Leinster v Cardiff

[Donny B.]

Happy enough otherwise.

Fairly serious Cardiff team on paper. Esp the back row. If they put in an effort (which they'd focking HAVE TO after losing at home to Zebre) we could be in trouble.

Give me 4 points and an entertaining game. I'll stagger home happy.

They were serious ON PAPER last season too. 59 points and 9 tries later......

[johng]

Don't disagree at all. But you can't just accept that they will be that bad again. (At least until AFTER the game)

[simonokeeffe]

Johng Cardiff havent had a serious team since all their players had massive sideburns, or 4 years ago whatever
Theyve an even weaker team than last years massacre, no Roberts, Davies, Tom James

They match us in the back 3 and thats about it
Centres, Halfbacks, every forward unit and bench we're ahead

McGrath, Ross, Cooney and Murphy will make for some nice impact with 20 or so minutes left

[limecat]

Match Preview

After the try-scoring exploits of the first two weeks, last week's game against Glasgow brought Leinster's mood back down to earth. The result in itself wasn't a disgrace, nabbing a losing bonus point away to Glasgow isn't so bad given how much the Scots have improved in recent years. However Leinster's self-assessment process is far too honest for them to take much comfort from that as even the losing bonus point was largely down to Glasgow's almost comically bad place-kicking. It resembled the early episodes of the X-Factor as a succession of kickers came up to take their turn to miss, each player doing worse than the last. It denied Glasgow the comfortable victory they deserved, even though they themselves were far from their best.

Read more...

[QBer]

McGrath, Ross, Cooney and Murphy will make for some nice impact with 20 or so minutes left

Is that Cooney the same scrum half who had a bullet-like pass in the early part of last season?

[simonokeeffe]

McGrath, Ross, Cooney and Murphy will make for some nice impact with 20 or so minutes left

Is that Cooney the same scrum half who had a bullet-like pass in the early part of last season?

thats the one

[JB1973]

Johng Cardiff havent had a serious team since all their players had massive sideburns, or 4 years ago whatever
Theyve an even weaker team than last years massacre, no Roberts, Davies, Tom James

They match us in the back 3 and thats about it
Centres, Halfbacks, every forward unit and bench we're ahead

McGrath, Ross, Cooney and Murphy will make for some nice impact with 20 or so minutes left

Throw into the mix their porous defence and frankly their lack of fight when it comes to digging in away from home you should be heading for a BP win.

One thing to watch out for is Rees ability to strike for the ball against the head, he is one of the few hookers who played in the era when you had to actually strike for the ball and his still very adept at it (not much use when your pack is going back at a rate of knots though!)

[hugonaut]

I like the team we're putting out this week. Wasn't at all happy with last week's team and still unsure whether Denton is getting ahead of Marshall because of injury or 'ability', but it's a well-balanced outfit. Three 22 year olds in the pack in Marty Moore, Rhys and Quinn Roux, as well as the 23 year old Dom Ryan. Hopefully all four will be significant contributors this year.

As others have noted, Noel Reid being given a good chance to shine in a strong backline – Madigan and Boss inside him, O'Driscoll and McFadden outside him. I don't think anybody is sold on Reid's consistency at this level, but I've seen him tear up teams in the B&I Cup with midfield breaks and good hands, and he's got a good kicking game as well. His major flaws are obviously his decision-making, his wishy-washy defense and a few confidence issues, so it'll be interesting to see how composed he is in midfield.

[johng]

Johng Cardiff havent had a serious team since all their players had massive sideburns,

1905?

[offshorerules]

Johng Cardiff havent had a serious team since all their players had massive sideburns,

1905?

Was it that recent?

[jezzer]

a few confidence issues,

Under-confidence or over-confidence?

[Donny B.]

a few confidence issues,

Under-confidence or over-confidence?

A very strange combination of both actually...

[simonokeeffe]

Johng Cardiff havent had a serious team since all their players had massive sideburns,

1905?

Was it that recent?

yeah I remember it as was Martyn Williams first season

@JB interesting re Rees, dont rate props either side of him though and locks arent monsters either

For our own lineout D. Ryan is very good and gives us 5 options then although Roux may be used more as a lifter

@Hugo I think youre right re Reid, lots of proven performers around him so does he play his natural game or try too hard? cant see him retreating into his shell either way though. Same with Madigan re HC and Ireland places

[dropkick]

Does Moores selection indicate that he is threatening Mike Ross for the tighthead position? Ross looks like he could do with more games. From an Ireland point of view its an interesting one.


Reid is another interesting selection. I like him from what I have seen of him, I think himself and BOD could be a good combination.

[Donny B.]

Does Moores selection indicate that he is threatening Mike Ross for the tighthead position? Ross looks like he could do with more games. From an Ireland point of view its an interesting one.

Reid is another interesting selection. I like him from what I have seen of him, I think himself and BOD could be a good combination.

Under the IRFU player management programme Ross can only start so many games and he's already started two. Moore struggled a bit against the Scarlets but with the Blues scrum pretty ordinary, my guess is that the management will take a chance on him here. Ross will be back for the next three weeks so he'll get plenty of games.

[brummie-leinster-man]

Would any of you good people have a link for a UK resident please?

EDIT: scrap that, thought it was on RTE but just found it on BBC Wales

[MylesNaGapoleen]

sorry guys...I'm in the same boat as brummie-leinster-lad here in london....anyone got a link...I think twomint has retired

[brummie-leinster-man]

sorry guys...I'm in the same boat as brummie-leinster-lad here in london....anyone got a link...I think twomint has retired

Ive just found it on BBC red button

[MylesNaGapoleen]

am on freeview.....feck.

[jimbobjoe]

that was beautiful