliner before. Would call to check they're showing first of all.

molloyjh

Are you predicting a 5-1 outcome or did you just get that wrong? And what's an initernational?

Venjur, this was your job this week. And for the second week running I'm finding myself disappointed.