Pat Lam throws the dice on a talented but very young backline.
CONNACHT
Starting XV: 15 Darragh Leader, 14 Fionn Carr, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Eoin Griffin, 11 Matt Healy, 10 Jack Carty, 9 Kieran Marmion
1 Brett Wilkinson, 2 Jason Harris-Wright, 3 Nathan White, 4 Mick Kearney, 5 Craig Clarke (c), 6 Andrew Browne, 7 John Muldoon, 8 Eoin McKeon
Replacements: 16 Dave Heffernan, 17 Denis Buckley, 18 Rodney Ah You, 19 Michael Swift 20 George Naoupu, 21 Paul O’Donohoe, 22 Dan Parks, 23. Tiernan O’Halloran
Unavailable/Injured: Aly Muldowney, Dave Nolan, Sean Henry, Jake Heenan, Willie Faloon, Gavin Duffy, Dave McSharry, Craig Ronaldson, Danie Poolman, Frank Murphy, Miah Nikora, and Kyle Tonetti.
Starting XV: 15 Darragh Leader, 14 Fionn Carr, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Eoin Griffin, 11 Matt Healy, 10 Jack Carty, 9 Kieran Marmion
1 Brett Wilkinson, 2 Jason Harris-Wright, 3 Nathan White, 4 Mick Kearney, 5 Craig Clarke (c), 6 Andrew Browne, 7 John Muldoon, 8 Eoin McKeon
Replacements: 16 Dave Heffernan, 17 Denis Buckley, 18 Rodney Ah You, 19 Michael Swift 20 George Naoupu, 21 Paul O’Donohoe, 22 Dan Parks, 23. Tiernan O’Halloran
Unavailable/Injured: Aly Muldowney, Dave Nolan, Sean Henry, Jake Heenan, Willie Faloon, Gavin Duffy, Dave McSharry, Craig Ronaldson, Danie Poolman, Frank Murphy, Miah Nikora, and Kyle Tonetti.
Leinster
Starting XV: 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 (c)
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
Starting XV: 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 (c)
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
Venue: Sportsground
Date: Sunday, 04th January 2013
Kick-off: 19:05
TV Broadcasts: TG4, Rabo Matchday Live
Referee: George Clancy (IRFU, 57th competition game)
MATCH DISCUSSION THREAD ON THE FORUM
Date: Sunday, 04th January 2013
Kick-off: 19:05
TV Broadcasts: TG4, Rabo Matchday Live
Referee: George Clancy (IRFU, 57th competition game)
MATCH DISCUSSION THREAD ON THE FORUM
Connacht come off the back of a relatively poor performance against a second-string Munster side in Thomond with a few changes in the backline. The poor kicking performance in the first half by the starting half-backs seems to have cost them their starting positions as Parks drops to the bench in favour of Jack Carty. This is Carty's first senior start having had just three appearances before off the bench, and so it is a daring move against such an experienced side as Leinster. Murphy is injured and Marmion starts in his place, but this was always a likely switch given Murphy's poor contribution against our southern neighbours.
Further youth is introduced to the side in the guise of Daragh Leader being handed his first start at full-back this season for Connacht (having had previous starts on the wing), with Duffy having injured his shoulder last week. Carr and Healy retain their starting wing positions, as does last weeks centre combination of Griffin and Henshaw.
Up front Connacht are starting the exact same pack as went up against Munster. Without a proper openside Muldoon will again be asked to step up and tke on the poaching role, and will count himself lucky that instead of coming up against Sean O'Brien he will be battling a fellow converted 6/8 in Jordi Murphy. Murphy has impressed this season with his physicality and leaving Dominic Ryan, a specialist openside, on the bench is a testament to how well regarded he is. However O'Connor may have missed a trick there. Hopefully Clancy will be more stringent against players going off their feet at the rucks tomorrow than Phillips was last week.
Connacht come up against a experienced Leinster side this weekend, as O'Connor has obviously looked over the previous results against Connacht and decided not to take any chances. The backline in particular is superbly strong, with every single player an experienced international, with the exception of Madigan whose international career is only starting. Kirchner in particular will be very dangerous if he runs good lines off BOD, and Healy will need to be on top of his game.
An contest worth watching is likely to develop in the middle of the park where old meets new in the form of the two opposing centre partnerships. Griffin and Henshaw are both in with a shot to gain spots in the Irish centre when D'Arcy and O'Driscoll, and Henshaw in particular is coming directly up against the man he is mooted to replace. The dynamic there, given that O'Driscoll would have been mentoring Henshaw to a certain degree in the Irish camps, will add an extra spice to what already promises to be a gritty encounter.
Up front the Leinster pack is relatively inexperienced compared to their illustrious backs, with a spine of experience included in Cronin, Toner and Heaslip. That said all of them have started regularly this season and last even the comparatively unknown Tom Denton. On the bench there is plenty of experience waiting to come in for any who struggle with the likes of McCarthy and Ross.
Should Connacht be able to gain more parity at the rucks and cut out the kicking errors that marred their performance against Munster, then the game could be very close given the home advantage. However Leinster look well prepared for Connacht this year and will be looking to erase the memory of their last visit to the Sportsground. With the quality of the Leinster backline, Connacht cannot afford to give them too much time on the ball, and any wayward kicks will be an invitation to disaster.
