Dragons V Leinster Pro12 2015/16

[Oldschool]

Moving very quickly on and hopefully onward and upwards.
This is a biggee. An away win here and a big season ahead looks possible.
Likely Team

Kirchner
Kelleher
Ringrose
Teo
Isa
Marsh
McGrath
Bent
Tracy
Furlong
Ryan
Denton
Molony
Leavy
Murphy

Dragons are a hard team to beat at home, could be a tough evening.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

The young lads must be kicking their lips at the prospect of playing this game. Confidence is high and some of the performances today give them a real chance at staking a claim in the first choice 23.

Although I also kind of imagine its like school and they're worried if the principal's Monday morning bollocking will also apply to them.

[simonokeeffe]

with Moore being injured today I think we're more likely to see Bent at TH and Dooley at 1

[Donny B.]

The young lads must be kicking their lips at the prospect of playing this game. Confidence is high and some of the performances today give them a real chance at staking a claim in the first choice 23.

Although I also kind of imagine its like school and they're worried if the principal's Monday morning bollocking will also apply to them.

The one good thing about today's selection was that most of the young lads weren't part of it.

[carlow man]

At least we can get back to playing rugby at pace and have a few lads who can actually run past a player and show a bit of fight after today's horror show.

[wixfjord]

We'll surely see a mix of 6N fringe players playing here?

I agree, it's a critically important game to win.

My guess:
Dooley
Tracy
Furlong
Molony
McCarthy
Ryan
VDF
SOB
McGrath
Madigan
Isa
Te'o
Ringrose
DK
Kirchner

[Grumpy Old Man]

Doesn't appear to be on TV based on the Ultimate Rugby app.

[cormac]

Doesn't appear to be on TV based on the Ultimate Rugby app.

think it's on BBC Wales, doesn't appear to be covered by TG4

[Dave Cahill]

Doesn't appear to be on TV based on the Ultimate Rugby app.

think it's on BBC Wales, doesn't appear to be covered by TG4

You are correct sir as far as BBC is concerned

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06zcl90

TG4 though appear to have a 3 hour highlights programme scheduled for match time featuring highlights of Dragons v Leinster - so I'm guessing somebody dragged Bhuaicphointí instead of Beo into their websites schedule! Its also trailed as live in the Rugby Beo homepage

[Grumpy Old Man]

Great - thanks.

[leinsterforever]

Dunno what Joe will want in terms of game-time for the guys in the 6N squad. We might see a team something like:

1. Dooley, 2. Tracy, 3. Furlong, 4. Molony, 5. Denton, 6. Ryan, 7. van der Flier, 8. Murphy, 9. McGrath, 10. Madigan, 11. Nacewa, 12. Te'o, 13. Ringrose, 14. Kelleher, 15. Kirchner; 16. Strauss, 17. Bent, 18. Burke-Flynn, 19. Beirne, 20. Timmins, 21. Boss, 22. Marsh, 23. Reid

I suppose Beirne will play with Thornbury benching if Denton doesn't recover from his groin issue, or is Triggs back available? We could be a bit thin at prop if Furlong gets pulled because of the Moore injury

[carlow man]

Forget what Joe wants. It should be what Cullen and Co want. Sick of treating games like a glorified ireland training session. Not having a pop at you by the way. Just saying I'd rather Leo picked who he wants not who needs game time ahead of 6 nations.

[leinsterforever]

Forget what Joe wants. It should be what Cullen and Co want. Sick of treating games like a glorified ireland training session. Not having a pop at you by the way. Just saying I'd rather Leo picked who he wants not who needs game time ahead of 6 nations.

I don't think it's unreasonable for Schmidt to make requests so close to the 6N, but you're right, it must be tough for Leo to have to change three-quarters of the team from one week to the next.

[ChrisUppy]

Wrong thread

[molloyjh]

I can't see (m)any fringe internationals being involved as it'll be the first week in camp. Also Kelleher didn't overly impress me on Friday in Donnybrook and McFadden will be back. So I think we'll be looking at sometihng like:

Dooley Tracy Bent
Molony Denton
Ryan Murphy Leavy

McGrath Marsh
Te'o Ringrose
Nacewa Kirchner McFadden

Byrne, Loughman, RBF, Beirne, Timmins,Boss, Crosbie, Reid

The back row and the bench would be a real concern there tbh. And we don't know whether Denton will be fit or not either after his injury last week. We could be in serious trouble in the row if he isn't fit.

[Dave Cahill]

The only people who seem to think that Kelleher is any good post here.

Leinster will, according to Losser Kelly, be down 35 players for this match

[curates_egg]

No way Furlong will be involved. He's a cert for the 23 against Wales.

When is Conan back? Hopefully, when he is, he can channel the form from the first 2/3s of last season.
Shouldn't Triggs be there or thereabouts?

[simonokeeffe]

with Marty out for 6-8 weeks definitely not getting Furlong back now

Ross for a game or two if we're lucky

[LeinsterLeader]

with Marty out for 6-8 weeks definitely not getting Furlong back now

Ross for a game or two if we're lucky

I'm about to say something that won't have been said too often on here......."We need to wrap Bent in cotton wool"

[leinsterforever]

It's not looking too good on the injury front according to the 42. Apparently Nacewa will be out for a few weeks after undergoing surgery on his knee. Burke-Flynn has had problems with his neck and will be out for 4 months. Denton won't be back this week, and it doesn't sound as if Triggs will be either.

Maybe something like:

Dooley, Tracy, Bent, Molony, Beirne, Ryan, Leavy, Murphy, McGrath, Marsh, Kelleher, Te'o, Ringrose, McFadden, Kirchner; Byrne/Dundon, Loughman, Heffernan, O'Connor, Timmins, Boss, Crosbie, Reid