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

[riocard911]

Victor Vito quoted today in the42, that it's an "honour" for LAR to be coming up against Leinster in the Heino semi. Sounds like the opposition is taking this fixture extremely seriously. We're gonna have to be right on the money to get out of France with a win. A touch of the green might come in handy freisin! Fingers crossed!!!

[wixfjord]

Bougarit v Kelleher is a fascinating battle.

Very similar hookers. Same age, similar bustling. style and almost exact same weight/height according to Wiki.

A big performance from Ronan might put him on the plane to SA.

[fourthirtythree]

Really think be should be in the running. Hope he demands inclusion tomorrow!

[the spoofer]

Not sure about the fitness issue with LaR. From what I remember Skelton went the 80 versus Sale and he was always a solid 50 minute man. Maybe ROG has found his engine or the game was slow but it didn’t seem slow to me.

Lost a bit of weight alright.

We still have to move their pack though.

Agree here - he’s been playing out of his skin in what I have to warn you is a brilliant team. Botia is the best player Henshaw has faced in a long time and I don’t really see a weakness. They are in better nick than the French teams of old, well coached, with superb players. I think they are a step up from Exeter and It’ll rank up there with what I view as Leinster’s best win, the Clermont one with the last gasp D’Arcy tackle, to beat them.

Do you regard West as a top 10?

[wixfjord]

LAR might beat us tomorrow.

But nothing they've shown would indicate they're a 'brilliant' team.

This is the furthest they've ever been in Europe. They've beaten Edinburgh, Glos and Sale to get here.

I'm usually very negative about big knockout games. But I'm confident about tomorrow I must say.

[Dave Cahill]

We're f%~ked so!

[Fan with smartphone]

Lost a bit of weight alright.

We still have to move their pack though.

Agree here - he’s been playing out of his skin in what I have to warn you is a brilliant team. Botia is the best player Henshaw has faced in a long time and I don’t really see a weakness. They are in better nick than the French teams of old, well coached, with superb players. I think they are a step up from Exeter and It’ll rank up there with what I view as Leinster’s best win, the Clermont one with the last gasp D’Arcy tackle, to beat them.

Do you regard West as a top 10?

He’s not Daniel Carter, but I don’t see him as a weakness. He’s a running threat himself, plays flat and is a decent passer. I don’t think he’s a fantastic kicker from hand, but he gets their system, makes use of the players around him, has been around the block and is a better player than Brock James in my book.

It’s going to be a great game.

[blockhead]

LAR might beat us tomorrow.

But nothing they've shown would indicate they're a 'brilliant' team.

This is the furthest they've ever been in Europe. They've beaten Edinburgh, Glos and Sale to get here.

I'm usually very negative about big knockout games. But I'm confident about tomorrow I must say.

That is true, you get yourself into knots in the build up to the game to the point that the opposition are unbeatable.
Later on after we've "tore them a new one" you play down the victory, shoulda won by more and so on.
So now I'm worried.

[wixfjord]

LAR might beat us tomorrow.

But nothing they've shown would indicate they're a 'brilliant' team.

This is the furthest they've ever been in Europe. They've beaten Edinburgh, Glos and Sale to get here.

I'm usually very negative about big knockout games. But I'm confident about tomorrow I must say.

That is true, you get yourself into knots in the build up to the game to the point that the opposition are unbeatable.
Later on after we've "tore them a new one" you play down the victory, shoulda won by more and so on.
So now I'm worried.

You've a weird fascination with me blockhead I must say!

[Twist]

LAR might beat us tomorrow.

But nothing they've shown would indicate they're a 'brilliant' team.

This is the furthest they've ever been in Europe. They've beaten Edinburgh, Glos and Sale to get here.

I'm usually very negative about big knockout games. But I'm confident about tomorrow I must say.

That is true, you get yourself into knots in the build up to the game to the point that the opposition are unbeatable.
Later on after we've "tore them a new one" you play down the victory, shoulda won by more and so on.
So now I'm worried.

My pessimism levels are as high as ever, so there’s some consistency for you

[the spoofer]

Agree here - he’s been playing out of his skin in what I have to warn you is a brilliant team. Botia is the best player Henshaw has faced in a long time and I don’t really see a weakness. They are in better nick than the French teams of old, well coached, with superb players. I think they are a step up from Exeter and It’ll rank up there with what I view as Leinster’s best win, the Clermont one with the last gasp D’Arcy tackle, to beat them.

Do you regard West as a top 10?

He’s not Daniel Carter, but I don’t see him as a weakness. He’s a running threat himself, plays flat and is a decent passer. I don’t think he’s a fantastic kicker from hand, but he gets their system, makes use of the players around him, has been around the block and is a better player than Brock James in my book.

It’s going to be a great game.

I’ve seen him 3 or 4 times this year and I do see him as a weakness.

[Morf]

He’s not Daniel Carter, but I don’t see him as a weakness. He’s a running threat himself, plays flat and is a decent passer. I don’t think he’s a fantastic kicker from hand, but he gets their system, makes use of the players around him, has been around the block and is a better player than Brock James in my book.

It’s going to be a great game.

I’ve seen him 3 or 4 times this year and I do see him as a weakness.

I would speculate that he's improved significantly since playing for the Blues then if that's your assessment.
Always seemed especially flakey in a flakey Blues team. Could score an amazing try/create one or be totally missing in a limp Blues team.

[Oldschool]

Prediction time.
Preamble first.
All the talk has been about Rog but as Mildly has pointed out in other threads "Forwards Win Games"
Coming in mostly under the radar is the LAR forwards coach, a certain Mr Gibbs which is a setting of concern.
Prediction
Leinster but it's going to be tough up front and nervy behind. The deciding factor, I hope, will be Ire... eh Leinster's experience of the big occasion and the recent exposure to International rugby.
Having an English referee is also to our advantage.
C'mon L'einster.

[tingman]

Said this before elsewhere - we produce the same performance level from Sandy Park - we win this...handily. But for Christ sake without the 14 point head start!

[Blue not red blood]

Said this before elsewhere - we produce the same performance level from Sandy Park - we win this...handily. But for Christ sake without the 14 point head start!

It’s as simple as that

[wixfjord]

Just a note on the 9s.

While we're all clearly hoping Luke lasts the 80, LAR will need TKB to last too.

They've Retiere as 9 on the bench, who is predominately a back three player and hasn't started a game for them at 9 since 16/17 season.

TKB was injured two weeks ago against Lyon too.

[Jonny tight lips]

Did everybody survive the captain’s run.

[LeinsterLeader]

A lot of La Rochelle supporters waving the players in. Not a lot of social distancing going on. Is that not a thing over there?

[Lock9541]

A lot of La Rochelle supporters waving the players in. Not a lot of social distancing going on. Is that not a thing over there?

They’re wearing masks

[Theleinsterlad]

God Im nervous all morning these European games that I don’t get to go to and drink my nerves asleep before the game are doing serious damage to my health