I knew some would have been angry

Bayern wrote: Buckley ahead of Jack McGrath? What? YES, turnover machine and I haven't seen him penalised at scrumtime in my memories
White ahead of Ross? why not? I think Joe Schmidt will rate him and Ah You highly now they are both IQ
Quinn Roux the same as Mike McCarthy? hahaha.
Muldowney the same as Toner? Yeah I bet on these surprises, wait and see Macca is getting older, and not a big fan of Toner, light in contact
Delahunt who couldn't even make the Leinster or Connacht academy and is a novice at hooker the same as Byran Byrne? They both have NO professional experience, nothing can easily be predicted
Naoupu the same as Jennings? Better if he's on a good day
And finally Niyi as good as McFadden? Know that, but it's 1 lonely isolated match, and McFadd just came back from injury, Niyi is a revelation

Loving your optimism Connachta but for me it is more realistically it :

15. Darragh Leader 15. Kearney
14. Niyi Adeolokun 14. McFadden
13. Robbie Henshaw 13. Macken
12. Dave McSharry 12. Madigan
11. Danie Poolman 11. Fanning
10. Jack Carty 10. Gopperth
9. Kieran Marmion 9. Boss

1. Denis Buckley 1. McGrath
2. Dave Heffernan 2. Cronin
3. Nathan White 3. Ross
4. Aly Muldowney 4. Toner
5. Quinn Roux 5. McCarthy
6. John Muldoon © 6. Ruddock
7. Willie Faloon 7. Ryan
8. Eoin McKeon 8. Heaslip

Replacements:

16. Shane Delahunt 16. Bryan Byrne
17. Ronan Loughney 17. Cian Healy
18. Rodney Ah You 18. Tadhg Furlong
19. Mick Kearney 19. Tom Denton
20. George Naoupu 20. Shane Jennings
21. Ian Porter 21. Eoin Reddan
22. Craig Ronaldson 22. Gordon D'Arcy
23. Matt Healy 23. Mick McGrath

Buckley ahead of Jack McGrath? What?
White ahead of Ross?
Quinn Roux the same as Mike McCarthy? hahaha.
Muldowney the same as Toner?
Delahunt who couldn't even make the Leinster or Connacht academy and is a novice at hooker the same as Byran Byrne?
Naoupu the same as Jennings?
And finally Niyi as good as McFadden?
Bonkers.

Head-to-head, personal opinion based on talent, experience current form and fitness

PS : Black is kind of a draw

15. Darragh Leader 15. Kearney
14. Niyi Adeolokun 14. McFadden
13. Robbie Henshaw 13. Macken
12. Dave McSharry 12. Madigan
11. Danie Poolman 11. Fanning
10. Jack Carty 10. Gopperth
9. Kieran Marmion 9. Boss

1. Denis Buckley 1. McGrath
2. Dave Heffernan 2. Cronin
3. Nathan White 3. Ross
4. Aly Muldowney 4. Toner
5. Quinn Roux 5. McCarthy
6. John Muldoon © 6. Ruddock
7. Willie Faloon 7. Ryan
8. Eoin McKeon 8. Heaslip

Replacements:

16. Shane Delahunt 16. Bryan Byrne
17. Ronan Loughney 17. Cian Healy
18. Rodney Ah You 18. Tadhg Furlong
19. Mick Kearney 19. Tom Denton
20. George Naoupu 20. Shane Jennings
21. Ian Porter 21. Eoin Reddan
22. Craig Ronaldson 22. Gordon D'Arcy
23. Matt Healy 23. Mick McGrath

ConnachtCows wrote: Any chance to get them to play "The Imperial March" as Leinster come out?

Oh why not go the whole hog?



Unfortunately it looks like Leinster are locked and loaded with nary a ladyboy or a squad filler in sight.

Thought it was harsh on Kearney as well.
Aly's experience might be needed though in this game.

Anyone know who's responsible for the music when the team come on to the field?
I know they always play "Shipping Up To Boston" as we take the pitch
Any chance to get them to play "The Imperial March" as Leinster come out?

Harsh on Kearney who was top tackler and lineout taker last week vs Edinburgh. Yes he spilt a few balls- but in that case half the team could be changed. Himself and Aly would have been my preferred duo with Roux to come on..

Great to see Poolman has gotten the all clear- and Healy back on bench is also encouraging. Don't know much about Delahunt I'll admit?

Pretty much a full strenght Leinster side. A sign of the times, no more sending out 6 or 7 squaddies against us.
All the better for us in the long run.

One change for Connacht Muldowney comes in for Kearney. Loughney and Healy are subs

Connacht line-up v Leinster


15. Darragh Leader
14. Niyi Adeolokun
13. Robbie Henshaw
12. Dave McSharry
11. Danie Poolman
10. Jack Carty
9. Kieran Marmion

1. Denis Buckley
2. Dave Heffernan
3. Nathan White
4. Aly Muldowney
5. Quinn Roux
6. John Muldoon ©
7. Willie Faloon
8. Eoin McKeon

Replacements:

16. Shane Delahunt
17. Ronan Loughney
18. Rodney Ah You
19. Mick Kearney
20. George Naoupu
21. Ian Porter
22. Craig Ronaldson
23. Matt Healy

ConnachtCows wrote: Leinster Team

15. Kearney
14. McFadden
13. Macken
12. Madigan
11. Fanning
10. Gopperth
9. Boss

1. McGrath
2. Cronin
3. Ross
4. Toner
5. McCarthy
6. Ruddock
7. Ryan
8. Heaslip

Well as expected

Remplamcements

16. Bryan Byrne
17. Cian Healy
18. Tadhg Furlong
19. Tom Denton
20. Shane Jennings
21. Eoin Reddan
22. Gordon D'Arcy
23. Mick McGrath

Leinster Team

15. Kearney
14. McFadden
13. Macken
12. Madigan
11. Fanning
10. Gopperth
9. Boss

1. McGrath
2. Cronin
3. Ross
4. Toner
5. McCarthy
6. Ruddock
7. Ryan
8. Heaslip

Shane Delahunt is in the Connacht squad to play Leinster 

Lacy is one of those Refs that if he feels you're trangressing he will keep on penalising, some refs like to even things up but not Lacy

rossie wrote:

connachta wrote: Just've watched again moments of Wales vs Italy 2014 with Lacey, and i'm a bit worried about his constant tendancy to advantage the defense in rucks and mauls...I Know we improved this sector, but still, if the support isn't immediate, it will be very very difficult to retain possession

Thats the way its reffed by most refs these days with the obligatory extra second or two for the big teams, be it ABs or leinster in pro12. Its just the way of things when you are on top. Imo laceys weakness is the engagement at scrumtime. He is a bit indecisive for me and props work off that. Ditto clancy and fitzgibbon.

Agree for scrum, but at the breakdown , he's severe... Bergamasco was of his feet for half a second, and he indicated pen for Wales, whereas Italy had the momentum