Will be the first time Bundee and henshaw face off.
Robbie's only played this fixture once (this year). Could be they go with Frawley/Ringrose.
I do hope that Leinster decide that 'it's a week too early' for Kelleher and Porter. I'm big fans, but in favour of allowing them to sit this one out. Tadhg and Dan Sheehan are enough to be worrying abvout ;)
No Robbie this weekend afaik.
Ah ok, I just presumed robbie would start. The team selections will be interesting.
Will porch face lowe? Osullivan is a bigger man could be better in defence, I know Arnold has played on the right wing against Munster on a few occasions. Lowe was very dangerous against Munster
Has Henshaw played in the sportsground for Leinster yet?
I believe not.
Surely has to be a contract clause if he’s not included in this weeks team then so?
:D
i dont think Henshaw trained this week, so hes unlikely to play in the showgrounds on Friday. Nothing to do with a contract though :P
interestingly, in henshaws 5 years at Leinster, last months URC game was his only appearance against Connacht in that time.
I always thought it was unlikely he would line out for Sligo Rovers to be fair.
?
nah had to be contractual, also firmly believing ngatai is his replacement and henshaw I’d coming home to be the face of the new stadium and to Play with Bundee again before Bundee retires…
show grounds is Sligo rovers home pitch, sports grounds is Connachts
Just a pun from typo/mistake with stadium name. Sligo Rovers play in the Showgrounds. Connacht play in the Sportsground.
that makes a lot of sense :D
im afraid you have it backwards
Bundee is coming to leinster to recreate that excellent Chiefs backline 12 - 13 - 14 of Ngatai - Aki - Lowe
All will tremble before them !
Lowe being moved to the right wing as Mack is now the undisputed best 11 in world rugby?
love mack hansen ! shure we'll take him as well :P
ah in all seriousness i think friday night is going to be closer than a lot of the commentary on here thinks. thornbury will make a world of difference in the tight where youve been a bit lacking this year.
He was named in a team to play at the Sportsground once but was ruled out on the day of the game with illness
All joking aside do we think Robbie will ever come home? I remember when he left Muldoon said something about him like it's goodbye for now, I always had a feeling he'd come back but not as sure now.
Won't make Friday unfortunately but hoping we give them a good go.
I have 2 spare tickets for the Bohermore end for Friday. I will let them go for €50. DM me if interested
Team for tomorrow:
15. Tiernan O’Halloran (203)
14. John Porch (54)
13. Tom Farrell (75)
12. Bundee Aki (115)
11. Mack Hansen (10)
10. Jack Carty (175) (C)
9. Kieran Marmion (204)
1. Matthew Burke (36)
2. Dave Heffernan (160)
3. Finlay Bealham (170)
4. Gavin Thornbury (59)
5. Leva Fifita (11)
6. Cian Prendergast (26)
7. Conor Oliver (37)
8. Jarrad Butler (91)Replacements
16. Dylan Tierney-Martin (2)
17. Tietie Tuimauga (9)
18. Jack Aungier (27)
19. Oisín Dowling (21)
20. Abraham Papali’i (22)
21. Caolin Blade (146)
22. Conor Fitzgerald (48)
23. Sammy Arnold (35)
No Murray or Boyle, whom I'd prefer over Fifita and Butler. Wooton still out.
I had been thinking that Boyle has been some way short of the form that got him an Ireland cap, seems the coaches feel the same way.
That's fair. IIRC he had an injury in the autumn and has struggled a bit since. But his high quality performances are recent enough that I still have confidence that he'll recapture that form. And while Butler is a very honest player with consistent effort levels, he hasn't convinced me over the last couple of years.
No sign of Ultan either, shame things seem to have really gone down hill for him since it was announced he was leaving, almost the inverse of Sammy Arnold in similar circumstances.
So all the conspiracy theories about Henshaw can be put to bed now. From what I saw in the last two games TOH is very lucky to hold on to that jersey. Strong enough side for Connacht though, should be a good game.
81st minute. Connacht are 4 down but are desperately pounding on the Leinster line but look like they are running out of steam
Bundee takes the ball and runs against Henshaw.
Henshaw inexplicably freezes up and bundee jogs on past and scoring the winning trying.
Leinster team round on Henshaw.
All of a sudden the opening bars of Coming Home plays over the tannoy.
Henshaw rips off the Leinster jersey only to find there 2016 pro12 jersey was underneath the whole time.
After all these years, he's swore he would only play for his original team on this hallowed ground.
Put your money on it lads.
The most unbelievable part of that is only being down by four!
what do you mean it's over 2 legs? Says Robbie
How many of Connachts signing for next season. Would theoretically start tonight?
josh Murphy potentially could come in at lock ahead of fifita.
SHL ahead of butler? Wouldn’t know till he gets here what his standard is.
Dooley would be likely to start at loosehead.
hawkshaw would probably get the 22 jersey ahead of fitz, more versatile at least.
Ralston or Adam Byrne start on the right wing with porch full back?
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