Leinster v Edinburgh

[An Tarbh]

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Leinster v Edinburgh

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Andy Robinson will be looking for a much improved performance this weekend against the defending champions following their rather flat performance last weekend against Munster.

Edinburgh only make 1 change to the side due to the injury sustained by Alan MacDonald with Scott Newlands coming in at no. 8 causing Ally Hogg to switch to the openside.

Leinster have made 4 changes to the team which drew with the Blues last Saturday, Girvan Dempsey and Luke Fitzgerald come into the back 3 while in the pack Stan Wright and Trevor Hogan also start.

Ticket sales were over 12000 during the week so there should be quite a crowd at the RDS this evening.

It'll take a much improved performance than last week's for Leinster to get the win while the same certainly applies to Edinburgh.

Leinster: Dempsey; Fitzgerald, O'Driscoll, Contepomi, Kearney; Sexton, Whitaker; McCormack, Jackman, Wright, Hogan, O'Kelly, Jowitt, Jennings, Heaslip.
Replacements: Healy, Fogarty, Toner, O'Brien, Keane, Horgan, Nacewa.

Edinburgh: Hugo Southwell; Mark Robertson, Calum MacRae, Nick De Luca, Chris Paterson, Phil Godman, Mike Blair (captain); Allan Jacobsen, Ross Ford, Geoff Cross, Craig Hamilton, Ben Gissing, Matt Mustchin, Allister Hogg, Scott Newlands.
Replacements: Steve Lawrie, Gavin Kerr, Steve Turnbull, Andrew Kelly, Greig Laidlaw, David Blair, Andrew Turnbull.

 

[An Tarbh]

Half time, Leinster 20-6 Edinburgh

Leinster full value for their lead, peach of a take on the charge down by Fitzgerald for his second try.

 

[An Tarbh]

Full Time: Leinster 52-6 Edinburgh

Very impressive from Leinster, Nacewa certainly looks a class act, very good addition to the squad. So many positives from Leinster, the strength off the bench is also a huge plus.

One thing's for sure it won't be that easy come the opening day of the Heineken Cup.

 

[shazbooger]

Yeah. Was at it myself and thought it was pretty good.

Defensively they were very very strong and as the game went on they just took control away from Edinburgh and racked up the points. Scoring 52 points and not conceeding a try. A good nights work.

 

[Prestwick]

Well that was pretty conclusive...

 

[shtove]

Didn't see that coming. Edinburgh have been their bogey team for three (?) seasons.

How did Leinster backrow play?

 

[shazbooger]

Hard to tell really. When your at the match you dont see the breakdown up close. Jowitt actually looked pretty good with ball in hand (was breaking the gainline every time), Jennings seemed to be there or there abouts but wasnt dominant and Heaslip seemed to be doing okay. It was a fairly open game though. Edinburgh liked to throw it wide so O'Driscoll was still the most effective loose forward at the breakdown.

Leinsters tight game wasnt that great. Scrums were messy, Jackman missed a few lineouts (always does when the opposition put two jumpers in the air) so I wouldnt be delighted with the tight work. On the plus side, CJ Van DeLinde was "unveiled", Rocky Elsom should be coming up in a week or two, if we can get Cullen back we should doing better in the lineout.

 

[Prestwick]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (shtove @ Sep 13 2008, 12:21 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Didn't see that coming. Edinburgh have been their bogey team for three (?) seasons.

How did Leinster backrow play?[/b]

Maybe that shows their gradual improvement.

Now, the real test will begin when the HEC gets underway.

 

[An Tarbh]

Edinburgh aren't really a bogey team at home, it's Murrayfield that's the problem and could well be again in 4 weeks time if we're not complacent although we seem to keep saying that every season and time and time again they fall into the trap.

 

[edinburgh_gunner]

Embarrasing. No other word for it.

yes, we were missing a few players but we should have at least been able to get a few more points and keep it respectable. A hell of alot of work to be done.

 

[MunsterMan]

Fitzgerald was good as was Nacewa. Picking the Leinster backline this season will be a real headache for Cheika with all the options he has their. Once CJ and Rocky arrive Leinster will be very tough to beat. I think the HC match in Murrayfield will be a good Indicator on how their season will go.

 

[An Tarbh]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MunsterMan @ Sep 14 2008, 09:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Fitzgerald was good as was Nacewa. Picking the Leinster backline this season will be a real headache for Cheika with all the options he has their. Once CJ and Rocky arrive Leinster will be very tough to beat. I think the HC match in Murrayfield will be a good Indicator on how their season will go.[/b]

Edinburgh's side should be a good deal stronger come that match, what's the news on the injury front with the Edinburgh players???

 

[edinburgh_gunner]

Simon Webster (hip), Alan MacDonald (hip), David Callam (hip), Andrew Easson (head knock), Simon Cross (ribs) and Fraser McKenzie (back) all miss the trip to Dublin.

They are joined by long term casualties Ben Cairns (knee ligament), Ross Rennie (knee), Jim Hamilton (shoulder), John Houston (pelvic) and Matt Dey (shoulder).

That was the list before the Leinster game.

Webster, McDonald, Easson, Cross and McKenzie could be back. Hamilton had game time the weekend in a Prem 1 game so here's hoping he'd be back. Cairns and Rennie are doubtful.