Leinster v Saints Sat 5.15 Aviva

[cormac]

The fact that the fly-half pecking order at Bristol currently sees Mads behind a player who's a full two-years younger than Harry Byrne wouldn't fill me with confidence that he's still the same player he was when he left us.

[leinsterforever]

Signing Madigan would be a good way to lose Frawley.

[Xanthippe]

Thought it was interesting that Boyd said that he knew his players were goosed before half time and that they just aren't at our level. It might be true but it sounded quite defeatist to me and I'd have thought it was something you'd be more likely to say after the second game. So I'm wondering if they might play a weakened team this weekend. Harlequins have rested players in their game so it's not exactly unheard of at the moment.

I don't mean to be dismissive of them though, I thought they played some great stuff in the first half that had our midfield in all sorts of trouble. At times it was more like watching NFL where people are running all over the place and you don't know who's going to get the ball.

Boyd said in his post match interview that they would probably have a completely different team out next week after they have a look at the current situation in their two competitions so I wouldn't be at all surprised

[tingman]

The fact that the fly-half pecking order at Bristol currently sees Mads behind a player who's a full two-years younger than Harry Byrne wouldn't fill me with confidence that he's still the same player he was when he left us.

Bingo......

[Oldschool]

Thought it was interesting that Boyd said that he knew his players were goosed before half time and that they just aren't at our level. It might be true but it sounded quite defeatist to me and I'd have thought it was something you'd be more likely to say after the second game. So I'm wondering if they might play a weakened team this weekend. Harlequins have rested players in their game so it's not exactly unheard of at the moment.

I don't mean to be dismissive of them though, I thought they played some great stuff in the first half that had our midfield in all sorts of trouble. At times it was more like watching NFL where people are running all over the place and you don't know who's going to get the ball.

Boyd said in his post match interview that they would probably have a completely different team out next week after they have a look at the current situation in their two competitions so I wouldn't be at all surprised

You'd wonder if, with Sexton, Ryan and Kelleher out, that Boyd might reconsider his strategy.
Baird (experiment) or Molony (solid and reliable) on the bench?

[johng]

Chris Boyd is selecting the Leinster team now? Surely that's not fair?

[Oldschool]

Chris Boyd is selecting the Leinster team now? Surely that's not fair?

He wishes.

[Oldschool]

Any thoughts regarding likely 23?

[arsebiscuits1]

Any thoughts regarding likely 23?

The A team gave us no indication anyway.

Would like to see Molony or Murphy involved. COB should be banging down the door to get involved in these games. Especially with Tomane hamstrung

[Serb]

Why not trust in the players we have?

Because Mads has better hair.

Definitely something that has been lacking since Madigan left. Barry Daly has worked hard to plug the gap and James Lowe has brought flowing locks.

Tomane was clearly brought in with this in mind but again I don’t think we’ve really figured out how best to use his curls, he often has them locked away inside a scrum cap.

We have to be honest and accept that we currently don’t really have anyone with a proper top tier hairdo.

[The Doc]

Why not trust in the players we have?

Because Mads has better hair.

Definitely something that has been lacking since Madigan left. Barry Daly has worked hard to plug the gap and James Lowe has brought flowing locks.

Tomane was clearly brought in with this in mind but again I don’t think we’ve really figured out how best to use his curls, he often has them locked away inside a scrum cap.

We have to be honest and accept that we currently don’t really have anyone with a proper top tier hairdo.

Until there is a British and Irish league, we won't really be able to compare our hair with the best in the world

[wixfjord]

15. Jordan Larmour (42)
14. Dave Kearney (142)
13. Garry Ringrose (68)
12. Robbie Henshaw (40)
11. James Lowe (37)
10. Ross Byrne (80)
9. Luke McGrath (117)
1. Cian Healy (212)
2. James Tracy (102)
3. Tadhg Furlong (104)
4. Scott Fardy (51) CAPTAIN
5. James Ryan (34)
6. Rhys Ruddock (165)
7. Josh van der Flier (76)
8. Calean Doris (24)

16. Bryan Byrne (44)
17. Ed Byrne (49)
18. Andrew Porter (57)
19. Devin Toner (240)
20. Max Deegan (55)
21. Jamison Gibson-Park (80)
22. Ciarán Frawley (16)
23. Rob Kearney (213)

[wixfjord]

Ryan in is a boost. Good to see Tracy gets the nod, has been playing well.

Bit of rotation as expected. Good bit of impact on that bench too.

[LeinsterLeader]

Quite a few changes for Saints!

[Serb]

Toner and Porter are the only non-enforced replacements. Northampton have gone strong too. Definitely not planning on rolling over.

[wixfjord]

15 Ahsee Tuala
14 Ollie Sleightholme
13 Matt Proctor
12 Andrew Symons
11 Taqele Naiyaravoro
10 Dan Biggar
9 Connor Tupai

1 Francois van Wyk
2 Michael van Vuuren
3 Paul Hill
4 Api Ratuniyarawa
5 Alex Coles
6 Tom Wood (c)
7 Jamie Gibson
8 Lewis Ludlam

Replacements:
16 Sam Matavesi
17 Alex Waller
18 Ehren Painter
19 Lewis Bean
20 JJ Tonks
21 James Mitchell
22 James Grayson
23 Fraser Dingwall

No Reinach (huge loss) or Harrison.

[johng]

Or Lawes....

20 year old scrum half tells you all you need to know about how serious they are

[cormac]

15 Ahsee Tuala
14 Ollie Sleightholme
13 Matt Proctor
12 Andrew Symons
11 Taqele Naiyaravoro
10 Dan Biggar
9 Connor Tupai

1 Francois van Wyk
2 Michael van Vuuren
3 Paul Hill
4 Api Ratuniyarawa
5 Alex Coles
6 Tom Wood (c)
7 Jamie Gibson
8 Lewis Ludlam

Replacements:
16 Sam Matavesi
17 Alex Waller
18 Ehren Painter
19 Lewis Bean
20 JJ Tonks
21 James Mitchell
22 James Grayson
23 Fraser Dingwall

No Reinach (huge loss) or Harrison.

JJ Tonks is a great name.

[carlow man]

Lawes is out til new year with hamstring injury. Tom Collins is a big loss for them. He was very dangerous last week!

[Dexter]

Definitely something that has been lacking since Madigan left. Barry Daly has worked hard to plug the gap and James Lowe has brought flowing locks.

Tomane was clearly brought in with this in mind but again I don’t think we’ve really figured out how best to use his curls, he often has them locked away inside a scrum cap.

We have to be honest and accept that we currently don’t really have anyone with a proper top tier hairdo.

Until there is a British and Irish league, we won't really be able to compare our hair with the best in the world