Leinster Team Talk Thread (Love you Furlong time)

Russell, TOB and Keenan is the fastest back three we've fielded all season. If the game becomes unstructured at all then we can do a lot of damage.

We've a decent pack out there that probably matches Ulster's al well. Just think we might have one eye on the final whereas Ulster will be fighting for Champions Cup qualification. Can see a home win.

Bit disappointed not to see Ringrose. Pretty close to guarantees he won't be available for the final.

Almost every player you'd expect to be in the squad for the final will have played in the last two fixtures bar McCarthy and Lowe. Hopefully there's nothing the matter with those two.

In the two fixtures before last season's final we didn't give as many players a runout before the Aviva. It's a change in strategy and one that I hope works out for us.

Leinster's pack looks strong and should provide enough quality ball for Foley & Harry Byrne to impress. It's a fantastic opportunity for both of them.

Wow! Deeny only has 16 caps! Seemed to me like he's had more. That's a small #.

Based off the available players for the Ulster game and the injury report. I'm willing to take a go at naming the Leinster team for the final (barring any injuries against Ulster):

1 Andrew Porter

2 Dan Sheehan

3 Tadhg Furlong

4 Jason Jenkins

5 Joe McCarthy

6 Ryan Baird

7 Will Connors

8 Caelan Doris ©

9 Jamison Gibson-Park

10 Ross Byrne

11 James Lowe

12 Jamie Osborne

13 Robbie Henshaw

14 Jimmy O'Brien

15 Hugo Keenan

Subs:

16 Ronan Kelleher

17 Cian Healy

18 Michael Ala'alatoa

19 James Ryan

20 Jack Conan

21 Luke McGrath

22 Ciaran Frawley

23 Josh Van Der Flier

I can see Leinster wanting to super charge their bench and bring a huge amount of experience and quality off the bench. Bringing Cian Healy, Ronan Kelleher, Michael Ala'alatoa, James Ryan, Jack Conan and Josh Van Der Flier off the bench should somewhat nullify Toulouse's backs attacking a tired forward line and should also give them an advantage in the scrum. Yes it does leave the backs very thin in terms of injury but Frawley can cover 10,12,13 and 15 and Jimmy O'Brien can cover the wings and fullback as well as centre, Osborne and Henshaw can cover both centre spots and the wing and Lowe can cover across the back line if needed. Unless their is an injury, I can see JGP playing as close to 80 minutes as he possibly can.

I agree with the strategy but I think the option of having Ryan and McCarthy starting is too tempting to turn down. Jenkins can make impact off the bench but Ryan and McCarthy just offer so much that not starting one of them is a mistake IMO.

Ye. It happens too often in Irish rugby. At times we judge our half backs harshly on an individual basis without looking at the situation around them.

RB v LAR and RB v Ospreys are very different players.

I reckon it will depend on Ryan's fitness. If he's not at the level required tomorrow, he likely benches?

I would start Connors with VDF from the bench for impacy, but Connors starting this weekend suggests he won't start next week. They both only cover one position so I think they'll be a straight swap.

It looks like Mun/Warriors/ Leinster will top the table. So the S.A teams will have to travel north, if it's the case. Stormers likely will finish 4th/5th and Bulls 4th. Bearing in mind that they play derbies to wrap up the season.