Leinster v Wasps Aviva Stadium 1st April KO 3.15 BT

[Ruckedtobits]

Very probably that not one of our backline against Toulon ib the EPCR semi-final will be in Squad of 23 on Sat.

Could be upto five forwards by my count, Cian, Jack, Rickard, Dev and SO'B.

That's some turnover in two Seasons.

[wixfjord]

Selection is very uncertain. This reflects the challenge faced by Leinster of losing so many players to the 6 Nations along with some injuries.
It's particularly hard to know who will partner Toner; McCarthy, Kearney/Molony/Nagle and whether Ruddock or a specialist lock will be on the bench.

I wonder whether Kirchner will recover and make the back three, particularly after A Byrne's nightmare last Saturday?

We really need JS to last 80 minutes and replicate his performance Vs England.

Triggs will definitely partner Dev, no question about that. The query lies over the 19 jersey. If he doesn't start, I'd plump for Rhys personally. Wouldn't trust any of our other locks to come on and have an impact in such a game.

[simonokeeffe]

Selection is very uncertain. This reflects the challenge faced by Leinster of losing so many players to the 6 Nations along with some injuries.
It's particularly hard to know who will partner Toner; McCarthy, Kearney/Molony/Nagle and whether Ruddock or a specialist lock will be on the bench.

I wonder whether Kirchner will recover and make the back three, particularly after A Byrne's nightmare last Saturday?

We really need JS to last 80 minutes and replicate his performance Vs England.

Triggs will definitely partner Dev, no question about that. The query lies over the 19 jersey. If he doesn't start, I'd plump for Rhys personally. Wouldn't trust any of our other locks to come on and have an impact in such a game.

not even ex Wasps lock Mike McCarthy?

Ruddock is likeliest bet though

[wixfjord]

Selection is very uncertain. This reflects the challenge faced by Leinster of losing so many players to the 6 Nations along with some injuries.
It's particularly hard to know who will partner Toner; McCarthy, Kearney/Molony/Nagle and whether Ruddock or a specialist lock will be on the bench.

I wonder whether Kirchner will recover and make the back three, particularly after A Byrne's nightmare last Saturday?

We really need JS to last 80 minutes and replicate his performance Vs England.

Triggs will definitely partner Dev, no question about that. The query lies over the 19 jersey. If he doesn't start, I'd plump for Rhys personally. Wouldn't trust any of our other locks to come on and have an impact in such a game.

not even ex Wasps lock Mike McCarthy?

Ruddock is likeliest bet though

I think Mike Mc is a busted flush at this stage unfortunately.

[arsebiscuits1]

I would be much more comfortable with Isa at 15 to keep AB in check.

I think AB will fare much better playing outside Henshaw and Ringrose though. Everyone blasted his defence last week without giving much thought to Reid and ROLs defensive structuring or communication. Not saying they didn't but it's a possibility.

IIRC didn't Ruddock wear 19 against Bath last season and Triggs had to go off early and we were royally caned in the lineouts and scrums.

This is knockout rugby. No place for makeshift positions or shoehorning in. For me a Lock has to wear 10 and a Back Row has to wear 20

[Laighin Break]

I would be much more comfortable with Isa at 15 to keep AB in check.

I think AB will fare much better playing outside Henshaw and Ringrose though. Everyone blasted his defence last week without giving much thought to Reid and ROLs defensive structuring or communication. Not saying they didn't but it's a possibility.

IIRC didn't Ruddock wear 19 against Bath last season and Triggs had to go off early and we were royally caned in the lineouts and scrums.

This is knockout rugby. No place for makeshift positions or shoehorning in. For me a Lock has to wear 10 and a Back Row has to wear 20

Not sure if joke or typo...

[cormac]

I would be much more comfortable with Isa at 15 to keep AB in check.

I think AB will fare much better playing outside Henshaw and Ringrose though. Everyone blasted his defence last week without giving much thought to Reid and ROLs defensive structuring or communication. Not saying they didn't but it's a possibility.

IIRC didn't Ruddock wear 19 against Bath last season and Triggs had to go off early and we were royally caned in the lineouts and scrums.

This is knockout rugby. No place for makeshift positions or shoehorning in. For me a Lock has to wear 10 and a Back Row has to wear 20

It was Dominic Ryan, not Ruddock.

Not sure I'd want a lock at 10 either.

[arsebiscuits1]

Yes I meant 19

[Leoslovechild]

I fondly remember the trip to Adams Park a few years ago for the Challenge Cup QF.
On the way out, my dad overheard a Wasps fan looking on the bright side and saying to their friend "Well when you think about it, we scored 4 tries against Leinster"
Unfortunately the more recent results haven't been quite as enjoyable, but here's hoping that's reversed this weekend! If El Diablo's source is as reliable as he says, that's a brave back three to go for! Assuming Johnny well be raining a good few high balls down on Wasps, Isa and Byrne are good wingers to be chasing them.

I on the other hand do not fondly remember the trip to Coventry last year and the abuse hurled by so called Wasps fans who were obviously ex Coventry city fans.The real Wasps fans sitting in the next seat to me were even embarrased so just for those I hope we really do a number on them on Saturday

[arsebiscuits1]

I would be much more comfortable with Isa at 15 to keep AB in check.

I think AB will fare much better playing outside Henshaw and Ringrose though. Everyone blasted his defence last week without giving much thought to Reid and ROLs defensive structuring or communication. Not saying they didn't but it's a possibility.

IIRC didn't Ruddock wear 19 against Bath last season and Triggs had to go off early and we were royally caned in the lineouts and scrums.

This is knockout rugby. No place for makeshift positions or shoehorning in. For me a Lock has to wear 10 and a Back Row has to wear 20

It was Dominic Ryan, not Ruddock.

Not sure I'd want a lock at 10 either.

You're spot on. I think my point still stands though

[wixfjord]

I would be much more comfortable with Isa at 15 to keep AB in check.

I think AB will fare much better playing outside Henshaw and Ringrose though. Everyone blasted his defence last week without giving much thought to Reid and ROLs defensive structuring or communication. Not saying they didn't but it's a possibility.

IIRC didn't Ruddock wear 19 against Bath last season and Triggs had to go off early and we were royally caned in the lineouts and scrums.

This is knockout rugby. No place for makeshift positions or shoehorning in. For me a Lock has to wear 10 and a Back Row has to wear 20

With re: Byrne, it hasn't just been last week that he has been caught positionally, it's been a very common recurring theme throughout the year that we've managed to avoid through luck or scrambling. He has this thing of biting in and leaving a man overlap when he should be trusting his 13 a bit more.
Hopefully this will be worked on this week, because Le Roux and particularly Wade will be gone if they have space and I don't think Carbery is positionally strong enough at FB to be in a place to stop them.

That all sounds very negative, obviously both Byrne and Carbery are incredible talents, but for me, starting both is an unnecessary risk.

[wixfjord]

I would be much more comfortable with Isa at 15 to keep AB in check.

I think AB will fare much better playing outside Henshaw and Ringrose though. Everyone blasted his defence last week without giving much thought to Reid and ROLs defensive structuring or communication. Not saying they didn't but it's a possibility.

IIRC didn't Ruddock wear 19 against Bath last season and Triggs had to go off early and we were royally caned in the lineouts and scrums.

This is knockout rugby. No place for makeshift positions or shoehorning in. For me a Lock has to wear 10 and a Back Row has to wear 20

It was Dominic Ryan, not Ruddock.

Not sure I'd want a lock at 10 either.

You're spot on. I think my point still stands though

Ruddock has been wearing the 19 jersey all year in Europe. It's certainly a risk, but mitigated by Triggs & Toner's durability. I wouldn't have an issue with that, because I don't think Molony, Nagle, McCarthy or Kearney will have the same impact.

[simonokeeffe]

I would be much more comfortable with Isa at 15 to keep AB in check.

I think AB will fare much better playing outside Henshaw and Ringrose though. Everyone blasted his defence last week without giving much thought to Reid and ROLs defensive structuring or communication. Not saying they didn't but it's a possibility.

IIRC didn't Ruddock wear 19 against Bath last season and Triggs had to go off early and we were royally caned in the lineouts and scrums.

This is knockout rugby. No place for makeshift positions or shoehorning in. For me a Lock has to wear 10 and a Back Row has to wear 20

It was Dominic Ryan, not Ruddock.

Not sure I'd want a lock at 10 either.

John Eales had the goalkicking

@wjxford I think hes worn out too, do we see first ever attempt to take Toner out Sexton style?

[BlueWheels]

With re: Byrne, it hasn't just been last week that he has been caught positionally, it's been a very common recurring theme throughout the year that we've managed to avoid through luck or scrambling. He has this thing of biting in and leaving a man overlap when he should be trusting his 13 a bit more.
Hopefully this will be worked on this week, because Le Roux and particularly Wade will be gone if they have space and I don't think Carbery is positionally strong enough at FB to be in a place to stop them.

That all sounds very negative, obviously both Byrne and Carbery are incredible talents, but for me, starting both is an unnecessary risk.

+ 1

[ronk]

Carvery and A Byrne have been playing well during the 6N and doing it for the team.

If there were guys coming back from Ireland to push them out then fair enough, but there aren't.

If guys returning from injury were in the mix, they'd have been playing last week.

[wixfjord]

Carvery and A Byrne have been playing well during the 6N and doing it for the team.

If there were guys coming back from Ireland to push them out then fair enough, but there aren't.

If guys returning from injury were in the mix, they'd have been playing last week.

I don't think anyone is disputing that they've been playing well, so that's a bit of a strawman.

However, playing well during the 6N is a different kettle of fish to playing in a back three against Wade, Beale and Le Roux!
We've seen Carbery adjusting to 15, and we've seen Byrne having a few positional issues.

We know what Ferg brings and personally I think it'd be prudent to have him in there with Isa at FB at least. If you take into account the inexperience throughout the team, it's even more of a case to go for a more structured approach back there.

Hopefully all will be well and they'll be working on it this week though, if that is the back three. On the positive side, Carbery is another kicking and playmaking option (if Johnny lets him!) and Byrne will be happy to compete aerially with any of their back three.

[Oldschool]

Very probably that not one of our backline against Toulon ib the EPCR semi-final will be in Squad of 23 on Sat.

Could be upto five forwards by my count, Cian, Jack, Rickard, Dev and SO'B.

That's some turnover in two Seasons.

Ultimately, we have to thank MOC for this transformation.
Without him it wouldn't have been possible or necessary.

[matt]

Very probably that not one of our backline against Toulon ib the EPCR semi-final will be in Squad of 23 on Sat.

Could be upto five forwards by my count, Cian, Jack, Rickard, Dev and SO'B.

That's some turnover in two Seasons.

Ultimately, we have to thank MOC for this transformation.
Without him it wouldn't have been possible or necessary.

A Thesis could be written on this but let's not go there before our defining game of the season

[simonokeeffe]

IT sayeth

LEINSTER (possible): J Carbery; A Byrne, G Ringrose, R Henshaw, I Nacewa; J Sexton, L McGrath; J McGrath, R Strauss/S Cronin, T Furlong; H Triggs, D Toner; S O’Brien, J van der Flier, J Conan.

Ruddock "struggling for fitness" but probably no19

[wixfjord]

Cronin won't be starting considering he's on the bench for the As.