Treviso v Leinster - Sat 18/1; 1pm your time

[wixfjord]

15. Jayden Hayward, 14. Angelo Esposito, 13. Luca Morisi, 12. Marco Zanon, 11. Monty Ioane, 10. Ian Keatley, 9. Tito Tebaldi, 1. Federico Zani, 2. Hame Faiva, 3. Simone Ferrari, 4. Alessandro Zanni, 5. Eli Snyman, 6. Marco Barbini (c), 7. Braam Steyn, 8. Toa Halafihi.
Replacements:
16. Tomas Baravalle, 17. Nicola Quaglio, 18. Cherif Traore, 19. Ira Herbst, 20. Giovanni Pettinelli, 21. Marco Lazzaroni, 22. Antonio Rizzi, 23. Tommaso Benvenuti,

Pretty full Treviso side.

This could be a bit sticky.

[Caliphi]

Have Leocaster lost their marbles?
If ever there was a game for Fardy's leadership and experience this is it. Bad weather and against a team raring to get a major scalp.
The Heino is where it's at. There are no stars on the jersey for Pro 14 wins! We need a home semi - experience has taught us that - so a win is an absolute must. We are assured already of Pro 14 qualification, so it fades into lesser significance.
Not to mention having Ruddock on the bench.
Rant over

[Twist]

Not adding anything new here but the lack of Ruddock & Fardy is troubling

[alanair]

Have Leocaster lost their marbles?
If ever there was a game for Fardy's leadership and experience this is it. Bad weather and against a team raring to get a major scalp.
The Heino is where it's at. There are no stars on the jersey for Pro 14 wins! We need a home semi - experience has taught us that - so a win is an absolute must. We are assured already of Pro 14 qualification, so it fades into lesser significance.
Not to mention having Ruddock on the bench.
Rant over

rant and overreaction, I would say...

Leocaster seem to Know what they're doing - have faith

[Edna Kenny]

15. Jordan Larmour (45)
14. Dave Kearney (145)
13. Garry Ringrose (71)
12. Robbie Henshaw (43)
11. James Lowe (40)
10. Ross Byrne (83)
9. Luke McGrath (120) CAPTAIN
1. Cian Healy (215)
2. Seán Cronin (177)
3. Andrew Porter (61)
4. Devin Toner (243)
5. James Ryan (36)
6. Max Deegan (59)
7. Josh van der Flier (79)
8. Caelan Doris (28)

16. James Tracy (105)
17. Peter Dooley (72)
18. Tadhg Furlong (107)
19. Ross Molony (92)
20. Rhys Ruddock (168)
21. Jamison Gibson-Park (84)
22. Ciarán Frawley (21)
23. Rob Kearney (216)

Referee: Karl Dickson (England)

An average of 100 caps per player in this selection.

[leinsterforever]

Really don't like Deegan at 6. You really don't see the best of him there. And he isn't that good there anyway. Josh Murphy is a much better, more solid blindside.

[wwed]

Rhys seemed to get a shoulder knock during Lyon match - got treatment a few times - he mightn't be fully fit?

[curates_egg]

Rhys seemed to get a shoulder knock during Lyon match - got treatment a few times - he mightn't be fully fit?

If he's not fully fit, why is he on the bench?

I'm also not a fan of Deegan at 6. I think Doris has looked better there.

[backrower8]

Rhys seemed to get a shoulder knock during Lyon match - got treatment a few times - he mightn't be fully fit?

If he's not fully fit, why is he on the bench?

I'm also not a fan of Deegan at 6. I think Doris has looked better there.

x 2. Josh Murphy has more pedigree to play international #6 than Deegan who is a #8 who can make a decent stab at #6 & #7 and could be destined to be the new Jordi if he cannot make it at #8. Whereas I can't see why Doris couldn't make a better or fist of #6 than Deegan.

Met Rhys after the Lyon game and asked if he had shipped a knock. He said nothing of note

PS - Almost resisted the "Rhys lost out in Knock-Lyon" wordplay joke

[ronk]

Lot of experience in the team, lots of experience on the bench.

It does look like the team was picked as a favour to Andy Farrell though.

[limecat]

Match Preview

Leinster face a trip to Italy for the third time this season. They are looking to seal top seed in the standings for the knock-out stages for the second time in three seasons.

It's worth remembering that both of those previous trips to Italy were actually narrow wins. There was the roller-coaster of a 32-27 win in the first game of the season in Benetton. It could haven't been more different to the dire 3-0 slog of a win in Zebre. Now of course in both cases it was far from Leinster's first choice team but Leinster still need to be on their guard for Saturday.

Read more...

[CrookedIn]

Lots of ranting and nitpicking going on. Whatever way you look at it that's a decent side. Will everyone be happy at the final whistle with a win of any kind?

[offshorerules]

Strong team. Missing the match though so I'll be interested to hear how that back row goes.

[riocard911]

Lots of ranting and nitpicking going on. Whatever way you look at it that's a decent side. Will everyone be happy at the final whistle with a win of any kind?

Replication of the 0-3 vs Zebre would do me just fine!!!

[Ruckedtobits]

Local weather now is soft "dreepy" rain after a very heavy rain storm from 7.30 till 10 a.m. Temp warmer than expected at about 7 - 9C. Little or no breeze.

[tingman]

Lots of ranting and nitpicking going on. Whatever way you look at it that's a decent side. Will everyone be happy at the final whistle with a win of any kind?

Replication of the 0-3 vs Zebre would do me just fine!!!

Yeah - no kidding. They are locked and loaded. We need to be on our toes for this one.

[gangseo]

That Leinster XV is stacked full of current and future Irish internationals. There are 2 British and Irish Lions on the bench with over 300 Leinster caps between them. If that's not enough to beat a very limited home team without Rhys Ruddock and Scott Fardy, then Leinster are not nearly as good as we think. They should win by at least 14 points.

[OTT]

Bad missed tackle there from Deegan or Doris?

Leinster not competing at the breakdown so far, happy to let Treviso play themselves into trouble.

[Serb]

First 10 minutes, close to 100% possession for Benetton. Nothing to show for it though luckily.

[wixfjord]

Bad miss from Deegan on their #8. He's causing trouble.

Luke M putting in a serious defensive shift so far.

Thought Ringer caught an elbow in the face from Ioane there.