For the rest of my life, that shimmy of the hips will always stay with me.

The main question I have from this evening is where are we going to fit Bundee into this backline???

Kieran Marmion ...... What a try.

Has to get a look at the Irish squad this year..

Great team win! Thought they were in for a serious beating in the first half and when they started to get into the game they went a man down. After the yellow and the forward pass disallowed the Leinster try things slowly turned their way punctuated by the scrum penalty they earned to end the first half. Really they were their own enemy in the second half. They started to dominate Leinster in just about every area and probably could have won by a little more. Three from three and there is still plenty of room for improvement.

Now McSharry dumped him right proper, Kearney not enjoying the Sportsground ATM.

Boy did Marmion just make Kearney look silly, great individual try!

Rocky start but the lads seems to have steady the ship some. Muldoon's yellow was senseless, he had to know Lacey was ready to hand one out and he served it up on a platter. Bailed out by a forward pass. Leader has had some good runs. Massive hit by Henshaw which produced a turnover. Great scrum at end of half to keep Leinster out and keep the score close. Hope Lam can convince them to turn it up a notch for the second half otherwise I fear the floodgates may open.

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Jack what now? Well done, Irish Times website.

(Still tho, that's a great name.)

Is he the guy who shot Lee Hardly Osmond?

Edit: Direct Link: i.imgur.com/RVDY0PJ.jpg I can't work websites.

Jack what now? Well done, Irish Times website.

(Still tho, that's a great name.)

With no HEC pool games this year this match is effectively our biggest of the season. We need to go into this match with all the concentration and mentality of playing Toulouse, Saracens, Harlequins etc, and play with an intensity we've never shown before in the Pro12. Otherwise what's the point?

Just spent a moment to calculate the weights of the packs

Connacht: 896 kg
Leinster : 902 kg

based on official figures, which are what they are...

My take on the first big 'un of the season: honconnacht.wordpress.com/2014/09/18/if-...the-mark-is-its-you/

Very afraid Leinster will be able to infringe at will - it's not like the ref will card 'em or we'll kick 'em.

Sorry the factfile was a bit of a rushed job this week.

In relation to the game, good to see Poolman is available and the team has a somewhat settled look at this stage which is helpful when trying to get game time for certain combinations. Like others not sure if Kearney being dropped is the right call. Really Muldowney needs to show something tomorrow.

Its very hard to see where we can win this game. Our previous victories over Leinster have been marked by strong performances at out half where we are at a distinct disadvantage this time around. If Carty could step up tomorrow it would be huge but its a big ask going on all I've seen of him to date. Leinster look superior in most areas but stranger things have happened. We won't dominate the scrum but think we can hold our own there, can see us having issues at lineout time. Whatever possession we get we need to use it wisely. Our scrum got us out of a few bad situations last week but that won't be the case tomorrow. Basics need to be good from the off and any kicking has to have a purpose.

In terms of shots at goal, Gopperth and Madigan gives Leinster options, even McFadden if they are stuck. Leader is a good young player but isn't the man for place kicks at present imo but will have to probably take on the responsibility tomorrow again. Everything will need to go over. I remember a game against Leinster in the middle of that run of defeats a couple of years ago that we lost through missing kicks at goal. We need to take the chances within kickable range and if not kickable, go down the line.

Very important to start strongly, if Leinster edge a couple of penalties ahead early on like Edinburgh last week we won't get a reprieve. Need to get some points on the board early, get the crowd behind them and try and build confidence.

All in all its a long shot but I'm mainly looking for a performance from Connacht tomorrow. A losing bonus point would be a reasonable result as far as I'm concerned, its important to get something from pretty much every home match to keep us ticking along. A win would get us over 1/3 of the way to our total for last season which shows what a big ask it is.

Connacht v Leinster – Galway Sportsground Guinness Pro 12 Round 3
Friday 19th September 2014 Kick Off 19:35 On TV: TG4

After two victories from two outings so far, Connacht take on provincial rivals Leinster hoping to make it 3 wins on the bounce. Leinster, the defending champions of the last two seasons started with a last gasp defeat to Glasgow but bounced back with a convincing bonus point win over Scarlets last Saturday. Leinster travel with a strong squad and will be eager to rack up as many points as possible before European and International distractions may reduce their options for games later in the season.

Other Match Stats
Leinster have won the last 3 matches between the two sides
Connacht's last win over Leinster was a 34-6 bonus point win in September 2012.
Connacht's previous victories over Leinster came in April 2010, winning 27-13 and October 2008 winning 19-18.
Connacht's have won their first 3 games of the league season only once previously in 2002/2003


Leinster Stats
Website: www.leinsterrugby.ie
Founded: 1879
Ground: RDS
Capacity: 18,500
Captain: Jamie Heaslip
Coaches: Matt O'Connor

Rabo Direct Pro 12 League Position 2013/14: 1st Points 82. Beat Glasgow 34-12 in the final
Heineken Cup 2013/14: Quarter Finalist. Lost 29-14 to Toulon. 1st in Pool 1 Points: 23

Previous Fixtures
Northampton 33-21 Leinster (Friendly)
Leinster 7-10 Ulster (Friendly
Glasgow Warriors 22-20 Leinster (Round 1)
Leinster 42-12 Llanelli Scarlets (Round 2)

Next League Fixture:
Friday 26th September 2014 Leinster v Cardiff @ RDS Kick Off: 19.35

European Cup (Pool 2)
Leinster
Castres
Wasps
Harlequins

Leinster Ins and Outs 2014/15
Players In
Sam Coghlan Murray from Academy
Jack Conan from Academy
Kane Douglas from Waratahs
Tadhg Furlong from Academy
Sean McCarthy from Jersey
Luke McGrath from Academy
Collie O'Shea from Academy
Ben Te'o from South Sydney Rabbitohs
James Tracy from Academy

Players Out
Leo Auva'a to Benetton Treviso
Andrew Boyle
John Cooney to Connacht (loan)
Leo Cullen retired
Conor Gilsenan to London Irish
Andrew Goodman
Darren Hudson to Bristol Rugby
Jack O'Connell to Bristol Rugby
Brian O'Driscoll retired
Quinn Roux to Connacht (loan)

Previous Meetings

Saturday 4th January 2014 Rabo Direct Pro 12
Connacht 8-16 Leinster
www.pro12rugby.com/matchcentre/13767.php

Saturday 26th October 2013 Rabo Direct Pro 12
Leinster 16-13 Connacht
www.pro12rugby.com/matchcentre/13204.php

the +7 at Home is about right on paper, but if we can match them in a few key areas and make good decisions and keep on the right side of the ref then we turn around those 7 points. there's no way it's going to be +14 we're too competitive now to let that happen especially at home.

Stick about the Clan Bar after the game, there will be an interview with Danie Poolman and a few representatives of the OLSC will be there to discuss what went wrong.
Plan is to get Danie up on stage about 15-20 mins after the final whistle.

And we've to compare with what Connacht had for th 34-6 victory

Connacht starting lineup

15 Henshaw
14 O'Halloran
13 Griffin
12 McSharry
11 Vainikolo
10 Parks
9 Marmion
1 Buckley
2 Flavin
3 White
4 Swift
5 McCarthy
6 McKeown
7 O'Connor
8 Naoupu
16 Harris-Wright
17 Wilkinson
18 Loughney
19 Gannon
20 Faloon
21 Moore
22 Nikora
23 Fafita