Leinster v Leicester

[An Tarbh]

<div align='center'>

Leinster v Leicester</div>

Well it's a commentator's nightmare, especially for the French, but not a bad way to sign off to what's been a pretty decent season of Heineken Cup rugby.

Can Leicester go to the well yet again following 3 matches of equal intensity and pressure coupled with the efforts needed to get past Cardiff in the semi-final. You can take the flip side and say they're possibly more battle hardened than Leinster who in turn can point to their knockout matches as proof of being able to come through a battle. So many good points in favour of either side but none of that will matter a jot come kickoff.

Either way an Irishman is lifting the trophy, or maybe not given what happened at Twickenham. Still would be scant consolation to Irish fans bar the Murphy family methinks.

Battle of the breakdown is going to be mammoth with the form blindside in the compeition going up against the possible Lions contender Croft, unless he continues in the second row, again though with Crane, Newby and Woods the battle won't be any less intense.

Will be interesting to see how Cullen and Jennings react going up against their former club.

Heart says Leinster but head is leaning towards Leicester.

 

[aligmacd123]

I think its going to be Leinster by 15 points. They just seem to have a bigger threat than Leicester. That was shown by the way they saw off Munster.

I just think Leinster are the more impressive team, however, from many past experiences, that doesn't mean that they will win. Hopefully, they will!

 

[An Tarbh]

Thing is though can Leinster find the same intensity of performance that they had against Leicester, there's not the same history with Leicester even though there's plenty to fall back on, Leinster had a great chance in 2005 with the home quarter against Leicester and were blown off the park so if that can motivate them to a similar performance then great but I still have my doubts.

 

[Vambo]

Leicester win

 

[Bullitt]

I said it before the Semi... Only a fool writes Tigers off.

 

[feicarsinn]

<strike>tigers off</strike>

I agree with Mite.
But really I'm torn Leinster have the talent but the experiance is with Leicster. It's all a question of just how much Leinster have come on in the past 2 years. They have lots of Grand slam winners and took the ML last year but this is different. I hope they go out and do it, god know it's about time

 

[dullonien]

I'm gonna be backing Leinster all the way. Leicester have won it enough times already!

 

[shazbooger]

Well I'll be there so anything less than a Leinster win will be a farkin disaster (or a god awful waste of money).

To be honest, I'd just love to see O'Driscoll raise the trophy. Of all the playrs in Europe I believe he really deserves it. I would though.

I dont buy into either Leicester being tired or Leinster being too soft. It'll be close and both defenses have been impressive. Too close to call but I'll say Leinster by 4 or 5.

 

[Sir Speedy]

I think Leinster will win. They have more experience than Cardiff, who came within a cat's whisker of winning the semi, and they're a better team anyway.
Leicester would also be mourning a Guinness Premiership final loss if Irish knew how to take bread-basket opportunities, so it's not as impossible a task as the semi was for Leinster. That'll probably work in Leicester's favour though, so God knows. Celtic bias wins for me though.

 

[rugbierbanger]

I say Leicester, now that Contepomi is badly injured, but I like Leinster especially their backs

 

[shazbooger]

Funny though not maany over here really see Contepomi as a loss. Not a reflection of him as a player, but more a reflection of the pack, and their ability to provide decent ball for a change. With decent ball coming, any 10 looks good, and sexton has looked really good.

 

[Bullitt]

I'll agree with that point about Sexton, he really did look like a special talent at Crocker.

 

[shazbooger]

Ahh he's right out of most outhalves book of inconsistency. He's not the kicker Contepomi is but has great passing off both hands. Hes a big enough lad aswell so kind of reminds me of Stephen Jones when he was younger.

The thing is the occasion hasnt gotten to him yet. Thats what I've admired most about his performances this year.

 

[An Tarbh]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Logorrhea @ May 19 2009, 09:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Ahh he's right out of most outhalves book of inconsistency. He's not the kicker Contepomi is but has great passing off both hands. Hes a big enough lad aswell so kind of reminds me of Stephen Jones when he was younger.

The thing is the occasion hasnt gotten to him yet. Thats what I've admired most about his performances this year.[/b]

plus he's the only one to have gotten the backs going this season, Contepomi and Nacewa certainly haven't.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Leinster squad to face Leicester Tigers...

FORWARDS (14): Cian Healy, Ronan McCormack, John Fogarty, Bernard Jackman, Stephen Knoop, Stan Wright, Leo Cullen, Trevor Hogan, Malcolm O'Kelly, Devin Toner, Rocky Elsom, Shane Jennings, Sean O'Brien, Jamie Heaslip

BACKS (12): Chris Keane, Simon Keogh, Chris Whitaker, Jonathan Sexton, Luke Fitzgerald, Rob Kearney, Gordon D'Arcy, Fergus McFadden, Brian O'Driscoll, Shane Horgan, Girvan Dempsey, Isa Nacewa

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

http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/newsroom/3492.php

Speaking ahead of Saturday's Heineken Cup final, Leinster Coach MICHAEL CHEIKA said that the team are focused and relaxed ahead of the trip to Edinburgh... “We’ve had a pretty relaxed atmosphere, which is the best word for it. Things went up a notch today where we got into a bit of contact work and the last bits of physicality before we get into the game. Everyone came through that nicely, so I’m happy enough.

“Rocky (Elsom) is back. He did contact work today and everyone’s good. We’ve got a lot of options, and one thing I do know is that whatever way we start we will have the ability to change the game from the bench if we have to because whoever starts from the bench will be able to bring something, with the bench we have. They’ll have a pretty strong bench as well, as they have done over the last few weeks. So both teams will have the ability to change the course of the game.

“We have done nothing different (in the preparation). Obviously it’s slightly different logistically because a lot of the guys didn’t play last weekend, so we’ve had a different kind of build up. It has been a long season so it’s important to try to keep the guys as fresh as possible.

“We probably had a bit more lead time in preparing for the opposition, but not getting too buried in it either in thinking about our own game, so we’ve been pretty relaxed about it.

“We believe in ourselves. The only guarantee that you can get in this game is that we try to go out and give everything that we’ve got in the final. We know that it’s our first time here and that Leicester are very experienced so we understand where we are. We’ve got to prepare our mental state so that we give them a real run for their money.

“I’d be a big believer that hard games (Leicester’s Premiership final last weekend) are good for you, but our players have been pretty concentrated on the week ahead. We gave them time last week to have a look at Leicester, who aren’t a team we play that regularly.

“I thought their game last weekend was classic Leicester. They know how to win, don’t they? If you saw the first 20 minutes after half-time they decided that they were going to hold on to the ball. They made a 4:1 (ratio) more tackle count on London Irish and once they saw that things weren’t going right for them in the first half they just showed what kind of a championship class side they are.

“We have to understand where we are and not worry too much about where Leicester are. I don’t know if their record in this competition will intimidate our players, but it’s a big confidence booster for their own players. We’ve got our own team culture that we believe in and we’re obviously pretty true to that. It’s still in the development stage, but I would say that our self-belief is very strong within the team and what we’ve got to try to do is relax and bring it on the day because that’s what cup finals are all about.

“Our mission is to go on and win the game, but we’re not getting to get anxious by that. We’ve got to stay calm and understand how we’re going to achieve that mission against what is a formidable enemy. The more you look at them in the scrum, in the lineout, in their power play and in their counter attack where Geordan Murphy is a very explosive player, youâ€e talking about a formidable opponent. We want to enjoy the build-up, and as the word say ‘build-up†towards kick off time.â€[/b]

 

[shtove]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (An Tarbh @ May 19 2009, 04:45 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Heart says Leinster but head is leaning towards Leicester.[/b]

Heart says Leinster. Head says Leinster. Stomach says Steak and Chips.

Both good in attack. Leinster better defence, Leicester always crack.

Only doubts are that Leicester's defence didn't crack against London Irish, Murphy has had a great run as captain, and Jordan Crane is the next Martin Johnson.

But BOD is in Red Army mode - defends until he's almost dead, then counter attacks and slaughters.

 

[Bullitt]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (shtove @ May 19 2009, 09:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (An Tarbh @ May 19 2009, 04:45 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Heart says Leinster but head is leaning towards Leicester.[/b]

Heart says Leinster. Head says Leinster. Stomach says Steak and Chips.

Both good in attack. Leinster better defence, Leicester always crack.

Only doubts are that Leicester's defence didn't crack against London Irish, Murphy has had a great run as captain, and Jordan Crane is the next Martin Johnson.

But BOD is in Red Army mode - defends until he's almost dead, then counter attacks and slaughters.
[/b][/quote]

:huh:

New to rugby, are we?

 

[MunsterMan]

I agree completely about Jordan Crane, how come it seems like he is not rated outside of Munster folk?

 

[shtove]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Teh Mite @ May 20 2009, 08:45 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (shtove @ May 19 2009, 09:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Both good in attack. Leinster better defence, Leicester always crack.[/b]

:huh:

New to rugby, are we?
[/b][/quote]
No disrespect to the fcukers, but that's the way I've seen them this season - good fun, but a bit flakey. Geordan Murphy style. The last few weeks put a different spin on it.

Club tradition may come through for them. Same with Leinster - wilt under pressure. But I don't fink so. It will be the opposite: in-your-face win for Leinster.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

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

http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/newsroom/3500.php

The Leinster team to face the Leicester Tigers in Saturday's Heineken Cup final in Murrayfield (KO: 5pm) has been named... The side shows one change to the starting line up from the semi final victory over Munster with Jonathan Sexton set to partner Chris Whitaker at half-back, while Brian O’Driscoll resumes his centre partnership with Gordon D’Arcy.

In the pack Rocky Elsom starts in the back-row alongside Ireland duo Shane Jennings and Jamie Heaslip, with Leo Cullen leading the side for what is the province’s first appearance in the Heineken Cup final.

Rob Kearney is named on a strong replacements bench alongside the likes of Girvan Dempsey, Devin Toner and Sean O’Brien.

LEINSTER:

15: Isa Nacewa
14: Shane Horgan
13: Brian O’Driscoll
12: Gordon D’Arcy
11: Luke Fitzgerald
10: Jonathan Sexton
9: Chris Whitaker

1: Cian Healy
2: Bernard Jackman
3: Stan Wright
4: Leo Cullen CAPTAIN
5: Malcolm O’Kelly
6: Rocky Elsom
7: Shane Jennings
8: Jamie Heaslip

REPLACEMENTS:

16: John Fogarty
17: Ronan McCormack
18: Devin Toner
19: Sean O’Brien
20: Simon Keogh
21: Rob Kearney
22: Girvan Dempsey

REFEREE: Nigel Owens (WRU), ASSISTANT REFEREES: Nigel Whitehouse (WRU), Hugh Watkins (WRU), 4th OFFICIAL: Christophe Berdos (FFR), 5th OFFICIAL: Andy McPherson (ARU), TMO: Tim Hayes (WRU)[/b]