Castres v Leinster

[An Tarbh]

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Castres v Leinster</div>

Leinster will put one foot in the quarter finals if they come away with victory tomorrow night. Despite the poor performance from Leinster last week they still managed to win by 30 points so even if they produce a similar performance again this week regardless of the changes Castres make, they should still have enough to get the job done.

Lose and they risk bringing Wasps back into the equation and suddenly that trip to Twickenham looks a lot more difficult.

Leinster should be stronger than last week with Contepomi, Nacewa and Jennings all back in the fold.

 

[Vambo]

Can't see Leinster slipping up here.

 

[An Tarbh]

Here's the Leinster team, with provisions over O'Driscoll's fitness, if fit he'll start with Contepomi on the bench while if not McFadden will be on the bench with Fitzgerald partnering the good doctor. Jennings come into the back row instead of O'Brien.

Leinster: 15. Dempsey, 14. Horgan, 13. O'Driscoll/Contepomi, 12. Fitzgerald, 11. Kearney, 10. Sexton, 9. Whitaker, 1. Wright, 2. Jackman, 3. Van der Linde, 4. Toner, 5. O'Kelly, 6. Elsom, 7. Jennings, 8. Heaslip

Replacements: 16. Blaney, 17. Healey, 18. Hogan, 19. O'Brien, 20. Keane, 21. Contepomi/McFadden, 22. Nacewa.

 

[Fa'atau82]

I would just like to say..

Tekori Tekori Tekori Tekori Tekori Tekori Tekori Tekori Tekori Tekori Tekori and Tekori

 

[An Tarbh]

So O'Driscoll makes it but Van Der Linde has cried off with a calf injury and is replaced by Cian Healey with Wright switching to tighthead.

 

[An Tarbh]

Right then decent start for Leinster, just hope we keep this going, good man Girv.

 

[An Tarbh]

that should do Sexton's confidence some good, great kick.

 

[An Tarbh]

and then he goes and hits the post with the penalty.

 

[An Tarbh]

cmon Leinster, don't be so feckin' lazy. Daft penalty to give away.

 

[An Tarbh]

It's as sloppy as last week, too many turnovers and O'Driscoll gives away another penalty.

 

[An Tarbh]

7-6 to Leinster after 20 minutes.

 

[An Tarbh]

Let off for Leinster there, sloppy pass from Mal, Kearney should have taken it though but knock on from the ensuing tack and Leinster get away with it.

 

[An Tarbh]

**** sake, we shouldn't be having these problems in the scrum, I wonder have we caught a touch of Paris' performance last week.

 

[An Tarbh]

not sure what to make of this to be honest, we're shooting ourselves in the foot big time.

9-7 Castres 30 mins.

 

[An Tarbh]

Much better from Leinster, great initial break by Fitzgerald, good support from Jennings and Keogh fo Sexton to finish off. Hopefully that'll make the Castres heads go down.

 

[An Tarbh]

that's a woeful effort for the conversion, I'd really love to know why Kearney was never used as a place kicker, he single handedly won the schools cup for Clongowes. Still not too late though.

 

[An Tarbh]

Glad to see Castres going for goal there and a proper repreive for Leinster with Lagardere hitting the post but had they gone for a scrum again they could have been in for the try given the dominance or least a possible penalty try.

 

[cyRil]

Anyone wanna tell Greenwood it was a free kick, not a penalty?

 

[An Tarbh]

That is really a bizarre decision from Castres there, not sure what they were playing at, especially given how solid Leinster are under high ball with both Kearney and Dempsey, should have taken the scrum or least tapped and run.

 

[An Tarbh]

If we can cut out the turnovers we should be alright but jesus we're making hard work of this.