Scarlets V Leinster

[Scott]

I think if we can win on the weekend it will buy enough time to get the machine running again. purrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Agreed but it's such a big if. It's a must win game for them. They were well able to compete with Clermont in that first half and if they had a full 15 for the second half they may very well have returned home with a LB. So that's the level Scarlets are playing at. If we make as many errors as we did last Saturday we will be in a lot of trouble at parc y scarlets

[mtleinster]

Are we giving too much credit to ASM.
Last year they lost two away games against Ulster and Leicester, and won away to Aroni. you could say their only good result last year was their away QF against Sarries.
2010 They lost away to Racing & Lost away heavily to Leinster.
2009 Beat Viadana. Lost away to Leicester. Lost away to Ospreys

therefore their only away wins over the last three years have been against the lower ranked italian outfit and Sarries.

ASM will be hard pressed to get 19 points out of this campaign.

i would happily take a one point win from this game. would much rather an 8 point win because i think 20 points will be enough to top this group. Away win against scarlets and we on on track to top group

[Broken Wing]

Exeter were ...very well organized in defense.I saw a lot from us to suggest were not far from clicking that maybe I couldn't see from the terrace.

I watched it as well and to me it looked like our defense had their number but our attack was rusty.

I listened to Rugby on OTB last week and something Toland said popped into my mind during Saturday's game. He thinks Leinster are tyring to introduce a change to the way they play. Rather than going wide at every opportunity there's a lot more attacking around the fringes. I noticed this on Saturday when first receiver seemed to try to find space beside the ruck on almost every phase. Discussing this afterwards with a mate we were trying to decide whether the lack of cutting edge in the attack was down to changing the way Leinster play, the players not having a lot of time together or just Exeter having a solid defence. It could, of course be a combination of any or all of those.

So does anyone think Toland is right? Are we seeing a sluggish start due to the introduction of a new game plan which is drawn out by the injury list?

(I've not watched any games back to see if there's any evidence of this which is why I'm asking here.)

[LeRouxIsPHat]

I don't really think we are changing things tbh. I just think that the difference is that we don't have SOB, Boss, Darce, Kearney or Nacewa running straight and hard down the middle. Might seem odd to include Boss but he does a great job of tying in the backrow and sniffing a gap at the breakdown. Hence why I'd like to see Darce back this weekend so that we could have Nacewa running from full back, even if it means Darce isn't quite as sharp as we'd like. McFadden has been pretty good in the last two games but still think we've missed Darce.

I think the general frustration with not gaining yards like we are used to has meant that we've resorted to forcing passes/offloads that aren't on and also to kicking quite a bit, and that was particularly bad on Saturday.

I think things will come good in time but I am worried about the Scarlets game.

[AdamK]

Hrmmm, if Darce is fit, what do people think of him getting the 23 shirt? Start Ferg and move him to the wing if needs be during the game?

[Peg Leg]

Exeter were ...very well organized in defense.I saw a lot from us to suggest were not far from clicking that maybe I couldn't see from the terrace.

I watched it as well and to me it looked like our defense had their number but our attack was rusty.

I listened to Rugby on OTB last week and something Toland said popped into my mind during Saturday's game. He thinks Leinster are tyring to introduce a change to the way they play. Rather than going wide at every opportunity there's a lot more attacking around the fringes. I noticed this on Saturday when first receiver seemed to try to find space beside the ruck on almost every phase. Discussing this afterwards with a mate we were trying to decide whether the lack of cutting edge in the attack was down to changing the way Leinster play, the players not having a lot of time together or just Exeter having a solid defence. It could, of course be a combination of any or all of those.

So does anyone think Toland is right? Are we seeing a sluggish start due to the introduction of a new game plan which is drawn out by the injury list?

(I've not watched any games back to see if there's any evidence of this which is why I'm asking here.)

I've noticed this (since hearing Toland) and came to the conclusion that they were certainly trying this a lot more to generate space (by drawing a lot more than usual to the fringes) for our wingers.
I'm thinking of big breaks by Ferg and Ross here- the failure seems to be in supporting these breaking runners (which is particularly sad if we can't keep up with Ross)

[Dexter]

I've noticed this (since hearing Toland) and came to the conclusion that they were certainly trying this a lot more to generate space (by drawing a lot more than usual to the fringes) for our wingers.
I'm thinking of big breaks by Ferg and Ross here- the failure seems to be in supporting these breaking runners (which is particularly sad if we can't keep up with Ross)

Was great to see Ross run with the ball actually, the last time I remember him breaking with the ball the poor guy looked like he was running in quicksand - looked a bit quicker this time.

[thepunter]

Exeter were ...very well organized in defense.I saw a lot from us to suggest were not far from clicking that maybe I couldn't see from the terrace.

I watched it as well and to me it looked like our defense had their number but our attack was rusty.

I listened to Rugby on OTB last week and something Toland said popped into my mind during Saturday's game. He thinks Leinster are tyring to introduce a change to the way they play. Rather than going wide at every opportunity there's a lot more attacking around the fringes. I noticed this on Saturday when first receiver seemed to try to find space beside the ruck on almost every phase. Discussing this afterwards with a mate we were trying to decide whether the lack of cutting edge in the attack was down to changing the way Leinster play, the players not having a lot of time together or just Exeter having a solid defence. It could, of course be a combination of any or all of those.

So does anyone think Toland is right? Are we seeing a sluggish start due to the introduction of a new game plan which is drawn out by the injury list?

(I've not watched any games back to see if there's any evidence of this which is why I'm asking here.)

this is what Quins are currently doing and it's working for them for the most part. A REALLY interesting point to note though is that it didn't work for them against Exeter, when they lost by 14 points or so at Exeter with a full team, when Exeter were missing two of their true main men in Hayes and Scaysbrook. One of the many reasons we were on Exeter +17 last week to be honest

[thepunter]

Are we giving too much credit to ASM.
Last year they lost two away games against Ulster and Leicester, and won away to Aroni. you could say their only good result last year was their away QF against Sarries.
2010 They lost away to Racing & Lost away heavily to Leinster.
2009 Beat Viadana. Lost away to Leicester. Lost away to Ospreys

therefore their only away wins over the last three years have been against the lower ranked italian outfit and Sarries.

ASM will be hard pressed to get 19 points out of this campaign.

i would happily take a one point win from this game. would much rather an 8 point win because i think 20 points will be enough to top this group. Away win against scarlets and we on on track to top group

I think they do get too much credit, plus they have alot of injuries. With Hines possibly being cited now, they have serious problems away at Exeter in the rain as the lineout is one of their problems. People like Cudmore and Jacquet ( the little worm) just can't cut it. Call me crazy but i'd marginally favour Exeter at this point

[baaba maal]

(I've not watched any games back to see if there's any evidence of this which is why I'm asking here.)[/quote]
I've noticed this (since hearing Toland) and came to the conclusion that they were certainly trying this a lot more to generate space (by drawing a lot more than usual to the fringes) for our wingers.
I'm thinking of big breaks by Ferg and Ross here- the failure seems to be in supporting these breaking runners (which is particularly sad if we can't keep up with Ross)[/quote]

That is the key element for me this year- individuals getting over the gainline and support either too slow or too passive- resulting in either a turnover or just really slow unusable ball. We have other issues but these are the half chances that we have to convert into tries.

[baaba maal]

Ok, I'm pants at using the quote thing

[johng]

Exeter were ...very well organized in defense.I saw a lot from us to suggest were not far from clicking that maybe I couldn't see from the terrace.

I watched it as well and to me it looked like our defense had their number but our attack was rusty.

I listened to Rugby on OTB last week and something Toland said popped into my mind during Saturday's game. He thinks Leinster are tyring to introduce a change to the way they play. Rather than going wide at every opportunity there's a lot more attacking around the fringes. I noticed this on Saturday when first receiver seemed to try to find space beside the ruck on almost every phase. Discussing this afterwards with a mate we were trying to decide whether the lack of cutting edge in the attack was down to changing the way Leinster play, the players not having a lot of time together or just Exeter having a solid defence. It could, of course be a combination of any or all of those.

So does anyone think Toland is right? Are we seeing a sluggish start due to the introduction of a new game plan which is drawn out by the injury list?

(I've not watched any games back to see if there's any evidence of this which is why I'm asking here.)

The thing to do if you want to quote more than 3 people is separate out one quote like this.

this is what Quins are currently doing and it's working for them for the most part. A REALLY interesting point to note though is that it didn't work for them against Exeter, when they lost by 14 points or so at Exeter with a full team, when Exeter were missing two of their true main men in Hayes and Scaysbrook. One of the many reasons we were on Exeter +17 last week to be honest

[baaba maal]

Gotcha.

I think.

Thanks!

[Hickiefan]

Away guides should anyone be interested

Screen version: http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/images/cont ... 2)_new.pdf

Print version: http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/images/cont ... PR_new.pdf

[Sauvignon Blank]

Jeez, getting nervous about this fixture already.

We lose this one and we're in the manure business.

[sontaran man1]

I think if we can win on the weekend it will buy enough time to get the machine running again. purrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Agreed but it's such a big if. It's a must win game for them. They were well able to compete with Clermont in that first half and if they had a full 15 for the second half they may very well have returned home with a LB. So that's the level Scarlets are playing at. If we make as many errors as we did last Saturday we will be in a lot of trouble at parc y scarlets

Huge Scott, huge. But if we can get 4 outta that game I think its business as usual. We will play very very well this season at some point, lets hope its not to late when that happens. WE have won the important games when asked thus far (MUN/exeter). Just one more results should see the full compliment back with the likes of roux etc getting some game time and fitness back. Ditto SOB.
I'll say it again, Ferg at 12 means we have an excellent replacement for Darcy who has had little or no game time and I wouldn't expect him to start the weekend.

[sontaran man1]

Hrmmm, if Darce is fit, what do people think of him getting the 23 shirt? Start Ferg and move him to the wing if needs be during the game?

Yarp!

[sontaran man1]

Are we giving too much credit to ASM.
Last year they lost two away games against Ulster and Leicester, and won away to Aroni. you could say their only good result last year was their away QF against Sarries.
2010 They lost away to Racing & Lost away heavily to Leinster.
2009 Beat Viadana. Lost away to Leicester. Lost away to Ospreys

therefore their only away wins over the last three years have been against the lower ranked italian outfit and Sarries.

ASM will be hard pressed to get 19 points out of this campaign.

i would happily take a one point win from this game. would much rather an 8 point win because i think 20 points will be enough to top this group. Away win against scarlets and we on on track to top group

I think they do get too much credit, plus they have alot of injuries. With Hines possibly being cited now, they have serious problems away at Exeter in the rain as the lineout is one of their problems. People like Cudmore and Jacquet ( the little worm) just can't cut it. Call me crazy but i'd marginally favour Exeter at this point

If Exeter do ASM the winner could be on 15/16 points.
They must be on cloud 9 after saturday and their season in partciular.
Were steeped were going there last.

[CiaranIrl]

People often rattle out that well worn cliche about playing your best players in their best positions, and while I don't know that it applies all the time, it does apply here to a certain extent. If Kearney is out, as expected, then I prefer a backline of (i) Nacewa, Conway, BOD, D'Arcy, McFadden to (ii) Madigan, Conway, BOD, McFadden, Nacewa, or (iii) Nacewa, Conway, BOD, McFadden, Carr.

Yes, McFadden has been playing well, and he deserves to start at 12, but I don't want Madigan to start at 15, and I don't want Carr to start at 11. Them's the breaks Ferg. It's all about the team.

[Cianostays]

I wonder if DK has noticed that Ferg has put in 2 pretty decent shifts at 12 in the past 2 weeks? I still can't quite believe he's never even considered him at 12.

I'd honestly be very reluctant to start D'Arce, with so little game time this season, in a very important game. All depends on how he goes in training I suppose but if he's not fully fit (as opposed to match fit) than he shouldn't start. Can't afford to be carrying someone in midfield with the strike runners Llanelli have at their disposal.