EPCR SEMI-FINAL V CLERMONT

[VGE]

You can have a pleasant but not significative look at Grenoble/ASM

http://www.lnr.fr/rugby-top-14/tv-rugby ... -2016-2017


Au revoir.

[domhnallj]

VDF has an 80 minute engine on him. Ask SOB to empty the tank and get Leavy on for the last 30?

[curates_egg]

You can have a pleasant but not significative look at Grenoble/ASM

http://www.lnr.fr/rugby-top-14/tv-rugby ... -2016-2017


Au revoir.

Most concerning thing in there is seeing Raka back fit and seemingly back to his explosive condition. I wonder will he come straight in to the side?

[VGE]

He should be on the bench, with Strettle and Abendannon on the wings and Spedding as full back I guess.


Au revoir.

[wixfjord]

He should be on the bench, with Strettle and Abendannon on the wings and Spedding as full back I guess.


Au revoir.

What would be a good guess at the Clermont starting side VGE?

[VGE]

Consider the QF vs Toulon:

Spedding ; Nakaitaci, Rougerie, Lamerat, Abendanon ; (o) Lopez, (m) Parra ; Yato, Lee, Chouly (cap) ; Vahaamahina, Iturria ; Zirakashvili, Kayser, Chaume.

Substitutes : Ulugia, Falgoux, Jarvis, Van der Merwe, Cancoriet, Radosavljevic, Fernandez, Penaud.




Nakaitaci out, Strettle in. Maybe Penaud starting? Maybe Jedrasiak in and Van der Merve out , Lapandry in, Cancoriet out.

If Raka in, maybe Fernandez out. Rado can play 9 or 10.


But I'm not a good manager.



Au revoir.

[cormac]

Dave Kearney out of the Clermont game. Mike McCarthy out for the rest of the season.

[simonokeeffe]

Dave Kearney out of the Clermont game. Mike McCarthy out for the rest of the season.

Whats up with McCarthy?

[Raydollard]

Was he ever really fit for us. A really bad signing.

[cormac]

Dave Kearney out of the Clermont game. Mike McCarthy out for the rest of the season.

Whats up with McCarthy?

back injury, has had surgery on it

[riocard911]

According to the ASM-Rugby page on Facebook Vahaamahina, Kayser and Zirakashvili are all doubtful due to knocks they picked up vs Grenoble. Dunno is this info a spoof. Would appreciate, if anyone can confirm.

[VGE]

According to the ASM-Rugby page on Facebook Vahaamahina, Kayser and Zirakashvili are all doubtful due to knocks they picked up vs Grenoble. Dunno is this info a spoof. Would appreciate, if anyone can confirm.

Zirak and Kayser'did'nt play vs Grenoble after being injuried vs Toulon. Vahaa injuried vs Grenoble but they are all expected to play in Lyon. I hope so anyway. Planté is officially out.

http://www.asm-rugby.com/actus/de-gross ... t-la-demie


Au revoir.

[riocard911]

According to the ASM-Rugby page on Facebook Vahaamahina, Kayser and Zirakashvili are all doubtful due to knocks they picked up vs Grenoble. Dunno is this info a spoof. Would appreciate, if anyone can confirm.

Zirak and Kayser'did'nt play vs Grenoble aft beeing injuried vs Toulon. Vahaa injuried vs Grenoble but they are all expected to play in Lyon. I hope so anyway. Planté is officially out.

http://www.asm-rugby.com/actus/de-gross ... t-la-demie


Au revoir.

Merci beaucoup!

[ChrisUppy]

I'd go for the following:
Carbery, MCF, Ringrose, Henshaw, Isa, Sexton, McGrath, Conan, JVDF, SOB, Triggs, Toner, Furlong, Cronin, McGrath

Strauss, Healy, Bent, Ruddock, Leavy, JGP, Byrne, Kirtzner

Couldn't leave Leavy out of team on current form or the impact he has on opponents.

You could say the exact same about VDF though!
It's a complete toss up, and I think Leo will go for Leavy to start, but for me VDF is more physically effective and Leavy has been brilliant coming on, takes great lines when the game opens up etc so for the first 50 or so I'd go VDF.

You could just as easily say that if we're looking to play around them rather than take them on you'd start Leavy. Really it's much of a muchness!

What a crazy position to be in though, serious depth in the squad at the minute.

Funny, I would have them the other way around in my head anyway. Leavy seems more physical to me having played 6 and 8 more frequently, always wriggles and twists well for extra ground when picking from the back of a ruck and his poaching would be better suited to a tight game, whereas VDF is faster, covers more ground and has better hands in wide channels making him more suited to playing around them

[wixfjord]

Funny, I would have them the other way around in my head anyway. Leavy seems more physical to me having played 6 and 8 more frequently, always wriggles and twists well for extra ground when picking from the back of a ruck and his poaching would be better suited to a tight game, whereas VDF is faster, covers more ground and has better hands in wide channels making him more suited to playing around them

Possibly, I'm going a bit on preconceptions from seeing them at test level, where VDF has thrived. He looks like he has really filled out in the last year.
I thought Leavy was a bit physically overwhelmed in his cameo against England, and to my naked eye looks lighter at this stage.
Leavy has picked some lovely lines coming on for us against Mont and Castres away too, which might benefit us as the game wears on. (Albeit so has VDF!)
Again though, it's a very loose preference I have, and I don't particularly mind either way as both guys will be very effective in either role!

[simonokeeffe]

Dave Kearney out of the Clermont game. Mike McCarthy out for the rest of the season.

Whats up with McCarthy?

back injury, has had surgery on it

Chapeau

[ronk]

Was he ever really fit for us. A really bad signing.

Yes, he played a lot for 2 1/2 years then got injured for the rest of the season and injured a bit this season with only 12 appearances.

He's done well for us overall.

[wixfjord]

With re: injuries, they've replacements for all of those, but if true, with existing injuries it'd put a strain on the squad. Vaha in particular is a player I'd be fearful of.

[22dropout]

Just a quick weather update for Sunday. Looks absolutely perfect with 18c & sunny, albeit a small bit of wind but nothing too significant.

[Oldschool]

Lyon is at an altitude of over 1000ft above sea level, similar to Clerment's home ground.
Could this be a factor towards the end of the game.