Leinster vs Leicester - Sat 8pm

[Puja]

Leinster: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Jordan Larmour, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Jamie Osborne, 11 James Lowe, 10 Ross Byrne, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Caelan Doris (c), 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Ryan Baird, 5 Joe McCarthy, 4 Ross Molony, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Andrew Porter
Replacements: 16 Rónan Kelleher, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Michael Ala’alatoa, 19 Jason Jenkins, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Ben Murphy, 22 Harry Byrne, 23 Ciarán Frawley

Leicester: 15 Jamie Shillcock, 14 Freddie Steward, 13 Dan Kelly, 12 Solomone Kata, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Jack van Poortvliet, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Olly Cracknell, 6 Hanro Liebenberg, 5 Kyle Hatherell, 4 Harry Wells, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Julián Montoya, 1 James Cronin
Replacements: 16 Charlie Clare, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Will Hurd, 19 Finn Carnduff, 20 Emeka Ilione, 21 Tom Whiteley, 22 Phil Cokanasiga, 23 Mike Brown

Venue: Aviva Stadium
Kick-off: 20:00 GMT
Referee: Pierre Brousset (FRA)
Assistant Referees: Jeremy Rozier (FRA), Kévin Bralley (FRA)
TMO: Denis Grenouillet (FRA)

[Banquo]

...er good luck Tigers....think you may need it...

[Puja]

...er good luck Tigers....think you may need it...

Yeah...

McKellar is talking up us having a puncher's chance, but it's bold talk given how poor we've been of late. Would be happy if we can turn in a decent performance at least, but the selection of Steward on the wing suggests high balls in our future.

Puja

[fivepointer]

Real pity there's no Chessum, Martin or Reffel in the pack.

Horrendously difficult game for Tigers .

At least its another start for JvP, Shillcock gets a run at FB and Carnduff and Ilione might get some time off the bench.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Leinster: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Jordan Larmour, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Jamie Osborne, 11 James Lowe, 10 Ross Byrne, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Caelan Doris (c), 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Ryan Baird, 5 Joe McCarthy, 4 Ross Molony, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Andrew Porter
Replacements: 16 Rónan Kelleher, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Michael Ala’alatoa, 19 Jason Jenkins, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Ben Murphy, 22 Harry Byrne, 23 Ciarán Frawley

Leicester: 15 Jamie Shillcock, 14 Freddie Steward, 13 Dan Kelly, 12 Solomone Kata, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Jack van Poortvliet, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Olly Cracknell, 6 Hanro Liebenberg, 5 Kyle Hatherell, 4 Harry Wells, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Julián Montoya, 1 James Cronin
Replacements: 16 Charlie Clare, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Will Hurd, 19 Finn Carnduff, 20 Emeka Ilione, 21 Tom Whiteley, 22 Phil Cokanasiga, 23 Mike Brown

Venue: Aviva Stadium
Kick-off: 20:00 GMT
Referee: Pierre Brousset (FRA)
Assistant Referees: Jeremy Rozier (FRA), Kévin Bralley (FRA)
TMO: Denis Grenouillet (FRA)

Cracknell and Hatherell just baffles me somewhat.

It's going to be a loooooooong old day at the office!

[Puja]

Leinster: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Jordan Larmour, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Jamie Osborne, 11 James Lowe, 10 Ross Byrne, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Caelan Doris (c), 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Ryan Baird, 5 Joe McCarthy, 4 Ross Molony, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Andrew Porter
Replacements: 16 Rónan Kelleher, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Michael Ala’alatoa, 19 Jason Jenkins, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Ben Murphy, 22 Harry Byrne, 23 Ciarán Frawley

Leicester: 15 Jamie Shillcock, 14 Freddie Steward, 13 Dan Kelly, 12 Solomone Kata, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Jack van Poortvliet, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Olly Cracknell, 6 Hanro Liebenberg, 5 Kyle Hatherell, 4 Harry Wells, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Julián Montoya, 1 James Cronin
Replacements: 16 Charlie Clare, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Will Hurd, 19 Finn Carnduff, 20 Emeka Ilione, 21 Tom Whiteley, 22 Phil Cokanasiga, 23 Mike Brown

Venue: Aviva Stadium
Kick-off: 20:00 GMT
Referee: Pierre Brousset (FRA)
Assistant Referees: Jeremy Rozier (FRA), Kévin Bralley (FRA)
TMO: Denis Grenouillet (FRA)

Cracknell and Hatherell just baffles me somewhat.

It's going to be a loooooooong old day at the office!

I'm assuming Hatherell is a sign that McKellar has halfway given up on this game and is taking the opportunity to rest Chessum for the more winnable games in the Premiership run-in.

Puja

[paddy no 11]

Matching Steward against labour is a good call in fairness, in theory Stewart could clean him out larmour is suspect.

[Spiffy]

Matching Steward against labour is a good call in fairness, in theory Stewart could clean him out larmour is suspect.

Steward will certainly clean him out in the air but can't match Larmour's gas and footwork. Expect Leicester to kick to Larmour's wing, but Leinster not to kick to Steward's, unless trying to turn him with low trajectory dinks/grubbers. Larmour can flaky, especially in defence, but has hit a run of good form in recent games.
I suspect this match will be closer than many predict though the home draw should clinch it for Leinster.

[FKAS]

Tigers injury list includes Dolly, Heyes, Henderson, Martin, Chessum, Reffell, Porter, Scott, Bassett, Simmonds and Watson. All of whom would be in the 23 if fit.

Chessum, Martin and Reffell were late fitness tests.

We'll do very well to keep Leinster under 50. Glad I'm away for this one.

[Puja]

Good performance so far, but it's starting to get away from us. We had a really good attacking opportunity which could've made it 22-22 only for the pass to go straight to Henshaw for an intercept try to make it 29-15, which I think has killed us.

Too many missed tackles and not enough nous to encourage Leinster to stop fucking around at the base of rucks. Other than that, it's been much better than expected.

Puja

[Puja]

And now OHC has passed to the floor after being clear through with a 2-on-1. So frustrating watching this team - we're a very long way from being completely outclassed which is nice, but we need to be perfect to beat Leinster and we're not quite there today.

Van Poortvliet's been good so far though.

Puja

[Adam_P]

And now OHC has passed to the floor after being clear through with a 2-on-1. So frustrating watching this team - we're a very long way from being completely outclassed which is nice, but we need to be perfect to beat Leinster and we're not quite there today.

Van Poortvliet's been good so far though.

Puja

Yeah that missed pass from OHC was crazy frustrating. If you'd scored then it would have been an interesting last 10 minutes or so.

[morepork]

Are Leinster just getting extra practice being unnecessarily cynical at the ruck at this stage of the game or what?

[Puja]

Are Leinster just getting extra practice being unnecessarily cynical at the ruck at this stage of the game or what?

The ref was letting them away with absolute murder, so they may as well keep trying their luck

36-22 is a fair reflection of the game. Leinster were too good for us and ultimately comfortable, but we did push them and were in the hunt at least. Still a fair way from being willing to say IMWT yet, but that was a significant improvement on the dross served up vs Newcastle and Glaws.

Puja

[FKAS]

Sounds much closer than I expected. Might actually watch this one when I get back. Interception try and butchering a 2 on 1 sounds like it cost us big time.

Hopefully this is a sign of things to come under McKellar if it's what we are working towards. Some quality players to come back in as well.

[Banquo]

Sounds much closer than I expected. Might actually watch this one when I get back. Interception try and butchering a 2 on 1 sounds like it cost us big time.

Hopefully this is a sign of things to come under McKellar if it's what we are working towards. Some quality players to come back in as well.

worth a watch

[FKAS]

Sounds much closer than I expected. Might actually watch this one when I get back. Interception try and butchering a 2 on 1 sounds like it cost us big time.

Hopefully this is a sign of things to come under McKellar if it's what we are working towards. Some quality players to come back in as well.

worth a watch

*Like*

[Spiffy]

Are Leinster just getting extra practice being unnecessarily cynical at the ruck at this stage of the game or what?

The ref was letting them away with absolute murder, so they may as well keep trying their luck

36-22 is a fair reflection of the game. Leinster were too good for us and ultimately comfortable, but we did push them and were in the hunt at least. Still a fair way from being willing to say IMWT yet, but that was a significant improvement on the dross served up vs Newcastle and Glaws.

Puja

Leinster were pretty sloppy in the second half, took the foot off and let Leicester back into it. They lack a bit of the killer instinct. They are over reliant on Gibson Park, a live wire at SH who had another great game and a hat trick. The Byrne brothers are poor performers at FH and fail to spark a team with this talent. Leinster will have to play a lot better against La Roch next week.

[FKAS]

Are Leinster just getting extra practice being unnecessarily cynical at the ruck at this stage of the game or what?

The ref was letting them away with absolute murder, so they may as well keep trying their luck

36-22 is a fair reflection of the game. Leinster were too good for us and ultimately comfortable, but we did push them and were in the hunt at least. Still a fair way from being willing to say IMWT yet, but that was a significant improvement on the dross served up vs Newcastle and Glaws.

Puja

Leinster were pretty sloppy in the second half, took the foot off and let Leicester back into it. They lack a bit of the killer instinct. They are over reliant on Gibson Park, a live wire at SH who had another great game and a hat trick. The Byrne brothers are poor performers at FH and fail to spark a team with this talent. Leinster will have to play a lot better against La Roch next week.

Sounds like Leinster were made to work harder than they would have liked by an under strength Tigers side. Some ill discipline and sloppy play is most unlike Leinster. Tigers failed to punish them by all accounts. La Rochelle won't be so forgiving and have had Leinster's number in the knock out stages over the last couple of seasons.

I can't imagine it'll be a fun review for Leinster. Mind you the Tigers coaches might be somewhat frustrated with inaccuracies their side so the Tigers boys not enjoying their review much either. Big game against Saints coming up that is must win for both the fans and for top 4 hopes.