Bayern wrote: Henshaw is from Westmeath

Sssssshh...

Henshaw is from Westmeath

Gavin Cummiskey in today's Oirish Toimes:

"So, Leinster will be welcomed by the wind, rain and six of their academy graduates this evening. Nathan White also moved west two seasons ago while Denis Buckley was on the same Blackrock schools’ side as Jordi Murphy. Dave McSharry, Kyle Tonetti and Craig Ronaldson are others who would be relishing this fixture above all others if they were fit.

It gets worse. Miah Nikora and Ronaldson injuries mean Jack Carty, another local produce, starts at outhalf ahead of Dan Parks."

So: Nathan White bleeds little blue harps, Denis Buckley is a Dub, and Jack Carty is... a vegetable (ok the editing staff have to carry the can on that one).

Here's hoping Monday's headline is something like "Leinsterman Henshaw inspires Leinster B to victory over their betters."

Porterbelly wrote: Just to say that Marmion and Carty were outstanding together for the Connacht 20's when they won the grand slam

If they could rekindle some of that at a higher level, it would be fantastic to see

Kudos to Lam for giving Carty his chance. It was in this game last season that Henshaw announced himself. Step up Leader and Carty

Next Stringer - ROG partnership - heard it here first folks

Daunting enough looking Leinster team, keeping in this game early on will be key. Carty and Leader are brave but correct calls. Lam is giving youth its chance, and he deserves credit for that. Things might not go brilliantly all times tomorrow but it's important that these young players of ours learn from playing against top class, experienced internationals like BOD and Gordon Darcy.

From a Connacht point of view it's a very exciting team. Delighted that Jack Carty is getting his chance, hopefully he can help get the likes of robbie and Griffin going. We generally seem to play well against this lot, hard to see a connacht win tomorrow evening but you never know. An improvement from the Munster game is an absolute must, Progress is required and experience will be gained.

Looking forward to this- our young bloods could well set the pace, with the wiser lads bringing the experience.. We've a team Leinster can't predict in play so in spite of their multi-caps anything is possible..

Getting a result tomorrow is going to be all about the pack laying a solid and consistent platform. If we allow Leinster to slow down our ball or mess up our set pieces we (and Jack especially) are totally goosed. Pack has to roll up their sleeves from minute one. The good news is looking at the quality of our own bench, but the young lads need to ensure we're well in the game when Pat springs his replacements......

Just to say that Marmion and Carty were outstanding together for the Connacht 20's when they won the grand slam

If they could rekindle some of that at a higher level, it would be fantastic to see

Kudos to Lam for giving Carty his chance. It was in this game last season that Henshaw announced himself. Step up Leader and Carty

I dunno, with Carty captaining the Eagles he could have the balls to step up I guess, but it's a big ask. As phats said Marmion could be able to look after him... hard to believe that lad has two full seasons under his belt!

Anyone know of any tickets going for the Clan terrace? My cousin returned from Oz is looking. Was a STH for the four years before he went over, and forgot to pick a ticket up earlier for this match!

Don't know about it not getting much better!

That's a very strong Leinster team and I worry for Connacht and carty in this one. There will be a huge amount of defending to be done IMO and his kicking game will have to be spot on( and mar ions). I saw him a few times for the As last season and while he is a good player and decent goal kicker I worry about his mental stamina. Every time I saw him he did well for 30-35 min in first half and even less in 2nd but made bad errors towards ends of each half. Hopefully that aspect has improved. If it hasn't he will be found out against these guys and a lot earlier IMO.

Its great to see so many young lads on the field together. Against Leinster though?
Perhaps needs must.

Andrew Browne earning his 100th cap for the province.

Seriously hope he has a better 100th cap than Frank Murphy did! As for Denton he's being doing very well this season and while I think he'll always be a squad player he's a useful one. Happy that Carty is being given a chance at 10 it's our strongest pack and best SH in front of him so it won't get much better. Glad to see Lam mixing it up too. Parks didn't do well last week and while you could say its rotation a part of me thinks Lam is now looking for new options at 10. Hopefully Carty can grab his chance.

connachta wrote: Really think it will be hard, international back-line vs junior back-line...And who will stand for centre if Henshaw/Griff injured? Parks Healy and Carr are far too light, remains TOH or in the worst case Mc Keon..

Leader would probably move into centre.

Excited for this game now, some players will be shocked into stepping up a notch and maybe some will go into their shell. I expect Griffin, Henshaw and Marmion will have good games, as long as Griffin stops trying to be a crash ball centre. Marmion is capable of babysitting Carty if needs be and I feel like the extra responsibility would suit him.

Kearney, Clarke, Muldoon, McKeon, these players should relish the physical challenge. Browne in a post-Munster youtube video was mad keen for the bit of niggle the derbies bring. The whole pack should be (and needs to be) up for a fight, minus the cards this time.

Realistically speaking it could be a bloodbath, a win would be close to the level of beating Toulouse, but that's the challenge you want to face. MOC obviously values the derbies highly, he was annoyed at losing in Munster imo and Madigan took some of the flak for that.
Outside of Denton that's the best team Leinster could have named (wtf happened Roux and Marshall? Is Denton really the 3rd/4th best second row option at Leinster? No silverware this year if so).
Maybe after 10 minutes I'll be watching from behind the couch but for now I'm really excited about this one.

Leinster's squad really is scarily strong. Massive game for Carty, last time I saw him play was for the Eagles last year and he looked out of his depth to be honest. I hear good things about him this year though. Great chance for our backline to stake their claims against internationals they could potentially replace in the not too distant future. I'm sure they'll be well up for this. We've done well in this fixture in the last few years so I'm cautiously optimistic.

With Munster travelling north this evening, Leinster are looking at this as a chance to narrow the gap and give some gametime to key players ahead of the Heineken Cup resuming. They aren't taking any chances. Even the bench is strong. At least the presence of BOD, Kearney, Heaslip etc. should add to the gate I suppose. We always seem to lift it against the stronger sides anyway.

I'm happy to see Carty get a go. We will probably have to go with Dan for the two HC games so this was the only chance to make a change at 10. Darragh Leader ahead of TOH at full back tells its own story as to where TOH stands. Hope it goes well for Darragh Leader. I'd share Connachta's concerns regarding the cover at centre, really there isn't anyone you could put in there in an emergency.

Lets hope there is a few more fit for the HC games.

Really think it will be hard, international back-line vs junior back-line...And who will stand for centre if Henshaw/Griff injured? Parks Healy and Carr are far too light, remains TOH or in the worst case Mc Keon..

Coach Matt O'Connor has made ten changes in total from the team that took to the field last weekend in the RDS with only two backs and three forwards retained from the 15 that accounted for Ulster.
With Zane Kirchner moving to the right wing from full back, Dave Kearney moves to the bench with brother Rob taking the number 15 jersey from the South African.
Luke Fitzgerald, who is due to win his 120th cap on Saturday, continues his fine run of form on the left wing.
With 402 Leinster caps between them, back in to the centre come the experienced duo of Gordon D'Arcy and Brian O'Driscoll. Eoin Reddan starts at scrumhalf against his former club, with Ian Madigan beside him at outhalf.
The pack also sees a number of fresh faces from last weekend plus a positional switch in the back row. Man of the Match from the Ulster game, Jordi Murphy is selected at flanker, with captain Jamie Heaslip returning at 8. Rhys Ruddock is once again selected at 6.
Former Connacht hooker Sean Cronin, who spent three years at the Sportsground before joining Leinster, is also selected to start against his former club. Joining him in the front row will be Martin Moore and Jack McGrath, who earned his 50th cap off the bench against Ulster.
Finally in the second row Devin Toner and Tom Denton start in place of Leo Cullen and Mike McCarthy. McCarthy is however named amongst the replacements.
The Official Leinster Supporters Club (OLSC) can confirm the following international coverage of the game this weekend.
UK & Ireland - Live on TG4 from 7.15pm Saturday
USA - Live on Fox Soccer Plus from 2.15pm ET Saturday
Asia - Live on Setanta Sports from 3.15am HKT Sunday
Australia - Live on Setanta Sports from 6.15am AEDT Sunday
New Zealand - Live on The Rugby Channel from 8.15am Sunday
Canada - Delayed on Sportsnet World from 5.00pm Saturday
Radio - Galwaybayfm
Twitter- www.twitter.com/leinsterrugby
Our bases in London (Philomena's of Covent Garden), New York (Madhatter Saloon), Dubai (McGettigans), Sydney (PJ Gallagher's @ The Criterion) will all be showing the game LIVE.
See our Blue Planet guide for rugby friendly venues who play games in over 50 cities around the world (we recommend calling ahead to check) here ( bit.ly/16SRPMT )
LEINSTER:
15: Rob Kearney
14: Zane Kirchner
13: Brian O'Driscoll
12: Gordon D'Arcy
11: Luke Fitzgerald
10: Ian Madigan
9: Eoin Reddan
1: Jack McGrath
2: Sean Cronin
3: Martin Moore
4: Devin Toner
5: Tom Denton
6: Rhys Ruddock
7: Jordi Murphy
8: Jamie Heaslip CAPTAIN
REPLACEMENTS:
16: Aaron Dundon
17: Jack O'Connell
18: Mike Ross
19: Mike McCarthy
20: Dominic Ryan
21: Isaac Boss
22: Jimmy Gopperth
23: Dave Kearney
REFEREE: George Clancy (IRFU), ASSISTANT REFEREES: Leo Colgan, Ollie Hodges (both IRFU) CITING COMMISSIONER: Denis Templeton (IRFU) TMO: Jude Quinn (IRFU)