Connacht v Leinster 8th April

[Blue not red blood]

We have 2 spare Terrace tickets if anyone needs.
PM me

[cormac]

Karl Dickson is the ref for this game.

He's reffed us twice before, in Treviso in January 2020 and against Montpellier away in December 2020. Two wins from two.

[Degz]

Really the only question here is who's fit to play second row?

[suisse]

He might be a poster here, I'm not sure, but there's a prominent Leinster fan on the42 who's continually calling for Ciaran Frawley to be played at 10, and even asking for that this weekend. It seems obvious to me the Leinster management team don't see Frawley as an outhalf in the short or medium term, if at all. Imagine playing him there this week?

[cormac]

His last start at 10, away to the Ospreys, was before the first lockdown in 2020, over two years ago now. I'm not even sure if he's filled in there much during games either.

Hawkshaw, a player leaving at the end of this season, was even preferred at 10 when Ross went off injured against Connacht.

If he's fit, Sexton will start at 10 this weekend. Barring any injuries I'd expect us to be a full-bore for the game on Friday.

[LeinsterLeader]

All looking good on the injury front anyway:

"The Leinster Rugby coaching team have released an injury update ahead of this weekend’s Heineken Champions Cup round of 16 clash with Connacht Rugby at the Sportsground (KO 8pm – LIVE on BT Sport).

All four of Andrew Porter (ankle), Rónan Kelleher (shoulder), Jordan Larmour (hip) and Michael Milne (calf) are due to step up their respective training programmes this week.

A call will be made later in the week on their availability for Friday evening.

Ross Byrne, who suffered a dental injury against Connacht just over a week ago, came through the game against Munster Rugby with no issues and will be available once again this week.

There are no further updates on:

Dave Kearney (hamstring), Will Connors (knee), James Ryan (concussion) and Ryan Baird (back)"

[LeRouxIsPHat]

That’s bad news about the locks so. I don’t want to see JR back any time soon anyway but I’d have hoped for a positive update on Baird. I’m really interested to see that selection now after how Dev and Dunne went on Saturday. I’m not really sure what combination I’d go for myself.

[mildlyinterested]

Molony/McCarthy for me.

[cormac]

I'd be very surprised if Molony doesn't start. Wouldn't want to bet which one of McCarthy, Toner, Dunne or Murphy packs down alongside him.

[wixfjord]

Will be interesting to see the training photos later if Kelleher, Porter and Larmour are avail.

Having the first two in particular would be a good boost.

No mention of Robbie in that which could mean anything.

I'd start Molony/McCarthy also but wouldn't be surprised if they went for Josh Murphy either.

[Xanthippe]

His last start at 10, away to the Ospreys, was before the first lockdown in 2020, over two years ago now. I'm not even sure if he's filled in there much during games either.

Hawkshaw, a player leaving at the end of this season, was even preferred at 10 when Ross went off injured against Connacht.

If he's fit, Sexton will start at 10 this weekend. Barring any injuries I'd expect us to be a full-bore for the game on Friday.

That's possibly a bit harsh on Frawley who was already off for a HIA when Ross got injured so couldn't have been moved to 10. When he came back on in the second half it was a choice between taking off Hawkshaw and moving Frawley to 10 or taking off a kid who was 10 minutes into his debut and leaving Frawley at 12.

[cormac]

His last start at 10, away to the Ospreys, was before the first lockdown in 2020, over two years ago now. I'm not even sure if he's filled in there much during games either.

Hawkshaw, a player leaving at the end of this season, was even preferred at 10 when Ross went off injured against Connacht.

If he's fit, Sexton will start at 10 this weekend. Barring any injuries I'd expect us to be a full-bore for the game on Friday.

That's possibly a bit harsh on Frawley who was already off for a HIA when Ross got injured so couldn't have been moved to 10. When he came back on in the second half it was a choice between taking off Hawkshaw and moving Frawley to 10 or taking off a kid who was 10 minutes into his debut and leaving Frawley at 12.

They could have easily re-organised at half-time had they wished to do so. Hawkshaw had only been on for a few minutes before half-time.

I just think the coaches don't seem to want to play Frawley at 10 anymore.

[wixfjord]

Porter & Kelleher both togged and running around FWIW - https://www.sportsfile.com/more-images/775796538/

[Flash Gordon]

His last start at 10, away to the Ospreys, was before the first lockdown in 2020, over two years ago now. I'm not even sure if he's filled in there much during games either.

Hawkshaw, a player leaving at the end of this season, was even preferred at 10 when Ross went off injured against Connacht.

If he's fit, Sexton will start at 10 this weekend. Barring any injuries I'd expect us to be a full-bore for the game on Friday.

That's possibly a bit harsh on Frawley who was already off for a HIA when Ross got injured so couldn't have been moved to 10. When he came back on in the second half it was a choice between taking off Hawkshaw and moving Frawley to 10 or taking off a kid who was 10 minutes into his debut and leaving Frawley at 12.

They could have easily re-organised at half-time had they wished to do so. Hawkshaw had only been on for a few minutes before half-time.

I just think the coaches don't seem to want to play Frawley at 10 anymore.

It's hard to question when we win pretty much every game with a Bonus Point but I think they might have got it wrong with Frawley. The kid is the real deal in my view, he reminds me of a kicking Paul Dean!

Also from an Ireland point of view, if they aren't going to pick Ross we need a developing 10.

[mildlyinterested]

Harry Byrne is alive

[RoboProp]

That's possibly a bit harsh on Frawley who was already off for a HIA when Ross got injured so couldn't have been moved to 10. When he came back on in the second half it was a choice between taking off Hawkshaw and moving Frawley to 10 or taking off a kid who was 10 minutes into his debut and leaving Frawley at 12.

They could have easily re-organised at half-time had they wished to do so. Hawkshaw had only been on for a few minutes before half-time.

I just think the coaches don't seem to want to play Frawley at 10 anymore.

It's hard to question when we win pretty much every game with a Bonus Point but I think they might have got it wrong with Frawley. The kid is the real deal in my view, he reminds me of a kicking Paul Dean!

Also from an Ireland point of view, if they aren't going to pick Ross we need a developing 10.

From an Ireland point of view can they continue to ignore Ross? He's in the form of his life and Joey remains what LeoCaster believed him to be 6 years ago, a full-back

[wixfjord]

Based on those training photos, we could be looking at:

Healy, Sheehan, Furlong, McCarthy, Molony, Doris, VDF, Conan, JGP, Sexton, Lowe, Frawley, Ringer, JOB, Keenan

Kelleher, Porter, Mike, Murphy, Rhys, McGrath, Ross, Deegan/ROL

[ronk]

Frawley has been picked 13 times this season, starting 10 games and broke into the Irish squad. He would have played more but for injury.

The move to 12 has been very successful for him. And might be about to become more so. A 24 year old 12 fills a nice gap in the long term Irish squad age profile.

[ronk]

They could have easily re-organised at half-time had they wished to do so. Hawkshaw had only been on for a few minutes before half-time.

I just think the coaches don't seem to want to play Frawley at 10 anymore.

It's hard to question when we win pretty much every game with a Bonus Point but I think they might have got it wrong with Frawley. The kid is the real deal in my view, he reminds me of a kicking Paul Dean!

Also from an Ireland point of view, if they aren't going to pick Ross we need a developing 10.

From an Ireland point of view can they continue to ignore Ross? He's in the form of his life and Joey remains what LeoCaster believed him to be 6 years ago, a full-back

He can keep his job if he loses with Carbery. Risk it to win with Byrne.

Dropping Ireland's greatest scrum half of the pro era (by a distance) fresh from being a test Lion (& close to captain) was small compared to being the guy who drops a fit Carbery.

[ronk]

https://www.the42.ie/johann-van-graan-4 ... 4-Apr2022/

Article here that gets the 2 legged thing a little bit off. Sure it's 1 160 minute game and keeping down the score is valuable. But you play the end of the first leg like halftime of a normal game. You play the situation rather than worry about losing bonuses etc and consolations matter.