Ulster v Leinster Sat 29th 19:35

[wixfjord]

Should be an interesting selection. Would expect total rotation from this week.

Depending on injuries, we should see something like:

Dooley, Cronin, Furlong/Bent, Toner, Molony, Rhys, Connors, Deegan, JGP, Byrne, Kelleher, ROL, JOB, TOB, RK
Byrne, Tracy, Furlong/Bent, Baird, Conan, McGrath, Frawley, Keenan

I would nearly play R. Kelleher again to get a bit of lineout practice in, but can't see that happening.

Such a shame that COB and A Byrne are injured. We could really do with both of them at the moment.

[johng]

Anyone want to check the stats on this. ...

Ulster had more blackrock college players today than Leinster did yesterday. Connacht had twice as many and Munster only had the same amount.

[hugonaut]

Is this right?

Ulster
1. Timoney
2. Murphy
3. O'Connor
4. Madigan

Connacht
1. Heffernan
2. Buckley
3. Thornbury
4. Oliver

Munster:
1. Conway
2. Loughman

Leinster:
1. Ringrose
2. Doris

[OTT]

Think David O’Connor (the brother) went to Blackrock, didn’t think Alan did but not sure.

[Jonny tight lips]

Now “somebody” do Michaels .... only messing

[johng]

Think David O’Connor (the brother) went to Blackrock, didn’t think Alan did but not sure.

David played on the same sct as Nick Timoney. I am also not sure about Alan. I had the same as Hugo without O'Connor.

[Purist98]

Dean was on the bench for Connacht

[johng]

Dean was on the bench for Connacht

And the prize goes to.....

Meanwhile I'll get sh1t for....

A/ dragging the thread off topic

and

B/ bringing schools into it.

[Oldschool]

Dean was on the bench for Connacht

And the prize goes to.....

Meanwhile I'll get sh1t for....

A/ dragging the thread off topic

and

B/ bringing schools into it.

It's been a slow six months tbf.

[mildlyinterested]

“But I also feel there’s a test in games like that as well, where if you watched Leinster come out [against Munster]… I hate blowing smoke up their arse, but they still produced an intensity that was there.

“I suppose they had an unbeaten record to defend as well, so there is that, but the bottom line is that there was an intensity in that and I just felt we were a fair bit short of what we can achieve and put out on the pitch.

“The lads are aware of that, it’s not the end of the world, but it would have been nice to produce something closer to what we know we’re capable of.”

Ulster’s clash with Leinster this Saturday is another game that is without any meaning, in the sense that both of their semi-final places have already been confirmed, but McFarland’s side will be determined to turn up much more convincingly.

They will be away to Edinburgh in the Pro14 semi-finals in two weekends’ time, with a Champions Cup quarter-final against Toulouse also to come next month, so picking up some form looks important.

“I think a boost in energy and physicality is the need,” said McFarland of what he wants to see from his players against Leinster.

[ronk]

Weird not having months of build up for a game like Saracens or Munster.

[mildlyinterested]

Murray K

Leinster confirm Cian Healy, Josh van der Flier and Johnny Sexton all available if needed against Ulster, having taken knocks versus Munster.

Tadhg Furlong [back] and Rhys Ruddock [quad] are possibles.

Dan Leavy won't be available this weekend as his recovery continues.

Dave Kearney's hamstring injury "requires further assessment this week."

Leinster expected to make wholesale changes for the Ulster game.

Vakh Abdaladze has had surgery on his back and will be further assessed in the coming weeks.

Fingers crossed that the tighthead prop can finally get over this longstanding issue.

[LeinsterLeader]

Murray K

Leinster confirm Cian Healy, Josh van der Flier and Johnny Sexton all available if needed against Ulster, having taken knocks versus Munster.

Tadhg Furlong [back] and Rhys Ruddock [quad] are possibles.

Dan Leavy won't be available this weekend as his recovery continues.

Dave Kearney's hamstring injury "requires further assessment this week."

Leinster expected to make wholesale changes for the Ulster game.

Vakh Abdaladze has had surgery on his back and will be further assessed in the coming weeks.

Fingers crossed that the tighthead prop can finally get over this longstanding issue.

Not too bad all things considered. Be great if DK could get away with just a couple of weeks of a lay off.

[mildlyinterested]

FWIW not many who played on sat feature in training photos today; R Byrne, Deegan, Cronin, JGP, E Byrne by the look of things.

[wixfjord]

Is our semi final on the Friday?

If so, Munster are playing on Sunday and need to win so will probably have 75% of the team from the weekend, who will then need to turn around and play 5 days later.

That's a big advantage for us considering a lot of our guys will have had two weeks and more time to re-focus.

[mildlyinterested]

I would hope so, but given the need by many for Munster to have every chance against us I wouldnt be surprised to see it delayed to the saturday.

[leinsterforever]

This injury to DK is a real problem if he's going to miss the Saracens game. The obvious step would be to move Larmour to the right wing and bring in RK at fullback, but, for me, Larmour's instincts in defence out on the right edge leave a lot to be desired (or at least they did back when he was playing 14 regularly). He'd get too narrow and be inclined to come in off his wing too much.

I suppose the other options are Kelleher, Tommy O'Brien, ROL, Jimmy O'Brien or Keenan on the right wing. I'd be interested to see how TOB would fare against Ulster there. Putting him in against Saracens would be a baptism of fire, though, and they'd assuredly design stuff to specifically target him. JOB would be an interesting left field pick. He's a good tackler and his 7s experience could stand to him in that he'd be quite adaptable to having different things thrown at him. Would he have the instincs to deal with kicks? He has played 15 in the league. The coaches almost have to make a decision now, because whichever option they pick could do with the gametime to bed in ahead of the knock-out games.

[mildlyinterested]

Frawley to start at 12.
3 K's in the back three.

[Blueberry]

I would hope so, but given the need by many for Munster to have every chance against us I wouldnt be surprised to see it delayed to the saturday.

I think they should get a walkover win v Connacht to prep for the game, it's only fair......

[leinsterforever]

Frawley to start at 12.
3 K's in the back three.

Who on the right wing? Keenan?