wixfjord wrote:I think if it’s between the two of them Lowe is more likely to make a difference this weekend though.
Very true. One of the things that seems to be troubling Leo is how much Girv knows and how he sets up Bath to defend against us. With both Lowe and Larmour you just can't prepare in the same way as you can to defend against the rest of the team because they both play what's in front of them so well.
I do wonder about all the credit Girve is getting for the weekend. Surely Bath's defense was based on huge work rate, having two international 7s on the pitch, slightly offside linespeed and us not being able to go wide because of conditions or go up the guts because Henshaw was missing. I'm not sure how much of a 'blueprint' Girve could've given, I think a lot of things fell in favour of Bath.
They definitely used their 13 to stop us being able to go wide too, and that was probably a Girve ploy, but does that work as well if we can get the usual ball speed we do in most games?
If they repeat the job this weekend then maybe that will be proven right, but I think with better weather and a better ruck performance from our guys they won't have as much success.
According the the weather app on my phone, it’s due to be raining on Saturday. That said, it’s about as reliable as my match predictions. i.e. not very
Bath have been horribly inconsistent for some time now. According to many last Saturday was their best performance for some time. I'd wonder about their ability to put in back-to-back performances and how that will affect them this weekend. On our side we need to start the match with more intensity. We've been on the back foot from the start in the last two away European games and we need to stop this pronto.
cormac wrote:Bath have been horribly inconsistent for some time now. According to many last Saturday was their best performance for some time. I'd wonder about their ability to put in back-to-back performances and how that will affect them this weekend. On our side we need to start the match with more intensity. We've been on the back foot from the start in the last two away European games and we need to stop this pronto.
+1. The reigning champions have wobbled in their last ERCC two matches. A convincing performance is what's needed on Saturday. Hopefully the 16th man will do his bit!!!!!
carlow man wrote:Yeh rol is a better player than Reid. More to offer in attack and likelier to grab a try for himself.
I'm not sure that's the case on form. Reid has now had three very good matches in a row. At his best O'Loughlin may previously have performed to a higher standard, but not that high that I'd just drop a form player for him.
Reid is due his chance at 12 this week- and remember he reputed to be the best passer in the Leinster squad, so he offers a lot in linking play.
Apart from passing what does Reid offer as a 12. Ringrose could do a better job at 12 than Reid if rol went in at 13. Reid is a pro14 player but not at the level needed in big european games. It's only cos everyone else is injured that he had a run out last weekend. He did ok but ringrose ended up having to carry a lot more and still made yards. There isn't a lot between them size wise but Reid just can't carry ball and I'd much rather rory alongside Garry this weekend. Imo!!!
carlow man wrote:Yeh rol is a better player than Reid. More to offer in attack and likelier to grab a try for himself.
I'm not sure that's the case on form. Reid has now had three very good matches in a row. At his best O'Loughlin may previously have performed to a higher standard, but not that high that I'd just drop a form player for him.
Reid is due his chance at 12 this week- and remember he reputed to be the best passer in the Leinster squad, so he offers a lot in linking play.
Apart from passing what does Reid offer as a 12. Ringrose could do a better job at 12 than Reid if rol went in at 13. Reid is a pro14 player but not at the level needed in big european games. It's only cos everyone else is injured that he had a run out last weekend. He did ok but ringrose ended up having to carry a lot more and still made yards. There isn't a lot between them size wise but Reid just can't carry ball and I'd much rather rory alongside Garry this weekend. Imo!!!
I don't like the idea of moving Gary to 12. 13 has much more defensive responsibility; and he excels at it. Rory is good; but for instance he sold himself badly for Mathesons try v Munster. Apparently Reid's tackle success ytd is 92% (mind you I'm not sure if tackles where you just about hang onto a lads legs after he breaks the gainline for a few metres count). Reid can be an elusive runner also. He had a job to do in Bath in awful conditions; and I think he did ok. It would be harsh to drop him. I think the backrow make-up is the bigger question. I don't think anyone disagrees with Conan nailed on at 8. After that for me it's Ruddock/VDF with Leavy benching. I think Fardy may lose out again. YR.NO had it pissin down Sat; but latest update is for a dry day --- Lowe needs to start and it would be too much of an ask I think for HOS in this pivotal game to be benching instead of PGTips.
carlow man wrote:Yeh rol is a better player than Reid. More to offer in attack and likelier to grab a try for himself.
I'm not sure that's the case on form. Reid has now had three very good matches in a row. At his best O'Loughlin may previously have performed to a higher standard, but not that high that I'd just drop a form player for him.
Reid is due his chance at 12 this week- and remember he reputed to be the best passer in the Leinster squad, so he offers a lot in linking play.
Apart from passing what does Reid offer as a 12. Ringrose could do a better job at 12 than Reid if rol went in at 13. Reid is a pro14 player but not at the level needed in big european games. It's only cos everyone else is injured that he had a run out last weekend. He did ok but ringrose ended up having to carry a lot more and still made yards. There isn't a lot between them size wise but Reid just can't carry ball and I'd much rather rory alongside Garry this weekend. Imo!!!
I thought that Reider matched up pretty well against a genuine great of the last ten years, and in conditions that were loaded against his playing style. In attack he managed 20m off 6 carries and 5 defenders beaten - better than 3m/carry and he essentially beat a player every time he got the ball.
Roberts didn't make hay out of him either - the big Welshman had 10 carries for 18m and 1 defender beaten. I definitely see an argument for starting ROL next week, but I thought that Reider did a really reasonable job for us and was happy with his performance in what was one of the biggest games of his Leinster career.
Thought Reid did well v Bath, on that performance deserves another go, made yards and beat defenders and was solid defensively. Deffo no to moving Ringrose into 12, at 13 he is vital for us and world class.
carlow man wrote:Yeh rol is a better player than Reid. More to offer in attack and likelier to grab a try for himself.
I'm not sure that's the case on form. Reid has now had three very good matches in a row. At his best O'Loughlin may previously have performed to a higher standard, but not that high that I'd just drop a form player for him.
Reid is due his chance at 12 this week- and remember he reputed to be the best passer in the Leinster squad, so he offers a lot in linking play.
Apart from passing what does Reid offer as a 12. Ringrose could do a better job at 12 than Reid if rol went in at 13. Reid is a pro14 player but not at the level needed in big european games. It's only cos everyone else is injured that he had a run out last weekend. He did ok but ringrose ended up having to carry a lot more and still made yards. There isn't a lot between them size wise but Reid just can't carry ball and I'd much rather rory alongside Garry this weekend. Imo!!!
His clever kick through off the turnover on 27 minutes essentially led to our first try. I can't see either Henshaw or ROL doing that.
He really positively surprised me in defence.
If Sexton is injured, I would be concerned if it was Byrne and Reid together, but - otherwise - I can see plenty of upsides to Reid retaining the jersey.
Regarding the Lowe, Fardy and JGP conundrum, Lowe should be the one to lose out imho.
Fardy is an enforcer and that's what we need for the rest of the HEC.
We need JGP to select due to injuries.
We can beat Bath and get a TBP on Saturday without Lowe so it's a chance to give someone else a run because we may well have no option in follow on games.
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall who's the greatest player of them all? It is Drico your majesty.
I thought Reid did well on Saturday. With Ringrose outside him I would back him again this week. You would hope we would have a lot more ball this week for a creative player like Reid to come into his own and maybe he can put in a performance like Eoin O'Malley did in the Bath game in Lansdowne in 2011 where he put in a MOM performance. It doesn't always work out the way I plan it in my head but I would be very hopeful this week.
I would have played Fardy last week and rested him this week now I think I would like to see RPG start this week, show our intent to move them around this week, not necessarily dropping Luke just a horses for courses change with how I think we might try and play, we beat them at their game last week let them come and try and beat us at ours this time. I think J-Lo has to start, big pitch him punching holes and off loading creating havoc, he tends to rise to an occasion and 40k+ fans will definitely help that imo.
Can't believe its only Tuesday!
"Horrocks went one way, Taylor the other and I was left holding the bloody hyphen!"
artaneboy wrote:
I'm not sure that's the case on form. Reid has now had three very good matches in a row. At his best O'Loughlin may previously have performed to a higher standard, but not that high that I'd just drop a form player for him.
Reid is due his chance at 12 this week- and remember he reputed to be the best passer in the Leinster squad, so he offers a lot in linking play.
Apart from passing what does Reid offer as a 12. Ringrose could do a better job at 12 than Reid if rol went in at 13. Reid is a pro14 player but not at the level needed in big european games. It's only cos everyone else is injured that he had a run out last weekend. He did ok but ringrose ended up having to carry a lot more and still made yards. There isn't a lot between them size wise but Reid just can't carry ball and I'd much rather rory alongside Garry this weekend. Imo!!!
His clever kick through off the turnover on 27 minutes essentially led to our first try. I can't see either Henshaw or ROL doing that.
He really positively surprised me in defence.
If Sexton is injured, I would be concerned if it was Byrne and Reid together, but - otherwise - I can see plenty of upsides to Reid retaining the jersey.
You’d be worried about Ross Byrne and Reid; seriously- why? Ross always seems very solid defensively to me- and his attack has become excellent too. Noel has been very good this season in defence- and his attacking has conversely been good since he started.
Or am I missing something there?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
"Oh, I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused!"
Re Reid.
Had a good game, but listening to the commentary and watching the game again.
Reid didn't give us front foot ball the way somebody like Henshaw can give you in the conditions that prevailed.
Hard yards.
Last edited by Oldschool on December 11th, 2018, 6:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall who's the greatest player of them all? It is Drico your majesty.
but I would be very hopeful this week.