Leinster V Cardiff, Sat 28th Jan 17:05

[LeinsterLeader]

Do URC games not supersede U20 international games or has that gone by the wayside?

[mildlyinterested]

There are no new injury concerns, following Saturday’s win at home to Racing 92, in Aviva Stadium.

Caelan Doris rolled his ankle in the second half of the game against Racing 92 but is expected to join the Irish Rugby squad as planned this week.

Josh van der Flier suffered a dead leg in the second half against Racing 92 but is expected to join the Irish Rugby squad as planned this week.

Joe McCarthy and Luke McGrath both came through the game against Racing 92 with no issues following their return from respective ankle injuries.

There are no further updates on:

Johnny Sexton (cheek bone), Tadhg Furlong (calf), Charlie Ngatai (hamstring), Ed Byrne (knee), Jason Jenkins (hamstring), Robbie Henshaw (wrist), Martin Moloney (knee), Ciarán Frawley (knee) and Tommy O’Brien (knee)

[mildlyinterested]

No jenkins.. we are very light on options at lock

[Ruckedtobits]

Soooo...

1. Milne
2. McKee
3. Mike A
4. Molony
5. Jenkins
6. Soroka
7. Penny
8. Deegan
9. McGrath
10. Byrne
11. Kearney
12. Brownlee
13. Turner
14. Russell
15. Cosgrave
16. McElroy
17. Hanan
18. Clarkson
19. Deeny
20. Connors
21. Foley
22. Tector
23. Culhane

I would definitely have Connors starting in that side and put Penny on the bench. I'd be hopeful that Henshaw is available to join Irish Squad or to play for us to bring him back to match fitness. Alternatively Leocaster might ask Farrell to release Osborne if Henshaw & Ringrose are also with Irish Squad. Not an unreasonable request for Farrell to consider.

I would definitely like to see Vahk start at No 3 with Big Mike on the bench. After all, Vahk is also a Georgian international and that's exactly the sort of game to use NIQ players.

[mildlyinterested]

they dont trust Vakh, he has never started a game for Leinster.

[wixfjord]

This is the type of week our coaches really earn their corn.

Trying to motivate and give a clear strategy to a group of guys who haven't played together in a while for a game that there won't be too many eyes on against a side that might fancy a scalp.

It's also a week that the likes of Ruddock, Molony, McGrath, DK and increasingly Deegan & Penny are vital.

Hopefully Rhys is fit and ready to go after his injury in the warmup.

Really bad luck that both Ngatai & Jenkins are out of action.

I wonder might we get J Lowe back for a game if he has returned from NZ.

[mildlyinterested]

Ruddock pictured training today, good to see.

[cormac]

Ruddock pictured training today, good to see.

Also good to see Dave Kearney is still there.

Any idea who Josh O'Hare is? Pictured at Leinster training today.

https://www.sportsfile.com/more-images/112301147/

[mildlyinterested]

Ruddock pictured training today, good to see.

Also good to see Dave Kearney is still there.

Any idea who Josh O'Hare is? Pictured at Leinster training today.

https://www.sportsfile.com/more-images/112301147/

sub academy backrow.

[JKBA]

Starting to think on we will never see Henshaw or Jenkins again. I was under the impression they weren’t out with significant injuries initially.

[mildlyinterested]

Starting to think on we will never see Henshaw or Jenkins again. I was under the impression they weren’t out with significant injuries initially.

Jenkins had issues with his hamstring last season too.

Need him for run-in, no need to rush him back.

[ronk]

Starting to think on we will never see Henshaw or Jenkins again. I was under the impression they weren’t out with significant injuries initially.

Jenkins had issues with his hamstring last season too.

Need him for run-in, no need to rush him back.

Yeah. If he's back for the Stormers game in 2 months then he only misses 2 games after this weekend.

[Oldschool]

Have the bookies put any numbers(odds) on this one yet.
It's hard to know how to evaluate the performance of the likely Leinster 15/23.
We know they'll be competitive, skilful and well coached however will they be a team or just a collection of players lacking cohesion. How for example will we cope defensively as a unit, line speed etc.
Answers on your Doctorate's thesis please.

[LeinsterLeader]

Don't see any sign of Alex Soroka in the squad photos today either. Injured?

[D4surfer]

Have the bookies put any numbers(odds) on this one yet.
It's hard to know how to evaluate the performance of the likely Leinster 15/23.
We know they'll be competitive, skilful and well coached however will they be a team or just a collection of players lacking cohesion. How for example will we cope defensively as a unit, line speed etc.
Answers on your Doctorate's thesis please.

Paddy Power have it as a 17 point game in Leinster's favour. The odds are Leinster 1/20 and Cardiff 10/1. That looks crazy to me.

[neill_m]

TV - Viaplay-Premier Sports 1 / Super Sport / URC TV / RTE2 / S4C

[ACfaith]

Don't see any sign of Alex Soroka in the squad photos today either. Injured?

Injured his hand in the AIL, out for a bit, can't catch a break with injuries

[Ruckedtobits]

Have the bookies put any numbers(odds) on this one yet.
It's hard to know how to evaluate the performance of the likely Leinster 15/23.
We know they'll be competitive, skilful and well coached however will they be a team or just a collection of players lacking cohesion. How for example will we cope defensively as a unit, line speed etc.
Answers on your Doctorate's thesis please.

Paddy Power have it as a 17 point game in Leinster's favour. The odds are Leinster 1/20 and Cardiff 10/1. That looks crazy to me.

Those Odds look like the reason there are so few poor bookmakers.

[curates_egg]

Ruddock pictured training today, good to see.

Also good to see Dave Kearney is still there.

Any idea who Josh O'Hare is? Pictured at Leinster training today.

https://www.sportsfile.com/more-images/112301147/

Kearney hasn't played any role since November (80 minutes against Glasgow). But also hasn't been mentioned in injury updates I think.
Looks like he is sprinting away in training anyway. And features in lots of photos.
Going on the photo theory, he looks good for a return (from the injury he never officially had).

Inpho has photos of other players I was worried about, like Deegan: https://inpho.ie/assignment/TPN4nS7pXHh ... wddBmnQ..a
No sign of Soroka and Culhane. SOB jr is there though.
We seem to have only two second rows training!


Jenkins and TOB running at least. Ngatai looks like he is doing some rehab work.

[the spoofer]

Who's Josh O'Hare?