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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)

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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.

[Deleted User]

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.