Leinster v Racing 21 Jan

[Blue not red blood]

Looking at todays game Racing seem lucky to be ahead, 21-10.
They seem to have zero structure and game plan with everything going through whatever Russel decides to do in a whim.
Harlequins getting plenty of joy in the scrums as well.

[Colmodon]

Will be interesting to see the injury report after yesterday.

Didn't notice anything yesterday of concern, but looking back - RPG didn't seem too comfortable coming off for Nick - hopefully nothing more than a couple of bumps and bruises.

Only changes might be anyone returning from injury - Furlong, Joe Mc/Jenkins, Luke, Henshaw/Ngatai. Remarkable to think we were missing all of those (as well as Sexton and Lowe), had a bonus point wrapped up away from home by half time - and we still have things to moan about!

Good that Quins had their brainfart at the end and Racing have something to play for. Let's send them back to Le Harve/Paris with nothing all the same.

[blockhead]

Leinster TV saying 45,000 tickets already sold.

[cormac]

Will be interesting to see the injury report after yesterday.

Didn't notice anything yesterday of concern, but looking back - RPG didn't seem too comfortable coming off for Nick - hopefully nothing more than a couple of bumps and bruises.

Only changes might be anyone returning from injury - Furlong, Joe Mc/Jenkins, Luke, Henshaw/Ngatai. Remarkable to think we were missing all of those (as well as Sexton and Lowe), had a bonus point wrapped up away from home by half time - and we still have things to moan about!

Good that Quins had their brainfart at the end and Racing have something to play for. Let's send them back to Le Harve/Paris with nothing all the same.

Ross Byrne was limping around quite a bit during the first half.

[IanD]

Will be interesting to see the injury report after yesterday.

Didn't notice anything yesterday of concern, but looking back - RPG didn't seem too comfortable coming off for Nick - hopefully nothing more than a couple of bumps and bruises.

Only changes might be anyone returning from injury - Furlong, Joe Mc/Jenkins, Luke, Henshaw/Ngatai. Remarkable to think we were missing all of those (as well as Sexton and Lowe), had a bonus point wrapped up away from home by half time - and we still have things to moan about!

Good that Quins had their brainfart at the end and Racing have something to play for. Let's send them back to Le Harve/Paris with nothing all the same.

JGP had an ice pack on his knee when Dorris was sinbinned.

[curates_egg]

3.15 (Irish time), Lansdowne Road on RTE2 (?) and BT2 - in case anyone wants to add to the title.
I actually use our titles as reference points, when possible.

[Flash Gordon]

Leinster TV saying 45,000 tickets already sold.

Would be awesome if we could get to 50k but that's already a massive crowd. Think how many we'd have got if we'd moved it to Cork.

[sunshiner1]

Really want to beat these guys. Can't wait for this game.

[wixfjord]

45k tickets is a massive number for a January game.

Could be a bumper crowd. Great to see.

[TMC]

Looking at todays game Racing seem lucky to be ahead, 21-10.
They seem to have zero structure and game plan with everything going through whatever Russel decides to do in a whim.
Harlequins getting plenty of joy in the scrums as well.

Have to wonder about Russell’s mentality, gifting a team a penalty try and a yellow card by going for a one handed intercept in a close game when his team were already 2 men down was just plain mindless. FR is brilliant at times but for me goes for the Hollywood option way too often, looks like a genius when it comes off but its not often enough and he’s very flawed as a game manager. Could have cost Racing big time, they could be sitting on 2 points this morning instead of 5 and out of a competition they've stated they want to win. In ways can understand why Racing didn't want to hold on to him /were ok to let him go, he's great for entertainment but does he have the game management needed?

Racing need 5 points on Saturday to be sure of progressing as Gloucester are going to Bordeaux who are out of it and will most likely wave the white flag. They will have to come to play. The Sharks will be banjaxed from all their travel, there is a risk of them coming unstuck against Quinns. The SA teams dont make as much sense in Europe with the home and away travel, in the league they can organise it in blocks of games and manage the travel.

[wixfjord]

Yep I think Racing's need for 4 tries and a win is both dangerous but could also play into our hands a bit.

They're not a typical French team in that they haven't a monstrous pack and their scrum/lineout isn't brilliant, so I think our forwards could take them to the woodshed like in Le Harve.

Jenkins/McCarthy would be a big boost if either were to return.

[LeinsterLeader]

Yep I think Racing's need for 4 tries and a win is both dangerous but could also play into our hands a bit.

They're not a typical French team in that they haven't a monstrous pack and their scrum/lineout isn't brilliant, so I think our forwards could take them to the woodshed like in Le Harve.

Jenkins/McCarthy would be a big boost if either were to return.

I wonder is there any chance that Racing look at this and say "No thanks, we'll concentrate on the league now" and sent over a second string? I'd be surprised but with the way things have gone this season not hugely.

Really looking forward to this so I hope not! Would be great to get two sides locked and loaded with a full house.

[wixfjord]

Yep I think Racing's need for 4 tries and a win is both dangerous but could also play into our hands a bit.

They're not a typical French team in that they haven't a monstrous pack and their scrum/lineout isn't brilliant, so I think our forwards could take them to the woodshed like in Le Harve.

Jenkins/McCarthy would be a big boost if either were to return.

I wonder is there any chance that Racing look at this and say "No thanks, we'll concentrate on the league now" and sent over a second string? I'd be surprised but with the way things have gone this season not hugely.

Really looking forward to this so I hope not! Would be great to get two sides locked and loaded with a full house.

If they had've lost yesterday then definitely, but that wont' happen now with a good chance to go through.

It'll be a full whack Racing team in the Aviva which is a really good test for us.

I hope we're seeing this as the first of 5 big Aviva games against good sides to win the bloody thing.

[neill_m]

3.15 (Irish time), Lansdowne Road on RTE2 (?) and BT2 - in case anyone wants to add to the title.
I actually use our titles as reference points, when possible.

Game is on RTE 2, coverage from 2:30pm. On BT Sport 2 from 3pm.

[Flash Gordon]

Yep I think Racing's need for 4 tries and a win is both dangerous but could also play into our hands a bit.

They're not a typical French team in that they haven't a monstrous pack and their scrum/lineout isn't brilliant, so I think our forwards could take them to the woodshed like in Le Harve.

Jenkins/McCarthy would be a big boost if either were to return.

I wonder is there any chance that Racing look at this and say "No thanks, we'll concentrate on the league now" and sent over a second string? I'd be surprised but with the way things have gone this season not hugely.

Really looking forward to this so I hope not! Would be great to get two sides locked and loaded with a full house.

No chance, Europe is a big objective for Racing, they are in the mix in the Top 14 already and the coach will want to leave on a high. If we hit them early with a couple of scores they could roll over but would imagine that they'll come looking for the win. In many ways you hope for that, we don't want to cruise through without being properly tested.

[blockhead]

Yep I think Racing's need for 4 tries and a win is both dangerous but could also play into our hands a bit.

They're not a typical French team in that they haven't a monstrous pack and their scrum/lineout isn't brilliant, so I think our forwards could take them to the woodshed like in Le Harve.

Jenkins/McCarthy would be a big boost if either were to return.

I wonder is there any chance that Racing look at this and say "No thanks, we'll concentrate on the league now" and sent over a second string? I'd be surprised but with the way things have gone this season not hugely.

Really looking forward to this so I hope not! Would be great to get two sides locked and loaded with a full house.

No chance, Europe is a big objective for Racing, they are in the mix in the Top 14 already and the coach will want to leave on a high. If we hit them early with a couple of scores they could roll over but would imagine that they'll come looking for the win. In many ways you hope for that, we don't want to cruise through without being properly tested.

We'll get plenty tested in the Six Nations

[Barry]

Yep I think Racing's need for 4 tries and a win is both dangerous but could also play into our hands a bit.

They're not a typical French team in that they haven't a monstrous pack and their scrum/lineout isn't brilliant, so I think our forwards could take them to the woodshed like in Le Harve.

Jenkins/McCarthy would be a big boost if either were to return.

I wonder is there any chance that Racing look at this and say "No thanks, we'll concentrate on the league now" and sent over a second string? I'd be surprised but with the way things have gone this season not hugely.

Really looking forward to this so I hope not! Would be great to get two sides locked and loaded with a full house.

No chance, Europe is a big objective for Racing, they are in the mix in the Top 14 already and the coach will want to leave on a high. If we hit them early with a couple of scores they could roll over but would imagine that they'll come looking for the win. In many ways you hope for that, we don't want to cruise through without being properly tested.

Racing have La Rochelle the following Saturday, let's hope they have at least one eye on that one.

Sent from my VOG-L09 using Tapatalk

[Oldschoolsocks]

I wonder is there any chance that Racing look at this and say "No thanks, we'll concentrate on the league now" and sent over a second string? I'd be surprised but with the way things have gone this season not hugely.

Really looking forward to this so I hope not! Would be great to get two sides locked and loaded with a full house.

No chance, Europe is a big objective for Racing, they are in the mix in the Top 14 already and the coach will want to leave on a high. If we hit them early with a couple of scores they could roll over but would imagine that they'll come looking for the win. In many ways you hope for that, we don't want to cruise through without being properly tested.

We'll get plenty tested in the Six Nations

I see what you did there

[mildlyinterested]

There are no new injury concerns, following Saturday’s bonus point win away to Gloucester, in Kingsholm.

Will Connors, Thomas Clarkson, Max Deegan, Luke McGrath and Joe McCarthy are all expected to train full this week after recovering from injuries.

[Colmodon]

There are no new injury concerns, following Saturday’s bonus point win away to Gloucester, in Kingsholm.

Will Connors, Thomas Clarkson, Max Deegan, Luke McGrath and Joe McCarthy are all expected to train full this week after recovering from injuries.

Henshaw, Furlong and Jenkins particularly concerning that they are not even at the "one week too soon" stage of the injury report yet.