The ghost of John Muldoon v the tears of Cian Healy Build up thread

We kick off the build up to this weekends most important fixture with the42.ie's recent interview with Bundee Aki:

Bundee: Hi lads, listen - before we start, I just want to confirm I'm not signing for Leinster or speaking with Leinster so if we can stay away from questions like that it would be great.
The42: No problem Bundee, we'll steer well clear.

---

The42: So Bundee, you've opened your season with a man of the match performance against Scarlets, you must be very pleased with that?
Bundee: Yeah it was a great win to get under our belts, we had a lot of belief going into that matc...
The42: Bundee, sorry to cut across you - we've just received this image, it was taken when you were still meant to be down in the Southern Hemisphere but clearly you were in fact meeting with Leo Cullen at the time - have you any comment?

Bundee: Seriously, guys we had an agreement
The42: That's you isn't it Bundee - there is no denying it.
Bundee: I was invited as a guest to the Leinster awards, that doesn't mean I'm signing for anyone, I'm very happy here with Connacht and I don't think I'd make a first choice Leinster 15 anyway.
The42: That's certainly true but you have to admit the optics on this are terrible?
Bundee: It wasn't a particularly well fitting dress.
The42: Moving on, how has Andy Friend been bedding in since pre season?
Bundee: FRIENNND
The42: What?
Bundee: FRIENNNNNNNNND :D:D
The42: ?
Bundee: RUGBY FRIENNNNND (Bundee gives two thumbs up)
The42: ..... thanks for your time today Bundee, best of luck with the season

.ak

*Connaught

arsebiscuits1

Connacht off the back of a very impressive win against Scarlets. Some good quality rugby on display.

Wholesale changes to be expected by Leinster I assume. But whoever is in the starting pack should examine the Edinburgh game. Very good forward play. Winning collisions and very effective cleanouts.

I could be wrong but I thought Leavy was ready to come back on on Saturday. He certainly galloped off the field for his HIA so hopefully he will be available.

A team like:

Byrne Cronin Porter
Fardy Kearney
Ruddock Deegan SOB
McGrath Byrne
Tomane ROL
Lowe Kearney Kearney
Byrne Dooley Bent Nagle Doris McCarthy Reid McFadden

Decent side. Hopefully could put it up to them. No better test for Tomane that being on Bundee duty. He made **** of Scarlets last week

Buer

I wouldn't have huge faith in Tomane handling Aki very well based on what we've seen to date. I'd be as happy to see him on the wing with Reid in the centre, to be honest. But I don't see it happening.

Expecting something along the lines of:

Dooley, Cronin, Porter, Fardy, Kearney, Ruddock, SOB/Leavy, Deegan, JGP, Byrne, DK, Tomane, ROL, Adam Byrne, RK.

Byrne, Byrne, Bent, Molony, SOB/Leavy, McCarthy, Frawley, Reid

Buer

Buer wrote: »

I wouldn't have huge faith in Tomane handling Aki very well based on what we've seen to date. I'd be as happy to see him on the wing with Reid in the centre, to be honest. But I don't see it happening.

Expecting something along the lines of:

Dooley, Cronin, Porter, Fardy, Kearney, Ruddock, SOB/Leavy, Deegan, JGP, Byrne, DK, Tomane, ROL, Adam Byrne, RK.

Byrne, Byrne, Bent, Molony, SOB/Leavy, McCarthy, Frawley, Reid

I'd say Furlong might start but otherwise that looks accurate enough. This season has thrown up some surprise early selections but given the last two team sheets there will has to be rotation this week.

I also think this is very much a game for Lowe. Connacht back three are well enough equipped to deal with the aerial threat but I'd have some question marks over their 1 on 1 tackling and Lowe is a handful in contact. Could see McCarthy start with Luke on the bench.

Does Sean Cronin have a gumshield?

its_phil

Deleted User wrote: »

Does Sean Cronin have a gumshield?

Oh snap

evil_seed

.ak

Who's that?

.ak

.ak wrote: »

Who's that?

And why is his beard oddly shaped like Pat Lam?

Deleted User

Deleted User wrote: »

Does Sean Cronin have a gumshield?

stephen_n

I'd like to see us go full strength in this one, we can afford to rest players against Munster.

munchkin_utd

.ak wrote: »

*Connaught

Connacht actually
(also the name used by the government for that part of the country in european elections http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1977/act/30/schedule/2/enacted/en/html)

Connaught is a 5 star hotel in London.

munchkin_utd

munchkin_utd wrote: »

Connacht actually
(also the name used by the government for that part of the country in european elections http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1977/act/30/schedule/2/enacted/en/html)

Connaught is a 5 star hotel in London.

Whoosh...!

arsebiscuits1

Buer wrote: »

I wouldn't have huge faith in Tomane handling Aki very well based on what we've seen to date. I'd be as happy to see him on the wing with Reid in the centre, to be honest. But I don't see it happening.

Expecting something along the lines of:

Dooley, Cronin, Porter, Fardy, Kearney, Ruddock, SOB/Leavy, Deegan, JGP, Byrne, DK, Tomane, ROL, Adam Byrne, RK.

Byrne, Byrne, Bent, Molony, SOB/Leavy, McCarthy, Frawley, Reid

Is there an A game this weekend?

I can see the coaches wanting Frawley to get some meaningful gametime at 10 to get him up to speed

arsebiscuits1

arsebiscuits1 wrote: »

Is there an A game this weekend?

Munster v Ulster?

Zzippy

Excellent start Venjur. Let the games begin!

molloyjh

arsebiscuits1 wrote: »

Is there an A game this weekend?

I can see the coaches wanting Frawley to get some meaningful gametime at 10 to get him up to speed

Yep, Leinster are at home to the Ospreys on Friday.

FACECUTTR

Going to have a shot at a team prediction this week.
1. Buckley
2. Heffernan
3. Bealham
4. Dillane
5. Roux
6. O'Brien
7. Butler
8. Boyle
9. Marmion
10. Carthy
11. Healy
12. Bundee
13. Farrell
14. Kelleher
15. O'Halloran
16. McCartney
17. McCabe
18. McCoy
19. Cannon
20. Faingaa
21. Blade
22. Ronaldson
23. Adeoloukan
Hard to leave the quality of Godwin out but I think Bundee/Farrell is our best pairing for now.

Richie_Rich89

FACECUTTR wrote: »

Going to have a shot at a team prediction this week.
1. Buckley
2. Heffernan
3. Bealham
4. Dillane
5. Roux
6. O'Brien
7. Butler
8. Boyle
9. Marmion
10. Carthy
11. Healy
12. Bundee
13. Farrell
14. Kelleher
15. O'Halloran
16. McCartney
17. McCabe
18. McCoy
19. Cannon
20. Faingaa
21. Blade
22. Ronaldson
23. Adeoloukan
Hard to leave the quality of Godwin out but I think Bundee/Farrell is our best pairing for now.

Godwin at 22? Ronaldson hasn't been great at flyhalf so far, so you wouldn't be losing much in terms of versatility

FACECUTTR

Richie_Rich89 wrote: »

Godwin at 22? Ronaldson hasn't been great at flyhalf so far, so you wouldn't be losing much in terms of versatility

No, Godwin at 12 or 13. Not sure how much Godwin has played at 10 but I think I read somewhere he did. Niyi adds so much in attack for the last 20 mins so I'd stick with him for 23
Ronaldson is our only option at 22 until Horwitz gets fit and gives him a bit of competition.

Zzippy

Zzippy wrote: »

Excellent start Venjur. Let the games begin!

I think it should be put to a poll.

Wegians89

Interesting how Healy is making such a big deal about Muldoons kick still, he’s one player I always thought would be likely to attempt taking a kick in a game at some point

troyzer

Wegians89 wrote: »

Interesting how Healy is making such a big deal about Muldoons kick still, he’s one player I always thought would be likely to attempt taking a kick in a game at some point

I don't think he was annoyed at Connacht, I think he was trying to explain how annoyed Leinster were at themselves for such a shocking performance.

Muldoon lining up for a kick was salt in the wound but fair play to him.

Brock Turnpike

Cian Healy gon' **** sh1t up

Former Former

Wegians89 wrote: »

Interesting how Healy is making such a big deal about Muldoons kick still, he’s one player I always thought would be likely to attempt taking a kick in a game at some point

What did he say?

troyzer

Former Former wrote: »

What did he say?

http://www.the42.ie/cian-healy-leinster-edinburgh-4250861-Sep2018/

And what about Muldoon’s conversion at the end? Healy was less than impressed.

“Leave it to the kickers,” the Ireland prop replied. “I suppose, on a personal note, that was nice for him to finish off his career. But, it is something you have to take a bit of offence to when you’re not taken seriously.”

Wegians89

Former Former wrote: »

What did he say?

There was an article about it on the 42 a few days ago, but it was also brought up st the Connacht press conference with Duffy and the new and better sob discussing it.

irishbucsfan

Wegians89 wrote: »

There was an article about it on the 42 a few days ago, but it was also brought up st the Connacht press conference with Duffy and the new and better sob discussing it.

It was brought up by journalists.

It’s a nothing story that’s being magnified because there’s a tasty headline in it.

troyzer

Who's heading to gicktown on the supporters bus?

Former Former

irishbucsfan wrote: »

It was brought up by journalists.

It’s a nothing story that’s being magnified because there’s a tasty headline in it.

We asked Cian Healy about John Muldoon. YOU WON'T BELIEVE WHAT THE RESPONSE WAS

troyzer

Former Former wrote: »

We asked Cian Healy about John Muldoon. YOU WON'T BELIEVE WHAT THE RESPONSE WAS

clickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclick

its_phil

troyzer wrote: »

Who's heading to gicktown on the supporters bus?

Games not on in Terenure.

troyzer

its_phil wrote: »

Games not on in Terenure.

Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh.

Clegg

Well known saying in Dublin; "To Hell or to Terenure".

troyzer

Former Former

I hope Leinster send a reasonably strong team out wesht. Looks like Ulster are going to be forced into a sub-Ravens XV with all their injuries, it's not a good look for the league or the IRFU if we end up with two damp squibs this weekend.

salmocab

Leinster have 2 big games the following 2 weekends with a 6 day turnaround, won’t be second string but there will be quite a few changes this weekend. The 2 home matches are far more important though.

Former Former

Former Former wrote: »

I hope Leinster send a reasonably strong team out wesht. Looks like Ulster are going to be forced into a sub-Ravens XV with all their injuries, it's not a good look for the league or the IRFU if we end up with two damp squibs this weekend.

Dooley
Cronin
Furlong
Fardy
Kearney
Leavy
VDF
Ruddock
McGrath
Byrne
Larmour
Tomane
Ringrose
Lowe
Kearney

Byrne
Tracey
Porter
Nagle
SOB
McCarthy
Frawley
Kearney

No insights, just guesswork. That is a team which to me can hold their own up front and run in tries and be just as incisive as Connacht's back three.

I'd worry about intensity levels given that Connacht always are at full tilt for this fixtures but I wouldn't see a team like the above as being in any way disrespectful and I think after the result at the end of last season Leinster are not going to need much motivation.

We shouldn't be giving out about Muldoon, we should be thanking him - his disrespect has given Leinster all the ammunition they will need going into Saturday.

troyzer

Deleted User wrote: »

Dooley
Cronin
Furlong
Fardy
Kearney
Leavy
VDF
Ruddock
McGrath
Byrne
Larmour
Tomane
Ringrose
Lowe
Kearney

Byrne
Tracey
Porter
Nagle
SOB
McCarthy
Frawley
Kearney

No insights, just guesswork. That is a team which to me can hold their own up front and run in tries and be just as incisive as Connacht's back three.

I'd worry about intensity levels given that Connacht always are at full tilt for this fixtures but I wouldn't see a team like the above as being in any way disrespectful and I think after the result at the end of last season Leinster are not going to need much motivation.

We shouldn't be giving out about Muldoon, we should be thanking him - his disrespect has given Leinster all the ammunition they will need going into Saturday.

I don't really fancy Tomane squaring up against Bundee.

Robbo

Cian Healy has brought Connacht-Leinster-ian relations to an all time low.

troyzer

troyzer wrote: »

I don't really fancy Tomane squaring up against Bundee.

He'll be fine, he has been in the setup now a few months and things will start to click for him. Half the battle with Bundee is just getting him down, he's plenty evasive but I'd rather Tomane's bulk and stopping power over Reid's superior positioning and awareness.

stephen_n

Can’t see Ringrose playing 6 games in a row and don’t see him being left out for Munster or the Heineken games. I’d imagine it will be Tomane and ROL, which doesn’t fill me with a heap of confidence, as they aren’t a strong defensive unit yet.

Wegians89

Would really like to see the leagues best center partnership in bundee and Farrell get a run out against a decent level of opposition in henshaw and ringrose. They’ll have a field day against Tomane and ROL

Kevski

Spot the odd one out :pac:

The kick wasn't even the first time Muldoon was deeply disrespectful, here he is in his younger days kneeling during the anthem:

Heymans

I'm glad to see the Title has "token" in it.

Remember that's all country people are in Leinster.

Kinda like gays and foreigners.

thegreycity

Serious farmer tan on Muldoon

Muldoon shaking hands with, literally, Hitler:

Buer

Scarlet for Hitler.