Leinster v Connacht Build up Thread

[Deleted User] · 28-12-2017 11:58am #1

Ireland next top province grand final to be decided on Monday after victories for Connacht and Leinster in the last round.

The eagerly anticipated "Battle of the Fullbacks" between Reliable Rob and serial Joe victim Tiernan O'Halloran is set to see several threads completely abandoned in the coming week, but perhaps the real contest lies closer to mid field with Aki and Ringrose both in realistic contention for a starting six nations spot.

I spoke with Kieran Keane ahead of the much anticipated fixture:

Venjur: "So Kieran, what are you expecting from the game on Monday"
KK: ".........."

Venjur: "oookay... and what areas do you hope to build on from the big win against Ulster?"
KK: "..........."

Venjur: "Have you anything to say at all"
KK: ".........."

KK: ".........."

KK: ".........nah"

So there you have it, fighting words from Keane and certainly something to go up in the Leinster dressing room.

Wegians89 · 28-12-2017 12:00pm

What've sort of team would you expect Leinster to line up with?

[Deleted User] · 28-12-2017 12:18pm

Wegians89 wrote: »

What've sort of dude would you expect Leinster to line up with?

I think you mean squad so:

Byrne
Cronin
Porter
Fardy
Ryan if fit Kearney if not
Seanie
JVDF
Murphy
Luke McGrath
Cathal Marsh - not sure we've any options here other than ISA or a flogged Ross Byrne
Jordan Larmour
Noel Reid
Garry Ringrose
James Lowe
Rob Kearney

Wegians89 · 28-12-2017 12:20pm

Venjur wrote: »

I think you mean squad so:

Byrne
Cronin
Porter
Fardy
Ryan if fit Kearney if not
Seanie
JVDF
Murphy
Luke McGrath
Cathal Marsh - not sure we've any options here other than ISA or a flogged Ross Byrne
Jordan Larmour
Noel Reid
Garry Ringrose
James Lowe
Rob Kearney

Yeah I did thanks, strong team, if marsh starts I'd be a lot more confident as a Connacht fan but really a losing bonus point would be a good result

Interested Observer · 28-12-2017 12:21pm

Venjur wrote: »

not sure we've any options here other than ISA or a flogged Ross Byrne

Flog him I say. He doesn't look like he needs a rest at all. Has played a lot of rugby this season but he had a 3 week break in Nov and if Sexton is fit for Europe he'll have another month without a start, plenty of rest.

swiwi_ · 28-12-2017 12:21pm

Wegians89 wrote: »

What've sort of dude would you expect Leinster to line up with?

prawnsambo · 28-12-2017 12:45pm

Venjur wrote: »

Cathal Marsh - not sure we've any options here other than ISA or a flogged

Would have said Jonny Sexton, but apparently he's wandering around the country aimlessly. ROG found him in Cork yesterday and was able to look after him for a bit.

[Deleted User] · 28-12-2017 12:48pm

prawnsambo wrote: »

Would have said Jonny Sexton, but apparently he's wandering around the country aimlessly. ROG found him in Cork yesterday and was able to look after him for a bit.

ROG kinda looks like he's Sexton's misses in that picture. That's probably more a discussion for the Munster v Leinster thread though.

Buer · 28-12-2017 1:31pm

No prizes for guessing which kid is Sexton's with the sulky head on him.

prawnsambo · 28-12-2017 1:41pm

Buer wrote: »

No prizes for guessing which kid is Sexton's with the sulky head on him.

Do you think any kid of ROG's would be wearing a Leinster beanie?

Zzippy · 28-12-2017 2:14pm

All Venjuring joking aside, let's not see this thread descend into a TOH v RK for Ireland debate. Discussion of the match only, not their relative merits for Ireland. Anyone with an agenda can FRO.

Peregrine · 28-12-2017 2:34pm

prawnsambo wrote: »

Would have said Jonny Sexton, but apparently he's wandering around the country aimlessly. ROG found him in Cork yesterday and was able to look after him for a bit.

[IMG][/img]

Hold the **** up.

Is ROG wearing skinny jeans?

Interested Observer · 28-12-2017 2:45pm

Sexton available apparently. Jack McGrath and James Ryan out. Leinster very thin at LH, Byrne and Dooley both in the matchday squad it would appear.

Bridge93 · 28-12-2017 2:50pm

Has Buckley been injured for Connacht too? Coulson and McCabe not close to his league either

BeardySi · 28-12-2017 2:53pm

Bridge93 wrote: »

Has Buckley been injured for Connacht too? Coulson and McCabe not close to his league either

Unfortunately so. Ankle injury in the second match v. Brive, expected to be out for the next few weeks.

Zzippy · 28-12-2017 2:54pm

Bridge93 wrote: »

Has Buckley been injured for Connacht too? Coulson and McCabe not close to his league either

Yep, did his ankle against Brive, out for a few weeks. Coulson did alright last week but Leinster scrum will be a tough test for him.

MaybeMaybe · 28-12-2017 3:39pm

James Ryan is like a period

mfceiling · 28-12-2017 4:07pm

MaybeMaybe wrote: »

James Ryan is like a period

Bleeds for a week every month?

prawnsambo · 28-12-2017 5:20pm

Interested Observer wrote: »

Sexton available apparently. Jack McGrath and James Ryan out. Leinster very thin at LH, Byrne and Dooley both in the matchday squad it would appear.

Michael Bent not an option there as well?

irishbucsfan · 28-12-2017 5:25pm

If Ed Byrne and Dooley are available then there's no problem

The Pheasant2 · 28-12-2017 5:35pm

I'd go with

Byrne (McGrath unavailable)
Cronin
Porter
Kearney (Ryan out)
Fardy
Sob
VdF
Jordi

McGrath
Byrne
Lowe
Isa (C)
Ringrose
Larmour
RK

Byrne
Dooley
Bent
Molony? He played against Bristol but think I saw someone say he was injured?
Deegan
McCarthy
Marsh
Daly/McF

Granny15 · 28-12-2017 5:38pm

MaybeMaybe wrote: »

James Ryan is like a period

Bit like Gordon Darcy is/was

Very selective of when he got injured. When it was convenient!

Bridge93 · 28-12-2017 5:39pm

Radio said Sexton is fit and SOB is unlikely

arsebiscuits1 · 28-12-2017 5:49pm

Kinda wanna see an open game here
Ed Byrne to start I reckon
Adam Byrne still a week too soon
Ryan's versitility worries me
Nagle over Mick K.
Even still, Molony should start if fit
You'd assume Sexton will play this one
Ross Byrne needs a rest
Until I see the team line out, no point assuming
Lowe should get decent game time
Zzippy, please don't ban me

Mr Shikadance · 28-12-2017 5:55pm

Connacht by 9 points I reckon.....

MaybeMaybe · 28-12-2017 8:55pm

mfceiling wrote: »

Bleeds for a week every month?

Here for a week, gone for 3

policy75 · 28-12-2017 9:41pm

I do wonder has connacht got the best centre partnership in the league. I think so. So then its a matter of carty standing up. If that happens then its game on. This game has the potential to be a right one

Burkie1203 · 28-12-2017 10:51pm

policy75 wrote: »

I do wonder has connacht got the best centre partnership in the league. I think so. So then its a matter of carty standing up. If that happens then its game on. This game has the potential to be a right one

Henshaw/Ringrose is better then Aki/Farrell.

Mr Shikadance · 28-12-2017 11:11pm

Burkie1203 wrote: »

policy75 wrote: »

I do wonder has connacht got the best centre partnership in the league. I think so. So then its a matter of carty standing up. If that happens then its game on. This game has the potential to be a right one

Henshaw/Ringrose is better then Aki/Farrell.

Me bolx

Ring rose class but Henshaw bosh bosh plop

Connacht pair more creative as a result

Henshaw who?

policy75 · 28-12-2017 11:21pm

Burkie1203 wrote: »

Henshaw/Ringrose is better then Aki/Farrell.

I am going to out on a limb here and suggest aki and farrell are simply better than ringrose and henshaw

Wegians89 · 28-12-2017 11:27pm

Mr Shikadance wrote: »

Me bolx

Ring rose class but Henshaw bosh bosh plop

Connacht pair more creative as a result

Henshaw who?

While Farrell has been class this season and himself and bundee do seem to bring the best out of each other, but I don't think they have done enough over along enough period to warrant the claim they're a better pairing then an international test centre partnership.

I don't think henshaw and ringrose bring each other to their full potential (henshaw seems to be constraint a little) But they're still two brilliant individual players and a damn good partnership, that has to still be considered the best of the provinces, for the mean time anyways.

Leinster v Connacht Build up Thread

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