Leinster vs La Rochelle

swiwi_

The boys getting ready for the match.

Charlie's favourite player dates from his puppyhood. The Tipp man is a big Shane Horgan fan "Shaggy, just like me".

Milo prefers the modern generation, especially James Tracy "Can't beat a ginge".

thomond2006

ROG/Sexton Ross Byrne debate. :rolleyes:

Clegg

Gorgeous dogs Swiwi.

I'm usually nervous about Leinster in knock out games. But for this one I'm not. Which makes me even more nervous.

PMBC

Dont have BT2.:(
Will it be on RTE Radio?

swiwi_

Clegg wrote: »

Gorgeous dogs Swiwi.

Cheers. Don't think either would make great rugby players though. Charlie would just bark until all the players herded into a circle.

Milo is fast and agile, but would quickly earn a reputation for being ball-greedy, and not releasing the ball when tackled.

Think Leinster will win this and with a bit to spare. Think the pack will control the game too well. Glimmer of hope for LR is the absence of Sexton, but RB was O for awesome in the quarter final, reckon he can do the job again.

Buer

Quite nervous about this one. On paper, that La Rochelle side is very close in quality to Leinster. Throw in the home advantage and there's very little between them.

I think the experience and match intelligence of some of the Leinster players will be key. I think guys like Byrne, Henshaw, Furlong and VDF have the edge on their opposite numbers in those areas despite the talent levels being very similar.

It will be interesting to see how Leinster use possession. La Rochelle have turnover threats and will be ready for the multi phase game. Their wings aren't renowned defenders but if there are any loose kicks, they are renowned attackers in open play.

It's not really being discussed but Cian Healy is packing down against 150kg Atonio who is backed by the 140kg Skelton. If he can withstand that onslaught, it will be a huge boost to Leinster's plan.

Hearing the stats for both teams respectively, La Rochelle are all about intense bursts and explosive play. They are not used to significant periods of ball in play. Leinster are excellent at winning the middle third of the game when jelly legs kick in and that's going to be key against such a large pack.

I thought Gloucester gave a very good demonstration as to how to disrupt La Rochelle. Get up in their face hard and fast and don't allow them utilise their offloading game as much as they want (and they still got the ball away repeatedly). Easy to forget that game was in the balance with only 15 minutes left.

La Rochelle love to bring Skelton, Aldritt and Vito onto the ball at pace in midfield with a trailing runner for the offload. I can see guys like Ruddock going out there with a detail to kill that.

I can see it being very tight but Leinster to win a one score game. I think it's going to be a nervous watch though and the game is going to be in the balance until the end.

BoardsMember

If we keep our half backs on the pitch I think we'll be OK. If either go off, I'd be worried, particularly if they got injured before 60/65 mins.

Larbre34

PMBC wrote: »

Dont have BT2.:(
Will it be on RTE Radio?

Yes.

Henry Ford III

Could be a cracker. I'll be glued to it later on.

Larbre34

La Rochelle are an excellent team, on the rise, but I don't think they've met anything like Leinster in full battle mode before.

I think we'll rope a dope until they are flaked and then cut loose for the last 30. Leinster by 12 for me.

Dave_The_Sheep

Clegg wrote: »

I'm usually nervous about Leinster in knock out games. But for this one I'm not. Which makes me even more nervous.

Same. I haven't been nervous all week, usually a bad sign.

pummice

PMBC wrote: »

Dont have BT2.:(
Will it be on RTE Radio?

You can pay €10 to TV Now to watch it online

Jump_In_Jack

Jump_In_Jack wrote: »

Kick-off in the Stade Rochelais is at 3pm Irish time.

Look at you trying to be smart. The name of the club is Stade Rochelais, the name of the stadium is Stade Marcel-Deflandre.

sydthebeat

I'm nervously confident.

molloyjh

Nerves starting to kick in now. I'm happy with where Leinster are at. We have a composure and control that provides a lot of confidence. I haven't seen much of La Rochelle this season so the nerves are coming from what I'm reading here and elsewhere. I think if we keep it tight for the first quarter then our experience along with that composure and control should be the edge we need.

hahashake

Jump_In_Jack wrote: »

.

Line-ups:
Leinster Stade Rochelais
Hugo Keenan FB 15 Brice Dulin
Jordan Larmour RW 14 Dillyn Leyds
Garry Ringrose OC 13 Geoffrey Doumayrou
Robbie Henshaw IC 12 Levamisole Botia
James Lowe LW 11 Raymond Rhule
Ross Byrne OH 10 Isaiah West
Luke McGrath SH 9 Tawera Kerr Barlow
Cian Healy LP 1 Reda Wardi
Rónan Kelleher H 2 Pierre Bourgarit
Tadhg Furlong TP 3 Uini Atonio
Devin Toner L 4 Romain Sazy (capt)
James Ryan L 5 Will Skelton
Rhys Ruddock BF 6 Grégory Alldritt
Josh Van der Flier OF 7 Wiaan Liebenberg
Jack Conan N8 Victor Vito

Replacements: Replacements:
James Tracy H 16 Facundo Bosch
Ed Byrne LP 17 Dany Priso
Andrew Porter TP 18 Arthur Joly
Scott Fardy L 19 Thomas Lavault
Ryan Baird BR 20 Kevin Gourdon
Rowan Osborne SH 21 Arthur Retiere
Ciarán Frawley OH 22 Jules Plisson
Rory O'Loughlin UB 23 Pierre Aguillon

Isaiah West any relation to Ihaia?;)

Squidgy Black

BoardsMember wrote: »

If we keep our half backs on the pitch I think we'll be OK. If either go off, I'd be worried, particularly if they got injured before 60/65 mins.

Luckily LAR are in a similar position, West came off injured with a shoulder injury in their game against Lyon a couple weeks ago and was in a race to make it to this game, Kerr Barlow was only declared fit from a neck injury and Plisson is only back from a hamstring injury

BoardsMember

Squidgy Black wrote: »

Luckily LAR are in a similar position, West came off injured with a shoulder injury in their game against Lyon a couple weeks ago and was in a race to make it to this game, Kerr Barlow was only declared fit from a neck injury and Plisson is only back from a hamstring injury

But Plisson and Barlow are on the bench. Our best outfall is not available, and our cover SH is not. That could be critical if we ship injuries. They are at full strength, across the 23.

I'm worried now. If West starts strongly, and they get their big ball carriers going, and get the nudge on Healy that side of the scrum....all ifs I know!

Buer

BoardsMember wrote: »

But Plisson and Barlow are on the bench. Our best outfall is not available, and our cover SH is not. That could be critical if we ship injuries. They are at full strength, across the 23.

I'm worried now. If West starts strongly, and they get their big ball carriers going, and get the nudge on Healy that side of the scrum....all ifs I know!

TKB is starting. La Rochelle have gone with no sub scrum half.

BoardsMember

Buer wrote: »

TKB is starting. La Rochelle have gone with no sub scrum half.

Didn't realise that, thanks.

Larbre34

Nervy.

razorblunt

Shocking decision by Carly there.

Larbre34

This is great. Absolutely merciless.

Clegg

Good start.

Need at least 3 more points while they're down a man.

razorblunt

All for reffing hands ahead of the back foot, Carly has set his stall out early here, let’s see if he sticks to it.

Faugheen

David Nucifora doesn’t like seeing Tadhg get that try .

Clegg

Can already see that La Rochelle's tactics will be to pressure our back three with huge up and unders.

Sanjuro

Van Der Flier. So underrated.

Larbre34

Clegg wrote: »

Can already see that La Rochelle's tactics will be to pressure our back three with huge up and unders.

Can already see thats unlikely to ruffle Leinster any.

Faugheen

There’s that average poacher VDF again.

crisco10

Larbre34 wrote: »

Can already see thats unlikely to ruffle Leinster any.

Mmm....2 weren't taken cleanly

Larbre34

Sanjuro wrote: »

Van Der Flier. So underrated.

Not by La Rochelle, if reports of their extensive press coverage on him are to be believed.

theVersatile

Faugheen wrote: »

There’s that average poacher VDF again.

Unless I missed a pundit saying something stupid in the build up, I don't think anybody has called JVDF average in any respect.

Larbre34

crisco10 wrote: »

Mmm....2 weren't taken cleanly

Yes correct, but its a transparent enough tactic. Once we have it covered at second bite I don't think it will be a big disruptor.

Sanjuro

Larbre34 wrote: »

Not by La Rochelle, if reports of their extensive press coverage on him are to be believed.

Good to hear, in a sense.

crisco10

Lukes pass there on the 1st phase was a real shame.

Burkie1203

Kelleher held their 2 there

Eod100

Lovely DG

crisco10

Great ball byrno

razorblunt

Thought Lleyds was taken in the air by Lowe, penalty only but would have alleviated the pressure on La Rochelle.

Clegg

Jaysus we played an awful lot on our own 22 there. Thought La Rochelle had a successful poach but there was an excellent last moment clean out.

crisco10

If la rochelle could just stop giving pens and frees away, leinster would be in trouble.

Larbre34

Unlucky with the vicious bounce.

aloooof

Ringrose did brilliantly there after a great press from La Rochelle. Penalty county beginning to hurt them.

fitz

Haha, yeah, Laurence, it's the refs responsibility to prevent La Rochelle giving away penalties by talking to them in French. I've heard it all now.

Larbre34

crisco10 wrote: »

If la rochelle could just stop giving pens and frees away, leinster would be in trouble.

So if Leinster would stop putting huge pressure on LAR and LAR stop making forced errors and conceding penalties and free kicks as a consequence, Leinster would be in trouble?

razorblunt

crisco10 wrote: »

If la rochelle could just stop giving pens and frees away, leinster would be in trouble.

Dallaglio raised a good point there that the communication is going one way to Leinster just now.
He does seem to be very whistle happy just now.

Faugheen

theVersatile wrote: »

Unless I missed a pundit saying something stupid in the build up, I don't think anybody has called JVDF average in any respect.

Actually for a long time he has been overlooked by many on here. His poaching and carrying in particular.

crisco10

"Furlong" enough. Nice bod

Dave_The_Sheep

Poor decision from Ryan to take that on himself.

crisco10

Dave_The_Sheep wrote: »

Poor decision from Ryan to take that on himself.

Yeah wih only dev on his hip...