Leinster v Connacht Build up Thread

connachta

we can beat that team g'wan Connacht!!!!!!!!!!

Strong Back row, weaker but very mobile tight five. Back line looks very tasty and it appears were going to get a 'battle of the backstards"

thomond2006

wp_rathead

Tom McCarthy, James Cannon and Kelleher in for Delahunt, Roux and Niyi who all move to the bench

connachta

Connacht win by a small +25 margin

connachta

Still no sign of a back-up 10

MarinersBlues

MarinersBlues

I'd prefer to see Ronaldson instead of Griffin and Leader instead of Kelleher but in reality a much stronger team than I expected to be named.

Bridge93

Leinster the mix and match that was to be expected. Good strong Connacht selection. They seem to be targeting this game instead of Thomond? Leinster seem to be risking this one to go close to full on against ulster.

Leinster by 3 or 4 points for me

From a national point of view Aki v Ringrose should be exciting. That is the matchup to watch as the other one that has plagued this place for so long is a non issue currently

Interested Observer

That Leinster team looks beatable. Front 5 is not great at all, backs are a mixed bag.

Bridge93

Bridge93 wrote: »

From a national point of view Aki v Ringrose should be exciting. That is the matchup to watch as the other one that has plagued this place for so long is a non issue currently

Marmion v Luke also. Dillane is going to want to put down a marker as is Bealham.

Should be a good game, looking forward to it and hopefully conditions aren't crap.

I think our halves and backrow are going to prove the difference on the day, Leinster by 12.

Wegians89

Not as optimistic as I thought I'd be, Leavy and vdf will win this game for Leinster.
1-5 Connacht should have the upper had carty will have to keep his current form up. Think leader should have been starting 15 with toh at 14.
Matt Healy to have another brilliant game

durthacht

connachta wrote: »

Still no sign of a back-up 10

What happened to that Aussie guy (Deegan?) who signed last summer? Is he injured or available but just not picked?

Bazzo

I'm terrified of Dan Leavy. Last time he played us he ate out back row for breakfast and he did the same against Munster only a week ago.

Bridge93

I have always said (and definitely did on here years ago) that Dan Leavy had the ability to be an absolute superstar and would surpass VdF in time once his injuries cleared up. Hopefully he can stay fit for an extended period because if he does then the Irish team is a real target

I think he'll overtake O Mahoney sooner rather than later. Then it's how you balance the backrow by keeping POM/Drop Stander/Drop SOB or whatever

Peregrine

That Leinster second row makes me very nervous. And Kearney as a replacement doesn't make me feel much better.

Is Murphy injured? It's not like he has played much this season. I would have preferred him instead of Fardy covering backrow and all three of Molony, Nagle and Kearney involved.

OldRio

Granny15 wrote: »

That's out 3rds team

Jaysus, Sexton must be out of sorts.

typhoony

Should be a very close game, home advantage will help Leinster but if we can get our maul going again we can beat them up there.

Bridge93

Shame Larmour must wait until the Sportsground to complete his interprovincial destruction.

FACECUTTR

OldRio wrote: »

Jaysus, Sexton must be out of sorts.

Kearney, McGrath, Van der Flier and Ringrose are now 3rd choice in Leinster with Sefton. How fast times change.

connemara man

15. Rob Kearney (190) internationally capped
14. Fergus McFadden (160) internationally capped
13. Garry Ringrose (42) internationally capped
12. Noel Reid (91) internationally capped
11. James Lowe (2)
10. Johnny Sexton (141) CAPTAIN internationally capped
9. Luke McGrath (85) internationally capped
1. Peter Dooley (41)
2. Seán Cronin (141) internationally capped
3. Andrew Porter (18) internationally capped
4. Ross Molony (53)
5. Ian Nagle (13)
6. Dan Leavy (46) internationally capped
7. Josh van der Flier (57) internationally capped
8. Max Deegan (9)

16. Bryan Byrne (19)
17. Ed Byrne (15)
18. Michael Bent (98) internationally capped
19. Mick Kearney (27)
20. Scott Fardy (10) internationally capped OZ
21. Nick McCarthy (15)
22. Cathal Marsh (26)
23. Rory O’Loughlin (32) internationally capped

3rd string team has 10 internationally capped players starting and 3 on the bench... Huh

joseywhales

Bridge93 wrote: »

I have always said (and definitely did on here years ago) that Dan Leavy had the ability to be an absolute superstar and would surpass VdF in time once his injuries cleared up. Hopefully he can stay fit for an extended period because if he does then the Irish team is a real target

I think he'll overtake O Mahoney sooner rather than later. Then it's how you balance the backrow by keeping POM/Drop Stander/Drop SOB or whatever

Sob has never been droppable, he is like the modern David Wallace except with a bit more to his game. With injuries and age though leavy could be the new sob with a transition over the next 4-5 years maybe. I think with both playing at 6/7 for Ireland would make for an incredibly tough backrow with pom as the lineout specialist to swap in. It's world class

MaybeMaybe

connemara man wrote: »

15. Rob Kearney (190) internationally capped
14. Fergus McFadden (160) internationally capped
13. Garry Ringrose (42) internationally capped
12. Noel Reid (91)
11. James Lowe (2)
10. Johnny Sexton (141) CAPTAIN internationally capped
9. Luke McGrath (85) internationally capped
1. Peter Dooley (41)
2. Seán Cronin (141) internationally capped
3. Andrew Porter (18) internationally capped
4. Ross Molony (53)
5. Ian Nagle (13)
6. Dan Leavy (46) internationally capped
7. Josh van der Flier (57) internationally capped
8. Max Deegan (9)

16. Bryan Byrne (19)
17. Ed Byrne (15)
18. Michael Bent (98)
19. Mick Kearney (27)
20. Scott Fardy (10)
21. Nick McCarthy (15)
22. Cathal Marsh (26)
23. Rory O’Loughlin (32)

3rd string team has 9 internationally capped players in huh

Noel Reid has an international cap as well. Plus the 3 internationally capped players on the bench

connemara man

MaybeMaybe wrote: »

Noel Reid has an international cap as well. Plus the 3 internationally capped players on the bench

Duly noted and edited

Neil3030

That's our third string team? It has Sexton, Cronin, Kearney, Ringrose, VDF.... ?

This isn't our 3rds, it's a mix of first team players backed up primarily by second choice. It's not nearly as strong a pack as last week though.

Peregrine

Neil3030 wrote: »

That's our third string team? It has Sexton, Cronin, Kearney, Ringrose, VDF.... ?

Both starting props are third choice. Second row are 4th, 5th and 6th choice locks. So..2nd-3rd string? Leavy and VdF are great but Deegan is still very inexperienced and I don't think Fardy on the bench has ever started a game for Leinster in the backrow.

Half-backs are first choice. Nobody knows what the pecking order for wings are but I wouldn't describe Lowe and Ferg as third choice. Lowe might be second choice given his unfamiliarity and the fact that he (rightly) didn't play in Europe. Noel Reid is second choice and Ringrose and Kearney are first choice.

It's not third string but very much a mix 'n' match team.

Granny15

Peregrine wrote: »

Both starting props are third choice. Second row are 4th, 5th and 6th choice locks. So..2nd-3rd string? Leavy and VdF are great but Deegan is still very inexperienced and I don't think Fardy on the bench has ever started a game for Leinster in the backrow.

Half-backs are first choice. Nobody knows what the pecking order for wings are but I wouldn't describe Lowe and Ferg as third choice. Lowe might be second choice given his unfamiliarity and the fact that he (rightly) didn't play in Europe. Noel Reid is second choice and Ringrose and Kearney are first choice.

It's not third string but very much a mix 'n' match team.

Kearney would be second choice at this stage

downthemiddle

Granny15 wrote: »

Kearney would be second choice at this stage

So Ireland's first choice full back is second choice with Leinster. Would you like to explain how that works?

Squidgy Black

Granny15 wrote: »

Kearney would be second choice at this stage

Stop spewing shíte, Kearney's first choice. Only reason Carbery was playing fullback was because he was injured and we had nobody else, and Larmour, as exciting as he is, isn't ready to be first choice yet.