Leinster vs Cheetahs 15/2/20 14.30

[mildlyinterested]

Molony seems to hint in the indo today that some players playing in this game who haven't played yet this season. That would be interesting.

Dan Sheehan on the bench?

He is who I thought of immediately.. Unless Dunne or Ryan are on the bench but doubtful as both are just back from injury.

Maybe Gavin Mullin is getting a run out?

[IanD]

BBC News - Storm Dennis causes Dragons v Benetton to be called off
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/wales/51495365

RDS pitch should be fine but with high winds forecast will.our match go the same way.

[cormac]

Molony seems to hint in the indo today that some players playing in this game who haven't played yet this season. That would be interesting.

Dan Sheehan on the bench?

He is who I thought of immediately.. Unless Dunne or Ryan are on the bench but doubtful as both are just back from injury.

Maybe Gavin Mullin is getting a run out?

Barry Daly is another player who could feature. Hasn't played yet this season.

[Laighin Break]

Molony seems to hint in the indo today that some players playing in this game who haven't played yet this season. That would be interesting.

Dan Sheehan on the bench?

With Cronin or Kelleher missing out?
You'd imagine Farrell wants Kelleher to get a run out, and Cronin has played very little rugby so far this season

[mildlyinterested]

Sheehans starting for lansdowne so it's not him.

[Peg Leg]

Sheehans starting for lansdowne so it's not him.

Someone mentioned Conor Maguire training with the squad earlier in the week (loosehead?).

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[mildlyinterested]

So was Milne so I'd expect he will be at 17.

[LeinsterLeader]

Very strong team all things considered!

[D4surfer]

Very strong team all things considered!

Happy with that team. The weather won't bother them.

[curates_egg]

Leinster Rugby (caps in brackets):

15. Rob Kearney (217)
14. Fergus McFadden (182)
13. Jimmy O’Brien (14)
12. Joe Tomane (19)
11. Dave Kearney (146)
10. Ciarán Frawley (22)
9. Luke McGrath (121)
1. Peter Dooley (73)
2. Rónan Kelleher (10)
3. Michael Bent (132)
4. Ross Molony (93)
5. Scott Fardy (55) CAPTAIN
6. Rhys Ruddock (169)
7. Will Connors (13)
8. Max Deegan (60)

16. Seán Cronin (178)
17. Michael Milne (5)
18. Roman Salanoa (2)
19. Ryan Baird (4)
20. Scott Penny (11)
21. Jamison Gibson-Park (85)
22. Harry Byrne (6)
23. Cian Kelleher (12)

Only McGrath and Kelleher could arguably be starting to suit the Irish management.

[bails]

Is James Lowe injured?

[wixfjord]

That's good news, will bulk up the side for the weekend, particularly at 8 where we don't have many options!

Looking at something like:

Dooley, Kelleher, Bent (if fit?), Molony, Fardy, Rhys, Connors, Deegan, McGrath, Frawley, Lowe, Tomane/COB, JOB, DK, RK

Byrne, Tracy/Cronin, Aungier, Josh Murphy, Penny, JGP, HB, Keenan

Very strong for a Pro14 game in the middle of the 6N.

Close but no cigar!

[curates_egg]

Is James Lowe injured?

He was in New Zealand. Just back this week.

[wixfjord]

Interesting that Salanoa gets the bench spot, wasn't Aungier training this week?

Wonder is that a nod to Salanoa to get him to stay? Huge potential but a lot of moulding to be done on him!

[D4surfer]

Toyota Cheetahs:

15 Rhyno Smith
14 Clayton Blommetjies
13 William Small-Smith
12 Benhard Janse van Rensburg
11 Rabz Maxwane
10 Tian Schoeman
9 Ruan Pienaar (c)

1 Charles Marais
2 Joseph Dweba
3 Aranos Coetzee
4 Walt Steenkamp
5 JP du Preez
6 Chris Massyn
7 Junior Pokomela
8 Jasper Wiese

Replacements: Wilmar Arnoldi, Boan Venter, Luan de Bruin, Aidon Davis, Gerhard Olivier, Tian Meyer, Louis Fouche, Chris Smit

That looks like a full strength team, although Blommetjies on the wing is strange (edit. just checked his stats, not so strange).

[desperado]

Conor O'Brien seems to have disappeared completely.

[mildlyinterested]

Conor O'Brien seems to have disappeared completely.

Joe Tomane playing ahead of him.

[wixfjord]

Toyota Cheetahs:

15 Rhyno Smith
14 Clayton Blommetjies
13 William Small-Smith
12 Benhard Janse van Rensburg
11 Rabz Maxwane
10 Tian Schoeman
9 Ruan Pienaar (c)

1 Charles Marais
2 Joseph Dweba
3 Aranos Coetzee
4 Walt Steenkamp
5 JP du Preez
6 Chris Massyn
7 Junior Pokomela
8 Jasper Wiese

Replacements: Wilmar Arnoldi, Boan Venter, Luan de Bruin, Aidon Davis, Gerhard Olivier, Tian Meyer, Louis Fouche, Chris Smit

That looks like a full strength team, although Blommetjies on the wing is strange (edit. just checked his stats, not so strange).

Jaysus there's a good bit of ability in that backline. Not as sure about the forwards.

Could be a good game.

[cormac]

Weather forecast suggests it won't be a day for the backs.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

That pack is ridiculously good for this time of year. I'd happily have that back row in a Champions Cup knockout game and that's without Josh, Doris, Leavy, and Conan. There could be a serious impact from that bench as well. The props are obviously a bit of an unknown quantity at this level but they're really powerful and I can't wait to see Baird and Penny again too.

It'll be good to see Frawley as well and interesting to see how he goes in tough conditions. Disappointed Adam isn't playing. I said a while ago that the right wing might open up for him next season but I was assuming that he'd be nailed on for games like this. I know we have to share games around but it's not great for himself and Cob to be behind Tomane and Ferg, esepcially if the latter two do leave in the summer.