Leinster vs Zebre, 9/10, 1pm @TheRDS, RTE.

[Barry]

Leinster also confirmed that a number of the concession stands and bars will be open for Saturday's match.

Any word on the Laighin Out?

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Asked and the OLSC said the plan at the moment is to be open after the game. Apparently it’s up to them to clean the place after being locked up for 19 months which they’ll be doing before the game so can’t guarantee it will be ready pre match but should be fine post match.

Cheers

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[LeinsterLeader]

Lots to like in that team. Could be a lot of rustiness to shake off though

[wixfjord]

Jaysus, wholesale changes from last week anyway!

Not sure about the balance of that backrow, but won't make much matter against Zebre.

10/12/13/15 is very exciting and will cut open given an opportunity.

So good to see Adam Byrne back.

Very interested to see how Baird goes, he'll surely run in a try from his own 22 or something daft.

JGP/Byrne dropped might be telling...

[LeinsterLeader]

Leinster Rugby (caps in brackets):

15. Jimmy O’Brien (35)
14. Adam Byrne (57)
13. Jamie Osborne (7)
12. Ciarán Frawley (37)
11. Jordan Larmour (62)
10. Harry Byrne (24)
9. Luke McGrath (152) CAPTAIN

1. Ed Byrne (72)
2. Seán Cronin (195)
3. Michael Ala’alatoa (2)
4. Devin Toner (266)
5. Ryan Baird (29)
6. Dan Leavy (73)
7. Scott Penny (29)
8. Rhys Ruddock (190)

Replacements:

16. Rónan Kelleher (25)
17. Peter Dooley (93)
18. Cian Healy (233)
19. Ross Molony (118)
20. Max Deegan (67)
21. Nick McCarthy (37)
22. Johnny Sexton (174)
23. Rob Russell (1)

Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU)

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Brilliant to see Adam starting. Very long road back for him so hope he goes really well.

Hard to see us being cohesive with so many changes but that midfield is really exciting.

Hope Baird doesn’t try too hard to make up for last week and end up carrying on where he left off.

[arsebiscuits1]

No room for Tommy yet despite returning to full fitness.

He's had a few week too soons and overly early returns though so maybe they're being extra cautious.

I'd rather him over Russell in the 23 shirt as Russell didn't look to be a huge fan of tackling last week. But these are the games that'll stand to him

[backrower8]

Leavy at 6 is the way forward for him. Was never a quick open side and two significant operations won't have made him any faster...but he is a player that makes things happen in a way others don''t, like the drawing of defenders and offload for the disallowed McCarthy try last week. X-factot

[LeinsterLeader]

Some may say they are lambs to the slaughter, but 'that' for Michael Bradley.........too far!

The team of Zebre Rugby who on Saturday 9 October at 14:00 Italian will take the field against the Irish of Leinster Rugby at the RDS Arena in Dublin in the 3rd round of the United Rugby Championship:

15. Jacopo Trulla * (7)

14. Pierre Bruno (31)

13. Erich Cronjé (0)

12. Enrico Lucchin * (25)

11. Mattia Bellini (64)

10. Antonio Rizzi * (23)

9. Nicholas Casilio * (21)

8. Renato Giammarioli * (63)

7. Luca Andreani * (0)

6. Iacopo Bianchi * (20)

5. Andrea Zambonin * (2)

4. Cristian Stoian * (4)

4. Ion Neculai * (2)

2. Oliviero Fabiani (132) (Cap)

1. Andrea Lovotti * (108)

Available:

16. Massimo Ceciliani * (40)

17. Danilo Fischetti * (29)

18. Matteo Nocera * (18)

19. David Sisi (66)

20. Giovanni Licata * (43)

21. Guglielmo Palazzani (148)

22. Tommaso Boni * (103)

23. Paolo Pescetto (11)

Herdsman Michael Bradley

Not available due to injury: Tommaso Castello, Marco Manfredi, Johan Meyer, Daniele Rimpelli *, Gabriele Venditti *, Giosuè Zilocchi *

[limecat]

Match Preview

As predicted, last week Leinster comfortably beat the Dragons in a routine win!

Now it's time to focus on Leinster's return to the RD...

Sorry, what was that?

It wasn't comfortable at all?

Read more...

[joooooe]

Some may say they are lambs to the slaughter, but 'that' for Michael Bradley.........too far!

The team of Zebre Rugby who on Saturday 9 October at 14:00 Italian will take the field against the Irish of Leinster Rugby at the RDS Arena in Dublin in the 3rd round of the United Rugby Championship:

15. Jacopo Trulla * (7)

14. Pierre Bruno (31)

13. Erich Cronjé (0)

12. Enrico Lucchin * (25)

11. Mattia Bellini (64)

10. Antonio Rizzi * (23)

9. Nicholas Casilio * (21)

8. Renato Giammarioli * (63)

7. Luca Andreani * (0)

6. Iacopo Bianchi * (20)

5. Andrea Zambonin * (2)

4. Cristian Stoian * (4)

4. Ion Neculai * (2)

2. Oliviero Fabiani (132) (Cap)

1. Andrea Lovotti * (108)

Available:

16. Massimo Ceciliani * (40)

17. Danilo Fischetti * (29)

18. Matteo Nocera * (18)

19. David Sisi (66)

20. Giovanni Licata * (43)

21. Guglielmo Palazzani (148)

22. Tommaso Boni * (103)

23. Paolo Pescetto (11)

Herdsman Michael Bradley

Not available due to injury: Tommaso Castello, Marco Manfredi, Johan Meyer, Daniele Rimpelli *, Gabriele Venditti *, Giosuè Zilocchi *

Their number 8 sounds like a Swiss log dessert. Good player too, mind.

[FLIP]

Cian Healy alone has more caps than their teams starting 9-15. And if it wasn't for their hooker and LH, their bench would have more caps than their starting team

[LeinsterLeader]

Another First for the RDS tomorrow. From the match programme:

"....And they will experience a new 'walk-out' tune at the RDS Arena for the first time. The Metallica song, 'Enter Sandeman', made its debut at the Aviva stadium two weeks ago but this will be its first RDS airing."

[blockhead]

Another First for the RDS tomorrow. From the match programme:

"....And they will experience a new 'walk-out' tune at the RDS Arena for the first time. The Metallica song, 'Enter Sandeman', made its debut at the Aviva stadium two weeks ago but this will be its first RDS airing."

Whose the metalhead in Leinster Rugby?
Can I suggest Hells Bells.

[Morf]

Another First for the RDS tomorrow. From the match programme:

"....And they will experience a new 'walk-out' tune at the RDS Arena for the first time. The Metallica song, 'Enter Sandeman', made its debut at the Aviva stadium two weeks ago but this will be its first RDS airing."

A portly front rower possibly?

[Morf]

I have huge time for Ruddock but I always feel he's a bit of stop gap at 8.
Adds a cool head and a great sense to tidy up a minor mistake before it embiggens.

[Dave Cahill]

I have huge time for Ruddock but I always feel he's a bit of stop gap at 8.
Adds a cool head and a great sense to tidy up a minor mistake before it embiggens.

I wonder will he actually play as an 8 much? With Leavy and Penny on the pitch we have great versitility in the back row

[roarlad]

Cian Healy alone has more caps than their teams starting 9-15. And if it wasn't for their hooker and LH, their bench would have more caps than their starting team

Toner has more than their 3-15.

[Blue Man]

Decent balance to the team and great to see so many players not considered frontlines getting a game. Really hope that a few players stick their hand up. I have some concerns about the midfield, really hope the 10-11-13 axis can manage the game, there is no shortage of raw football ability and talent but perhaps a lack of rugby nous.
I’d like to see the front five really set the tone, there are guys there with points to prove (Byrne Baird in particular). I’m really excited by the backrow and look forward to seeing a big performance Edwin the unit. Finally, great to see Byrne, Larmour and O’Brien back. Lots of Leinster fizz in that back three, hope the guys FDI the basics well (field kicks and make tackles) and then show some va a voom!

[joooooe]

Decent balance to the team and great to see so many players not considered frontlines getting a game. Really hope that a few players stick their hand up. I have some concerns about the midfield, really hope the 10-11-13 axis can manage the game, there is no shortage of raw football ability and talent but perhaps a lack of rugby nous.
I’d like to see the front five really set the tone, there are guys there with points to prove (Byrne Baird in particular). I’m really excited by the backrow and look forward to seeing a big performance Edwin the unit. Finally, great to see Byrne, Larmour and O’Brien back. Lots of Leinster fizz in that back three, hope the guys FDI the basics well (field kicks and make tackles) and then show some va a voom!

The 10-11-13 axis is a new one on me, gotta say.

[ronk]

This is a backline that could rip teams apart, or struggle or both in the same game. There are 3 decision making passers with 2 very elusive steppers, so if it clicks it will hard to defend.

But it could be really really rusty and misfire badly. And if it does it may struggle to get go forward ball and to have the space it needs.