EUROPEAN CUP R1: Montpellier Away, 12/12, 6.30pm

[LeinsterLeader]

The Montpelier 15 that played Clermont last week is a serious team.

Massive pack.

I think a win here would be a fantastic result, given our injuries and lack of time together.

Fitchen, Guirado, Haouas, Chalureau, Willemse, Ouedraogo, Camara, Du Plessis, Reinach, Foursans-Bourdette, Ngandebe, Vincent, Reilhac, Martin, Rattez

Du Plessis, Forletta, Lamositele, Janse Van Rensburg, Picamoles, Timu, Paillaugue, Tisseron


The 10 is 18 and 5'7 so will be interesting to see if he starts and we pick Connors to go after him. Lozowski is there too, as is Goosen, not sure if they're both injured. Pollard is.

Massive pack though and a serious pack bench to bring in.
Will be a huge test for our scrum and lineout.

From the very limited amount I've seen of Mont, Ngandebe is a player to watch out for. 5'8 winger, absolute livewire going forward but all over the place defensively.

Lots of 'gamebreaker' players there too with Reinach, Camara, Rattez, Martin etc.

"Will be a huge test for our scrum and lineout."

This! all day long I think. If they are serious about winning I expect them to have watched the Saracens game all week and fancy there chances here.

For us, the victory may very well depend on what we've learned from the Saracens game.

[mildlyinterested]

Cian Tracey says no Sexton or Ryan for Leinster this weekend, no ringrose either. Seems to suggest Porter/Healy will be on bench.

https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/ ... 50457.html

[Ruckedtobits]

[quote=mildlyinterested post_id=769982 time=1607671397 user_id=8736]
Cian Tracey says no Sexton or Ryan for Leinster this weekend, no ringrose either. Seems to suggest Porter/Healy will be on bench.

https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/ ... 50457.html
[/quote]

Not a huge surprise and just increases the magnitude of thee challenge and transfers the burden of leadership to Rhys, Luke & Fardy. Tempo will be the key

[wixfjord]

Yikes.

This will be a serious test!

[curates_egg]

The Montpelier 15 that played Clermont last week is a serious team.

Massive pack.

I think a win here would be a fantastic result, given our injuries and lack of time together.

Fitchen, Guirado, Haouas, Chalureau, Willemse, Ouedraogo, Camara, Du Plessis, Reinach, Foursans-Bourdette, Ngandebe, Vincent, Reilhac, Martin, Rattez

Du Plessis, Forletta, Lamositele, Janse Van Rensburg, Picamoles, Timu, Paillaugue, Tisseron


The 10 is 18 and 5'7 so will be interesting to see if he starts and we pick Connors to go after him. Lozowski is there too, as is Goosen, not sure if they're both injured. Pollard is.

Massive pack though and a serious pack bench to bring in.
Will be a huge test for our scrum and lineout.

From the very limited amount I've seen of Mont, Ngandebe is a player to watch out for. 5'8 winger, absolute livewire going forward but all over the place defensively.

Lots of 'gamebreaker' players there too with Reinach, Camara, Rattez, Martin etc.

Goosen and Lozowski came on against Bordeaux. Don't think either are injured.
If Montepellier want to, they can put out a seriously strong side against us.
If they do, and are up for it, I agree that we might struggle. Certainly, I expect us to have a long day in the scrum. If they go with Ouedraogo, Willemse, Picamoles and Van Rensburg, we will likely struggle in the lineout too.

Possible selection:
Fichten, Guirado/Du Plessis, Haouas, Van Rensburg, Willemse, Ouedraogo, Camara, Picamoles, Reinach, Lozowski, Ngandebe, Goosen, Vincent, Martin, Rattez

As you say, a win would be a serious result, given the likely resources at our disposal.

[Blueberry]

real test now for the young guns !!

With Fardy Toner and Baird in the 2nd row department we are fine.

Sexton a massive loss but between the two Byrnes we have enough. I know it won't happen but would love to

This has become harder but still totally doable......

I think the important thing is to trust youth - they demolished everything in their path recently and yes Montpellier is a big step up but move em around and if we can hang in there up front in the set piece we will be fine.

[mildlyinterested]

Leinster Rugby (caps in brackets):

15. Jimmy O’Brien (24)
14. Hugo Keenan (20)
13. Robbie Henshaw (49)
12. Ciarán Frawley (30)
11. Dave Kearney (154)
10. Ross Byrne (91)
9. Luke McGrath (134)
1. Peter Dooley (81)
2. James Tracy (116)
3. Michael Bent (147)
4. Devin Toner (254)
5. Scott Fardy (66)
6. Rhys Ruddock (180) CAPTAIN
7. Josh van der Flier (85)
8. Caelan Doris (34)

16. Rónan Kelleher (16)
17. Cian Healy (222)
18. Andrew Porter (67)
19. James Ryan (41)
20. Ryan Baird (14)
21. Jamison Gibson-Park (95)
22. Johnny Sexton (168)
23. Dan Leavy (68)

[LeinsterLeader]

Leinster Rugby (caps in brackets):

15. Jimmy O’Brien (24)
14. Hugo Keenan (20)
13. Robbie Henshaw (49)
12. Ciarán Frawley (30)
11. Dave Kearney (154)
10. Ross Byrne (91)
9. Luke McGrath (134)
1. Peter Dooley (81)
2. James Tracy (116)
3. Michael Bent (147)
4. Devin Toner (254)
5. Scott Fardy (66)
6. Rhys Ruddock (180) CAPTAIN
7. Josh van der Flier (85)
8. Caelan Doris (34)

16. Rónan Kelleher (16)
17. Cian Healy (222)
18. Andrew Porter (67)
19. James Ryan (41)
20. Ryan Baird (14)
21. Jamison Gibson-Park (95)
22. Johnny Sexton (168)
23. Dan Leavy (68)

I think that might be the strongest looking bench we've ever had

If we get an early injury in the backline we could be in trouble though with the makeup of that 6/2 split

[wixfjord]

Christ that's a strange lineup!

Some bench to come in!

Massively excited to see what JOB and Frawley can do at this level.

[LeinsterLeader]

[wixfjord]

No Reinach or Ouderago for them.

The usual enormous pack though.

I'd expect we want to keep huge tempo up, and with three playmakers in the backline that might just be possible.

[Flash Gordon]

No Reinach or Ouderago for them.

The usual enormous pack though.

I'd expect we want to keep huge tempo up, and with three playmakers in the backline that might just be possible.

Yeah but you have to secure the platform first. Scrum time will be interesting, these guys are massive.

[Jonny tight lips]

I’d say Montpellier will get some lift when they see out team. Can’t wait to see the bench unloaded

[Fireworks]

Might be a case if staying in touch until the bench is released. It looks like a funny selection but I assume they are managing the load on the returning internationals. Would worry about the 6/2 bench but I think RB can fill the 12 slot if needed and the rest of the backline have some flexibility.

[Blueberry]

Wow - didn't see that one coming.....

bizarre bench, yes has to be the strongest bench we have ever had ??

Odd call on Keenan ? I thought he was doing great at FB but this looks like a 'get your best players' on the pitch selection or is it a Farrell enforced request as he seems to be persisting with Stockdale at FB.

If we can be level at 50/55 mins that bench can come on and reek havoc against a load of tired French lads.....

[Blueberry]

Time for Ruddock to go big and show Farrell why he should be starting for Ireland.......

[wixfjord]

No Reinach or Ouderago for them.

The usual enormous pack though.

I'd expect we want to keep huge tempo up, and with three playmakers in the backline that might just be possible.

Yeah but you have to secure the platform first. Scrum time will be interesting, these guys are massive.

I'd have faith in that front 5 to have enough gnarled experience to at least draw parity.

Big test but Michael Bent has started against big French sides previously and locked down a scrum.

Plus, Ross B has started in this stadium before and won too.

[Flash Gordon]

No Reinach or Ouderago for them.

The usual enormous pack though.

I'd expect we want to keep huge tempo up, and with three playmakers in the backline that might just be possible.

Yeah but you have to secure the platform first. Scrum time will be interesting, these guys are massive.

I'd have faith in that front 5 to have enough gnarled experience to at least draw parity.

Big test but Michael Bent has started against big French sides previously and locked down a scrum.

Plus, Ross B has started in this stadium before and won too.

I hope you're right. If we can secure a platform and move them around that will be to our advantage. I we are close at 60 minutes that bench will destroy them.

[riocard911]

Wow - didn't see that one coming.....

bizarre bench, yes has to be the strongest bench we have ever had ??

Odd call on Keenan ? I thought he was doing great at FB but this looks like a 'get your best players' on the pitch selection or is it a Farrell enforced request as he seems to be persisting with Stockdale at FB.

If we can be level at 50/55 mins that bench can come on and reek havoc against a load of tired French lads.....

Kind of the selection I expected/hoped for. Don't think Keenan at 14 has anything to do with Ireland. Stockdale is back on the wing for Ulster tonight vs Toulouse. JO'B at full back is fully deserved. Delighted to see the coaches backing him and rewarding him for a series of top notch performances in the Pro**. Starting the likes of Fardy, Toner and Bent with instructions to empty the tank and then replace them in the second half with Baird, Leavy, Kelleher etc. could be a masterstroke. Let's hope it works! An Laighean abú!!!!!

[Blueberry]

Could be a masterstroke all right !!

Not doubting JOB at FB, looks great.

Come on Benty is all I can say.

And yes good see Stockdale back on the wing for Ulster, hopefully Farrell forgets about the whole Stockdale at FB thingy

Really looking forward to this, seems like the first real heavy duty proper match since the Sarries mess....