NG Dragons v Leinster Friday 19.30

[outcast eddie]

There's a game in 4 days but not on the telly so interest is understandably low-ish.
Still waiting on injury news about Ferg and RO'L among others and Dan Leavy has been named in Uncle Joe's squad so hard to predict team.
In good news Joey C and Jack Conan are not with Ireland so should be available.
I'd start JGP and give Mike Ross another run ('trundle') out from the start.
Dragons have lost their last 5 games so come into this on a weak footing. A win for Leinster is expected but unlikely to come easy.
A February Friday night in Rodney Parade is a bleak place for supporters and is rarely a good game, it's hard to imagine the players (or the refs ) look forward to this fixture.

[CiaranIrl]

We could be threadbare for this in the back row. Ryan might not be back; Leavy, Heaslip & O'Brien away; Jordi, Ruddock & VDF injured. Deegan & Tinmins come in I assume. Who else?

[cormac]

Ferg was involved in the warm-up on Friday night and was on water-boy duties during the match. That's usually code for available for selection the following week

[joooooe]

There's a game in 4 days but not on the telly so interest is understandably low-ish.
Still waiting on injury news about Ferg and RO'L among others and Dan Leavy has been named in Uncle Joe's squad so hard to predict team.
In good news Joey C and Jack Conan are not with Ireland so should be available.
I'd start JGP and give Mike Ross another run ('trundle') out from the start.
Dragons have lost their last 5 games so come into this on a weak footing. A win for Leinster is expected but unlikely to come easy.
A February Friday night in Rodney Parade is a bleak place for supporters and is rarely a good game, it's hard to imagine the players (or the refs ) look forward to this fixture.

Given how the second half went on Friday, Bryan Byrne and Mick Kearney might fancy a back row spot! More likely, if drastic options are being considered, is that Strauss backs up there. Or Leavy gets released back.

[All Blacks nil]

Dave Kearney should start. He has scored 4 of his 21 tries for Leinster against NGD and obviously enjoys playing against them. He also made his senior debut against them.

[the spoofer]

Dave Kearney should start. He has scored 4 of his 21 tries for Leinster against NGD and obviously enjoys playing against them. He also made his senior debut against them.

He was excellent before having to go off on Friday. A really fine player but it looks as if he is injured again.

[All Blacks nil]

Dave Kearney should start. He has scored 4 of his 21 tries for Leinster against NGD and obviously enjoys playing against them. He also made his senior debut against them.

He was excellent before having to go off on Friday. A really fine player but it looks as if he is injured again.

Didn't realise he was injured. I didn't see the game on Friday. I just read he had a head knock so I assume nothing long term but obviously doubtful this week.

[cormac]

Dave Kearney should start. He has scored 4 of his 21 tries for Leinster against NGD and obviously enjoys playing against them. He also made his senior debut against them.

He was excellent before having to go off on Friday. A really fine player but it looks as if he is injured again.

Think he went off with concussion.

[wixfjord]

http://www.the42.ie/leinster-injury-upd ... 2-Feb2017/

Injury update here.
DK & VDF out for a few weeks at least it seems.

Rory O’Loughlin (AC joint), Noel Reid (head), Mike McCarthy (cramp) and Joey Carbery (cramp) were all part of the walking wounded from the weekend’s game but are expected to be available for selection this week.
O’Loughlin is the one doubt after a shoulder injury he has been carrying for the last while flared up after making a tackle during the first half on Friday night.
Dominic Ryan, meanwhile, is unavailable for the visit to Dragons as he follows the return to play protocols after his head knock, but the luckless flanker also injured his medial ligament in his knee and is being assessed by Leinster’s medical staff.
Rhys Ruddock will return to full training this week, Isa Nacewa remains out for a few weeks and there was no update on the fitness of Tom Daly, Sean Cronin or Jordi Murphy.

Getting Rhys back in would be a big boost.

Could be looking at something like:

Dooley, Strauss, Ross, Triggs, Molony, Rhys, Leavy/Timmins/AN Other, Conan, JGP, Carbery, Daly, Reid, MCF, Byrne, ZK
Porter, Byrne, Bent, Nagle, AN Other, McCarthy/Rock, Byrne, Dardis

Am I missing anyone there?

Presumeably, we won't be getting Tracy, McGrath or Leavy back in, as they're all specialist positions and might be needed to travel with international side.
Getting Leavy particularly would be a huge boost though.

[arsebiscuits1]

Looking especially thin for this one now. Must be the first time in years we have been "light" on backrow options. Assuming worst case scenario with injuries and Leavy being 24th man and McGrath benching due to Murrays groin injury (which I don't buy at all, just journalistic fodder) we could be looking at:

Dooley, Tracy, Bent
Molony, McCarthy
Timmins, Conan, Ruddock
JGP, Carbery
R.Byrne, McFadden
Daly, Kirchner, A. Byrne

Porter, B. Byrne, Ross, Nagle, Kearney/Deegan, N. McCarthy, Marsh, Dardis

[Fireworks]

Looking especially thin for this one now. Must be the first time in years we have been "light" on backrow options. Assuming worst case scenario with injuries and Leavy being 24th man and McGrath benching due to Murrays groin injury (which I don't buy at all, just journalistic fodder) we could be looking at:

Dooley, Tracy, Bent
Molony, McCarthy
Timmins, Conan, Ruddock
JGP, Carbery
R.Byrne, McFadden
Daly, Kirchner, A. Byrne

Porter, B. Byrne, Ross, Nagle, Kearney/Deegan, N. McCarthy, Marsh, Dardis

Cannot think that you are too far away from the final selection simple due to the lack of alternative bodies.

[wixfjord]

I'd say it's highly unlikely that Mike Mac will start again in Newport. Looked shagged at the end of the game and he's been rotating in and out. I think he's on his last legs unfortunately.
Will be good to get Triggs back though.

[etak252]

Dave Kearney out for a few weeks with toe/foot injury. Rory O L out this weekend with shoulder injury and JVF out for at least a few weeks Dominic Ryan also out this weekend with head injury.

[Oldschool]

Looking especially thin for this one now. Must be the first time in years we have been "light" on backrow options. Assuming worst case scenario with injuries and Leavy being 24th man and McGrath benching due to Murrays groin injury (which I don't buy at all, just journalistic fodder) we could be looking at:

Dooley, Tracy, Bent
Molony, McCarthy
Timmins, Conan, Ruddock
JGP, Carbery
R.Byrne, McFadden
Daly, Kirchner, A. Byrne

Porter, B. Byrne, Ross, Nagle, Kearney/Deegan, N. McCarthy, Marsh, Dardis

Murray having a dodgy groin would explain his drop in form tho'.

[the spoofer]

I'm surprised that Noel Reid appears to have got a free pass for Friday's performance. Live at the game I thought he was really poor and this was reinforced by watching the recording.

He was 100% at fault for the chance that the Scots blew before half time and had that been scored then I doubt we would have got the 5 points.

[wixfjord]

I actually thought Reid played well. Solid in defence, very aggressive and some lovely passing particularly in the second half.

[leinsterforever]

Might be a chance for Dardis to get a game if O'Loughlin doesn't make it and Kirchner is consequently needed at 13

[neiliog93]

Might be a chance for Dardis to get a game if O'Loughlin doesn't make it and Kirchner is consequently needed at 13

Kirchner at 13 is the stuff of nightmares.

[Ruckedtobits]

Josh Murphy in backrow from Academy would be a possible call. Peader Timmins is an obvious option at 6 or 8. However, no obvious open-side, despite Joe's previous selection of Rhys as No 7 against S Africa.

Reid, Zane K, Joey C (with Byrne at OH) or Ferg are mid-field options. Treacy will probably be released to travel as Scannell will back up Best. Leavy covering JVDF absence and unlikelt to be available IMO.

Dardis at full back would be possible option and very welcome opportunity for this injury-plagued Academy 4th Year.

[Laighin Break]

Hopefully Leavy makes the 23 for France game but if he doesn't, here's hoping TOD travels as cover.