RD Pro12: Leinster - Glasgow Warriors (17-09-2011)

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Royal Dublin Society, Dublin (17-09-2011, 18:00)

Referee: Andrew McMenemy, (SRU, 8th competition game)
Assistant Referees: John Lacey, Trevor Collins (both IRFU)
Citing Commissioner: John West (IFRU)

​

[TABLE="class: grid"]
[TR][TD] Leinster [/TD][TD] [/TD][TD] Glasgow [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Isa Nacewa [/TD][TD] 15 [/TD][TD] Stuart Hogg [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Fionn Carr [/TD][TD] 14 [/TD][TD] Federico Aramburu [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Eoin O'Malley [/TD][TD] 13 [/TD][TD] Rob Dewey [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Luke Fitzgerald [/TD][TD] 12 [/TD][TD] Troy Nathan [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] David Kearney [/TD][TD] 11 [/TD][TD] Colin Shaw [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Ian Madigan [/TD][TD] 10 [/TD][TD] Scott Wright [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Cilian Willis [/TD][TD] 9 [/TD][TD] Henry Pyrgos [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Leo Auva'a [/TD][TD] 8 [/TD][TD] Rory Pitman [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Dominic Ryan [/TD][TD] 7 [/TD][TD] Chris Fusaro [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Rhys Ruddock (c) [/TD][TD] 6 [/TD][TD] Rob Harley [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Devin Toner [/TD][TD] 5 [/TD][TD] Nick Campbell [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Kevin McLaughlin [/TD][TD] 4 [/TD][TD] Tom Ryder [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Jamie Hagan [/TD][TD] 3 [/TD][TD] Ed Kalman [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Richardt Strauss [/TD][TD] 2 [/TD][TD] Finlay Gillies [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Heinke van der Merwe [/TD][TD] 1 [/TD][TD] Ryan Grant [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] [/TD][TD] [/TD][TD] [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Aaron Dundon [/TD][TD] 16 [/TD][TD] Pat MacArthur [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Jack McGrath [/TD][TD] 17 [/TD][TD] Gordon Reid [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Nathan White [/TD][TD] 18 [/TD][TD] Michael Cusack [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Damian Browne [/TD][TD] 19 [/TD][TD] James Eddie [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Jordi Murphy [/TD][TD] 20 [/TD][TD] Duncan Weir [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] John Cooney [/TD][TD] 21 [/TD][TD] Ryan Wilson [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Brendan Macken [/TD][TD] 22 [/TD][TD] Colin Gregor [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Darren Hudson [/TD][TD] 23 [/TD][TD] Peter Horne [/TD][/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

LEINSTER:

15: Isa Nacewa
14: Fionn Carr
13: Eoin O'Malley
12: Luke Fitzgerald
11: David Kearney
10: Ian Madigan
9: Cillian Willis
1: Heinke van der Merwe
2: Richardt Strauss
3: Jamie Hagan
4: Kevin McLaughlin
5: Devin Toner
6: Rhys Ruddock CAPTAIN
7: Dominic Ryan
8: Leo Auva'a
REPLACEMENTS:
16: Aaron Dundon
17: Jack McGrath
18: Nathan White
19: Damian Browne
20: Jordi Murphy
21: John Cooney
22: Brendan Macken
23: Darren Hudson

Nathan White and Jordi Murphy are in line for potential debuts. I like the decision to put Rhys Ruddock back in his best position since it also frees up Leo Auva'a to play 8. Auva'a has been very impressive in pre-season and his two cameos so far this season. Picking Kevin McLaughlin in the second row gives the pack more mobility.

The backline picked itself even though I think Brendan Macken is a bit unlucky. He's in better form and has better long term potential than Eojn O'Malley in my opinion.

 

[profitius]

Is this match on tele?

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

No. Bring back Setanta.

 

[Peat]

How's Darren Hudson going? Remember being very impressed with him a couple of years back.

 

[Logorrhea]

Yep. Ruddock to 6 is a good move, though Ive still not sure if hes a 6 or an 8. Have been impressed with what Little I've seen of Leo so it should be fun to watch him for a full game.

I though Browne was pretty good against the Dragons so hes a little unlucky to miss out for McLaughlin. Still, we'll see how it goes on the day.

Who's Jordi Murphy? He the young openside at the u-19s championship? or am I thinking of someone else?

 

[Peat]

Yep. Ruddock to 6 is a good move, though Ive still not sure if hes a 6 or an 8. Have been impressed with what Little I've seen of Leo so it should be fun to watch him for a full game.

I though Browne was pretty good against the Dragons so hes a little unlucky to miss out for McLaughlin. Still, we'll see how it goes on the day.

Who's Jordi Murphy? He the young openside at the u-19s championship? or am I thinking of someone else?

Jordi Murphy played U20 rugby last year and was notably one of the few Irish pack members who looked up to the stakes physically. Think he mainly played 8 or 6. Has the potential to play at this level at least.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Yeah, Murphy is a decent player. He might be a bit undersized for 6 or 8 but he played pretty well for the u20s. I think he'll have to move elsewhere for regular rugby but it's great to see Joe Schmidt promote another young player with potential.

Auva'a could be a wrecking ball going forward off a strong scrum. I don't know what he's like defensively and his physique looks a little, how should I say it, less refined than it ought to be but he's another good option in the Raboleague.

 

[lynam1104]

I though that Auva'a was a 12?

 

[monkeypigeon]

who si this Leo Auva fella playing number 8?

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Auva'a was playing for Old Belvedere in the AIL for the last 2 years. He played a couple of games for Leinster A last season too.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

NZ

 

[profitius]

No. Bring back Setanta.

The rugby coverage is a joke. RTE are showing some league of Ireland soccer, ffs. They along with TG4 wanted to buy the rights and then don't bother showing any games.

 

[big ginger 8]

How's Darren Hudson going? Remember being very impressed with him a couple of years back.

He's been playing well scored a brilliant try vs the Rebels.

 

[munstermuffin]

Agreed RTE is a joke for coverage and it was a sad day when setanta went.

Snoop how is Leo Auva doing as any time I seen him in AIL he was good.

Also was working for a few IRFU camps for underage teams and it was recently that a well know Leinster man who'd know alot said Shane Buckley (Munster) and Jordi Murphy are 2 players well ahead of their expected progression and well I sure this experience will benefit him.

Also will Leinster leave Fitz at 12 when all internationals return. Nacewa, Kearney and Carr along with Horgan are all realistic options so they don't lack depth there although I'd hope to see McFadden being a starter somewhere too

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/matchcentre/8509.php

Leinster 19 v 23 Glasgow Warriors


Speaking after the game, Leinster Coach Joe Schmidt said: "Yeah we are gutted. That is an incredibly frustrating night for us at the office. The injuries are continuing to mount, I think losing Dominic Ryan and Kevin McLaughlin and Luke Fitzgerald coming off, we really are struggling for numbers. "A couple of young guys got a boost tonight, young Jordi Murphy, I guess we'll see a little bit more of them in the near future. It doesn't look good for the two boys who went down. We are going to have to wait over the next 48 hours to get scans and get the feedback on both himself and Kevin.
"The result is really tough to take. I thought we played a lot of good footie to be honest and I know it doesn't look good on the scoreboard, but there was a lot of frustration around the ruck area and I am pretty disappointed."
A brace of penalties from Isa Nacewa after 2 and 19 minutes edged the hosts 6-0 in front before Glasgow out-half Scott Wight reduced the deficit with a 21st minute penalty.
Luke Fitzgerald, starting at centre for the second time in three games, made several impressive breaks while Devin Toner carried well in the opening exchanges. With Cillian Willis sniping for territory seemingly at every available opportunity Leinster came close to scoring around the 18 minute mark but they had to settle for their second penalty.
It was Glasgow who scored the first try of the game when second row Nick Campbell broke free to touch down and Wight added the extras on 29 minutes to push the Scots into a 10-6 lead.
Seven minutes later Leinster regained the lead though when Ian Madigan capitalised on a fine move involving Willis, David Kearney and a Dominic Ryan assist to touch down at the North end of the ground.
Nacewa added the extras to give Leinster a 13-10 lead which they took with them into the half-time interval.
Leinster were dealt a blow five minutes into the second half when Dominic Ryan left the field with an ankle injury soon after a Duncan Weir penalty, but the Blues managed to secure and execute two further penalties through Nacewa to make the score 19-13 after 51 minutes.
But the Warriors fought back and a second Weir penalty and a 53rd minute Stuart Hogg try pushed them back into a slender one point lead before Weir struck in the 65th minute to give them a 23-19 lead which they withstood until the end despite late pressure from Leinster.
LEINSTER SCORERS: I. Madigan (1 try), I. Nacewa (4 penalties, 1 conversion)
GLASGOW SCORERS: N. Campbell, S. Hogg (1 try each), D. Weir (3 penalties), S. Wight (1 penalty, 1 conversion)
LEINSTER:

15: Isa Nacewa
14: Fionn Carr
13: Eoin O'Malley
12: Luke Fitzgerald (Brendan Macken, 66)
11: David Kearney
10: Ian Madigan
9: Cillian Willis (John Cooney, 74)
1: Heinke van der Merwe
2: Richardt Strauss
3: Jamie Hagan (Nathan White, 47)
4: Kevin McLaughlin (Damian Browne, 66)
5: Devin Toner
6: Rhys Ruddock CAPTAIN
7: Dominic Ryan (Jordi Murphy, 45)
8: Leo Auva'a (Aaron Dundon, 66)
REPLACEMENTS NOT USED: Jack McGrath, Darren Hudson
GLASGOW WARRIORS:
15: Stuart Hogg
14: Federico Aramburu
13: Rob Dewey
12: Troy Nathan
11: Colin Shaw
10: Scott Wight
9: Henry Pyrgos
1: Ryan Grant
2: Finlay Gillies
3: Ed Kalman
4: Tom Ryder
5: Nick Campbell
6: Rob Harley CAPTAIN
7: Chris Fusaro
8: Rory Pitman
REPLACEMENTS:
16: Pat MacArthur
17: Gordon Reid
18: Mike Cusack
19: James Eddie
20: Duncan Weir
21: Ryan Wilson
22: Colin Gregor
23: Peter Horne
BEST Menswear MVP: Cillian Willis
REFEREE: Andrew McMenemy (SRU), ASSISTANT REFEREES: John Lacey (IRFU), Trevor Collins (IRFU), 4th OFFICIAL: Ed Kenny (Leinster Rugby Referees), 5th OFFICIAL: Gordon Murray (Leinster Rugby Referees

Leinster were robbed IMO. Glasgow had two chances and took both of them. Leinster could have scored 4 tries if they had a bit more luck and a bit more patience. I'm not too disheartened though.

The good:
1. Cillian Willis continues to impress. He's only contracted until the end of October but surely deserves to see his contract extended.
2. Ian Madigan has improved a lot this season. He's more confident in leading a back line than he was last year. He carries the ball on himself a bit too often but it's good to see a young player back his own ability.
3. Jamie Hagan will give Mike Ross a run for his money when the Ireland international returns to the setup.
4. Fionn Carr looks electric whenever he gets the ball.
5. Jordi Murphy made his debut and didn't look out of place. He'll see a lot more time on the field over the next few weeks.

The bad:
1. The lineout continues to malfunction but that's correctable.
2. Leinster turned over a lot of ruck ball again. The tight five must up their game in this area.
3. Injuries are beginning to cripple the team. Both Kevin McLaughlin and Dominic Ryan were stretchered from the field. Leinster's backrow options are now extremely slim with Rhys Ruddock and Leo Auva'a the only senior contracted players left.
4. Eoin O'Malley has been very average this season. His partnership with Luke Fitzgerald didn't fire at all. I think he's due a spell on the bench with Brendan Macken replacing him.
5. The scrum noticeably weakened when Nathan White replaced Jamie Hagan. It's was White's debut so there's no need to hang him yet.

The ugly:
1. I hate to pick on a young player but John Cooney just isn't up to it making wrong decisions and passing poorly.
2. The result.

 

[munstermuffin]

Snoop what happened the lads that got injured and will any be serious?

 

[Seaton]

Never expected this result, seems something is wrong with the vBookie...

 

[big ginger 8]

Felt so low in the stadium after actually losing in the RDS.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

It's never nice to lose at home but:

15. Kearney
14. Horgan
13. O'Driscoll
12. D'arcy
11. McFadden
10. Sexton
9. Reddan
1. Healy
2. Cronin
3. Ross
4. Cullen
5. Sykes
6. O'Brien
7. Jennings
8. Heaslip
Others: Shawe, Boss, Berquist, Sheridan, Conway

That's a starting XV and five viable subs who are all either on international duty or injured. In that regard, you can't really be expecting much in terms of results. A few unheralded players are putting their hands up for selection in the full strength 23, namely Willis, Carr, Hagan and Kearney. Ig Leinster can survive this period of the season with 3 wins and 3 losses, they'll be in good stead.