European Cup Semi-Final: Away to La Rochelle, Sunday 2nd of May 3pm

[wixfjord]

Balls, JGP out is a loss.

But I agree Osborne is a better option than HOS and can more easily slot in. At the very least he'll be snappy getting the ball away.

[blockhead]

I don’t think I’ve ever seen R Osborne play a game bar once, what’s he like? Is he any better than HOS?

Started down in TP Christmas before last, played very well. We won of course.

[wixfjord]

LE XV DE DÉPART - Wardi, Bourgarit, Atonio, Sazy (cap), Skelton, Alldritt, Liebenberg, Vito, Kerr-Barlow, West, Rhule, Botia, Doumayrou, Leyds, Dulin

LE BANC - Bosch, Priso, Joly, Lavault, Gourdon, Retière, Plisson, Aguillon

KB and West both start, and Plisson returns as well.

This is going to be a serious battle.

Liebenberg starting ahead of Gourdon.

[Oldschool]

@Murray_Kinsella

EPCR confirms that Twickenham will host the Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup finals on 21 and 22 May.

Up to 10,000 spectators will be able to buy tickets for each game.

Face coverings will be mandatory and social distancing will be required at all times.

EPCR has also confirmed that next season's Champions Cup will be made up of 24 clubs – eight from each of the Premiership, Top 14 and PRO14/16.

Will we be allowed to travel from Ireland if we do get to the final without isolating on either side?

Travellers from ROI to UK do not have to isolate on arrival in the UK.

Especially if they travel via NI, nod nod wink wink hint hint.

[mildlyinterested]

HE STARTING XV - Wardi, Bourgarit, Atonio, Sazy (cap), Skelton, Alldritt, Liebenberg, Vito, Kerr-Barlow, West, Rhule, Botia, Doumayrou, Leyds, Dulin

LE BANC - Bosch, Priso, Joly, Lavault, Gourdon, Retière, Plisson, Aguillon

[Twist]

I'd have started Kearney on the wing, but maybe the combined insight of Leo Cullen, Felipe Contepomi and Stuart Lancaster outranks me. Maybe.

I assume they're thinking of Baird as a backrow replacement with Fardy in the second row. That's interesting. I wonder could Doris have forced his way in if he'd played last week.

LAR been luckier with injuries than us. Lets just hope the captain's run doesn't have its usual attrition rate.

[johng]

So much for their lack of 10s

[LeinsterLeader]

LE XV DE DÉPART - Wardi, Bourgarit, Atonio, Sazy (cap), Skelton, Alldritt, Liebenberg, Vito, Kerr-Barlow, West, Rhule, Botia, Doumayrou, Leyds, Dulin

LE BANC - Bosch, Priso, Joly, Lavault, Gourdon, Retière, Plisson, Aguillon

KB and West both start, and Plisson returns as well.

This is going to be a serious battle.

Liebenberg starting ahead of Gourdon.

On the other side of that though, that is quite a number of guys who haven't been doing much lately being thrown back into what's sure to be a hellish environment for their first match back. That may count for something in the final analysis

[Oldschool]

LE XV DE DÉPART - Wardi, Bourgarit, Atonio, Sazy (cap), Skelton, Alldritt, Liebenberg, Vito, Kerr-Barlow, West, Rhule, Botia, Doumayrou, Leyds, Dulin

LE BANC - Bosch, Priso, Joly, Lavault, Gourdon, Retière, Plisson, Aguillon

KB and West both start, and Plisson returns as well.

This is going to be a serious battle.

Liebenberg starting ahead of Gourdon.

On the other side of that though, that is quite a number of guys who haven't been doing much lately being thrown back into what's sure to be a hellish environment for their first match back. That may count for something in the final analysis

Rog knows what he's doing.
He's picked a team to beat us with, no doubt, a suitable game plan.

[Blue not red blood]

I don’t think I’ve ever seen R Osborne play a game bar once, what’s he like? Is he any better than HOS?

He played a game down in Thomond, where we disrespected the fixture, and won. I think he played well that day.

I fecking love the sarcasm on this site

[joooooe]

I don’t think I’ve ever seen R Osborne play a game bar once, what’s he like? Is he any better than HOS?

He played a game down in Thomond, where we disrespected the fixture, and won. I think he played well that day.

[fourthirtythree]

So much for their lack of 10s

Gibbes was pretty clear that he was delighted they had match cancellations.

[CiaranIrl]

It goes without saying really, but we really need our half backs to play the full game. We're in trouble if either of them go down early, but otherwise, I'm pretty confident to be honest. We need to play at the level we managed against Exeter for the last hour of the game. If we do that and keep our half backs on, we win this I think.

[fourthirtythree]

It goes without saying really, but we really need our half backs to play the full game. We're in trouble if either of them go down early, but otherwise, I'm pretty confident to be honest. We need to play at the level we managed against Exeter for the last hour of the game. If we do that and keep our half backs on, we win this I think.

That's the big worry. People above being worried about the scrum is over the top I think. It will be a proper battle and I'd be surprised if anyone got dominance. However if we keep our pace on the game our tight five will have more influence elsewhere. That's the part of the team least influenced by injury.

[Theleinsterlad]

Quick question is this the first time we have fielded a fully grown Leinster academy pack in a European knockout match?

[BlockB]

https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/ ... 74749.html

Leinster will have to quarantine for 5 days upon arriving back from France. Will be allowed to train and fulfil Connacht match whilst under quarantine.

[berliner]

What happened to the proposal to introduce an exemption for high-level sports? I thought Donnelly spoke about it after the win against Exeter?

[Lock9541]

https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/ ... 74749.html

Leinster will have to quarantine for 5 days upon arriving back from France. Will be allowed to train and fulfil Connacht match whilst under quarantine.

Then that’s not really quarantine is it

[Jonny tight lips]

Better give Connacht the 5-0 win?

[riocard911]

Better give Connacht the 5-0 win?

You mad? Send out whoever stayed home and let them get valuable experience, win, lose or draw!