Montpelier v Leinster, Sat 12th Dec 5:30pm; BT Sport

The Lost Sheep

MONTPELLIER: 15 Vincent Rattez, 14 Gabriel N’gandebe, 13 Yvan Reilhac, 12 Arthur Vincent (c), 11 Vincent Martin, 10 Alex Lozowski, 9 Benoit Paillaugue, 8 Jacques du Plessis, 7 Yacouba Camara, 6 Nico Janse van Rensburg, 5 Paul Willemse, 4 Bastien Chalureau, 3 Mohamed Haouas, 2 Guilhem Guirado, 1 Grégory Fichten

Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Enzo Forletta, 18 Titi Lamositele, 19 Louis Picamoles, 20 Caleb Timu, 21 Louis Foursans, 22 Paul Vallée, 23 Axel Bevia

LEINSTER: 15 Jimmy O’Brien, 14 Hugo Keenan, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Ciaran Frawley, 11 Dave Kearney, 10 Ross Byrne, 9 Luke McGrath, 8 Caelan Doris, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Rhys Ruddock (c), 5 Scott Fardy, 4 Devin Toner, 3 Michael Bent, 2 James Tracy, 1 Peter Dooley

Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Andrew Porter, 19 James Ryan, 20 Ryan Baird, 21 Jamison Gibson-Park, 22 Johnny Sexton, 23 Dan Leavy

Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU)

molloyjh

I'm a bit nervous about this one. Internationals only back a couple of days after being out for basically 2 months. Our starting props are both 3rd choice with our locks not being in the form of their lives. The front five is an issue. If we can keep it tight going into the final quarter that bench could make a huge impact, but its also full of guys who haven't played for Leinster in ages and a couple who have been fairly flogged over the last 6-8 weeks.

bayern

Can't play much worse than the last European game they appeared in.

Former Former Former

bayern wrote: »

Can't play much worse than the last European game they appeared in.

Jesus. Why do people have to be like this?

thomond2006

Former Former Former wrote: »

Jesus. Why do people have to be like this?

Leinster really have underachieved in the last few years! Sad!

bayern

thomond2006 wrote: »

Leinster really have underachieved in the last few years! Sad!

losing at home in a quarter final in europe is underachieving for leinster.. especially to a much weakened saracens side.

thomond2006

bayern wrote: »

losing at home in a quarter final in europe is underachieving for leinster.. especially to a much weakened saracens side.

It was one game. Christ.

Garda Kenny

People are talking up their pack I think their back line is very good also. Rattez is one I have watched the last three years and he has been very good. Not sure fullback is his position tho. I expect us to squeeze them into making errors and giving away penalties and build a lead. If they are still in touch by 60 we have a massive bench to clinch the game.

bayern

thomond2006 wrote: »

It was one game. Christ.

it was the biggest game of the season and they fell flat on their face.

hopefully when faced with superior competition today they don't do the same.

The Lost Sheep

bayern wrote: »

it was the biggest game of the season and they fell flat on their face.

hopefully when faced with superior competition today they don't do the same.

One game. Cant always expect or should be in final 4. Very arrogant to think that.

thomond2006

Sexton out. Harry Byrne now on the bench.

https://twitter.com/leinsterrugby/status/1337796292500742145?s=19

Tim Robbins

bayern wrote: »

it was the biggest game of the season and they fell flat on their face.

hopefully when faced with superior competition today they don't do the same.

Ok for the pub banter but here it sounds like trolling.

lawrencesummers

A win here would be a massive result, but honestly I don’t see it.

thomond2006

lawrencesummers wrote: »

A win here would be a massive result, but honestly I don’t see it.

Leinster have been 8-9 point favourites all week. I can't say I'm familiar with Montpellier but that bench even with Sexton should see Leinster home.

lawrencesummers

thomond2006 wrote: »

Leinster have been 8-9 point favourites all week. I can't say I'm familiar with Montpellier but that bench even with Sexton should see Leinster home.

Leinster strength going into this is in the pack, and to me the back line looks very weakened. I can’t see the Montpellier front 8 being bullied to the point that allows that Leinster back line to do damage, but the last 20 minutes will be interested because it could well be all about the benches.

lawrencesummers

lawrencesummers wrote: »

A win here would be a massive result, but honestly I don’t see it.

I would tend to agree.

There is some optimism to be taken from the fact that the second string squad has been excellent and consistent over the last season or so.

I'd also be confident in the bench closing out a close game (even without Sexton).

On the other hand I think Montpellier will grind Leinster early and put them under a kind of pressure that many of these players are not accustomed too.

Leinster's coaching and cohesion might keep them alive through the early pressure and they will need to, otherwise the bench simply wont matter.

Faugheen

Josh van der WHEEEEELS.

Garda Kenny

Montpellier are way offside every phase.

swiwi_

I see the cheetahs still can’t defend.

Watching this on the official erc rugby streaming site. Quality is great. €5 for the match.

Thrashssacre

Montpellier look awful, very slow immobile.

thomond2006

The local TV producer must not be familiar with rugby broadcasting.

Thrashssacre

Some very strange wide camera shots.

razorblunt

When did Guirado move to Montpellier?

baas baa

That last pass from JOB I think was fantastic. To get that pace on it over that distance with little wind up. Made it a walk over for VDF.

degsie

Nice one Byrne!

The Lost Sheep

razorblunt wrote: »

When did Guirado move to Montpellier?

in his second season with them

vienne86

Montpellier look turgid. Great start for Leinster.

thomond2006

Montpellier are going to be massacred if they don't sort their discipline.

MaddChris

Is the TV director on crack?
Going cross eyed trying to watch this.

vienne86

Another lost lineout. Frustrating to watch.

thomond2006

MaddChris wrote: »

Is the TV director on crack?
Going cross eyed trying to watch this.

It's awful and making the game unwatchable.

bayern

Fardys a pen machine

Ref not wrong there but that's often not given away as a turnover.

MaddChris

MaddChris wrote: »

Is the TV director on crack?
Going cross eyed trying to watch this.

It's reaching Taken 3 levels of camera splicing.

Keenan did well there, Leinster needed to work harder to be in a position to contest the knocked back ball.

Lovely kick, great pass from Dooley too.

Clegg

That was a great try.

Kept going tight until Montpellier ran out of tacklers.

Faugheen

Ruddock is the best player on the park by a distance here.

degsie

Frawley!

lawrencesummers

Montpellier line speed is terrible, they are happy to allow Leinster attack and play their own game. Embarrassing performance from the home team.

vienne86

Lonely finish!

RoboAmish

swiwi_ wrote: »

I see the cheetahs still can’t defend.

Watching this on the official erc rugby streaming site. Quality is great. €5 for the match.

How does this work? Whenever I go to the site, they only offer me streaming for three Challenge Cup games.

Squidgy Black

Montpelier's discipline is woeful

That's some incredibly rugby from Leinster. They may not be as big as Montpellier but they're fitter, more skilful and better drilled.

swiwi_

Good to see Darragh Fanning still performing for Leinster.

UAEguy2020

Been very impressed with Dooley so far, excelled in everything asked of him so far.

Thrashssacre

Ross having a bit of a mare off the tee, not like hes under much pressure with how monpellier are playing. Worried about his brother stealing his position within the team i wonder.

Clegg

Byrne's kicking from hand and off the tee has been poor. Running game has been ok tho.

swiwi_

RoboAmish wrote: »

How does this work? Whenever I go to the site, they only offer me streaming for three Challenge Cup games.

If you are in Ireland you won’t be able to use it. It’s geo restricted to essentially non rugby countries.

Clegg

That was feckin brilliant from Doris and Byrne. The former ripped the ball from from the Montpellier carrier and the latter immediately identified the space behind the defence.

Faugheen

That’s more like it.