Leinster vs Emirates Lions, Friday 25.02.22 19:35 @ The RDS

[hugonaut]

The Lions have been poor since the start of the season and are the runt of the South African litter. They have only won two games thus far [26-38 @ Zebre in Round 1 and 19-37 @ Stormers in Round 5] and it is difficult to see them providing a real threat to Leinster in the RDS.

There's a couple of players whose names are familiar on their roster - winger Rabz Maxwane, centre Burger Odendaal, flanker Willem Alberts and tighthead Jannie du Plessis – but the latter two are 37 and 39 respectively and are deep into the winter of their respective careers. Former Munster academy centre Matt More is also a name that some on the board might remember.

I think the team for this is relatively uncomplicated and almost picks itself. We will be missing Keenan, Ringrose, Henshaw, Sexton, Gibson-Park, Conan, Doris, van der Flier, Ryan, Furlong, Sheahan and Porter [12] on Irish duty; in all likelihood Healy, Baird, Larmour and Lowe [4] will also return to the Irish squad this week for the Italy game.

Then there are injured players who are out of contention: Kelleher, Leavy, Connors, Frawley, Conor O'Brien, Mike Milne [6]. So we will be short 22 players at least. The priority is obviously to score a couple of early tries, break their spirit for the game, get the bonus point and then bang in as many points as possible.

Forwards: Dooley, Tracy, Ala'alatoa, Molony, J. McCarthy[A], Ruddock, Penny, Deegan
Backs: McGrath, R. Byrne, Kearney, H. Byrne, O'Loughlin, A.Byrne, J. O'Brien
Subs: Cronin, E. Byrne, Abdeladze, Toner, Moloney [A], N. McCarthy, Osbourne [A], T. O'Brien

[LeinsterLeader]

May not have JOB now as he's been called up to Ireland. Great for him, (and well deserved) but bad for us.

[Colmodon]

I think it means Jamie O starts at 15 and we go 6-2 on the bench with someone like Soroka coming in. We may also see Dunne again rather than Toner. I wonder where we might start to see McKee or Barron replace Cronin on the bench. Will need to give them their baptism before he hangs them up at the end of the year

[cormac]

https://www.leinsterrugby.ie/connors-su ... ee-injury/

Connors out for the season.

Rory O'Loughlin missed the match through illness, Vakh picked up a neck strain in the Edinburgh match.

Leavy back training and moves into the "week too soon" bracket.

[hugonaut]

I think it means Jamie O starts at 15 and we go 6-2 on the bench with someone like Soroka coming in. We may also see Dunne again rather than Toner. I wonder where we might start to see McKee or Barron replace Cronin on the bench. Will need to give them their baptism before he hangs them up at the end of the year

It could be that we have four second rows involved in the matchday squad, as we are heavier there than in most other positions – Toner, Molony, Dunne, Josh Murphy, Charlie Ryan, Brian Deeny and Joe McCarthy.

That would actually make a lot of sense, because it would allow us to take Ross Molony off early in the second half and give him a bit of a break. He has put in a lot of minutes for us this season – he must be way out in front of everybody else on that count.

We are losing Josh Murphy to Connacht and Jack Dunne to Exeter next season, so [given the opposition], it makes sense to put in a couple of players who can benefit from the experience and from whom Leinster will benefit from getting the experience. So perhaps start Molony and McCarthy together and then bring Toner and Deeny on for them in the second half.

[cormac]

That would actually make a lot of sense, because it would allow us to take Ross Molony off early in the second half and give him a bit of a break. He has put in a lot of minutes for us this season – he must be way out in front of everybody else on that count.

Correct, he's played more minutes than anyone else this season. Good bit ahead of the player in second.

[paddyor]

Do we need to rest Mike? Seems he’s been and will be busy to end of season. Like could we move him to the bench and start the replacement?

[deco]

Due to unforeseen circumstances relating to their travel document requirements, brothers Vincent and Emmanuel Tshituka will no longer make the trip to Dublin for their team’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship fixture against Leinster on Friday, 25 February at the RDS Arena.

[hugonaut]

Due to unforeseen circumstances relating to their travel document requirements, brothers Vincent and Emmanuel Tshituka will no longer make the trip to Dublin for their team’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship fixture against Leinster on Friday, 25 February at the RDS Arena.

A second row and flanker respectively. The Lions have buckets of locks so it shouldn't be a big issue for them.

[curates_egg]

Due to unforeseen circumstances relating to their travel document requirements, brothers Vincent and Emmanuel Tshituka will no longer make the trip to Dublin for their team’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship fixture against Leinster on Friday, 25 February at the RDS Arena.

No vax pass?
Have they traveled previously this season?

[mildlyinterested]

I think it means Jamie O starts at 15 and we go 6-2 on the bench with someone like Soroka coming in. We may also see Dunne again rather than Toner. I wonder where we might start to see McKee or Barron replace Cronin on the bench. Will need to give them their baptism before he hangs them up at the end of the year

It could be that we have four second rows involved in the matchday squad, as we are heavier there than in most other positions – Toner, Molony, Dunne, Josh Murphy, Charlie Ryan, Brian Deeny and Joe McCarthy.

That would actually make a lot of sense, because it would allow us to take Ross Molony off early in the second half and give him a bit of a break. He has put in a lot of minutes for us this season – he must be way out in front of everybody else on that count.

We are losing Josh Murphy to Connacht and Jack Dunne to Exeter next season, so [given the opposition], it makes sense to put in a couple of players who can benefit from the experience and from whom Leinster will benefit from getting the experience. So perhaps start Molony and McCarthy together and then bring Toner and Deeny on for them in the second half.

Deeny is injured afaik.

[hugonaut]

I think it means Jamie O starts at 15 and we go 6-2 on the bench with someone like Soroka coming in. We may also see Dunne again rather than Toner. I wonder where we might start to see McKee or Barron replace Cronin on the bench. Will need to give them their baptism before he hangs them up at the end of the year

It could be that we have four second rows involved in the matchday squad, as we are heavier there than in most other positions – Toner, Molony, Dunne, Josh Murphy, Charlie Ryan, Brian Deeny and Joe McCarthy.

That would actually make a lot of sense, because it would allow us to take Ross Molony off early in the second half and give him a bit of a break. He has put in a lot of minutes for us this season – he must be way out in front of everybody else on that count.

We are losing Josh Murphy to Connacht and Jack Dunne to Exeter next season, so [given the opposition], it makes sense to put in a couple of players who can benefit from the experience and from whom Leinster will benefit from getting the experience. So perhaps start Molony and McCarthy together and then bring Toner and Deeny on for them in the second half.

Deeny is injured afaik.

That's a pity. What's up with him, do you know? Injury that requires surgery?

We could go with Dev and Josh Murphy, or Dev and Jack Dunne, on the bench. Or as Colmodon suggested, Soroka could come into the mix. I would still like to see McCarthy start beside Molony, I think it would be a good match for him.

[mildlyinterested]

It could be that we have four second rows involved in the matchday squad, as we are heavier there than in most other positions – Toner, Molony, Dunne, Josh Murphy, Charlie Ryan, Brian Deeny and Joe McCarthy.

That would actually make a lot of sense, because it would allow us to take Ross Molony off early in the second half and give him a bit of a break. He has put in a lot of minutes for us this season – he must be way out in front of everybody else on that count.

We are losing Josh Murphy to Connacht and Jack Dunne to Exeter next season, so [given the opposition], it makes sense to put in a couple of players who can benefit from the experience and from whom Leinster will benefit from getting the experience. So perhaps start Molony and McCarthy together and then bring Toner and Deeny on for them in the second half.

Deeny is injured afaik.

That's a pity. What's up with him, do you know? Injury that requires surgery?

We could go with Dev and Josh Murphy, or Dev and Jack Dunne, on the bench. Or as Colmodon suggested, Soroka could come into the mix. I would still like to see McCarthy start beside Molony, I think it would be a good match for him.

No idea what the injury is, he has been out awhile, hopefully nearing a return.

[SilverSurfer]

Can you still buy tickets for games at the gate these days? Just wondering if I call up with kids in tow for this match can I buy tickets?
Thanks.

[mildlyinterested]

Can you still buy tickets for games at the gate these days? Just wondering if I call up with kids in tow for this match can I buy tickets?
Thanks.

yep afaik

[Theleinsterlad]

If you go onto the leinsterrugby.ie website you can buy tickets online I think

[Xanthippe]

Wow, just realised that Friday is our last ‘scheduled’ game in the RDS this season - that seems absolutely mad. Obviously, if we make the quarter and semi finals we could choose to play there but for the moment that’s us finished

[The Doc]

Wow, just realised that Friday is our last ‘scheduled’ game in the RDS this season - that seems absolutely mad. Obviously, if we make the quarter and semi finals we could choose to play there but for the moment that’s us finished

That's mad, Ted

Sent from my LE2123 using Tapatalk

[joooooe]

Wow, just realised that Friday is our last ‘scheduled’ game in the RDS this season - that seems absolutely mad. Obviously, if we make the quarter and semi finals we could choose to play there but for the moment that’s us finished

Has anyone told Ed Sheeran?

[mildlyinterested]

Sounds like Leavy will be playing this weekend.