Leinster Team Talk Thread (Love you Furlong time)

We played at pace at the start of first half last year and went 23-7 up and that still wasn’t enough to win. We beat them with Connors in December so he starts in my books.

Aggregate score of the last 4 meetings is Leinster 86 - LAR 92.

Incredible that after 4 games the score is still a LBP worth of difference.

I also had to admire the utter deception used to lift Skelton. They didn't even strap blocks on him haha.

Leinster actually attacked the ruck more aggressively in the final too. Although it was with a view to poach the ball rather than counter ruck. That was another change Leinster made specifically for that game. It worked for the first half, but La Rochelle changed tactics in the second and we tired. Just wasn't as effective in the second 40.

At the ruck Leinster are pretty illegal as well. We'll really miss Ryan tomorrow as he has the ability melt one on his own.

The Lancaster game plan-Have as quick ruck ball as possible in attack, then never slow down the oppositions ball in Defence. Utterly bizarre viewpoint.

You'd have to fear for Leinster's lineout with that team. There's going to be huge pressure on Ryan Baird with 2 non jumping locks playing. They sure must be planning to keep the ball in play as much as possible. Harry Byrne must be sick as the proverbial parrot given how awful his bros was last W/E & what a limited player Ross is

This is absolutely enormous chance for Milne.

Porter likely to go 70 but whatever time Milne comes on the pitch it will probably be the biggest test of his career thus far.

His scrummaging has greatly improved and his carrying an obvious strength. I have no reservations about seeing his name and this could be a real turning point for him.

I can not f**king wait to get to Lansdowne tomorrow. Not been this excited for a match in a long time.

Dulin misses out, Leyds starts at FB. Otherwise as expected, and a 6-2 split on the bench

15. Dillyn Leyds, 14. Jack Nowell, 13. UJ Seuteni, 12. Jonathan Danty, 11. Teddy Thomas, 10. Antoine Hastoy, 9. Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 1. Louis Penverne, 2. Tolu Latu, 3. Uini Atonio, 4. Ultan Dillane, 5. Will Skelton, 6. Judicael Cancoriet, 7. Levani Botia, 8. Grégory Alldritt (c)

Replacements:

16. Quentin Lespiaucq, 17. Alexandre Kaddouri, 18. Joel Sclavi, 19. Thomas Lavault, 20. Paul Boudehent, 21. Yoan Tanga, 22. Teddy Iribaren, 23. Ihaia West

Dulin was near unplayable last year (or was it the away game this year? The games have melded together for me)

Connors is the right call, I think. He's so good at completely stopping a ball carriers momentum. Which is exactly what we need against La Rochelle.

But I've no doubt at all that ROG et al were expecting him to start. They'll have some sort of plan to counteract it.

Teddy Thomas is still rapid. I'd we don't get our defence right he could cause a lot of damage. But we can definitely exploit him in defence.

Probably a risk they'd be willing to take as I expect they'll back themselves to put the Leinster scrum under pressure although they're missing Wardi, Bourgarit and Colombe from their front row/front replacements.

Leinster needed to go 6-2 off the bench. We've faded in the second half as La Rochelle's power just wore us down.

Although we've seen that backfire for Toulouse against us last season and for Ireland against England last month.

Everything is a risk in the biggest games I suppose. Hope it works out.