Leinster v Llanelli European semi

[wixfjord]

Yikes. Here’s hoping for Munster/Montpellier JGP rather than Treviso/Zebre/last year’s semi JGP.

[Laighin Break]

Lancaster was very adiment yesterday that Robbie is in the best condition he's ever been in, so can see him starting.

He was saying the exact same thing about Ruddock before the QF, and it seems like he might have been rushed back.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

I was more worried about us getting a bit mixed up because of the uncertainty around Luke and playing him when he wasn't fit so this might not be a bad thing. There are other things that still worry me but the more clarity (and I'm sure the coaches had that clarity ages ago) we have the better. There are still various things that worry about our backline but at least there are no such concerns up front. It's funny, for all the talk of Luke and J-Lo, you'd almost forget that we have the best TH in the world, one of the form second rows in Europe, and arguably the form openside in the world. Our back row is also really well suited to countering the Scarlets threat over the ball and ability to move the ball into space. It might not be the ideal back row anyone would pick, but we may have stumbled across an ideal one to play the Scarlets.

I'm hoping we all feel a bit more confident when we see the team written down. If Robbie starts and Isa is on the wing then I'll be worried, but you'd hope that Robbie really has been tearing it up in training and if everyone else does their job properly then Isa won't be exposed too often.

[arsebiscuits1]

Shane Williams really needs to keep more up to date. Saying Isa is more used to back 3 so Scarlets can expose him in the centre due to Henshaws injury.

...Except Henshaw is fit and Nacewa will be playing on the wing

https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/ ... 22752.html

Isa Nacewa is a wonderful player – someone I faced numerous times during my career – but he’s 35 now and more used to playing full-back or wing than centre," Williams wrote in The Rugby Paper.

"Robbie Henshaw’s injury means Nacewa is likely to start in the blue 12 jersey and while he is a top-class operator, the Scarlets must look to exploit him in that position.

"In Hadleigh Parkes and Scott Williams the Scarlets have two men in peak form. Their challenge is to tie in Nacewa, target him with some initial carries, and then work off that platform.

It also doesn't take into account how unbelievable a player Isa has been at 12 this year. I'd much rather him there that on the wing

[Lar]

Idle speculation: Isa 12; Robbie 13; and Garry on the wing?

[arsebiscuits1]

Idle speculation: Isa 12; Robbie 13; and Garry on the wing?

Could happen.

But when you've a test calibre combination of Henrose why split them up?

Isa, even now, is a much better winger than Garry

[Ruckedtobits]

Reading the tea-leaves and awaiting the team news, IMO the team will be:
15. R. Kearney
14. F. McFadden
13. G Ringrose
12. R. Henshaw
11. Isa Nasewa
10. J. Sexton
9. J. Gibson-Park
1. C. Healy
2. S. Cronin
3. T. Furlong
4. D. Toner
5. J. Ryan
6. S. Fardy
7. D. Leavy
8. J. Conan

Bench

16. J. Treacy
17. J. McGrath
18. A. Porter
19. M. Deegan
20. J. Murphy
21. N. McCarthy
22. J. Carbery
23. R. O'Loughlin / B. Daly

As I am firmly in the camp of believers in the adage that "forwards win matches, backs determine by how much", this Squad has the attributes to dominate possession and thus allow us the opportunity to give Scarlets a hard time and Sexton to capitalise on penalty opportunities.

Edit How could I forget Andrew Porter?

[jimbobjoe]

Idle speculation: Isa 12; Robbie 13; and Garry on the wing?

Could happen.

But when you've a test calibre combination of Henrose why split them up?

Isa, even now, is a much better winger than Garry

Arguments for both really. I think Isa's lesser pace could be exploited on the wing especially if Scarlets get their space. Although counter to that, is Garry familiar enough with wing defence?

The real benefit of Isa at 12 is Robbie at his best position of 13 and possibly protecting his shoulder a bit more as he'll be dealing with less traffic than the 10-12 channel.

[Peg Leg]

Isa is a legend, and my only concern about his wing play is his kicking the ball away for someone to race ahead because he can't.
He grubbers too often without much of a chance of re-gathering.

[blockhead]

If Fardy is playing at 6 I hope he is more involved than he was against Saracens. Very quiet that day.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

I didn't notice him much watching it live but thought he was great when I watched it back.

[desperado]

Reading the tea-leaves and awaiting the team news, IMO the team will be:
15. R. Kearney
14. F. McFadden
13. G Ringrose
12. R. Henshaw
11. Isa Nasewa
10. J. Sexton
9. J. Gibson-Park
1. C. Healy
2. S. Cronin
3. T. Furlong
4. D. Toner
5. J. Ryan
6. S. Fardy
7. D. Leavy
8. J. Conan

Bench

16. J. Treacy
17. J. McGrath
18. A. Porter
19. M. Deegan
20. J. Murphy
21. N. McCarthy
22. J. Carbery
23. R. O'Loughlin / B. Daly

As I am firmly in the camp of believers in the adage that "forwards win matches, backs determine by how much", this Squad has the attributes to dominate possession and thus allow us the opportunity to give Scarlets a hard time and Sexton to capitalise on penalty opportunities.

Edit How could I forget Andrew Porter?

Would you not go for Larmour over ROL or Daly. Offers more xfactor and covers more positions. Not sure if he's injured though; or whether ROL has or will pass return to play protocols. While I like Daly; he''s been very wobbly recently with some real brain farts. He seems to have a certain hesistancy to his game.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Daly lost concentration yet again last week after a ball had gone into touch. A pass from Joey went to ground and instead of watching for the quick throw Daly was distracted by what had happened, it's really frustrating and it keeps happening.

[Blue not red blood]

I honestly believe too much is being written into the Pro 12 semi result last year.
That was as bad as performance I can remember Leinster ever giving.
Multiple mistakes and brain farts.
Jonny’s worst day in blue
This year we are stronger mentally and physically.
Scarlett’s are missing key backs and don’t gave replacements of that quality.
Can see Fardy doing a man marking job on Beirne in the rucks and mauls.
Am actually very confident based on all known facts

[outcast eddie]

I honestly believe too much is being written into the Pro 12 semi result last year.
That was as bad as performance I can remember Leinster ever giving.
Multiple mistakes and brain farts.
Jonny’s worst day in blue
This year we are stronger mentally and physically.
Scarlett’s are missing key backs and don’t gave replacements of that quality.
Can see Fardy doing a man marking job on Beirne in the rucks and mauls.
Am actually very confident based on all known facts

This.

Can't remember which article it was but one of the media stated a few weeks back that Scarlets will find European Leinster a very different prospect than Pro 14 Leinster.

[blockhead]

I honestly believe too much is being written into the Pro 12 semi result last year.
That was as bad as performance I can remember Leinster ever giving.
Multiple mistakes and brain farts.
Jonny’s worst day in blue
This year we are stronger mentally and physically.
Scarlett’s are missing key backs and don’t gave replacements of that quality.
Can see Fardy doing a man marking job on Beirne in the rucks and mauls.
Am actually very confident based on all known facts

This.

Can't remember which article it was but one of the media stated a few weeks back that Scarlets will find European Leinster a very different prospect than Pro 14 Leinster.

That would be our very own DC on Bluestalk.
In fairness he uses that line every year, just before we get knoked out.

[wexford bohs]

Idle speculation: Isa 12; Robbie 13; and Garry on the wing?

Ringrose is in superb form and centre is his natural position. Why would you move him to the wing were he has little experience and hasn't played once this season. Pick your best players in their best positions. Picking Isa on the wing is not exactly kamikaze tactics.

I'd start Henshaw at 12, with Isa on the wing. Would hope to get 55/60 min out of Henshaw and then replace him with Larmour and move Isa into the centre.

[Flash Gordon]

Idle speculation: Isa 12; Robbie 13; and Garry on the wing?

Ringrose is in superb form and centre is his natural position. Why would you move him to the wing were he has little experience and hasn't played once this season. Pick your best players in their best positions. Picking Isa on the wing is not exactly kamikaze tactics.

I'd start Henshaw at 12, with Isa on the wing. Would hope to get 55/60 min out of Henshaw and then replace him with Larmour and move Isa into the centre.

Isa's defence and his organisation of what's around him has been incredible at 12. His reduced pace is less exposed there too. But not to start the Ireland starting centers is crazy in my view.

[riocard911]

I honestly believe too much is being written into the Pro 12 semi result last year.
That was as bad as performance I can remember Leinster ever giving.
Multiple mistakes and brain farts.
Jonny’s worst day in blue
This year we are stronger mentally and physically.
Scarlett’s are missing key backs and don’t gave replacements of that quality.
Can see Fardy doing a man marking job on Beirne in the rucks and mauls.
Am actually very confident based on all known facts

This.

Can't remember which article it was but one of the media stated a few weeks back that Scarlets will find European Leinster a very different prospect than Pro 14 Leinster.

That would be our very own DC on Bluestalk.
In fairness he uses that line every year, just before we get knoked out.

[Dave Cahill]

One day I'll be right I tells ya!