Heineken Cup 2013/14 Pool 1, Round 5 (Castres v Leinster, Ospreys v Saints)

[Draggs]

Pool One, Round Five

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[big ginger 8]

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[TD]01: Jack McGrath[/TD]
[TD]01: Yannick Forestier[/TD]
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[TD]02: Sean Cronin[/TD]
[TD]02: Marc-Antoine Rallier[/TD]
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[TD]03: Mike Ross[/TD]
[TD]03: Karena Wihongi[/TD]
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[TD]04: Devin Toner[/TD]
[TD]04: Richie Gray[/TD]
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[TD]05: Mike McCarthy[/TD]
[TD]05: Christophe Samson[/TD]
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[TD]06: Kevin McLaughlin[/TD]
[TD]06: Mathieu Babillot[/TD]
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[TD]07: Jordi Murphy[/TD]
[TD]07: Ibrahim Diarra[/TD]
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[TD]08: Jamie Heaslip[/TD]
[TD]08: Piula Fa'asalele[/TD]
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[TD]09: Eoin Reddan[/TD]
[TD]09: Cedric Garcia[/TD]
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[TD]10: Jimmy Gopperth[/TD]
[TD]10: Remi Tales[/TD]
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[TD]11: Luke Fitzgerald[/TD]
[TD]11: Max Evans[/TD]
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[TD]12: Gordon D'arcy[/TD]
[TD]12: Remi Lamerat[/TD]
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[TD]13: Brian O'Driscoll[/TD]
[TD]13: Seremaia Bai[/TD]
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[TD]14: Dave Kearney[/TD]
[TD]14: Remy Grosso[/TD]
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[TD]15: Rob Kearney[/TD]
[TD]15: Brice Dulin[/TD]
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[TD]16: Aaron Dundon[/TD]
[TD]16: Brice Mach[/TD]
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[TD]17: Jack O'Connell[/TD]
[TD]17: Mihai Lazar[/TD]
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[TD]18: Martin Moore[/TD]
[TD]18: Benjamin Desroche[/TD]
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[TD]19: Leo Cullen[/TD]
[TD]19: Yannick Caballero[/TD]
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[TD]20: Shane Jennings[/TD]
[TD]20: Julien Tomas[/TD]
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[TD]21: Isaac Boss[/TD]
[TD]21: Daniel Kirkpatrick[/TD]
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[TD]22: Ian Madigan[/TD]
[TD]22: Marcel Garvey[/TD]
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[TD]23: Zane Kirchner[/TD]
[TD]23: Anton Pekrishvili[/TD]
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[Amiga500]

Luckily the Ospreys game is midday.

Those floodlights are wild expensive to run. Poor regions.

 

[Big Ewis]

One of the 3 big matches this weekend with the Clermont and Toulouse ones. Castres better show up goddamn it, they've got enough on that team to take anyone down in Europe. Maybe this is the big test they've been looking for this year.

Some C.O. stats:
- they're currently 3rd in the Top 14 behind the mighty ASM Clermont and Stade Fumanchu (ZeFrenchy(C) ).
- they've the 3rd "best defense" in the Top 14 having conceded just 17 in 16 matches.
- can score some tries themselves being 2nd in the Top 14 in that field with 34 in 16 matches.
- haven't lost a game at home, Top 14 and H Cup besides the draw against Clermont.

 

[Feicarsinn]

I'm very worried about this one. Castres is a bloody tough place for anyone to go with a full contingent, but in Sean O'Brien Leinster are missing the best backrow forward in Europe (come at me) and the losses of Cian Healy and Richardt Strauss in the front row cannot be overstated. While Jack McGrath is a very able replacement, he's not of the same class as Healy and the same goes for the very promising yet very raw Jordi Murphy at 7. Jack O'Connell and Aaron Dundon aren't exactly the best players to be bringing off the bench either.

That said, Castres aren't exactly at full strength either. Rory Kockott is a massive loss for them, as are Pedrie Wannenberg and Capo Ortega. I think the home side will win, but it's going to be an absolute battle. Hopefully we can put up a defensive effort like at the Liberty Stadium.

 

[Big Ewis]

yeah plus I mean Leinster are so **** they couldn't even beat the Saints at home......


uh oh...why is the earth moving ??...

 

[Rumpi]

yeah plus I mean Leinster are so **** they couldn't even beat the Saints at home......


uh oh...why is the earth moving ??...

We've gone horribly off the boil and seem to be struggling to regain the form of earlier in the year.

 

[Big Ewis]

We've gone horribly off the boil and seem to be struggling to regain the form of earlier in the year.

oh...was waiting for something a lot more...."volcanic".

 

[Feicarsinn]

We've gone horribly off the boil and seem to be struggling to regain the form of earlier in the year.

No we haven't. One loss to Northampton doesn't mean things are going badly. We got through the interpros with two victories, both fixutres that we lost last season. Connacht are well known for only turning up for about 4 games a year and it's been a tradition that they show up against us in Galway. Any win there is a good show. I'm worried about the players we're missing, but our form isn't of great concern.

 

[Rumpi]

No we haven't. One loss to Northampton doesn't mean things are going badly. We got through the interpros with two victories, both fixutres that we lost last season. Connacht are well known for only turning up for about 4 games a year and it's been a tradition that they show up against us in Galway. Any win there is a good show. I'm worried about the players we're missing, but our form isn't of great concern.

Limped home against Connacht with a pretty strong team, if you just want to look at the bottom line and see win, then that's up to you, I'm worried about our form.

 

[munstermuffin]

Can't really say they limped home against Connacht. Connacht always put it up in that fixture and been honest I've seen better Leinster teams fall down there. Add in against Ulster they were superb and well they're form has upped a lot from start of season

 

[Rumpi]

Can't really say they limped home against Connacht. Connacht always put it up in that fixture and been honest I've seen better Leinster teams fall down there. Add in against Ulster they were superb and well they're form has upped a lot from start of season

Would have been beaten by Connacht but for some crazy refereeing. Dunno what you were watching, but It was Leinster reserves against ulster reserves in a dire match riddled with mistakes. I don't think we're in great form at all, hopefully the lads can turn it around tomorrow.

 

[munstermuffin]

14 of 23 who played Ulster are in squad tomorrow. Hardly reserve when you add in SOB but they won didn't they. And again Connacht always have put it up to Leinster and have beaten them in Sportsground so fact it was tight isn't surprising. Also if you mean ref decision regards try then Leinster would've won still but regardless if they are playing poorly great it'll suit Munster as it'll be 1 less to worry about in fight for home QF but hope they do win

 

[lynam1104]

I think Rumpi has a point that we have been firing at our best since round 3 and have had a few issues, but I also think its not as bad as hes making it out. We're not on great form but not bad form, just a little average. Pulling out a win tonight will be tough but I think we can.

 

[munstermuffin]

I think Rumpi has a point that we have been firing at our best since round 3 and have had a few issues, but I also think its not as bad as hes making it out. We're not on great form but not bad form, just a little average. Pulling out a win tonight will be tough but I think we can.

Nobody is saying ye are at height of powers but in decent form

 

[Rumpi]

I think Rumpi has a point that we have been firing at our best since round 3 and have had a few issues, but I also think its not as bad as hes making it out. We're not on great form but not bad form, just a little average. Pulling out a win tonight will be tough but I think we can.

Thankfully finally a realistic angle on leinsters form. Considering we had been flying, the recent average form is worrying, today's match is going to be a massive test were unless we find our mojo we're going to get beaten.

Seems to be some irish rugby cheerleaders on this site who are determined to spin everything about irish rugby in a ridiculously positive light.

 

[munstermuffin]

Thankfully finally a realistic angle on leinsters form. Considering we had been flying, the recent average form is worrying, today's match is going to be a massive test were unless we find our mojo we're going to get beaten.

Seems to be some irish rugby cheerleaders on this site who are determined to spin everything about irish rugby in a ridiculously positive light.

Well there seems to be some too who just want to put it down

 

[lynam1104]

Thankfully finally a realistic angle on leinsters form. Considering we had been flying, the recent average form is worrying, today's match is going to be a massive test were unless we find our mojo we're going to get beaten.

Seems to be some irish rugby cheerleaders on this site who are determined to spin everything about irish rugby in a ridiculously positive light.

I think that one thing Leinster supports will have to deal with is coming off our peak, 3 HC in 4 years + the Almin and Rabo last year is remarkable really and now we've lost 3 key men in that and are facing losing another 4 this season, its going to be tough to deal with just like Munster after 09. I think we'll manage it better than they did however I do thin expectations need to be managed, hope for the best prepare for the worst.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

We've peaked at the right times this year but chose an awful time to go off the boil. Ospreys and Saints away had to be are best games of the season thus far, we handily beat Castres at home playing average rugby but we were bad against Saints at home and we were punished big time. The inter-pros, in the Pro 12, are never matches where the teams play great rugby, usually they are dogged affairs which leave the teams in good shape for Heineken Cup rugby. If we can peak again today, like we did in our other two away games a home semi is ours, if we don't we're going to need a bit of help from the Ospreys or Castres playing away from home which is unlikely to come, it can easily be said that our European season depends on what happens in the next two hours. Best case scenario is that we win and the Ospreys do to, but that is a long shot.

 

[lynam1104]

The **** Healys fit? It thought he was gone til mid Feb.