Did anyone else notice during the Bayonne away match, we had the same game plan as vs toulouse. Keep players out at ruck and have the defence ready to shoot out. It explains having a bigger guy there, ie mckeon.

clanman wrote:

salmson wrote: Not too many weaknesses on that Leinster team. Disappointed not to see Reddan playing as he's been destroyed in his last 3 matchups with Marmion.

You'd fancy us to go after their scrum (McLaughlin is the lock cover) and them to go after our lineout. With Ian Metronome sidelined, the placekicking of the two 10s could be key also.

Real tough on McShaz and Swift not to make the 23.

There was a case to be made to only have 2 front rowers on the bench and allow McShaz in. It's good for connacht rugby that young eagles players are getting their opportunities to progress.

You have to have 3 front-row players on the bench, two is against the laws.

salmson wrote: Not too many weaknesses on that Leinster team. Disappointed not to see Reddan playing as he's been destroyed in his last 3 matchups with Marmion.

You'd fancy us to go after their scrum (McLaughlin is the lock cover) and them to go after our lineout. With Ian Metronome sidelined, the placekicking of the two 10s could be key also.

Real tough on McShaz and Swift not to make the 23.

There was a case to be made to only have 2 front rowers on the bench and allow McShaz in. It's good for connacht rugby that young eagles players are getting their opportunities to progress.

Leinster have gone for the experienced backrow, you'd like to think Jennings and Mc'Laughlin need a few more games under their belt. Scrum will be interesting, we should be on the front foot, our lineout could be our achilles heel again but I'm still expecting us to win just.

This has been the slowest week ever.

Roll on tomorrow night, Even more excited now that the teams are announced. Still a 50/50 game.

Hope all who can make the RDS are very loud!

wp_rathead Hope your stomach and brain are ready for another hungover!! :woohoo:

Honestly without Darce, Madigan and McCarthy, something can happen!

Not too many weaknesses on that Leinster team. Disappointed not to see Reddan playing as he's been destroyed in his last 3 matchups with Marmion.

You'd fancy us to go after their scrum (McLaughlin is the lock cover) and them to go after our lineout. With Ian Metronome sidelined, the placekicking of the two 10s could be key also.

Real tough on McShaz and Swift not to make the 23.

That's a stronger team than I would have expected given their schedule, front row could still be targeted, but I'd have started Willie, I think he would give their backrow more problems.

After the captain's run this morning in the RDS, Leinster Rugby head coach Matt O'Connor announced his team to face Connacht tomorrow evening in the Guinness PRO12 (Kick Off: 7.35pm - live on TG4 and RTÉ 2FM).

There are seven changes in total from the team which accounted for Harlequins in the Champions Cup last weekend including a number of welcome returns from injury.

Two of the changes are in the backs with Dave Kearney back from injury to take his place on the left wing with Zane Kirchner on the right and his brother Rob again selected in the full back slot. The other change is in the centre with Noel Reid coming in to partner Luke Fitzgerald. The half backs remain the same with Isaac Boss and Jimmy Gopperth selected at nine and ten. There are five changes in the pack with a completely new front row of Michael Bent, Aaron Dundon and Tadhg Furlong selected. It is as you were in the second row with Devin Toner and Kane Douglas in the engine room, while there are two changes in the back row. Shane Jennings returns from injury to win his 201st Leinster cap, while Kevin McLaughlin starts at blindside flanker. Jamie Heaslip captains the side from eight.

On the bench Maks Van Dyke is in line to make his first appearance for Leinster having signed last week on a short term contract. 
LEINSTER:
15. Rob Kearney 
14. Zane Kirchner
13. Luke Fitzgerald
12. Noel Reid
11. Dave Kearney
10. Jimmy Gopperth
9. Isaac Boss

1. Michael Bent
2. Aaron Dundon
3. Tahdg Furlong
4. Devin Toner
5. Kane Douglas
6. Kevin McLaughlin
7. Shane Jennings
8. Jamie Heaslip CAPTAIN

16. Sean Cronin
17. Jack McGrath
18. Maks Van Dyk
19. Jack Conan
20. Jordi Murphy
21. Luke McGrath
22. Cathal Marsh
23. Gordon D'Arcy 

Pat Lam has named his side to face Leinster at the RDS on Friday night in round 10 of the GUINNESS PRO12. Lock Aly Muldowney is the sole player remaining from the starting XV that defeated Bayonne 29 – 27 in France last weekend.

Centre Robbie Henshaw returns to action following his involvement for Ireland in the November Series. The 21-year-old international is partnered by Bundee Aki, who starts in his preferred position of inside centre for the first time.

Mils Muliaina is named at full back in a back three with Danie Poolman and Matt Healy. 22-year-old Jack Carty is handed the reins at outhalf for his first game at the RDS while Ireland’s Kieran Marmion, who scored Connacht’s try at the Dublin venue last year, resumes duties at scrum half.

Up front, John Muldoon will captain the side from a back row featuring Eoin McKeon and George Naoupu. On-loan lock Quinn Roux partners Muldowney in the second row behind the front row trio of Denis Buckley, Tom McCartney and Rodney Ah You.

The most notable inclusion on the bench is Academy forward Ultan Dillane. Following a string of impressive performances for the Connacht Eagles, the 21-year-old lock from Tralee, Co. Kerry, could make his Connacht debut tomorrow night. With the injury to Ian Porter and unavailability of John Cooney, last week’s double try scorer Caolin Blade has also been named amongst the replacements.

Commenting on the team selection and the upcoming game, Head Coach Pat Lam said:

“As per our planning, we see a different team this week to the one that lined out against Bayonne. Despite the six-day turnaround and tough 12 hour trips to and from France, we were able to have a good week’s preparation due to the use of all our squad over the last three weeks. This was vital as we prepare for one of the biggest challenges of our season against the defending champions stacked with quality players and in a venue where we have never won.

“While there is huge interest and excitement from supporters, we know that we will have to be fully focused on executing our roles, the game plan and our team work to give us any chance of success. If we do that the Connacht way, I have no doubt that we are capable of creating history tomorrow night.

“All the players are hugely excited to be involved in this game and it’s fantastic to be able to give Ultan, another promising player from our Academy, the opportunity to wear the Connacht jersey on the big stage.”

Connacht team to face Leinster

15. Mils Muliaina
14. Danie Poolman
13. Robbie Henshaw
12. Bundee Aki
11. Matt Healy
10. Jack Carty
9. Kieran Marmion

1. Denis Buckley
2. Tom McCartney
3. Rodney Ah You
4. Quinn Roux
5. Aly Muldowney
6. John Muldoon (captain)
7. Eoin McKeon
8. George Naoupu

Replacements:

16. Dave Heffernan
17. Ronan Loughney
18. Finlay Bealham
19. Ultan Dillane
20. Willie Faloon
21. Caolin Blade
22. Craig Ronaldson
23. Darragh Leader

Unavailable/Injured: Jason Harris-Wright, Sean Henry, Shane Delahunt, Nathan White, Mick Kearney, Andrew Browne, Jake Heenan, Tiernan O’Halloran, Fionn Carr, Miah Nikora, Ian Porter, John Cooney.

Leinster v Connacht
Friday December 19th
RDS
Kick off 19:35
Live on TG4

Mcshaz wins player of the month for November and then most likey will have to make way for the golden child for this match. that's not right

I'd really like to see McSharry given a chance at 13 at some stage of the season. Firstly I think it would really help his international prospects if he could play more than one position i.e. Cave. Also it would just be another option for us if he was as comfortable at 13 as he is at 12.

P.S. Lam having to choose between Aki, McSharry and Henshaw for his centre combination is a nice problem to have.

Whatever combination between the three that is chosen in the centre is fine by me. If McSharry is left out he can certainly make an impact off the bench with some direct running. Apart from that decision and possibly a decision in the 2nd row, the team picks itself. Leinster will undoubtedly mix things up for this game but still have a strong squad to choose from in most areas. Front 5 and centre are definite areas to target though.

Unfortunately I'll be missing this but will be refreshing the score on the phone every 10 seconds like a demented lunatic¬

Would be a great early Christmas present to make it 5 wins on the spin and a double over Leinster. I'd be more than happy to be offered a bonus point at this stage but there's no reason not to go there believing we can win. However, it'll need to be a step up on anything we've produced yet this season over the full 80 minutes and our discipline must be 100%. We've played well in sections of most games and often that has been enough but while I think we'll see a fair bit of the ball, we need to make it count on the scoreboard which we haven't always managed either this season or at the RDS in the past.

Think I remember us effectively having the ball in the Leinster half for about the first 25-30 minutes against Leinster a couple of years ago but not scoring and when they got on top they ruthlessly punished us.

He played 10 at underage I believe, but that was years ago. I'd say he's as likely to be converted to a forward at this late stage.

clanman wrote: Mcshaz wins player of the month for November and then most likey will have to make way for the golden child for this match. that's not right

Furthermore, we have enough depth to prevent any move to fullback or winger despite his quality.. Crazy idea, but the only long term possibliity is n°10. Has he got a kicking game in his past?

Mcshaz wins player of the month for November and then most likey will have to make way for the golden child for this match. that's not right

ConnachtCows wrote: I fear that I was too confident earlier in the week, and I have gotten myself too confident.
I've done this before to myself *cough* *Saracens* *cough*

why cows..? why did you have to open them wounds..? All I can see now is Ashton's swandive everytime I close my eyes

ConnachtCows wrote: I fear that I was too confident earlier in the week, and I have gotten myself too confident.
I've done this before to myself *cough* *Saracens* *cough*

...

Comeontaf**kCONNACHT

CC, you must have missed your last post. Hearing that Leinster are 6-1-1 in their last eight matches, are on a nice run at the RDS and have not lost 3 interpros in a row in over 10 years got my head and heart on the same page pretty quickly. No matter how you slice it this will be a tough game and Connacht will have to be at their best to turn them over, but fully expecting the lads to be up for it and keep it tight throughout.