Celtic League Thread 05/06

[edinburgh_gunner]

My money's on Leinster.

Lora - you've changed your tune! From 'Oh Cardiff are amazing! Oh how good they are' to 'Oh Llanelli are amazing!'. You've changed your mind more times than I've changed my socks! (slight hyperbole but hey....I'm amazing

)

I look at the league table last night, and while Llanelli do have 2 games in hand, they have to win those games. Plus they have to beat Edinburgh at Murrayfield and only Toulouse have managed that this year (and that was a pretty close run thing I might add) aswell as beating Munster, Ulster and Leinster. Plus we all have to start loosing games.


Right, now on to the big game this weekend! Top of the table clash, Edinburgh v. Munster. I think Edinburgh can win...and they might. Equally...it could be Munster who end our 9 month unbeaten run in the CL at Murrayfield (I love mentioning that - not very often you get to brag being Scottish) so the I think the jury's very much out on this one. Either way, it's going to be grand and I always enjoy the Munster supporters banter when they come across so I look forward to that!

 

[An Tarbh]

2 possible injury worries for Munster include O'Gara and David Wallace. Jeremy Manning or Paul Burke could come in and replace O'Gara who picked up an eye injury in the New Year's clash at the RDS. Wallace has a back injury.

Denis Hickie and Rob Kearney have been included in a squad of 28 for the Llanelli match this Saturday. Michael Cheika has hinted that he won't make much changes from the Munster match saying he'll play close to a full strength team in the run up to the final 2 HEC pool games.

 

[An Tarbh]

Scarlets have named their team for Saturday evening's clash with Leinster at Stradey. Daffyd James has been rested while Mike Hercus starts at 10 partnering Dwayne Peel in a puzzling decision.

Scarlets: Barry Davies; Mark Jones, Matthew Watkins, Regan King, Leigh Burn; Mike Hercus, Dwayne Peel; Craig Dunlea, Matthew Rees, Martyn Madden, Hottie Louw, Adam Jones, Dafydd Jones, Simon Easterby (capt), Alix Popham.
Replacements: John Davies, Craig Hawkins, Vernon Cooper, Gavin Thomas, Clive Stuart-Smith, Gareth Bowen, Garan Evans

 

[edinburgh_gunner]

A couple good games this weekend, the top one is definatley the Edinburgh Munster game.

Edinburgh have made some changes to their team that bet the Borders on Boxing Day. Leonelli is in for Webster who's injured and Dave Hewitt returns to the starting XV in place of Jacobson who is also carrying a knock.

Edinburgh's squad:
15 - H Southwell
14 - C Paterson (capt)
13 - M Di Rollo
12 - P Jorgensen
11 - F Leonelli
10 - P Godman
9 - M Blair
1 - D Hewett
2 - D Hall
3 - C Smith
4 - A Kellock
5 - S Murray
6 - A Hogg,
8 - S Taylor
7 - S Cross.

Substitutes A Kelly, A Dickinson, A Strokosch, A MacDonald, R Lawson, M Dey, M Pyke.

 

[An Tarbh]

Leinster team has pretty much been named with a couple of either/ors in the pack. Rob Kearney misses out with a back strain, that'd better be the reason, if they're dropping him in favour of Lewis and Horgan, who's been cack all season, then serious questions need answering. O'Kelly/Williams and Miller/Jowitt are the either/ors.

 

[harrison2468]

How good is this Kearney? International standard?

 

[An Tarbh]

Definitely, practically won the Senior Cup for Clongowes on his own a few years back. Has pace, hell of a boot and can place kick as well. People have been questioning his defence but it's come on in leaps and bounds. It's a pity that Eddie doesn't have the balls to pick him with Bowe on the wing for the Italy match.

Looks likely that as well as missing this weekend's match he won't make the Glasgow clash but should be back for the Bath game and should start considering Horgan's recent poor form.

 

[cavan]

if the fans picked the team then Kearney would be an international by now but he's only a young player and there's no need to rush him in just yet.

I played against him last year under 20's and yeah he was well ahead of the rest.

 

[el_tk]

Originally posted by An Tarbh@Jan 6 2006, 04:03 PM
considering Horgan's recent poor form.

He did alright against Munster, even if it was only Anthony Horgan he burned on the outside.

 

[An Tarbh]

Horgan's recent form has been nothing short of appaling, can't make a break to save his life, skinning Anthony Horgan doesn't count for much, he was shite for the rest of the match, was crap in the games against Bourgoin, good thing he missed the Ulster game as well.

Kearney needs to be picked for Ireland, know he's young but he can't just be thrown in when the RWC comes around, there's not a better Irish winger around at the moment, he needs to get international gametime.

 

[el_tk]

Originally posted by An Tarbh@Jan 6 2006, 09:01 PM
Horgan's recent form has been nothing short of appaling, can't make a break to save his life, skinning Anthony Horgan doesn't count for much, he was shite for the rest of the match, was crap in the games against Bourgoin, good thing he missed the Ulster game as well.

Kearney needs to be picked for Ireland, know he's young but he can't just be thrown in when the RWC comes around, there's not a better Irish winger around at the moment, he needs to get international gametime.

I thought him and D'Arce played well in the home Bourgoin match. He's no winger at international level granted but I can see him starting in the 6N.

 

[An Tarbh]

He's just making too many mistakes, too many silly knockons getting turned over in the atckle way too much, even in that game there were too many mistakes.

I agree with you, he'll start the 6N but realistically there are better options, Hickie (admiteddly has to prove himself since his injury), Bowe, Murphy and Kearney are all international class wingers who should be ahead of Horgan in the pecking order, while BOD, D'Arse and Trimble are ahead of him in the centre.

 

[Symclaw]

whats the BODmeister been like so far?

 

[el_tk]

Originally posted by Symclaw@Jan 7 2006, 03:53 PM
whats the BODmeister been like so far?

Getting back to his best. I'll expect to see him coming closer to a full recovery at about 5.30 today.

 

[el_tk]

4 minutes in and Flash Gordon waltzes through the Scarlets' defence for the opening try. Your boys are in for a long night Lora.

 

[edinburgh_gunner]

Originally posted by el_tk@Jan 7 2006, 06:38 PM
4 minutes in and Flash Gordon waltzes through the Scarlets' defence for the opening try. Your boys are in for a long night Lora.

Nah...they'll be 50points down in the last play but Lora'll believe they can still win!

 

[loratadine]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

4 minutes in and Flash Gordon waltzes through the Scarlets' defence for the opening try. Your boys are in for a long night Lora.[/b]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

Nah...they'll be 50points down in the last play but Lora'll believe they can still win![/b]

really

maybe you should watch the whole game before spouting **** like that.

 

[An Tarbh]

unlucky for Contepomi, would have been harsh on the Scarlets though.

 

[SmokeyMonkey]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

4 minutes in and D'arse waltzes through the Scarlets' defence for the opening try. Your boys are in for a long night Lora.[/b]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

Nah...they'll be 50points down in the last play but Lora'll believe they can still win![/b]

Gone quiet now have we?

 

[el_tk]

Originally posted by loratadine@Jan 7 2006, 08:21 PM
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE

4 minutes in and Flash Gordon waltzes through the Scarlets' defence for the opening try. Your boys are in for a long night Lora.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

Nah...they'll be 50points down in the last play but Lora'll believe they can still win![/b]

really

maybe you should watch the whole game before spouting **** like that. [/b][/quote]
Got shafted by that ridiculous half-breed ref. And Guy Easterby being a tosser.