Leinster v Benetton Sat 6 Apr KO 19:45 TG4

[wixfjord]

COB is an odd call at 13.........12 surely.

COB has played a lot at 13. 3/4 starts already this season there.

I'd love to know what the story is with Molony and ROL, no mention of them this week.

[desperado]

Like the pack. Nice to see Porter get a start and good to see Penny on the bench. Kearney's form makes that second row look a lot stronger than it would have done a few months back.

As much as I like Noel, not liking the fact that we seem to be wrapping Ross in cotton wool because it points to us being worried about either himself or Johnny, or maybe both. Thought Ross looked injured last week but a few reports said it was just cramp...hmmm. That reminds me that I still think his fitness might have played a part in his 6N omission, he really does go down with cramp an awful lot.

Can't understand why we'd go with Tomane at 12. I don't mind him getting games to get up to speed, but COB should really be at 12 and after his last performance I think 23 is where Tomane should be.

It's unlikely to happen but would love to see Tommy O'Brien before the end of season, not sure how bad his injury is.

It was called cramp v Ulster; but didn't he have a 'foot injury' that meant Frawley was a late change v Edinburgh the previous week. I'd say he had more than just cramp and he's definitely being cotton wooled.

[Blueberry]

COB is an odd call at 13.........12 surely.

COB has played a lot at 13. 3/4 starts already this season there.

I'd love to know what the story is with Molony and ROL, no mention of them this week.

Just looks like a 12 to me.........big strong version of Darcy !!

[leinsterforever]

COB is an odd call at 13.........12 surely.

COB has played a lot at 13. 3/4 starts already this season there.

I'd love to know what the story is with Molony and ROL, no mention of them this week.

It was announced that ROL wouldn't be back for this weekend due to the injury he picked up against Ulster.

[limecat]

Match Preview

Leinster progressed to the semi finals of the Champions Cup last week but Ulster made it a lot tougher than expected.

Ulster brought a surprising physicality to the mix, especially in defence and they deserve great credit for pushing Leinster to the wire. But when it mattered Leinster still had the nous and ability to get themselves over the line. Sadly the game also featured a horrendous injury to Dan Leavy and it's a devastating blow for a player who's never had much luck. It's also a big blow to Leinster and Ireland too at the World Cup.

Read more

[limecat]

Match Preview

Leinster progressed to the semi finals of the Champions Cup last week but Ulster made it a lot tougher than expected.

Ulster brought a surprising physicality to the mix, especially in defence and they deserve great credit for pushing Leinster to the wire. But when it mattered Leinster still had the nous and ability to get themselves over the line. Sadly the game also featured a horrendous injury to Dan Leavy and it's a devastating blow for a player who's never had much luck. It's also a big blow to Leinster and Ireland too at the World Cup.

Read more

[cormac]

COB is an odd call at 13.........12 surely.

COB has played a lot at 13. 3/4 starts already this season there.

I'd love to know what the story is with Molony and ROL, no mention of them this week.

O'Loughlin went off with a slight hamstring strain on Saturday. Was reported by Leinster at the start of the week that he wouldn't be available for this match.

Have heard diddly squat about Molony from Leinster.

[LeinsterLeader]

Some quotes from Leo on selection which may answer a few peoples questions:

On Toner & Henshaw:
"Robbie and Dev have got through the week's training," said Leinster boss Leo Cullen. "If they come through next week, there is a strong possibility they'll feature next weekend.

"Getting guys back from medium-term injuries at this stage of the season is always very positive."

On Ross Byrne:
"Ross isn't too bad," said Cullen. "A little bit of cramp, and he had a small issue with his foot as well.

"We tried to manage him this week with Noel and Ciaran there as well. It's a great chance for the two of them.

"Ciaran will hopefully feature as well. Ross is okay, he should be back next week."


On not starting the bigger players this week:

"We want to try and manage guys so we're using the time to be able to conserve some energy for what we hope is a string of big games coming up as well," explained the head coach.

"The group is competitive and it's a great opportunity for a lot of our guys to play this weekend as well.

"Competition over the course of the season has been good and it's put us in pretty good stead - a great chance for guys to play and showcase what they can do."


On the backrow selection:

"We've used this selection over the course of the season," he stressed. "Josh at six gives us a good physical edge, gets through a lot of work for us.

"Between Max and Caelan, they've been playing this seven/eight role. Even though Max will be doing some of the work of the eight, he'll wear seven. We didn't have any seven-and-a-half jerseys and it's too much work for Johnny O'Hagan to do!

"Max and Caelan have both been excellent for us this year so those guys are young, pushing on through and getting better week-on-week.

"That's important for them to realise that they're building layers of experience all the time. It has been a good season for the two of them, they've got lots of minutes and learning all the time.

"The back row that started last weekend have been managed for various different reasons and some of them will come back into the mix next week depending on what we go with for the Glasgow game."

From:
https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/rugby- ... r-14240713

[etak252]

Any mention of Johnnny ?

[Jonny tight lips]

COB is an odd call at 13.........12 surely.

COB has played a lot at 13. 3/4 starts already this season there.

I'd love to know what the story is with Molony and ROL, no mention of them this week.

Personally with Noel leaving and Tomanes underwhelming performances to date there’s a good chance with COB to be second choice 12. Locko is better at 13 really

[Jonny tight lips]

Any mention of Johnnny ?

Week too soon

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Funny that Leo mentioned the "seven and a half" thing, was thinking recently that Deegan might end up being the first player of that type.

Savea is doing something similar but usually it's about putting an explosive flanker at eight, not a rangy eight to seven.

[CiaranIrl]

Funny that Leo mentioned the "seven and a half" thing, was thinking recently that Deegan might end up being the first player of that type.

Savea is doing something similar but usually it's about putting an explosive flanker at eight, not a rangy eight to seven.

I think a young Sean O'Brien could be his best template to be honest. He could definitely follow that model of ball carry and breakdown specialist.

[Ruckedtobits]

Funny that Leo mentioned the "seven and a half" thing, was thinking recently that Deegan might end up being the first player of that type.

Savea is doing something similar but usually it's about putting an explosive flanker at eight, not a rangy eight to seven.

I think a young Sean O'Brien could be his best template to be honest. He could definitely follow that model of ball carry and breakdown specialist.

Look at the S African models from Jake White era or earlier. Juan Smith or Bobby Skinstad are guys built like and skills like Deegan. There's always been more than one way to play No 7 and Fergus Slattery probably never visited a breakdown before he was 30, but by then he had been playing a decade for Ireland.

Deegan has pace but not really quick acceleration. If we play him at left flanker off scrums, he must get his angles right in defence to cut down the No 8 or scrum-half breaking. Leinster and Ireland have not defended that sector well unless Josh vd Flyer is playing. In fact, Ireland haven't really defended it well since Dave Wallace was around.

[ronk]

Funny that Leo mentioned the "seven and a half" thing, was thinking recently that Deegan might end up being the first player of that type.

Savea is doing something similar but usually it's about putting an explosive flanker at eight, not a rangy eight to seven.

I think a young Sean O'Brien could be his best template to be honest. He could definitely follow that model of ball carry and breakdown specialist.

SOB's template was work hard, run harder. At his best he was an 80 minute impact player. We might as well tell Max to be more like Stander.

Max is rangy with good footwork, ball skills and a really clean chop tackle. He is starting to dominate collisions by mismatches and evasion. These are traits that he can use to good effect at 7. He can (still) carry in wide channels he can link the backs and move turnover ball. He can shut down ball carriers coming at pace. He gets back on his feet and in position quickly.

[joooooe]

Funny that Leo mentioned the "seven and a half" thing, was thinking recently that Deegan might end up being the first player of that type.

Savea is doing something similar but usually it's about putting an explosive flanker at eight, not a rangy eight to seven.

David Wallace was the quintessential 7.5. He probably would have been an 8 but for Foley and the fact that he had to do O'Gara's tackling.

[LeinsterLeader]

A bit of a subtle dig dig from Leo there?

"We want to produce most of our own players, we have a couple of guys from outside and it's important that we're not 100pc all Leinster because then you'd have a narrow focus as well.

"The experience that we get from outside, it's hugely important that they are constantly adding to the group.

"But we'd love to be able to sit here and say, 'isn't it amazing that 60pc of Ulster's players are from Leinster', another 50 over in Connacht and another 50 over in Munster...' that'd be an amazing reflection on the work that goes on here.

"We just need to keep focusing on what we do in producing good players, because we want to see quality players come through the system and make a career out of the game.

"That's what we're trying to do, trying to improve players.

[riocard911]

A bit of a subtle dig dig from Leo there?

"We want to produce most of our own players, we have a couple of guys from outside and it's important that we're not 100pc all Leinster because then you'd have a narrow focus as well.

"The experience that we get from outside, it's hugely important that they are constantly adding to the group.

"But we'd love to be able to sit here and say, 'isn't it amazing that 60pc of Ulster's players are from Leinster', another 50 over in Connacht and another 50 over in Munster...' that'd be an amazing reflection on the work that goes on here.

"We just need to keep focusing on what we do in producing good players, because we want to see quality players come through the system and make a career out of the game.

"That's what we're trying to do, trying to improve players.

Or even not so subtle....

[blockhead]

A bit of a subtle dig dig from Leo there?

"We want to produce most of our own players, we have a couple of guys from outside and it's important that we're not 100pc all Leinster because then you'd have a narrow focus as well.

"The experience that we get from outside, it's hugely important that they are constantly adding to the group.

"But we'd love to be able to sit here and say, 'isn't it amazing that 60pc of Ulster's players are from Leinster', another 50 over in Connacht and another 50 over in Munster...' that'd be an amazing reflection on the work that goes on here.

"We just need to keep focusing on what we do in producing good players, because we want to see quality players come through the system and make a career out of the game.

"That's what we're trying to do, trying to improve players.

Yep read that in the42. The comments below are funny and a bit sad.
eg.

The real achievements here are things like how Munster have developed 5 good professional players and Ireland underage reps from west cork which is gaa mad territory. Or how Connacht have managed to progress with a dwindling rural population of less than half of Dublin and the travel logistics the west of Ireland brings with development squads. So while leinsters conveyor is flying along let’s not try to be too disparaging of other provinces great efforts in poorer circumstances – numbers, money and travel logistics.

"travel logistics" ? Now that's a new one.

[D4surfer]

Ross Molony has an ongoing back issue. Was supposed to bench against Ulster but it's taking longer than expected.