Connacht v Leinster thread - TEAM PAGE 3

[Donny B.]

So back to basics this weekend and a big game for getting our ML campaign back on track.

Have to wonder what kind of team we'll have available though. Hope it's not too depleted though as I for one am bloody sick of losing down in the Sportsground. Hopefully it'll be lashing rain and freezing cold as we've lost the last two times down there in the lovely sunshine!

[Dexter]

So back to basics this weekend and a big game for getting our ML campaign back on track.

Have to wonder what kind of team we'll have available though. Hope it's not too depleted though as I for one am bloody sick of losing down in the Sportsground. Hopefully it'll be lashing rain and freezing cold as we've lost the last two times down there in the lovely sunshine!

We plan on going so hopefully not TOO freezing cold or lashing rain...

[CiaranIrl]

Posted this elsewhere, so may as well repeat here.

Sexton and Cullen will definitely play, as they need the time. I'll guess at:

Hank, Strauss (would like to see JHW), Ross, Cullen, Toner, Ruddock, Ryan, Keogh, Boss, Sexton, Isa or D. Kearney, McFadden, O'Malley, Horgan or Conway, Madigan.

Must say, I'm looking forward to this game. Amazing and all as HEC games are, and much as Munster / Leinster games are awesome clashes, I find the lot of them a bit nerve wracking at times. That Sarries game nearly gave me an ulcer in the last 10 minutes. A nice, calm away Magners game where the result isn't the end of the world is just what I need right now.

[johng]

A nice, calm away Magners game where the result isn't the end of the world is just what I need right now.

We are fast running out of wiggle room in the Magners, we can't be writing off games just like that. 2 hard ones coming up away in Wales, the first one to the Ospreys on the same weekend as Ireland v Argintina, when Wales have no game.

[Aussiedub]

HVDM, Wright, Shawe, Cullen, Toner, Ryan, Ruddock, Jennings, Boss, Sexton, Nacewa, McFadden, Luke, Horgan, Kearney - Healy, Strauss, Prescott, Hogan, Keogh, POD, O'Malley, Conway

[porterbelly]

Calm in the Sportsground? If you want calm you're going to the wrong place. As a Connacht fan, we'll be right up for this one. Our momentum is back after beating Bayonne on Friday night even though we played poorly. We need to win this badly as well to maintain our decent start to the Magners, particularly after getting nothing in Cardiff. I'd imagine we'll be full strength bar our new no8 Ezra Taylor who's still out injured. John Muldoon our captain and talisman played 60 minutes in Italy and 80 on Friday after coming back from a broken arm so he'll be raring to go. Roll on Saturday

[Donny B.]

HVDM, Wright, Shawe, Cullen, Toner, Ryan, Ruddock, Jennings, Boss, Sexton, Nacewa, McFadden, Luke, Horgan, Kearney - Healy, Strauss, Prescott, Hogan, Keogh, POD, O'Malley, Conway

You can bet your bottom dollar Luke won't be playing anyway. Even if he wasn't injured he'd be due a rest. O'Malley & McFadden will be the centres I guess. Are you saying Ruddock or Jenno at eight? Interesting idea but can't see either happening. Will probably be Keogh, with Dom Ryan at six and Jenno at seven. In the front row I think Strauss will start again. He'll have three weeks off pretty soon, so no need to rest him. Think Ross will start too. Rest of the team I'd concur with.

[CiaranIrl]

Calm in the Sportsground? If you want calm you're going to the wrong place. As a Connacht fan, we'll be right up for this

I just mean calm compared to my own nerves at the end of that HEC match my good man. It'll be a tough game.

[CiaranIrl]

A nice, calm away Magners game where the result isn't the end of the world is just what I need right now.

We are fast running out of wiggle room in the Magners, we can't be writing off games just like that. 2 hard ones coming up away in Wales, the first one to the Ospreys on the same weekend as Ireland v Argintina, when Wales have no game.

True that. They are above us in the league too and we have a bit of a score to settle to boot. Still unlikely to get as nervous as I did during that last 10 minutes of the Sarries match.

[suisse]

Will be my first Sportsground trip since Mark McHugh decided it would be more appropriate to have behave like Macklin, Lee or Duddy than a professional rugby player. I hate when players get over eager against their former employees and behave like knackers. But we won that day. A late Hickie try.

[RoboProp]

What's the story with Conway this weather?

[johng]

Scored 2 tries in Newport yesterday!

[FourMasters]

Scored 2 tries in Newport yesterday!

Thought I saw from a match report that he was at outside centre. Was that the case?

[limecat]

Scored 2 tries in Newport yesterday!

Thought I saw from a match report that he was at outside centre. Was that the case?

right wing.

[Darce]

You'd imagine guys like conway, POD, EOM will come into contention. Would be happy with:

15. Isa
14. Horgan/Conway
13. O'Malley
12. McFadden
11. D. Kearney
10. Sexton
9. POD

8. Keogh
7. Ryan
6. SOB/ R. Ruddock
5. Cullen
4. Toner
3. Shawe
2. Harris-Wright
1. VDM

16. Strauss
17. Ross
18. McGrath
19. C. Ruddock/Hogan
20. Jenno
21. Boss
22. Macken
23. Conway/Keating/Morris

[gowest]

im going to say that im expecting a connacht win. leinster are after a tough 2 weeks. and connacht have had leisnter number the last few season, connacht by 7. fionn is due a try.

wilko
croinin
hagen
swift
upton
ofisa
joc
muldoon
murphy
keatley
fionn
mattews
niva
troy
duffy.

that team should win the game, and if our backrow play like last week. leinster in for a tough night at the breakdwon, ofisa form has him the best 7 in the country.

[rosscarrick]

I know there are tickets available on TM, but can you buy them at the gate?

[LeRouxIsPHat]

If Bod is fit then he should play imo.

[QBer]

Leinster Squad Update...

The Leinster squad stepped up their preparations on Tuesday morning ahead of Saturday's Magners League clash against Connacht in the Sportsground, Galway (KO: 6.05pm)...
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Luke Fitzgerald sustained a knock during Leinster's 25-23 victory over Saracens in Wembley on Saturday but an x-ray on Monday afternoon has revealed that he suffered bruising and it is expected that he should be fit to resume training on Thursday.

Brian O'Driscoll is progressing well from the hamstring strain he suffered against Racing-Métro 92 and at this stage he has not been ruled out of Saturday's interprovincial derby, which will be Leinster's fourth away Magners League encounter out of six.

Leo Cullen successfully came through his first appearance in six months as a second half replacement in London last weekend and is available for selection. Jonathan Sexton, who scored all 25 points for the province against Saracens, also came through the weekend unscathed after his recent quad injury.

Ed O'Donoghue (knee) is making good progress in his rehabilitation but is unlikely to be available this weekend.

The team is expected to be announced on Friday lunchtime.

[akared]

A nice, calm away Magners game where the result isn't the end of the world is just what I need right now.

We are fast running out of wiggle room in the Magners, we can't be writing off games just like that. 2 hard ones coming up away in Wales, the first one to the Ospreys on the same weekend as Ireland v Argintina, when Wales have no game.

Wales are playing the All Blacks the day before!