Draw for H Cup / Champions Cup 2019

[footrush]

A lot will be determined by the double-headers, as always. Toulouse play Clermont just before Christman and Agen - A the week before us followed by Grenoble immediately after Bath in the week leading into 6N. If they do well in the double-header against Wasps, their home game against Clermont will be a table-thumper and Agen and Grenoble games will be parked.

OTOH, if things don't go well against Wasps, all those Top14 fixtures will have added pressure and Les Toulasaines will want points, not just good performances against reigning Champions. Here's hoping.......

Ordered a ticket from Bath on Tuesday morning it arrived this morning, now that’s a really efficient service !.

Bath match sold out 3 hours after going on general sale. Fella in ticket office said Leinster fans have tickets all over the ground aswell as the section given to olsc. Going to be a cracker!!

Single ticket available in EJ at the moment , if anyone needs one it’s on the Bath ticket site !.

[footrush]

Bath match sold out 3 hours after going on general sale. Fella in ticket office said Leinster fans have tickets all over the ground aswell as the section given to olsc. Going to be a cracker!![/quote]
Single ticket available in EJ at the moment , if anyone needs one it’s on the Bath ticket site !.[/quote]
They seem to be releasing single tickets on a rolling basis on the ticket site at the moment ?.

[curates_egg]

Toulouse went top of the Top14 yesterday after winning away in Pau. Clermont have a game in hand, but still.
Toulouse's bounce is still bouncing.

[riocard911]

Meanwhile Bath were beaten on Friday by bottom placed Newcastle in Newcastle 16-8 and currently lie eight in the Premiership. We should be looking to take 10 points from our two matches against them in December.

[wixfjord]

I think that's underrating Bath.

They're down a few guys in Watson, Faletau & Joseph, but have some very dangerous players and I'd be very wary of going to the Rec without Henshaw.

Mercer, Louw and Underhill is a good backrow and Cokanasiga is a seriously dangerous player.

[johng]

And we are down O'Brien, Leavy and Conan in the back row alone

[Serb]

Only player of those three we are guaranteed to be missing is O’Brien. We’ll have to wait and see on the other two but it sounds like Conan should be ok. We still have van der Flier, Fardy, Ruddock plus the likes of Deegan, Doris and Murphy to bench even if we are missing all three of the above.

We’re missing Henshaw which is a massive massive blow considering the lack of any quality to replace him in the centre. Far more worried about that than the back rowers.

[Oldschool]

I think that's underrating Bath.

They're down a few guys in Watson, Faletau & Joseph, but have some very dangerous players and I'd be very wary of going to the Rec without Henshaw.

Mercer, Louw and Underhill is a good backrow and Cokanasiga is a seriously dangerous player.

One thing that will help a bit is that they are playing a league game next Sunday so we have an extra day to prepare.

[footrush]

A lot will be determined by the double-headers, as always. Toulouse play Clermont just before Christman and Agen - A the week before us followed by Grenoble immediately after Bath in the week leading into 6N. If they do well in the double-header against Wasps, their home game against Clermont will be a table-thumper and Agen and Grenoble games will be parked.

OTOH, if things don't go well against Wasps, all those Top14 fixtures will have added pressure and Les Toulasaines will want points, not just good performances against reigning Champions. Here's hoping.......

Ordered a ticket from Bath on Tuesday morning it arrived this morning, now that’s a really efficient service !.

Bath match sold out 3 hours after going on general sale. Fella in ticket office said Leinster fans have tickets all over the ground aswell as the section given to olsc. Going to be a cracker!!

About 100 tickets available in a block together in EA of the Rec at the moment , not a great view but if you have a large party travelling ?.

[wixfjord]

As it stands, side for Bath is looking like:
Healy, Cronin, Furlong, Toner, Ryan, Ruddock, VDF, Deegan/Doris, McGrath, Sexton, Lowe, Reid, Ringrose, DK/Daly, RK.
McGrath, Tracy, Porter, Fardy, Doris, McCarthy/HOS, Byrne, DK/Daly

Very light in outside backs and backrow.

Wonder might we see Fardy come in at 6 and Ruddock move to 8? I think that's what I'd go for.

Is DK fit?

[curates_egg]

As it stands, side for Bath is looking like:
Healy, Cronin, Furlong, Toner, Ryan, Ruddock, VDF, Deegan/Doris, McGrath, Sexton, Lowe, Reid, Ringrose, DK/Daly, RK.
McGrath, Tracy, Porter, Fardy, Doris, McCarthy/HOS, Byrne, DK/Daly

Very light in outside backs and backrow.

Wonder might we see Fardy come in at 6 and Ruddock move to 8? I think that's what I'd go for.

Is DK fit?

Daly has played only at left wing and full back for us afaik? And hasn't played in half a year. He's hardly going to be anywhere near the squad? Poor old Dave hasn't been mentioned in weeks.
I'd say they'll be forced to pick Byrne, unless Larmour's surgery really is so minor he can do full training next week - which, although unlikely, is not impossible.

Edit. This is my guess.

Healy, Cronin, Furlong, Toner, Ryan, Leavy, VDF, Ruddock, McGrath, Sexton, Lowe, Frawley*, Ringrose, Byrne RK.
Tracy, McGrath, Porter, Kearney, Deegan, JGP, Byrne, Larmour/DK/Reid/O'Brien

* If he doesn't play at 12 this weekend, it won't fly. But he looked so good on Friday, and Leo kind of hinted at it. Get your form players involved.

[mildlyinterested]

injury questions for leinster going into europe:

Dan Leavy - neck(?)
Conan - ac joint(?)
SOB - forearm(out)
McCarthy - ankle(?)
ROL - knee(?)
Henshaw - hanstring(?)
Tomane - hamstring(out)
McFadden - hamstring(out)
D Kearney - unclear(?)
Larmour - knee(?)

[curates_egg]

injury questions for leinster going into europe:

Dan Leavy - neck(?)
Conan - ac joint(?)
SOB - forearm(out)
McCarthy - ankle(?)
ROL - knee(?)
Henshaw - hanstring(?)
Tomane - hamstring(out)
McFadden - hamstring(out)
D Kearney - unclear(?)
Larmour - knee(?)

I thought McCarthy was out for at least a month?

[mildlyinterested]

injury questions for leinster going into europe:

Dan Leavy - neck(?)
Conan - ac joint(?)
SOB - forearm(out)
McCarthy - ankle(?)
ROL - knee(?)
Henshaw - hanstring(?)
Tomane - hamstring(out)
McFadden - hamstring(out)
D Kearney - unclear(?)
Larmour - knee(?)

I thought McCarthy was out for at least a month?

last injury update said he was still be evaluated.

[wixfjord]

Bath injury list from their site:

Aled Brew Fractured forearm Early December

Taulupe Faletau Fractured forearm Mid December

Paul Grant Calf strain Early December

Jonathan Joseph Mid-foot ligament repair Early December

Beno Obano Combined knee ligament injury Mid-2019

Rhys Priestland Adductor Strain Late December

Anthony Watson Achilles Early 2019

Tom Homer Shoulder Mid-December



With Watson, Priestland and Homer all out they're light enough at 15.

Faletau out is obviously huge too.

They've also signed James Wilson (who played for Northampton for years but is not 35) as cover.

[desperado]

Bath Chronicle. This weekends match v Sale seems to be the ubiquitous 'week too soon' for Jonathan Joseph. Will he be ready to feature against us?

https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/sport/ot ... es-2267195

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Wasps hanging on a bit against Toulouse but somehow go into the break with the lead, they really aren't a good side, can't see them holding on.

A stupid yellow from Van Dyk cost them.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

A lot of the Wasps players give the impression that they don't give a sh!t.

[D4surfer]

Wasps doing there best to give Toulouse 5 points.

[cormac]

A lot of the Wasps players give the impression that they don't give a sh!t.

Sopoaga chief amongst them