Connacht v Leinster, Saturday October 23, RTE2

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Connacht team to play Leinster: Gavin Duffy, Darragh Fanning, Niva Ta'auso, Keith Matthews, Fionn Carr, Ian Keatley, Frank Murphy, Brett Wilkinson, Sean Cronin, Jamie Hagan, Michael Swift, Michael McCarthy, Johnny O'Connor, Ray Ofisa, John Muldoon
Replacements: Adrian Flavin, Barry Fa'amasuili, Ronan Loughney, Bernie Upton, Ezra Taylor, Cillian Willis, Miah Nikora, Troy Nathan

Leinster team to play Connacht: Rob Kearney, Shane Horgan, Eoin O'Malley, Fergus McFadden, Isa Nacewa, Jonathan Sexton, Isaac Boss, Cian Healy, Richardt Strauss, Mike Ross, Leo Cullen, Devin Toner, Sean O'Brien, Shane Jennings, Jamie Heaslip
Replacements: Jason Harris-Wright, Heinke van der Merwe, Simon Shawe, Nathan Hines, Dominic Ryan, Eoin Reddan, Gordon D'Arcy, Andrew Conway

 

[munstermuffin]

I'd expect Sexton and Cullen to play for match fitness but not many more internationals I'd say and if they do it will be for a limited time

 

[coonor]

I think thats a good squad but maybe Its time to rest Heaslip. I think Ruddock deserves a spot, although he may be behind Ryan he is still a great prospect for Ireland and Leinster.

My squad would be
Van der Merwe, Harris wright, Shawe, Cullen, Toner, Ruddock, Jennings, O'Brien, Boss, Sexton, Mcfadden, O'malley, Horgan, Nacewa, Kearney

Subs: Healy, Strauss, O'Donoghue, Ryan, Reddan, D'arcy, Fitzgerald

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/newsroom/5198.php

Luke Fitzgerald sustained a knock during Leinster's 25-23 victory over Saracens in Wembley on Saturday but an x-ray on Monday afternoon has revealed that he suffered bruising and it is expected that he should be fit to resume training on Thursday.

Brian O'Driscoll is progressing well from the hamstring strain he suffered against Racing-Métro 92 and at this stage he has not been ruled out of Saturday's interprovincial derby, which will be Leinster's fourth away Magners League encounter out of six.

Leo Cullen successfully came through his first appearance in six months as a second half replacement in London last weekend and is available for selection.

Jonathan Sexton, who scored all 25 points for the province against Saracens, also came through the weekend unscathed after his recent quad injury.

Ed O'Donoghue (knee) is making good progress in his rehabilitation but is unlikely to be available this weekend.
The team is expected to be announced on Friday lunchtime.

 

[coonor]

Although it is obviously important to rest some players after two tough h-cup weeks we could do with win here to get us back on track in the Magners league. Cullen should definatley be in as should Sexton as they havn't had a full magners league match yet. I would at least rest Heaslip, Hines, Reddan and Fitzgerald

 

[munstermuffin]

Luke Fitz and BOD expected to play in this one. Good news for Ireland

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

http://www.connachtrugby.ie/2010102182324/connacht-squad-to-face-leinster

Connacht Have named a 25 man squad to face Leinster in this Saturday's Magners League derby clash.

The squad is unchanged from last Friday's Amlin Challenge Cup win over French side Bayonne. Slight injury worries surround prop Jamie Hagan but the former Leinster academy player is expected to pull through.

Connacht squad to face Leinster, Saturday 23rd October, 6.05pm

Forwards:
Adrian Flavin, Sean Cronin, Jamie Hagan, Brett Wilkinson, Barry Fa'amasulli, Ronan Loughney, Dermot Murphy, Michael Swift, Michael McCarthy, Andrew Browne, Bernie Upton, Johnny O'Connor, John Muldoon (C), Ray Ofisa

Backs:
Cillian Willis, Frank Murphy, Ian Keatley, Miah Nikora, Keith Matthews, Niva Ta'auso, Fionn Carr, Darragh Fanning, Shane Monahan, Gavin Duffy, Troy Nathan

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Leo Cullen starts for Leinster but Jamie Heaslip retains the captaincy.

Connacht team to play Leinster: Gavin Duffy, Darragh Fanning, Niva Ta'auso, Keith Matthews, Fionn Carr, Ian Keatley, Frank Murphy, Brett Wilkinson, Sean Cronin, Jamie Hagan, Michael Swift, Michael McCarthy, Johnny O'Connor, Ray Ofisa, John Muldoon
Replacements: Adrian Flavin, Barry Fa'amasuili, Ronan Loughney, Bernie Upton, Ezra Taylor, Cillian Willis, Miah Nikora, Troy Nathan

Leinster team to play Connacht: Rob Kearney, Shane Horgan, Eoin O'Malley, Fergus McFadden, Isa Nacewa, Jonathan Sexton, Isaac Boss, Cian Healy, Richardt Strauss, Mike Ross, Leo Cullen, Devin Toner, Sean O'Brien, Shane Jennings, Jamie Heaslip
Replacements: Jason Harris-Wright, Heinke van der Merwe, Simon Shawe, Nathan Hines, Dominic Ryan, Eoin Reddan, Gordon D'Arcy, Andrew Conway

Leo Cullen will make his first start of the season for Leinster in Saturday's Magners League clash with Connacht at the Sportsground.

Cullen partners Devin Toner, fresh from his call up to the Ireland squad earlier this week, at second row.

Isaac Boss partners Jonathan Sexton at half-back, with Eoin O'Malley lining up at centre with Fergus McFadden in a backline which also includes Shane Horgan, Rob Kearney and Isa Nacewa.

Andrew Conway's good form, after the Ireland Under-20 wing scored a brace of tries in Leinster's opening round 33-28 British & Irish Cup win over Newport last Sunday, sees him take his place on a replacements bench which includes the likes of Gordon D'Arcy, Nathan Hines and Eoin Reddan.

Connacht's squad sees just one change on the bench as Ezra Taylor replaces Andrew Browne who is ruled out through sickness.

Ireland trio John Muldoon, Sean Cronin and Gavin Duffy are included in the same starting lineup that beat French highflyers Bayonne in the Amlin Challenge Cup last weekend as Connacht look to complete a 3 in a row victory over Leinster in the Sportsground.

http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/magnersleague/2010/1022/leinster.html

http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/magnersleague/2010/1022/leinster.html

 

[munstermuffin]

Will Heaslip maybe take over as captain next season. Good decision to not give Leo captaincy straight away and just let him concentrate on getting his form first. I suppose he will just play 50-55 mins

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

I suspect that for now Leo Cullen is just being asked to concentrate on getting his fitness back and not have to worry about the added responsibility of captaincy. Heaslip could very well be captain in the long term. If his contract is up after the World Cup (as is being speculated) perhaps offering him the provincial captaincy is a sweetener to get him to re-sign for Leinster. [Leinster bias] Who knows, maybe he'll get the Ireland captaincy too in time for the 2012 6 Nations [/Leinster bias].

Looking at the respective teams, Connacht appear to be full strength while Leinster are close to full strength too. [Hyperbole] It'll be a ***anic struggle[/Hyperbole]. Leinster's greater options on the bench could swing it their way- van der Merwe, Hines, Reddan and D'arcy can all change a game. I'm happy to see Andrew Conway make a matchday 23 for the 1st time this season. He along with other benchees Jason Harris-Wright and Dominic Ryan can all make a big impact as the season progresses.

 

[munstermuffin]

Only worry I'd have Snoop is he has openly stated he'd like to try his hand down under after World Cup.

As for match I think it'll be a tight game as Connacht seem to ignore form although they're in good form this year but they always put it up to Leinster

 

[hermanshire]

Keatley misses penalty

 

[hermanshire]

3-5 at half time. I watched from about 25 minutes. Connacht the stronger team.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

3-8 now. Leinster are dominating territory and possession but aren't using the ball well or creating line breaks. It's a boring enough game.

 

[munstermuffin]

Will there be any flow to this game at all.

 

[coonor]

Just watching the Highlights in RTE player. Great break from Boss and a beautiful pass out wide straight into Nacewa's path for an easy try (shows you what can be done with good set peice). Cronins breakdown the wing was great, how many hooker have the speed to break the line, with a quick step, an effortless hand off and a lovely kick. A lovely intercept try from Ryan to end the game, shows that he can be a good impact player.

 

[munstermuffin]

A deserved win for Leinster but what an awful game.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

It was a terrible game. I disagree totally with a lot of today's papers in which it's claimed Connacht should have kicked the ball dead and settled for a "deserved" bonus point. Why should a home team settle for a narrow loss when they're within 5 points of the opposition, have the ball and a chance to get a win?! In my opinion got what they deserved from the game- absolutely nothing. I don't think they created one line break all match. The away team smothered possession, had a huge territorial advantage and could have won by more.

Leinster's main positives were a second consecutive away victory, a fourth win on the trot, superb disciplined defence, a good scrum (until Ross left the field), secure lineout and the fact that they closed the game out without their pack leaders Cullen and Heaslip. Richardt Strauss was a deserved Man of the Match. Dominic Ryan only had 10 minutes on the field but he once again showed how good he can become- starts against Munster and the Scottish teams, a Heineken Cup debut and 2 tries is a dream beginning to the season for the 20 year old.

Connacht's scrum gave as god as they got for 63 minutes (with Leinster just shading this aspect of the game) but they really went through the gears in the last 17 minutes and gave Simon Shawe a torrid time. It has been said that Fionn Carr, Ian Keatley and Jamie Hagan were unlucky not to make the Ireland squad. Of those three only Hagan backed up his disappointment with a good display going toe to toe with Cian Healy- Carr was bested by Shane Horgan and Jonny Sexton comfortably outplayed Keatley.

I hope this puts an end to the stories of plucky Connacht and how they're playing above themselves. After an encouraging start to the season their form has dropped off massively in their last 5 games against Ulster, Cardiff Blues, Cavalieri, Bayonne and Leinster. They don't have the squad to cope with a long season and we're seeing signs of it already in late October. Eric Elwood must be crying out for a couple of second rows, a pair of centres and another winger.

 

[coonor]

I could see this happening to Connacht. a couple of wins a the start while other teams aren't playing their first 15 but when the come against propper challenges they fall apart. still their in a good position but they very much lack strengh in deph. anouther problem is that most of Connacht best players are from other provinces and just go to Galway to mature than go back to where they came from. Connacht are still building and Elwood is doing a good job with the squad that he has.I could see this happening to Connacht. a couple of wins a the start while other teams aren't playing their first 15 but when the come against propper challenges they fall apart. still their in a good position but they very much lack strengh in deph. anouther problem is that most of Connacht best players are from other provinces and just go to Galway to mature than go back to where they came from. Connacht are still building and Elwood is doing a good job with the squad that he has.