Leinster v Scarlets - Preview Sat 3:30 Sky Sports Action

dubal

(all borrowed from Planet Rugby)

The teams:

Leinster: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Fergus McFadden, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 Isa Nacewa, 10 Johnny Sexton (c), 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Jordi Murphy, 7 Dan Leavy, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 James Ryan, 4 Devin Toner, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 SeCronin, 1 Cian Healy
Replacements: 16 James Tracy, 17 Jack McGrath, 18 Andrew Porter, 19 Ross Molony, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Nick McCarthy, 22 Joey Carbery, 23 Jordan Larmour

Scarlets: 15 Rhys Patchell, 14 Leigh Halfpenny, 13 Scott Williams, 12 Hadleigh Parkes, 11 Steff Evans, 10 Dan Jones, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 John Barclay, 7 James Davies, 6 Aaron Shingler, 5 David Bulbring, 4 Tadhg Beirne, 3 Samson Lee, 2 Ken Owens (c), 1 Rob Evans
Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Dylan Evans, 18 Werner Kruger, 19 Lewis Rawlins, 20 Steve Cummins, 21 Aled Davies, 22 Steff Hughes, 23 Will Boyde

Date: Saturday, April 21
Venue: Aviva Stadium
Kick-off: 15:30 BST (14:30 GMT)
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant referees: Mathieu Raynal (France), Alexandre Ruiz (France)
Television match official: Philippe Bonhoure (France)

Clegg

Leinster by 40

irishbucsfan

Leinster by 41

arsebiscuits1

Leinster by 4.1

Neil3030

SeCronin to score SeVen tries in the SeCond half.

prawnsambo

Leinster out from -10 to -11 since the team was announced.

Absolutely delighted that Robbie Henshaw get's to take further part in this amazing season for Irish rugby.

Leinster by 15+

stephen_n

arsebiscuits1 wrote: »

Leinster by 4.1

Leinster by 1 would do me fine (but not my heart).

prawnsambo

stephen_n wrote: »

Leinster by 1 would do me fine (but not my heart).

Especially if that 1 were to come from a touchline conversion in the last minute of the game.

kuang1

Leinster by 11 and some fcuker in Paddypower to get a promotion.

stephen_n

Franno predicting a Scarlets win, we’ve got this sorted so.

Quint2010

prawnsambo wrote: »

Leinster out from -10 to -11 since the team was announced.

You mean in..they are now heavier favourites

prawnsambo

Quint2010 wrote: »

You mean in..they are now heavier favourites

It's in if we're talking odds. The score handicap is out.

Quint2010

prawnsambo wrote: »

It's in if we're talking odds. The score handicap is out.

Leinster are in from -10 to -11.

prawnsambo

Quint2010 wrote: »

Leinster are in from -10 to -11.

Nah, the odds are in, the handicap is out :pac:

Losty Dublin

The Sosphan's really need their back row to turn up if they've a hope of winning. They are good enough elsewhere around the park to win, plus they have a knack of beating better Leinster teams than that of tomorrow. I can't see them winning tomorrow but it will be a lot closer than you think, well I think it will.

stephen_n

The Scarlets back row is probably slightly better than ours, it’s going to be a key battle that’s for sure. One thing I noticed from the stats earlier though was how much turnover ball Scarlets conceded, should be something we target.

ionadnapokot

stephen_n wrote: »

The Scarlets back row is probably slightly better than ours, it’s going to be a key battle that’s for sure. One thing I noticed from the stats earlier though was how much turnover ball Scarlets conceded, should be something we target.

Weather shaping up for great day of rugby.
Breakdown should be a fascinating battle. Poite likes a scrap. & I think there is a bit of needle between these sides.
Also expecting a bit of fireworks between Captain Sexton and Gareth Davies. Always seems to be a few words and a push a shove between them.

kuang1

ionadnapokot wrote: »

Weather shaping up for great day of rugby.
Breakdown should be a fascinating battle. Poite likes a scrap. & I think there is a bit of needle between these sides.
Also expecting a bit of fireworks between Captain Sexton and Gareth Davies. Always seems to be a few words and a push a shove between them.

Even as a munster fan, I find myself these last few years looking forward to seeing Johnny in a blue jersey bringing his verbal edginess to the game...makes for great viewing.
It just seems to be the nature of the guy not to accept anything sub-standard from his fellow players or refs especially.

The Roy Keane of modern day rugby.
Looking forward to 3.30 now.

Dial Hard

kuang1 wrote:

The Roy Keane of modern day rugby.

You take that back, I like Sexton!

Anyway, what an absolutely cracking day for it. Been up since 8am and the nerves have been steadily building since. I'm going to be a wreck by 3.30.

I think it'll be Leinster, but not by anything approaching double figures.

stephen_n

kuang1 wrote: »

Even as a munster fan, I find myself these last few years looking forward to seeing Johnny in a blue jersey bringing his verbal edginess to the game...makes for great viewing.
It just seems to be the nature of the guy not to accept anything sub-standard from his fellow players or refs especially.

The Roy Keane of modern day rugby.
Looking forward to 3.30 now.

Definitely a similar mindset and drive for perfection, something I admire about both. Though Johhny chooses his words better :pac:

PTH2009

These lads caught ye out before in a semi final and then did the same to Munster

Tis going to be tough

Former Former

PTH2009 wrote: »

These lads caught ye out before in a semi final and then did the same to Munster

Tis going to be tough

Being caught out last year makes it happening this year less likely. In theory anyway.

This is a stronger Leinster team: we had Tracy, Molony, Triggs and Adam Byrne starting that day and Sexton was not fit. It's a weaker Scarlets team too, in the backs anyway.

No excuses and no cute hoorism today. We should win.

PTH2009

PTH2009 wrote: »

These lads caught ye out before in a semi final and then did the same to Munster

Tis going to be tough

It's going to be very tough. As well as talent I think this Scarlets team has a bit of mettle about them, they've learned how to win. If the Leinster pack play as well as they did against Saracens I think we'll be ok.

Roy Keane is an embarrassment ...

PhlegmyMoses

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Roy Keane is an embarrassment ...

Was an unbelievable player though and drove his team to greater heights and expected more from everybody. Which is probably where the similarities with Jonny ends. Sexton seems like a nicer character by and large

irishbucsfan

Can't see this going badly at all!

irishbucsfan

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Can't see this going badly at all!

I've spent the past few days watching Scarletts highlight for some reason. The semi-final and final of the Pro14 is grim watching. I've made myself nervous.

BoardsMember

Is there a slight concern about our back row with Fardy at 6? I know he's an awesome player, but he hasn't played much at 6 for us, or recently. Just a bit concerned that the Scarlets have such a strong back row and are fantastic at turnovers, and Poite allows a good contest. And Scarlets move the ball wide so well. And Leavy, as good as he has been, lacks the out and out pace someone like VdF has...

Sorry, nerves getting to me. If JGP goes ok I think we will won, despite the above nonsense stream of consciousness. Should have the edge at 10 and in the front 5. And the backline overall.

VANG1

I think we will be ready for them this time. We are battle hardend and our defence has been very good in the big games. No way are they beating us today on our home patch. Our bench is much stronger too. We also have more experience at this level.

kuang1

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Can't see this going badly at all!

I agree.

This will be Leinster's day and might even be a Scarlett's vanquishing that we witness.

BoardsMember

BoardsMember wrote: »

Is there a slight concern about our back row with Fardy at 6? I know he's an awesome player, but he hasn't played much at 6 for us, or recently. Just a bit concerned that the Scarlets have such a strong back row and are fantastic at turnovers, and Poite allows a good contest. And Scarlets move the ball wide so well. And Leavy, as good as he has been, lacks the out and out pace someone like VdF has...

Sorry, nerves getting to me. If JGP goes ok I think we will won, despite the above nonsense stream of consciousness. Should have the edge at 10 and in the front 5. And the backline overall.

Not at all, he played most of his pro rugby at 6 I'm fairly sure. I don't think his role changes all that much anyway. Tackle and smash rucks (amongst other things).

Zzippy

Fancy Leinster but not by much, this Scarlets team is dangerous, they know how to win tight games and have no fear of Leinster. Give up cheap turnovers and they can punish you. Leinster have the stronger bench which could be the difference. A bit too much hubris on here for me, if I was a Leinster fan I'd be very nervous about this one.

irishbucsfan

I was actually referring to a discussion comparing Sexton to Roy Keane!

Glad it’s inspired some confidence though

Former Former

Zzippy wrote: »

Fancy Leinster but not by much, this Scarlets team is dangerous, they know how to win tight games and have no fear of Leinster. Give up cheap turnovers and they can punish you. Leinster have the stronger bench which could be the difference. A bit too much hubris on here for me, if I was a Leinster fan I'd be very nervous about this one.

It's only hubris if we lose...

BoardsMember

Elisa Obedient Pizzeria wrote: »

Not at all, he played most of his pro rugby at 6 I'm fairly sure. I don't think his role changes all that much anyway. Tackle and smash rucks (amongst other things).

Pro and with Oz. Still slightly concerned about it.

irishbucsfan

irishbucsfan wrote: »

I was actually referring to a discussion comparing Sexton to Roy Keane!

Glad it’s inspired some confidence though

I actually had written another reply on that but stopped and thought, "why am I arguing about Roy Keane right now?!".

Great buzz around the Aviva. Tons of blue and red

Deusexmachina

kuang1 wrote: »

I agree.

This will be Leinster's day and might even be a Scarlett's vanquishing that we witness.

I know it's stupid to point out spelling errors, but every time you write 'Scarletts' I cant help imagining a bunch of Southern Belles running about in flouncey dresses.
Maybe it's just me.

stephen_n

Nerves really starting to kick in now, don’t know how the players cope :eek:

leakyboots

Hard to call this one, think Scarlets have the edge in the backrow and the centre battle will be intruiging - Leinster have the grunt though and experience of Sexton and Nacewa.

Faugheen

What a glorious day for a game of rugby

Clegg

Quite honestly bricking it now

ironingbored

Calm down we got this.
We crushed Sarries. No mean feat.

Dog Botherer

BoardsMember wrote: »

Is there a slight concern about our back row with Fardy at 6? I know he's an awesome player, but he hasn't played much at 6 for us, or recently. Just a bit concerned that the Scarlets have such a strong back row and are fantastic at turnovers, and Poite allows a good contest. And Scarlets move the ball wide so well. And Leavy, as good as he has been, lacks the out and out pace someone like VdF has...

He started a World Cup final at 6, I think he can handle it!

Thanos

kuang1 wrote: »

I agree.

This will be Leinster's day and might even be a Scarlett's vanquishing that we witness.

I do hope you are right, the more of this I read the more nervous I get......

joe35

Taught this game was on bt sport,after sending the wife away and all and now i havent got it on telly. Tà brón orom😢

Clegg

The Scarlets have taken over the South Stand.

chupacabra

rushed home and made it just in time for kick off :cool:

let the weekend begin!

ScrubsfanChris

Crowd looks smaller than the usual October Leinster v Munster league game?

chupacabra

ScrubsfanChris wrote: »

Crowd looks smaller than the usual October Leinster v Munster league game?

north west corner upper tier looks totally empty

chupacabra

Whats with the delay in the calls? Just disrupts the rhythm