Zebre v Leinster, 05/11/16, 17:05 local time

[leinsterforever]

The team is in a pretty good place, and this is a good game to keep the momentum up. I'm guessing none of the Ireland squad players will be available. Carbery and Tracy would be needed in Chicago if someone had to pull out injured - unless they were happy for Luke Marshall to cover 10, which would be an unnecessary risk. I suppose it's possible one of O'Brien, Murphy and van der Flier might be released back. Probably unlikely, though.

XXIII might look something like:
1 Dooley, 2 Byrne, 3 Ross, 4 Nagle, 5 Kearney, 6 Ryan, 7 Leavy, 8 Conan, 9 Gibson Park, 10 Byrne, 11 Daly, 12 Reid, 13 O'Loughlin, 14 Byrne, 15 Nacewa; 16 Strauss, 17 Porter, 18 Bent, 19 McCarthy, 20 Timmins, 21 McCarthy, 22 T. Daly, 23 Kirchner

Looks as if this one isn't being televised

[simonokeeffe]

The team is in a pretty good place, and this is a good game to keep the momentum up. I'm guessing none of the Ireland squad players will be available. Carbery and Tracy would be needed in Chicago if someone had to pull out injured - unless they were happy for Luke Marshall to cover 10, which would be an unnecessary risk. I suppose it's possible one of O'Brien, Murphy and van der Flier might be released back. Probably unlikely, though.

XXIII might look something like:
1 Dooley, 2 Byrne, 3 Ross, 4 Nagle, 5 Kearney, 6 Ryan, 7 Leavy, 8 Conan, 9 Gibson Park, 10 Byrne, 11 Daly, 12 Reid, 13 O'Loughlin, 14 Byrne, 15 Nacewa; 16 Strauss, 17 Porter, 18 Bent, 19 McCarthy, 20 Timmins, 21 McCarthy, 22 T. Daly, 23 Kirchner

Looks as if this one isn't being televised

shame if its not on tv, still a decent side especially up front

Italy play NZ on the 12th so Zebre probably missing their Italian starters but not wider squad players

[neiliog93]

Having Ross for these games is absolutely massive. Pretty much assured solid set-piece ball could well be the difference between winning these games as we largely did under Joe and the hiccoughs we sometimes endured with MOC. Even looking ahead to the Scarlets game, his presence could be huge. That and the greater depth in the 2nd row.

[neill_m]

Highlights on TG4 at 10:45pm on Sat night. May be possible to get the Italian stream of the game, if you can change your location to Italy using software etc - not an expert with all that.

[riocard911]

Highlights on TG4 at 10:45pm on Sat night. May be possible to get the Italian stream of the game, if you can change your location to Italy using software etc - not an expert with all that.

Last year I managed to hook up to to the Italian stream. There was some type of registration as a guest involved, but negotiable even for non-Italian speakers such as myself. Hopefully it'll be the same this season....

[simonokeeffe]

The Italian commentary is way more fun than tg4

[johng]

Highlights on TG4 at 10:45pm on Sat night. May be possible to get the Italian stream of the game, if you can change your location to Italy using software etc - not an expert with all that.

There was an Italian tv deal in place last season. Didn't they lose it?

[wixfjord]

Having Ross for these games is absolutely massive. Pretty much assured solid set-piece ball could well be the difference between winning these games as we largely did under Joe and the hiccoughs we sometimes endured with MOC. Even looking ahead to the Scarlets game, his presence could be huge. That and the greater depth in the 2nd row.

Yeah they are two big pluses, and also the emergence of real options like ROL, JGP, Leavy etc.
All is rosy at the minute.

[neill_m]

Highlights on TG4 at 10:45pm on Sat night. May be possible to get the Italian stream of the game, if you can change your location to Italy using software etc - not an expert with all that.

There was an Italian tv deal in place last season. Didn't they lose it?

No tv deal this year so far, there is a streaming site providing coverage, but you can only watch it in "Italy". The UK/Irish broadcasters can take the feed and show the game, i.e. Treviso Cardiff is on Sky Sports on Fri and Ulster's trip to Treviso was shown on BBCNI. TG4 showing Munster on Fri night, so no plans to show Saturday's game.

[riocard911]

Highlights on TG4 at 10:45pm on Sat night. May be possible to get the Italian stream of the game, if you can change your location to Italy using software etc - not an expert with all that.

There was an Italian tv deal in place last season. Didn't they lose it?

No tv deal this year so far, there is a streaming site providing coverage, but you can only watch it in "Italy". The UK/Irish broadcasters can take the feed and show the game, i.e. Treviso Cardiff is on Sky Sports on Fri and Ulster's trip to Treviso was shown on BBCNI. TG4 showing Munster on Fri night, so no plans to show Saturday's game.

For all Firefox users: with the add-on "Stealthy" one can feign a foreign ip-address - and in this case pretend to be in Italy and avail of the Italians-only stream

[Laighin Break]

For all Firefox users: with the add-on "Stealthy" one can feign a foreign ip-address - and in this case pretend to be in Italy and avail of the Italians-only stream

"Hola" is a good extension for Chrome (probably available for other browsers too) for doing something similar.

[cormac]

Tracy and O'Brien haven't travelled to Chicago

[simonokeeffe]

Tracy and O'Brien haven't travelled to Chicago

Any reason given? Be a surprise if they only had 2 hookers on tour.

[wixfjord]

Wonder will we send SOB to Zebre? Think he needs it.
Sounds like ROL won't make it either, can Daly play 13? Might stick Zane in either.

Dooley, Tracy, Ross, Mike M, Nagle, Leavy, SOB, Conan, JGP, Byrne, B. Daly, Reid, ZK, Byrne, Isa
Byrne, Strauss, Bent, Mick K, Ryan, McCarthy, T.Daly, Dardis?

[simonokeeffe]

Wonder will we send SOB to Zebre? Think he needs it.
Sounds like ROL won't make it either, can Daly play 13? Might stick Zane in either.

Dooley, Tracy, Ross, Mike M, Nagle, Leavy, SOB, Conan, JGP, Byrne, B. Daly, Reid, ZK, Byrne, Isa
Byrne, Strauss, Bent, Mick K, Ryan, McCarthy, T.Daly, Dardis?

ROL looks out, DK growing into a concern
Still tasty pack and some decent subs there too, 2 hookers on bench might be a risk
Dardis still injured too afaik
probably a 6-2 bench split as everyone from academy year 3 and up is accounted for and Reid s covering 10 possibly

so Timmins or Molony on bench too. Personally Molony merits the recall to MK's poor form

[Ruckedtobits]

Wonder will we send SOB to Zebre? Think he needs it.
Sounds like ROL won't make it either, can Daly play 13? Might stick Zane in either.

Dooley, Tracy, Ross, Mike M, Nagle, Leavy, SOB, Conan, JGP, Byrne, B. Daly, Reid, ZK, Byrne, Isa
Byrne, Strauss, Bent, Mick K, Ryan, McCarthy, T.Daly, Dardis?

Think Dardis is still injured. Believe Leo will want to give Mike Kearney another start as he still looks rusty. Nagle has been used a lot, so we could see Molony start and lead the pack. Reid and Tom Daly would be very attractive with Reid's new defensive capacity, but it would not be a risk worth taking just to give another young gun a run. Kirchners performances, kicking and overall experience would be safer away from home against a Club feeling good about themselves (after victory in Edinburgh).

[wixfjord]

Wonder will we send SOB to Zebre? Think he needs it.
Sounds like ROL won't make it either, can Daly play 13? Might stick Zane in either.

Dooley, Tracy, Ross, Mike M, Nagle, Leavy, SOB, Conan, JGP, Byrne, B. Daly, Reid, ZK, Byrne, Isa
Byrne, Strauss, Bent, Mick K, Ryan, McCarthy, T.Daly, Dardis?

ROL looks out, DK growing into a concern
Still tasty pack and some decent subs there too, 2 hookers on bench might be a risk
Dardis still injured too afaik
probably a 6-2 bench split as everyone from academy year 3 and up is accounted for and Reid s covering 10 possibly

so Timmins or Molony on bench too. Personally Molony merits the recall to MK's poor form

Ed Byrne. Mentioned in injury update as available.

[simonokeeffe]

Wonder will we send SOB to Zebre? Think he needs it.
Sounds like ROL won't make it either, can Daly play 13? Might stick Zane in either.

Dooley, Tracy, Ross, Mike M, Nagle, Leavy, SOB, Conan, JGP, Byrne, B. Daly, Reid, ZK, Byrne, Isa
Byrne, Strauss, Bent, Mick K, Ryan, McCarthy, T.Daly, Dardis?

ROL looks out, DK growing into a concern
Still tasty pack and some decent subs there too, 2 hookers on bench might be a risk
Dardis still injured too afaik
probably a 6-2 bench split as everyone from academy year 3 and up is accounted for and Reid s covering 10 possibly

so Timmins or Molony on bench too. Personally Molony merits the recall to MK's poor form

Ed Byrne. Mentioned in injury update as available.

Yeah saw that after the fact, Porter would still be the better /less rusty option if hes fit

[hugonaut]

Wonder will we send SOB to Zebre? Think he needs it.
Sounds like ROL won't make it either, can Daly play 13? Might stick Zane in either.

Dooley, Tracy, Ross, Mike M, Nagle, Leavy, SOB, Conan, JGP, Byrne, B. Daly, Reid, ZK, Byrne, Isa
Byrne, Strauss, Bent, Mick K, Ryan, McCarthy, T.Daly, Dardis?

Zane would be my option at No13 too if Rory O'Loughlin is out. Billy Dardis still out following shoulder surgery and not available for selection – I'd imagine that's part of the reason that Larmour was training with the squad this morning.

[Peg Leg]

Wonder will we send SOB to Zebre? Think he needs it.
Sounds like ROL won't make it either, can Daly play 13? Might stick Zane in either.

Dooley, Tracy, Ross, Mike M, Nagle, Leavy, SOB, Conan, JGP, Byrne, B. Daly, Reid, ZK, Byrne, Isa
Byrne, Strauss, Bent, Mick K, Ryan, McCarthy, T.Daly, Dardis?

Zane would be my option at No13 too if Rory O'Loughlin is out. Billy Dardis still out following shoulder surgery and not available for selection – I'd imagine that's part of the reason that Larmour was training with the squad this morning.

Or because he is the answer to all our prayers, hopes, hype and goreyguys monologue.