Leinster V NG Dragons RDS Fri 2nd Oct 20:15

[Dave Cahill]

Anyone taking bets on what minute Moriarty gets his red card?

[mildlyinterested]

That image wasn’t showing up for me, so in case anyone is in the same boat....

15. Hugo Keenan (18)
14. Jordan Larmour (50)
13. Garry Ringrose (76)
12. Ciarán Frawley (26)
11. James Lowe (47)
10. Johnny Sexton (167) CAPTAIN
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (93)
1. Ed Byrne (57)
2. Rónan Kelleher (15)
3. Michael Bent (140)
4. Scott Fardy (61)
5. James Ryan (39)
6. Rhys Ruddock (173)
7. Josh van der Flier (84)
8. Jack Conan (93)

16. Seán Cronin (185)
17. Cian Healy (220)
18. Andrew Porter (66)
19. Ryan Baird (10)
20. Max Deegan (64)
21. Luke McGrath (127)
22. Ross Byrne (89)
23. Tommy O’Brien (3)

JGP being handed his opportunity on a platter.

This selection has the IRFU's fingerprints all over it.

Some players need a good showing here.

like who?

[johng]

When was the last time Johnny played the Dragons? Or perhaps a better question. How many times has Johnny played v Dragons since he came back from France?

[Wanderers FC]

That image wasn’t showing up for me, so in case anyone is in the same boat....

15. Hugo Keenan (18)
14. Jordan Larmour (50)
13. Garry Ringrose (76)
12. Ciarán Frawley (26)
11. James Lowe (47)
10. Johnny Sexton (167) CAPTAIN
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (93)
1. Ed Byrne (57)
2. Rónan Kelleher (15)
3. Michael Bent (140)
4. Scott Fardy (61)
5. James Ryan (39)
6. Rhys Ruddock (173)
7. Josh van der Flier (84)
8. Jack Conan (93)

16. Seán Cronin (185)
17. Cian Healy (220)
18. Andrew Porter (66)
19. Ryan Baird (10)
20. Max Deegan (64)
21. Luke McGrath (127)
22. Ross Byrne (89)
23. Tommy O’Brien (3)

Close to full strength backline barring maybe Frawley. I wonder is he being given his chance to displace Henshaw who has been mixed so far this season. Personally would prefer him at outhalf I think Johnny is flogging a dead horse playing at this stage of his career. He’s still probably the best option but his abilities are considerably waning. Frawley is the best defensive outhalf we have IMO and should do well for that reason at first centre.

Mixed set of forwards but I think the back 5 are close to full strength barring maybe Rhys who needs a big game to push himself back in contention vs Doris for the 6 shirt. Josh playing for his place also with Ireland games coming up I expect a big performance from him. Front row looks solid if not underrated. I think they are very solid performers with Ed given a chance to redeem himself from the Sarries scrummaging fiasco.

[outcast eddie]

That image wasn’t showing up for me, so in case anyone is in the same boat....

15. Hugo Keenan (18)
14. Jordan Larmour (50)
13. Garry Ringrose (76)
12. Ciarán Frawley (26)
11. James Lowe (47)
10. Johnny Sexton (167) CAPTAIN
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (93)
1. Ed Byrne (57)
2. Rónan Kelleher (15)
3. Michael Bent (140)
4. Scott Fardy (61)
5. James Ryan (39)
6. Rhys Ruddock (173)
7. Josh van der Flier (84)
8. Jack Conan (93)

16. Seán Cronin (185)
17. Cian Healy (220)
18. Andrew Porter (66)
19. Ryan Baird (10)
20. Max Deegan (64)
21. Luke McGrath (127)
22. Ross Byrne (89)
23. Tommy O’Brien (3)

JGP being handed his opportunity on a platter.

This selection has the IRFU's fingerprints all over it.

Some players need a good showing here.

like who?

James Lowe for one. He hasn't been very 'box office' for a while, right when he is on the cusp of an Ireland call up...supposably.
Ed Byrne and Rhys could do with an eye catching performance and RB really needs to push on. Ciaran F can solidify his place in the centre which looks like where he'll be if he stays in blue.

[The Doc]

Anyone taking bets on what minute Moriarty gets his red card?

Or how long it takes Welsh rugby twitter to complain that Leinster are taking this game too seriously and that's why they rather be playing in English Division 3 games against Richmond

[cormac]

Leo's 150th game in charge tomorrow.

[ronk]

Strong team to keep the internationals warm with rotation already starting.

Interesting that we go for Sexton, Frawley and Byrne in the 23.

[wixfjord]

It's a game that's tailor made for a good JGP performance alright. Would be timely too.

He's likely to get an armchair ride from pack and has two distributors outside him who'll hugely benefit from quick ball.

Would've liked Parker/Clarkson to get a bench spot.

[Ruckedtobits]

What's the background on the Dragons' No 17, Conor Maguire. Not too many of those in the Rhonda Valley.

[backrower8]

I am hopeful that Ciaran Frawley will mount a serious challenge to Robbie this season.

[CiaranIrl]

Anyone going to risk their reputation for all time by estimating the 23 for this?

Having no reputation to risk, I'll guess (and obviously it's a total guess): Byrne, Kelleher, Bent, Maloney, Baird, Ruddock, VDF, Deegan, JGP, Ross Byrne, Lowe, Frawley, O'loughlin, Cian Kelleher, Keenan

Dooley, Tracy, Parker, C. Ryan, Penney, O'Sullivan, J. O'Brien, T O'Brien

9 out of 15 in the starting team correct. I'll chalk that down as a win.

[limecat]

Match Preview

Well that was grim.

Normally when a season ends with a massively disappointing defeat, you have the summer to get it out of the system. But two weeks later.... here we are.

Happy new season everybody!

Read more...

[wixfjord]

What's the background on the Dragons' No 17, Conor Maguire. Not too many of those in the Rhonda Valley.

He played 'A' for us didn't he? And was in Conn for a while too iirc.

[mildlyinterested]

Played Leinster underage as a hooker(1997 age group), came through Boyne RFC, moved to Old Wesley.. converted to prop while at old wesley.. was involved with leinster A last season.

[Cianostays]

Very happy to see Keenan and Larmour swap positions. I think it's the best use of resources tbh. Frawley in an otherwise first choice backline is exciting to see. Looking forward to this.

Sent from my SM-G531F using Tapatalk

[MarkyDeSad]

That image wasn’t showing up for me, so in case anyone is in the same boat....

15. Hugo Keenan (18)
14. Jordan Larmour (50)
13. Garry Ringrose (76)
12. Ciarán Frawley (26)
11. James Lowe (47)
10. Johnny Sexton (167) CAPTAIN
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (93)
1. Ed Byrne (57)
2. Rónan Kelleher (15)
3. Michael Bent (140)
4. Scott Fardy (61)
5. James Ryan (39)
6. Rhys Ruddock (173)
7. Josh van der Flier (84)
8. Jack Conan (93)

16. Seán Cronin (185)
17. Cian Healy (220)
18. Andrew Porter (66)
19. Ryan Baird (10)
20. Max Deegan (64)
21. Luke McGrath (127)
22. Ross Byrne (89)
23. Tommy O’Brien (3)

JGP being handed his opportunity on a platter.

This selection has the IRFU's fingerprints all over it.

Some players need a good showing here.

Do people think this is a real thing? Can't see the coaches having much truck with it.

[curates_egg]

I honestly think that side is at just as good as the side that played Saracens, and better in certain areas.
I also believe it is a side that would have been better equipped to beat Saracens.
The Keenan-Larmour switch should have happened before now.
JGP is the form scrum half.
Fardy would have given us what we were badly lacking in the pack: experience and scumbaggerry.
No way I would pick Frawley over Henshaw at present. But he gives us something different.

The scrum would have been mullered either way: Byrne and Kelleher give you something different outside of the scrum.
I have long believed Bent is a better scrummager than Porter. I have yet to see anything to convince me otherwise. Clearly, Porter is better in almost every other aspect of the game, apart from penalty count.

[Oldschool]

I honestly think that side is at just as good as the side that played Saracens, and better in certain areas.
I also believe it is a side that would have been better equipped to beat Saracens.
The Keenan-Larmour switch should have happened before now.
JGP is the form scrum half.
Fardy would have given us what we were badly lacking in the pack: experience and scumbaggerry.
No way I would pick Frawley over Henshaw at present. But he gives us something different.

The scrum would have been mullered either way: Byrne and Kelleher give you something different outside of the scrum.
I have long believed Bent is a better scrummager than Porter. I have yet to see anything to convince me otherwise. Clearly, Porter is better in almost every other aspect of the game, apart from penalty count.

I reckon that NPHET told Leo that he had to throw the Saracens game because they didn't want a horde of supporters travelling abroad for the final
So better to nip things in the bud in case their SF got knocked out by COVID.
No mugs those NOPHET guys

[Blueberry]

I honestly think that side is at just as good as the side that played Saracens, and better in certain areas.
I also believe it is a side that would have been better equipped to beat Saracens.
The Keenan-Larmour switch should have happened before now.
JGP is the form scrum half.
Fardy would have given us what we were badly lacking in the pack: experience and scumbaggerry.
No way I would pick Frawley over Henshaw at present. But he gives us something different.

The scrum would have been mullered either way: Byrne and Kelleher give you something different outside of the scrum.
I have long believed Bent is a better scrummager than Porter. I have yet to see anything to convince me otherwise. Clearly, Porter is better in almost every other aspect of the game, apart from penalty count.

I reckon that NPHET told Leo that he had to throw the Saracens game because they didn't want a horde of supporters travelling abroad for the final
So better to nip things in the bud in case their SF got knocked out by COVID.
No mugs those NOPHET guys

+1 Mounting evidence for this, Leo took one for the green Jersey with Ronan Glynn tiktoking him all week about it so Leo told the lads to stop pushing in the scrum as everyone was expecting Sarries to muller us there. In hindsight the NITPHOT experts were proved right after the Poite cough incident which has now felled Racing. Rumours also that Saint Jacinta opened a back channel with James Lowe to further drive home the point and scare him witless about catching Covid from French Refs and he kept his distance from Garces. Garces took the hump apparently and said it was bad enough J10 not liking him and with Lowe now ignoring him and refusing to partake in the 3 kiss French greeting, decided he was going to Ping le Scrum off the park and kept giving penalties to the Roastbeefs.

In time this will all come out.....