Leinster VS Ulster HC QF 01/04/23

[Neill_M]

Leinster 23:

15. Hugo Keenan (51), 14. Jordan Larmour (86), 13. Jimmy O’Brien (66), 12. Robbie Henshaw (73), 11. James Lowe (69), 10. Ross Byrne (143), 9. Jamison Gibson-Park (122), 1. Andrew Porter (103), 2. Dan Sheehan (41), 3. Tadhg Furlong (129), 4. Ross Molony (158), 5. James Ryan (69) CAPTAIN, 6. Ryan Baird (48), 7. Josh van der Flier (124), 8. Jack Conan (127)

16. John McKee (15), 17. Cian Healy (259), 18. Michael Ala’alatoa (42), 19. Jason Jenkins (12), 20. Scott Penny (53), 21. Luke McGrath (190), 22. Harry Byrne (46), 23. Ciarán Frawley (62)

[paddybrown]

That's about as strong a team as we could put out, and a good strong bench so hopefully a strong finish.

As for the Leinster side, well, there's no Doris, Sexton or Ringrose, but otherwise, about as strong as they could put out. But they named as good a team in last year's URC semi-final, and the Bulls beat 'em at the RDS. And we beat the Bulls last week.

Dare to dream.

[nonplussed]

a defeat coming, not a humping but a defeat nonetheless

[thecrouch]

If Jimmy O'Brien outplays Hume tomorrow then Hume can forget about playing for Ireland again. Big motivation for him.

[jean valjean]

Game is a sell out now also. Should be a grand day out as they say, we'll give them a game, get the 1st points on the board and it is all to play for. SUFTUM!!

[HammerTime]

Tbf it’s a very good Ulster squad but I’d have Doak nowhere near the starting team. Slows everything down (maybe that’s what they want) and a flaky goal kicker. Cooney is a world class goal kicker these days.

[Dave]

It seems Dan is going for high work rate with that pack. Timoney and MCann will tackle their socks off. We can't afford any passengers, hence why no Carter. TOT may have benefited from scrummaging against Porter down in camp. A fair selection of the main forwards available. I hope Doak has a blinder, is all I can say. Cooney would be my pick, but there is perhaps a fitness issue. No other complaints with the backline. It's the best we have.

The loss of Sexton, Ringrose and Doris is welcome for us but probably immaterial for such well a oiled operation as the all blues.

Leinster by 15.

SUFTUM

[Bart S]

It seems Dan is going for high work rate with that pack. Timoney and MCann will tackle their socks off. We can't afford any passengers, hence why no Carter. TOT may have benefited from scrummaging against Porter down in camp. A fair selection of the main forwards available. I hope Doak has a blinder, is all I can say. Cooney would be my pick, but there is perhaps a fitness issue. No other complaints with the backline. It's the best we have.

The loss of Sexton, Ringrose and Doris is welcome for us but probably immaterial for such well a oiled operation as the all blues.

Leinster by 15.

SUFTUM

Agree with all of that Dave other than I would have gone 6/2 and had Carter in there. Our game is based on lineout/maul where he is actually decent and I worry Ryan, who is a top disruptor will wreck our line out. May be why he's starting Herring as I'd say his darts are better.

I really want to see stickdale, Bobby b, Hume and mccloskey go well.

The dream finish would be to see John Cooney seal a win with a kick and the camera to pan to Johnny Sexton.

[Bart S]

It seems Dan is going for high work rate with that pack. Timoney and MCann will tackle their socks off. We can't afford any passengers, hence why no Carter. TOT may have benefited from scrummaging against Porter down in camp. A fair selection of the main forwards available. I hope Doak has a blinder, is all I can say. Cooney would be my pick, but there is perhaps a fitness issue. No other complaints with the backline. It's the best we have.

The loss of Sexton, Ringrose and Doris is welcome for us but probably immaterial for such well a oiled operation as the all blues.

Leinster by 15.

SUFTUM

Agree with all of that Dave other than I would have gone 6/2 and had Carter in there. Our game is based on lineout/maul where he is actually decent and I worry Ryan, who is a top disruptor will wreck our line out. May be why he's starting Herring as I'd say his darts are better.

I really want to see stickdale, Bobby b, Hume and mccloskey go well.

The dream finish would be to see John Cooney seal a win with a kick and the camera to pan to Johnny Sexton.

[HammerTime]

Yes if Hume, Lowry, Baloucoune et al aren’t killing dead things tomorrow there is something wrong. What an opportunity for them considering how they were shown up in the previous two meetings which allowed O’Brien, Osbourne etc to overtake them.

[CIMANFOREVER]

Ulster team to play Leinster, Heineken Champions Cup Round of 16, Saturday 1 April at Aviva Stadium (KO 5 30pm), live on BT Sport:

(15-9) Michael Lowry, Rob Baloucoune, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale, Billy Burns, Nathan Doak;

(1-8) Rory Sutherland, Rob Herring, Tom O’Toole, Alan O’Connor (Captain), Kieran Treadwell, Dave McCann, Nick Timoney, Duane Vermeulen.

Replacements: Tom Stewart, Eric O’Sullivan, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Harry Sheridan, Marcus Rea, John Cooney, Stewart Moore, Ben Moxham

Surprised no Postlethwaite?

[Big-al]

Ulster team to play Leinster, Heineken Champions Cup Round of 16, Saturday 1 April at Aviva Stadium (KO 5 30pm), live on BT Sport:

(15-9) Michael Lowry, Rob Baloucoune, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale, Billy Burns, Nathan Doak;

(1-8) Rory Sutherland, Rob Herring, Tom O’Toole, Alan O’Connor (Captain), Kieran Treadwell, Dave McCann, Nick Timoney, Duane Vermeulen.

Replacements: Tom Stewart, Eric O’Sullivan, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Harry Sheridan, Marcus Rea, John Cooney, Stewart Moore, Ben Moxham

Surprised no Postlethwaite?

Don’t think this is the game for him.

Barely had 60minutes if professional rugby under his belt.

[SUFTUM_19]

Surprised Moxham ahead of McIlroy and Lyttle

[big mervyn]

Leinster 23:

15. Hugo Keenan (51), 14. Jordan Larmour (86), 13. Jimmy O’Brien (66), 12. Robbie Henshaw (73), 11. James Lowe (69), 10. Ross Byrne (143), 9. Jamison Gibson-Park (122), 1. Andrew Porter (103), 2. Dan Sheehan (41), 3. Tadhg Furlong (129), 4. Ross Molony (158), 5. James Ryan (69) CAPTAIN, 6. Ryan Baird (48), 7. Josh van der Flier (124), 8. Jack Conan (127)

16. John McKee (15), 17. Cian Healy (259), 18. Michael Ala’alatoa (42), 19. Jason Jenkins (12), 20. Scott Penny (53), 21. Luke McGrath (190), 22. Harry Byrne (46), 23. Ciarán Frawley (62)

Just the 9 first choice Ireland starters then, and another 3/4 who would make the 23.

Should be easy.

[Big-al]

That is a phenomenal looking Leinster pack.

Decent looking backline as well mind you!!!