Friday 13th January 7.45pm Leinster v Montpelier(RDS/Sky)

[matt]

Only 10 days to go big questions are:-

1) Will Sexton & R.Kearney play,
2) Who will mark Nadolo,
3) Will Montpelier heavy pack influence our selection

[neiliog93]

Only 10 days to go big questions are:-

1) Will Sexton & R.Kearney play,
2) Who will mark Nadolo,
3) Will Montpelier heavy pack influence our selection

1) Yes. They need game time before the 6 Nations.

2) Probably Adam Byrne, although I'd put Isa up against him.

3) Not particularly. Can't see him deviating from what seems to be becoming the first choice pack selection, i.e:

1.J.McGrath 2.Cronin 3.Furlong

4.Triggs 5.Toner

6.SOB 8.Heaslip 7.VDF

16.Tracy/Strauss 17.Healy 18.Bent/Ross if fit 19.Ruddock 20.Conan

[Ruckedtobits]

Only 10 days to go big questions are:-

1) Will Sexton & R.Kearney play,
2) Who will mark Nadolo,
3) Will Montpelier heavy pack influence our selection

1) Yes. They need game time before the 6 Nations.

2) Probably Adam Byrne, although I'd put Isa up against him.

3) Not particularly. Can't see him deviating from what seems to be becoming the first choice pack selection, i.e:

1.J.McGrath 2.Cronin 3.Furlong

4.Triggs 5.Toner

6.SOB 8.Heaslip 7.VDF

16.Tracy/Strauss 17.Healy 18.Bent/Ross if fit 19.Ruddock 20.Conan

Given the deterioration in our mauling, offensive and defensive, would love to see Ross on the bench for this one and McCarthy starting instead of Triggs. Ireland's maul improved through November but Leinster's declined in December. Riddle me that. Triggs is the only Leinster forward not involved with Ireland.

[Flash Gordon]

Only 10 days to go big questions are:-

1) Will Sexton & R.Kearney play,
2) Who will mark Nadolo,
3) Will Montpelier heavy pack influence our selection

1) Yes. They need game time before the 6 Nations.

2) Probably Adam Byrne, although I'd put Isa up against him.

3) Not particularly. Can't see him deviating from what seems to be becoming the first choice pack selection, i.e:

1.J.McGrath 2.Cronin 3.Furlong

4.Triggs 5.Toner

6.SOB 8.Heaslip 7.VDF

16.Tracy/Strauss 17.Healy 18.Bent/Ross if fit 19.Ruddock 20.Conan

Given the deterioration in our mauling, offensive and defensive, would love to see Ross on the bench for this one and McCarthy starting instead of Triggs. Ireland's maul improved through November but Leinster's declined in December. Riddle me that. Triggs is the only Leinster forward not involved with Ireland.

Not sure what the reason is but I probably wouldn't blame a single player (and I'm not a fan of Triggs). Think you need to look at coaching first to be honest.

[Ruckedtobits]

@Flash Gordon, totally agree with that viewpoint but still stuck with the riddle. Your suggestion may be totally accurate re coaching. However, from historic analysis of forward coaching, the best mauling packs have had physically big specimens in front five- the sort of guys you can't easily ground - and Ross and McCarthy have been core elements in good Leinster (and Irish) mauling performances in past three years.

[ronk]

@Flash Gordon, totally agree with that viewpoint but still stuck with the riddle. Your suggestion may be totally accurate re coaching. However, from historic analysis of forward coaching, the best mauling packs have had physically big specimens in front five- the sort of guys you can't easily ground - and Ross and McCarthy have been core elements in good Leinster (and Irish) mauling performances in past three years.

The thing that causes a solid mauling team to drop (especially for inconsistency creeping in) effectiveness is usually focusing on something else for a while.

Pack are playing well in other areas and improving but not concentrating on defending mauls. It's fixable, may or may not require changes in personnel.

[wixfjord]

The big questions for next week are outside backs and whether Cronin will make it. Can't see RK going straight into the team, and he's unlikely to bench.

The ballsy call would be to drop Zane and start the two young lads with Isa at 15. Nadolo might have a say in that, but fcuk it, I don't believe the young lads could be as bad as Zane. For the first time in years, we've real pace and incision in 11 and 14. Both still raw but great to see.

Team I'd go for would be:
Isa, Byrne, Ringrose, Henshaw, Byrne, Sexton, McGrath (cemented at 9), McGrath, Tracy, Furlong, Triggs, Toner, SOB, VDF, Heaslip
Healy, Strauss, Bent, McCarthy, Conan, JGP, Byrne, ZK/Reid

[Oldschoolsocks]

Tracey was not good tonight, his throwing leaves a lot to be desired. When Jack Conan and Dev are catching at head rather than full stretch it just has to be the throw

[Donny B.]

Team I'd go for would be:
Isa, Byrne, Ringrose, Henshaw, Byrne, Sexton, McGrath (cemented at 9), McGrath, Tracy, Furlong, Triggs, Toner, SOB, VDF, Heaslip
Healy, Strauss, Bent, McCarthy, Conan, JGP, Byrne, ZK/Reid

Adam Byrne's good but asking him to play both wings at once is surely asking too much.

Agree with team apart from Tracey starting at hooker, once again the lineout's been a mess with his throwing. Strauss should start.

[Laighin Break]

Was gonna say pretty much the same thing
Assume he meant ROL at 11. Would agree with that XV. I'd say Ruddock will bench ahead of McCarthy though.
These European selections are tough on Leavy who's been brilliant in every Pro12 game and would probably start for nearly any other team playing Champions Cup next weekend.

[Oldschoolsocks]

Anyone notice that RuddockRuddock looks like he's eaten ALL the pies?

Maybe it's a conversion to lock?

[Ruckedtobits]

Montpelier 31 - 26 Bordeaux. Three tries to one.

6 S African
5 French
4 Georgian
3 Aussies
3 Fijian
1 Irish
1 Kiwi.

Francois Steyn and enormous pack the key influences again.

Madigan on the bench but no game time behind Hickey for Bordeaux.

[suisse]

As long as Zane Kirchner isn't playing, I'll be happy.

[matt]

Montpelier 31 - 26 Bordeaux. Three tries to one.

6 S African
5 French
4 Georgian
3 Aussies
3 Fijian
1 Irish
1 Kiwi.

Francois Steyn and enormous pack the key influences again.

Madigan on the bench but no game time behind Hickey for Bordeaux.

Watched the second half this morning. Montpelier very powerful & Steyn big kicker & Nadolo, Naguso & Timone just power through opposition but noticed Hickey kicking behind Nadolo for Buiton? & Nadolo being very slow to react. Also Buiton went round Nadolo with ease in second half. Bordeaux would have won only for yellow cards.

[wixfjord]

Ruddock got the full brunt of one of their forwards running at him on the top of his head last night, so I have a feeling he may be going through HIA (or at least should be). (It was a nonsense yellow card by the way)

[simonokeeffe]

Not starting ZK is a no brainer now

[Oldschoolsocks]

Ruddock got the full brunt of one of their forwards running at him on the top of his head last night, so I have a feeling he may be going through HIA (or at least should be). (It was a nonsense yellow card by the way)

Pretty sure Ruddock wasn't carded, he was penalised for a no arm tackle, no?

The Zebre YC was very harsh though.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[wixfjord]

Sorry you're right it was just a pen, even so, nothing he could do. Tried to wrap but your man hit his head bang on before he could get arms around.

[Raydollard]

Sloppy at times tonight but breath-taking also. Think we will be more focussed against Montpelier. Expect a 5 point win - Montpelier will not be able to cope with our class throughout.

[Ruckedtobits]

Sloppy at times tonight but breath-taking also. Think we will be more focussed against Montpelier. Expect a 5 point win - Montpelier will not be able to cope with our class throughout.

Not convinced about that prediction. This is a serious Montpellier team with size, class and even some heart. They have become used to winning and with Steyn driving them from No 10, they are no pushover. Certainly few French teams ever travel well but they play a very limited game plan, despite having talent throughout their team. If we spill as much ball as we have in last two games, they have the ability to take advantage of such mistakes.