Connacht v Leinster

[Degz]

Surprised to see no thread yet, the usual suspects must be enjoying too much Christmas cheers….

Anyhow;

The Leinster squad trained in UCD this afternoon ahead of their visit to the Sportsground this Saturday for the RaboDirect PRO12 game against Connacht (KO: 7.15).

Sean O'Brien is the most immediate concern with injury forcing him off early in the second half of Saturday's game against Ulster. Sean is to have surgery this week to repair a dislocated shoulder, which will unfortunately keep him on the sidelines for several months. Otherwise, apart from a few minor knocks, the squad trained as normal ahead of Friday's midday team announcement.


I would have thought that we would play our strongest available for this, or at least the strongest 23 and mix and match minutes, so my guess would be something like:

1. McGrath
2. Cronin
3. Moore
4. Toner
5. Cullen
6. Rhys
7. Dippy
8. Heaslip

9. Reddan
10. Madigan

11. Luke
12. D'arcy
13. BOD
14. DK
15. RK

16. Dundon
17. Ross
18. Bent (fitness?)
19. Mc
20. Kev Mc/Jordi
21. Boss
22. Mads
23. Gopperth

[Fred Funk]

When is the last time BOD has played in Galway?

[cormac]

When is the last time BOD has played in Galway?

2010. We were hammered.

[sheepshagger]

Would you really put such a strong side out a week before Castres away ?

[Cianostays]

Would you really put such a strong side out a week before Castres away ?

I take your point but you don't want players going over without or with very little gametime either. It's also an 8 day turnaround. A mix and match job I guess is what's required.

1-15: Bent, Cronin, Ross, Leo, Dev, Locky, Dom Ryan, Heaslip, Reddan, Madigan, Dave Kearney, Reid, BO'D, ZK, Rob Kearney.

16-23: Tracy, McGrath, Moore, Mike Mac, Jenno, Boss, Gopperth, Luke.

It's important to reintegrate guys coming back from the national camp, to win in Galway and rest a couple of very important squad players who've had a lot of match time recently.

[goreyguy]

1. McGrath
2. Dundon
3. Moore
4. McCarthy
5. Toner
6. Ruddock
7. Ryan
8. Heaslip
9. Reddan
10. Madigan
11. Fitz
12. Reid
13. Macken
14. Kearney
15. Kearney
16. Cronin
17. JOC
18. Ross
19. Leo
20. Murphy
21. Boss
22. Gopperth
23. Kirchner

[johng]

Would you really put such a strong side out a week before Castres away ?

Always. Have a look before any big HC game. We always play close to our starting team baring IRFU rest or whatever.

Get the team to gel in a really hard game before the HC.

[johng]

McGrath
Cronin
Moore
Cullen
Toner
Ruddock
Jennings/Ryan
Heaslip

Reddan
Madigan
Kirchner
D'Arcy
O'Driscoll/Macken
D Kearney
R Kearney

Dundon
Bent
Ross
McCarthy
Murphy
Boss
Gopperth

Fitz played the last 5 weeks in a row, so he will be rested. Ryan looked decent as a ball carrier along with Murphy and we will need a heap of them with Healy and SOB out. Perhaps he may squeeze in somewhere.

Otherwise himself and Kev will be unlucky to miss out in a very competitive back row.

[ceemec]

Surely McFadden must be close to a return at this point? He previously said he was hopeful of being back for the last two HEC pool games.

I expect us to play a close to full strength side in advance of the HEC with a couple of absentees due to games played recently.

McGrath, Cronin, Ross, McCarthy, Toner, Ruddock/McLaughlin, Jennings, Heaslip, Reddan, Gopperth/Madigan, DK, D'Arcy, BOD, Kirchner, RK.

[TimD]

Surely McFadden must be close to a return at this point? He previously said he was hopeful of being back for the last two HEC pool games.

Yep from what I can make out it was a 6 week thing and he was injured on the 16th of November against Oz I think.

[johng]

Surely McFadden must be close to a return at this point? He previously said he was hopeful of being back for the last two HEC pool games.

Yep from what I can make out it was a 6 week thing and he was injured on the 16th of November against Oz I think.

How soon we forget.....

Yep I would hope he is ready to at least bench in the HC

Hand injuries don't stop a player running or keeping fit.

[Vamos los azules]

Would you really put such a strong side out a week before Castres away ?

Some of the internationals wouldn't have played a match since 14 December otherwise. That might be taking player management to excess.

[TimD]

Surely McFadden must be close to a return at this point? He previously said he was hopeful of being back for the last two HEC pool games.

Yep from what I can make out it was a 6 week thing and he was injured on the 16th of November against Oz I think.

How soon we forget.....

Yep I would hope he is ready to at least bench in the HC

Hand injuries don't stop a player running or keeping fit.

I think his cast came off in mid December so hopefully he will be about for the HC. Starting to get competitive in the back three now

[ceemec]

How quick things change. 3 months ago, Fitzgerald was injured yet again, DK was a guy with lots of promise that we needed to step up, McFadden was unavailable due to player management and Kirchner was a completely unknown quantity.

Come Castres, they should all be fighting it out for a starting berth.

[fourthirtythree]

And Rob Kearney was being written off by many here and elsewhere.

It's about bloody time we looked something other than "in a crisis" with our back three if you ask me. That was getting old.

[simonokeeffe]

McGrath
Cronin
Moore
Cullen
Toner
Ruddock
Jennings/Ryan
Heaslip

Reddan
Madigan
Kirchner
D'Arcy
O'Driscoll/Macken
D Kearney
R Kearney

Dundon
Bent
Ross
McCarthy
Murphy
Boss
Gopperth

Fitz played the last 5 weeks in a row, so he will be rested. Ryan looked decent as a ball carrier along with Murphy and we will need a heap of them with Healy and SOB out. Perhaps he may squeeze in somewhere.

Otherwise himself and Kev will be unlucky to miss out in a very competitive back row.

My guess would be Locky to miss out as Murphy covers all three back row positions, Ryan on bench means no real no8 cover

[johng]

I was looking at it as Ruddock or Kev and Jennings or Ryan.

Murphy on the bench in any case.

Although you could also start him at 7, giving you a decent ball carrying back row, with arguably the best players (Ruddock, Murphy Heaslip)

Then you could have Jeno on the bench.

Loads of options even without SOB. Cronin will have to step up on the carries too, with Healy and SOB gone.

[CiaranIrl]

I'd say it's McLaughlin, Jennings, Heaslip to start personally.

The other lads made their case last week. The others will be given an opportunity to answer.

[fourthirtythree]

I'd say it's McLaughlin, Jennings, Heaslip to start personally.

The other lads made their case last week. The others will be given an opportunity to answer.

I like your thinking. They'd better go out and win in that case.

[Ruckedtobits]

IMO, Jack O'Connell has earned another slot (at least bench) ahead of Michael Bent. Great performance particularly scrum and tackling against Ulster.

Jenno, is one of the players who must come under pressure in this selection. Jordi & Dom have both looked right at the top of their game in the last two games and Jenno has been caught with his hand in the cookie jar too often. As for Luke, it would be great to see him again with Rob at full-back. He's on fire and I wouldn't take the risk of not playing him.

15. RK
14. FMcF
13. B Macken
12. Darce
11. Luke Fitz
10. Mads
9. Bossie
8. Jamie
7. Jordi / Dom
6. Locky / Rhys
5. Dev
4. Leo
3. Mike R
2. Nugget Cronin
1. Jack McG

16. Dundon
17. Jack O'C
18. Mary M
19. Leo / Mike Mac
20. Locky / Rhys / Jordi / Dom
21. Reds
22. Jimmy G
23. Zane K