Wasps v Leinster, Jan 20th - 3:15pm

[curates_egg]

Apparently McGrath was the 24th man at the weekend.

Yeah saw him trudging off the pitch before the match in his gear and yellow bib.

Henshaw was a water boy, which, according to the tea leaves, portends well for this weekend.

[Jonny tight lips]

Very rough summary

IRFU priorities:
1)Team Ireland
2)Developing young players for team Ireland
3) Keeping the provinces competitive enough to help with no.2

Replace Munster with Ireland and your spot on

RFU priorities:
1) Keeping club owners happy
2) Keeping club owners happy
3) Developing Players to achieve no.1&2

[carlow man]

Apparently McGrath was the 24th man at the weekend.

Yeah saw him trudging off the pitch before the match in his gear and yellow bib.

Henshaw was a water boy, which, according to the tea leaves, portends well for this weekend.

Yeh McGrath was out doing shuttle runs behind the posts with ed Byrne, frawley and Conor O'Brien just before the match.

[leinsterfan100]

We seem to be constantly attacked by the English and French leagues for our setup, yet Wales and Scotland are in our league too. It’s funny no one seems to bring up the all blacks setup which is mightily close to our system. Green eyed jealousy with no one willing to put their necks on the line and change it. Funny enough one team in England trying areExeter who put a lot of work in at grass roots level to increase player catchment, interesting you don’t see Baxter whinging

Interestingly Rob Baxter was on Brian Moore's podcast "Full Contact" yesterday, singing the praises of Irish, Leinster, Ulster and in particular Munster rugby and the latter's European pedigree ahead of the big clash in Limerick at the weekend. Sounded - as ever - as a lovely guy, described himself at one stage as a "rugby fan", referenced similarities in the NZ and IRL systems and didn't even bemoan the fact, that our Southern brethren have two days extra to recover before the upcoming head-to-head in Thomond Park. He also had an interesting explanation - worth listening to - for Exeter's lack of success hereto in the ERCC as compared to in the GP. English rugby needs more guys like him - and Brian Moore, IMO.

+1

[mildlyinterested]

Joe Launchbury and Thomas Young are injury doubts for Wasps' clash with Leinster after sustaining knocks against Bath.

There is also good news with the long-term injured, with Young revealing that James Gaskell and Joe Simpson are both close to returns and could be available this week.

[wixfjord]

They're looking fairly bare in the front row. Down to second/third choice in all three positions. If Launchbury is out we should be looking to really take them on up front.

I think given the departures this week and their predicament in the league they won't be massively up for this one tbh.

[the spoofer]

Apparently McGrath was the 24th man at the weekend.

Yeah saw him trudging off the pitch before the match in his gear and yellow bib.

Henshaw was a water boy, which, according to the tea leaves, portends well for this weekend.

Yeh McGrath was out doing shuttle runs behind the posts with ed Byrne, frawley and Conor O'Brien just before the match.[/quote]

I doubt Conor O'Brien was doing shuttle runs. He was in the squad.

[mildlyinterested]

Wasps have confirmed the signing of Malakai Fekitoa for the 2019/20 season.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

They're looking fairly bare in the front row. Down to second/third choice in all three positions. If Launchbury is out we should be looking to really take them on up front.

I think given the departures this week and their predicament in the league they won't be massively up for this one tbh.

We should be looking to take them on even if Launchbury is playing! For whatever reason he just hasn't been at the races for a long time now. Think it may have started in the QF a couple of years ago which probably caused him to miss out on the Lions tour. Thought he was a brilliant player before that but honestly don't think I've seen him play well since.

Famous last words but everything about Wasps this week indicates that they don't have their eye on the ball. Announcing departures/arrivals in the build up to a European game just doesn't seem right to me, it's like they waited to get the Bath game over with and then put their feet up.

[Leoslovechild]

Henshaw was a water boy, which, according to the tea leaves, portends well for this weekend.[/quote]

Yeh McGrath was out doing shuttle runs behind the posts with ed Byrne, frawley and Conor O'Brien just before the match.[/quote]

I doubt Conor O'Brien was doing shuttle runs. He was in the squad.[/quote]
and it was Brian Byrne not Ed as he too was in the squad too

[curates_egg]

Wasps have confirmed the signing of Malakai Fekitoa for the 2019/20 season.

If they're offering more than Toulon, he must be doing well for himself. Going from one struggling formerly successful team, with loadsa money and not so much culture, to another.
Currently out injured and recovering from a knee operation.

[arsebiscuits1]

Joe Launchbury and Thomas Young are injury doubts for Wasps' clash with Leinster after sustaining knocks against Bath.

There is also good news with the long-term injured, with Young revealing that James Gaskell and Joe Simpson are both close to returns and could be available this week.

Can't see Wasps pushing them for this game. If there's even a slight doubt Wasps should really be resting them. They've nothing to gain in Europe and a long dogfight in the prem ahead!

[cormac]

Dan Leavy is not in the Ireland squad announced today so guessing he won't be facing Wasps on Sunday.

[wixfjord]

Dan Leavy is not in the Ireland squad announced today so guessing he won't be facing Wasps on Sunday.

I wonder might we see SOB benching.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Flip, he really hasn't going yet this season. Was worried about his injury record before last season but thought he'd managed to get himself sorted.

[Oldschool]

Wasps have confirmed the signing of Malakai Fekitoa for the 2019/20 season.

Does signing big names actually boost attendances?
It might in soccer but you'd wonder about rugby.

[curates_egg]

Dan Leavy is not in the Ireland squad announced today so guessing he won't be facing Wasps on Sunday.

I wonder might we see SOB benching.

I really hope not! He can have his annual 6 nations training match in the Pro14, not a must win away game in Europe.

Plenty of motivation for Ross Byrne anyway. Schmidt picking guys who haven't played in months and ignoring an outhalf who calmly controlled a game against the form team in Europe.

[Serb]

Yeah, genuinely shocked that Byrne didn’t make the cut and Carty did. I think Byrne is a better 10 than Carbery, never mind Carty.

[Logorrhea]

Yeah, genuinely shocked that Byrne didn’t make the cut and Carty did. I think Byrne is a better 10 than Carbery, never mind Carty.

Yeah, that was a strange call. Having said that, Carty is worth a look and this is as good as any time to do it.

[carlow man]

Henshaw was a water boy, which, according to the tea leaves, portends well for this weekend.

Yeh McGrath was out doing shuttle runs behind the posts with ed Byrne, frawley and Conor O'Brien just before the match.[/quote]

I doubt Conor O'Brien was doing shuttle runs. He was in the squad.[/quote]
and it was Brian Byrne not Ed as he too was in the squad too[/quote]

Warm up/shuttle runs. Same thing. They were right in front of me.