Leinster v Connacht Build up Thread

Ireland next top province grand final to be decided on Monday after victories for Connacht and Leinster in the last round.

The eagerly anticipated "Battle of the Fullbacks" between Reliable Rob and serial Joe victim Tiernan O'Halloran is set to see several threads completely abandoned in the coming week, but perhaps the real contest lies closer to mid field with Aki and Ringrose both in realistic contention for a starting six nations spot.

I spoke with Kieran Keane ahead of the much anticipated fixture:

Venjur: "So Kieran, what are you expecting from the game on Monday"
KK: ".........."

Venjur: "oookay... and what areas do you hope to build on from the big win against Ulster?"
KK: "..........."

Venjur: "Have you anything to say at all"
KK: ".........."

KK: ".........."

KK: ".........nah"

So there you have it, fighting words from Keane and certainly something to go up in the Leinster dressing room.

Wegians89

What've sort of team would you expect Leinster to line up with?

Wegians89

Wegians89 wrote: »

What've sort of dude would you expect Leinster to line up with?

I think you mean squad so:

Byrne
Cronin
Porter
Fardy
Ryan if fit Kearney if not
Seanie
JVDF
Murphy
Luke McGrath
Cathal Marsh - not sure we've any options here other than ISA or a flogged Ross Byrne
Jordan Larmour
Noel Reid
Garry Ringrose
James Lowe
Rob Kearney

Wegians89

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I think you mean squad so:

Byrne
Cronin
Porter
Fardy
Ryan if fit Kearney if not
Seanie
JVDF
Murphy
Luke McGrath
Cathal Marsh - not sure we've any options here other than ISA or a flogged Ross Byrne
Jordan Larmour
Noel Reid
Garry Ringrose
James Lowe
Rob Kearney

Yeah I did thanks, strong team, if marsh starts I'd be a lot more confident as a Connacht fan but really a losing bonus point would be a good result

Deleted User

Deleted User wrote: »

not sure we've any options here other than ISA or a flogged Ross Byrne

Flog him I say. He doesn't look like he needs a rest at all. Has played a lot of rugby this season but he had a 3 week break in Nov and if Sexton is fit for Europe he'll have another month without a start, plenty of rest.

swiwi_

Wegians89 wrote: »

What've sort of dude would you expect Leinster to line up with?

prawnsambo

Deleted User wrote: »

Cathal Marsh - not sure we've any options here other than ISA or a flogged

Would have said Jonny Sexton, but apparently he's wandering around the country aimlessly. ROG found him in Cork yesterday and was able to look after him for a bit.

prawnsambo

prawnsambo wrote: »

Would have said Jonny Sexton, but apparently he's wandering around the country aimlessly. ROG found him in Cork yesterday and was able to look after him for a bit.

ROG kinda looks like he's Sexton's misses in that picture. That's probably more a discussion for the Munster v Leinster thread though.

Buer

No prizes for guessing which kid is Sexton's with the sulky head on him.

prawnsambo

Buer wrote: »

No prizes for guessing which kid is Sexton's with the sulky head on him.

Do you think any kid of ROG's would be wearing a Leinster beanie?

Zzippy

All Venjuring joking aside, let's not see this thread descend into a TOH v RK for Ireland debate. Discussion of the match only, not their relative merits for Ireland. Anyone with an agenda can FRO.

Peregrine

prawnsambo wrote: »

Would have said Jonny Sexton, but apparently he's wandering around the country aimlessly. ROG found him in Cork yesterday and was able to look after him for a bit.

[IMG][/img]

Hold the **** up.

Is ROG wearing skinny jeans?

Sexton available apparently. Jack McGrath and James Ryan out. Leinster very thin at LH, Byrne and Dooley both in the matchday squad it would appear.

Bridge93

Has Buckley been injured for Connacht too? Coulson and McCabe not close to his league either

BeardySi

Bridge93 wrote: »

Has Buckley been injured for Connacht too? Coulson and McCabe not close to his league either

Unfortunately so. Ankle injury in the second match v. Brive, expected to be out for the next few weeks.

Zzippy

Bridge93 wrote: »

Has Buckley been injured for Connacht too? Coulson and McCabe not close to his league either

Yep, did his ankle against Brive, out for a few weeks. Coulson did alright last week but Leinster scrum will be a tough test for him.

James Ryan is like a period

mfceiling

Nathaniel Aggressive Rodent wrote: »

James Ryan is like a period

Bleeds for a week every month?

prawnsambo

Calliope Melodic Pint wrote: »

Sexton available apparently. Jack McGrath and James Ryan out. Leinster very thin at LH, Byrne and Dooley both in the matchday squad it would appear.

Michael Bent not an option there as well?

irishbucsfan

If Ed Byrne and Dooley are available then there's no problem

The Pheasant2

I'd go with

Byrne (McGrath unavailable)
Cronin
Porter
Kearney (Ryan out)
Fardy
Sob
VdF
Jordi

McGrath
Byrne
Lowe
Isa (C)
Ringrose
Larmour
RK

Byrne
Dooley
Bent
Molony? He played against Bristol but think I saw someone say he was injured?
Deegan
McCarthy
Marsh
Daly/McF

Granny15

Nathaniel Aggressive Rodent wrote: »

James Ryan is like a period

Bit like Gordon Darcy is/was

Very selective of when he got injured. When it was convenient!

Bridge93

Radio said Sexton is fit and SOB is unlikely

arsebiscuits1

Kinda wanna see an open game here
Ed Byrne to start I reckon
Adam Byrne still a week too soon
Ryan's versitility worries me
Nagle over Mick K.
Even still, Molony should start if fit
You'd assume Sexton will play this one
Ross Byrne needs a rest
Until I see the team line out, no point assuming
Lowe should get decent game time
Zzippy, please don't ban me

Mr Shikadance

Connacht by 9 points I reckon.....

mfceiling

mfceiling wrote: »

Bleeds for a week every month?

Here for a week, gone for 3

policy75

I do wonder has connacht got the best centre partnership in the league. I think so. So then its a matter of carty standing up. If that happens then its game on. This game has the potential to be a right one

Burkie1203

policy75 wrote: »

I do wonder has connacht got the best centre partnership in the league. I think so. So then its a matter of carty standing up. If that happens then its game on. This game has the potential to be a right one

Henshaw/Ringrose is better then Aki/Farrell.

Mr Shikadance

Burkie1203 wrote: »

policy75 wrote: »

I do wonder has connacht got the best centre partnership in the league. I think so. So then its a matter of carty standing up. If that happens then its game on. This game has the potential to be a right one

Henshaw/Ringrose is better then Aki/Farrell.

Me bolx

Ring rose class but Henshaw bosh bosh plop

Connacht pair more creative as a result

Henshaw who?

policy75

Burkie1203 wrote: »

Henshaw/Ringrose is better then Aki/Farrell.

I am going to out on a limb here and suggest aki and farrell are simply better than ringrose and henshaw

Wegians89

Mr Shikadance wrote: »

Me bolx

Ring rose class but Henshaw bosh bosh plop

Connacht pair more creative as a result

Henshaw who?

While Farrell has been class this season and himself and bundee do seem to bring the best out of each other, but I don't think they have done enough over along enough period to warrant the claim they're a better pairing then an international test centre partnership.

I don't think henshaw and ringrose bring each other to their full potential (henshaw seems to be constraint a little) But they're still two brilliant individual players and a damn good partnership, that has to still be considered the best of the provinces, for the mean time anyways.

wp_rathead

I'm thinking Aki will play in RDS and sit out Thomond as Ahki will be available?

Wegians89

wp_rathead wrote: »

I'm thinking Aki will play in RDS and sit out Thomond as Ahki will be available?

You'd think that's how it'll go anyways, especially with bundee only playing 60 odd minutes last week

Squidgy Black

Mr Shikadance wrote: »

Me bolx

Ring rose class but Henshaw bosh bosh plop

Connacht pair more creative as a result

Henshaw who?

Robbie Henshaw, you know, the fella called up to play for the Lions and started 4 games before getting injured. Scored the last try against the All Blacks to seal the victory in Chicago.

That Henshaw.

policy75

Bar jbp leinster are beatable.

Mr Shikadance

_Tyrrell_ wrote: »

Mr Shikadance wrote: »

Me bolx

Ring rose class but Henshaw bosh bosh plop

Connacht pair more creative as a result

Henshaw who?

Robbie Henshaw, you know, the fella called up to play for the Lions and started 4 games before getting injured. Scored the last try against the All Blacks to seal the victory in Chicago.

That Henshaw.

Ahh I’m only messing!!!

Leinster clearly the proven pair. Excited to see how Farrell goes if he plays. He is a little like Ringrose in creativity.

Going to be a fun game!

sydthebeat

policy75 wrote: »

Bar jbp leinster are beatable.

Jbp?

Jamison Bibson Park?

irishgrover

Deleted User wrote:

Ireland next top province grand final to be decided on Monday after victories for Connacht and Leinster in the last round.

I really don't think that RH will ever play to his max potential at 12. **** it, I'd rather see him at FB then 12.....

Former Former

I doubt Henshaw will be playing.

Tom Farrell has no business in any discussion about the best centres in the league.

Peregrine

sydthebeat wrote: »

Jbp?

Jamison Bibson Park?

Josh ban der Plier

eezipc

Quote: sydthebeat
Jbp?
Jamison Bibson Park?

Peregrine wrote: »

Josh ban der Plier

Johnny Bleeding Pexton?

policy75

Peregrine wrote: »

Josh ban der Plier

You do make it difficult with your triple barrelled names in Leinster

FrannoFan

Former Former wrote: »

I doubt Henshaw will be playing.

Tom Farrell has no business in any discussion about the best centres in the league.

Top defenders beaten
Top offloads

May deserve a mention!

https://www.pro14rugby.org/powered-by-opta/

ClanofLams

Former Former wrote: »

I doubt Henshaw will be playing.

Tom Farrell has no business in any discussion about the best centres in the league.

I’m not suggesting he should be in the Ireland squad or anything but he has been one of the best centres in the league this season. Henshaw and Ringrose wouldn’t be in the conversation as both have played so little.

Wegians89

Former Former wrote: »

I doubt Henshaw will be playing.

Tom Farrell has no business in any discussion about the best centres in the league.

Most defenders beaten in the league, most offloads in the league, averaging a defender beaten every 9 minutes in challenge cup.

He mightnt be the star name but certainly anyone who has watched him play this season would know he's in great form and should definitely be in the discussion for pro14 team of the year centre spot this season.

And to clan, his name should be in and around the Irish squad selection, has done more then Chris Farrell, McCloskary, Scannell etc.

policy75

So if farrell is playing, if aki is playing, if the usual Connacht back 3 are playing, then what is really holding Connacht back? To the point of 1/6 odds. It says a huge weakness. So where is it?

policy75

policy75 wrote: »

So if farrell is playing, if aki is playing, if the usual Connacht back 3 are playing, then what is really holding Connacht back? To the point of 1/6 odds. It says a huge weakness. So where is it?

.ak

sydthebeat wrote: »

Jbp?

Jamison Bibson Park?

Peregrine wrote: »

Josh ban der Plier

eezipc wrote: »

Johnny Bleeding Pexton?

Diabhal Beag

Former Former wrote: »

Tom Farrell has no business in any discussion about the best centres in the league.

I agree. He's by far and away the best. Disrespectful to open the floor to any other pitiful suggestions otherwise.

policy75

Deleted User wrote: »

Most good :-)

Zzippy

I notice there are a few "new" posters about, so this is a timely reminder to everyone to have a read of the charter and bear in mind the mod warning early in this thread. No dick-measuring contests please.