Champions Cup - Pool 2, Round 2 (Castres, Harlequins, Leinster, Wasps)

[TRF_Olyy]

Round 2 Fixtures

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[big ginger 8]

Should have Kearney and Ross back for this at least which is pretty helpful. Someone else will probably go and get injured though.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

A win here and we're very much in pole position considering it'll almost be impossible not to get 4 wins in the pool after that and a fifth away to Harlequins or Wasps sends us to the quarters.

 

[Big Ewis]

Castres Leinster was a real fkng heartbreaking heart-shatterer last year. This year I can see Leinster taking it convincingly unfortunately, again, main guys missing, their Top 14 season in jeopardy so no time for the Euro Cup or anything else whatsoever, Talès set to leave for Racing at the end of the year...things are falling apart a bit atm there...Leinster ought to identify that and play relentlessly to get precious away points and be that much closer to leading the pool. I don't think if Castres are led at HT that they'll mount a monumental comeback with heart and passion...etc...they'll just put up a strong effort in front of the home crowd and then die off to, the articles will say, a simply better Leinster side.
Not saying they'll lose for sure though.

 

[tituslechmakus]

Well, after having looked at Castres recent results in Hcup, we can defenetly say they will loose to Leinster !

 

[Big Ewis]

Well, after having looked at Castres recent results in Hcup, we can defenetly say they will loose to Leinster !

nope. We can't. It's likely, yes.

 

[Big Ewis]

Ramiro Herrera finally back for Castres, ouuff !!!!!...Castres have been decimated by injury in the front row and their setpiece was generally a total fkng annihilated mess against Quins. If they can just sort that out, bring in a decent TH and continue attacking the way they did last weekend with that nothing to lose type vibe, they've got enough to finally beat those Leinsterians.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Kearney, Ross and Fitzgerald all looking good for the weekend. That helps my confidence of a win no end.

 

[Amiga500]

Fitzgerald looking good for the weekend

Fool me once... shame on.... shame on you....

Fool me.... can't get fooled again.

 

[big ginger 8]

Castres Olympique
15. Geoffrey Palis; 14. Max Evans, 13. Christopher Tuatara, 12. Romain Cabannes, 11. Remi Grosso; 10. Remi Tales (c), 9. Cedric Garcia; 1. Saimone Taumoepeau, 2. Brice Mach, 3. Ramiro Herrera, 4. Richie Gray, 5. Rodrigo Capo Ortega, 6. Piula Faasalele, 7. Yannick Caballero, 8. Jannie Bornman
16. Mathieu Bonello, 17. Mihaita Lazar, 18. Yohan Montes, 19. Christophe Samson, 20. Mathieu Babillot, 21. Romain Martial, 22. Julien Dumora, 23. Antoine Dupont


Leinster Rugby
15. Zane Kirchner; 14. Darragh Fanning, 13. Gordon D'Arcy, 12. Ian Madigan, 11. Luke Fitzgerald; 10. Jimmy Gopperth, 9. Isaac Boss; 1. Jack McGrath, 2. Sean Cronin, 3. Michael Bent, 4. Devin Toner, 5. Kane Douglas, 6. Rhys Ruddock, 7. Dominic Ryan, 8. Jamie Heaslip (c)
16. Richardt Strauss, 17. Ed Byrne, 18. Tadhg Furlong, 19. Mike McCarthy, 20. Jack Conan, 21. Eoin Reddan, 22. Noel Reid, 23. Mick McGrath

Is that a Luke Fitzgerald I see before me? No Ross or Kearney again is making me very worried. Why bench Reddan for Boss?

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Castres Olympique
15. Geoffrey Palis; 14. Max Evans, 13. Christopher Tuatara, 12. Romain Cabannes, 11. Remi Grosso; 10. Remi Tales (c), 9. Cedric Garcia; 1. Saimone Taumoepeau, 2. Brice Mach, 3. Ramiro Herrera, 4. Richie Gray, 5. Rodrigo Capo Ortega, 6. Piula Faasalele, 7. Yannick Caballero, 8. Jannie Bornman
16. Mathieu Bonello, 17. Mihaita Lazar, 18. Yohan Montes, 19. Christophe Samson, 20. Mathieu Babillot, 21. Romain Martial, 22. Julien Dumora, 23. Antoine Dupont


Leinster Rugby
15. Zane Kirchner; 14. Darragh Fanning, 13. Gordon D'Arcy, 12. Ian Madigan, 11. Luke Fitzgerald; 10. Jimmy Gopperth, 9. Isaac Boss; 1. Jack McGrath, 2. Sean Cronin, 3. Michael Bent, 4. Devin Toner, 5. Kane Douglas, 6. Rhys Ruddock, 7. Dominic Ryan, 8. Jamie Heaslip (c)
16. Richardt Strauss, 17. Ed Byrne, 18. Tadhg Furlong, 19. Mike McCarthy, 20. Jack Conan, 21. Eoin Reddan, 22. Noel Reid, 23. Mick McGrath

Is that a Luke Fitzgerald I see before me? No Ross or Kearney again is making me very worried. Why bench Reddan for Boss?

Apart from the whole Boss thing this is the most aroused I've been from a Leinster team this year. Add RK, DK and Ross to the equation in the next few weeks I'll only be a Mads Reid combo away from Jizzing.

 

[Big Ewis]

Castres Olympique
15. Geoffrey Palis; 14. Max Evans, 13. Christopher Tuatara, 12. Romain Cabannes, 11. Remi Grosso; 10. Remi Tales (c), 9. Cedric Garcia; 1. Saimone Taumoepeau, 2. Brice Mach, 3. Ramiro Herrera, 4. Richie Gray, 5. Rodrigo Capo Ortega, 6. Piula Faasalele, 7. Yannick Caballero, 8. Jannie Bornman
16. Mathieu Bonello, 17. Mihaita Lazar, 18. Yohan Montes, 19. Christophe Samson, 20. Mathieu Babillot, 21. Romain Martial, 22. Julien Dumora, 23. Antoine Dupont

mmm fk that's right, Kockott is a "French" int'l now, he needs to be rested...this is really bad news, he adds so much to this Castres side.

Rest of the XV is sound and Garcia is by no means bad news at 9, but with their star players out for various reasons (Kockott - France, Sivivatu - long term injury, Lamerat - out some weeks), add the other important absentees in French int'l Yannick Forestier, first choice TH Wihongi and don't know why Diarra isn't playing he was very good against Quins last week.....
I'm just really gutted because this Castres side are worth so much more than just an average effort from Euro teams...

 

[lynam1104]

Very happy with the changes all 3 are the right move

1) We actually have a FB at FB now
2) We actually have 2 wingers now
3) Mads can get more involved at 12
4) Douglas was huge off the bench last week- really physical, fills the role that Throne did a few years ago.

EDIT: Actually I've just noticed Boss WTF?

 

[Big Ewis]

good start from Castres. Frustrating try to give away for Leinster.

 

[Tony Manx]

Every try given is frustrating but that was superb kick from Tales, good catch and grubber from the wing and superb catch and maul to go over....more a Castres super try than one Leinster can blame themselves too much for!! Castres won the first 10 minutes but there are another 70 to go...............got to support Milhas (who got a raw deal from Budda!!)

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Gopperth is the most indecisive 10 I have ever seen!

 

[Tony Manx]

Gopperth is the most indecisive 10 I have ever seen!

@cmac95...cannot have you missing out in this new game!!

You should see the like of Perylongue and the ones brought in over the last 6 years to replace him at Biarritz (Waenga excluded)!!!

 

[Big Ewis]

Castres taking it to the Leinster scrum !!! Lovely sight.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Very controlled half after going down early, nothing vintage but a solid Leinster performance. Keep it going and we should have quite a comfortable finish.

 

[Tony Manx]

Territory and possession figures overwhelmingly in favour of Leinster but some stout defence and not one yellow card for Castres which is amazing for this season where their discipline has been awful................cannot see any other outcome than 4 points winging their way back to Eire!