European Champions Cup [Most Improved]

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Actually I wasn't too lazy. Team for the final.

LEINSTER:

15: Rob Kearney
14: Andrew Conway
13: Fergus McFadden
12: Ian Madigan
11: Isa Nacewa
10: Jonathan Sexton
9: Isaac Boss

1: Jack McGrath
2: Sean Cronin
3: Mike Ross
4: Quinn Roux
5: Devin Toner
6: Rhys Ruddock
7: Sean O'Brien
8: Jamie Heaslip CAPTAIN

Hard to remember who was injured/first choice but no Bod or Darce, McGrath ahead of Healy and VDM, Roux ahead of Leo, Ruddock starting. Have a vague recollection that we had back three injuries so Conway was starting on merit at that time but may be wrong. There were certainly some calls made with development in mind.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Just thinking, wonder how a Leinster A team would do in the Challenge Cup?

[Grumpy Old Man]

Two things to remember about the Challange Cup final, it was in Dublin and we had a PRO12 final the following week. I think the fact it was in Dublin meant we felt we had to go for it, but the PRO12 took priority. Pure speculation on my part though.

[Ruckedtobits]

Did we not "fall into" that Challenge Cup by not qualifying for Q/F of Heino under the Rules that Season? As a consequence, performance in Pro12 or Magners became essentially more important in ranking points that winning the Challenge Cup. Did we beat Biarritz and Stade Francais in S/F and Final?

[Grumpy Old Man]

Did we not "fall into" that Challenge Cup by not qualifying for Q/F of Heino under the Rules that Season? As a consequence, performance in Pro12 or Magners became essentially more important in ranking points that winning the Challenge Cup. Did we beat Biarritz and Stade Francais in S/F and Final?

Yep, that's right. And Wasps in the QF

[Lar]

Yes and like you said we had the Pro12 final to come (v Glasgow I think). We played a strongish side in each from recollection but the Pro12 final was the more important. Vague memory of being a tad lucky we played Ulster in the semi final in the RDS only because Ravenhill was being developed and they could not host the semi-final. Might not have beaten them had that match been in Belfast.

[blockhead]

Yes and like you said we had the Pro12 final to come (v Glasgow I think). We played a strongish side in each from recollection but the Pro12 final was the more important. Vague memory of being a tad lucky we played Ulster in the semi final in the RDS only because Ravenhill was being developed and they could not host the semi-final. Might not have beaten them had that match been in Belfast.

Played Ulster in the final. It was supposed to be in Ravers as they topped the league that year but could not due to the redevelopment of said Ravers. The previous weekend we won the Challange cup and the B&I cup (games played simultaneously). Glory days and the end of Joe,Johnny and Isa's spells at the province.
What a week.

[Dave Cahill]

Hard to remember who was injured/first choice but no Bod or Darce, McGrath ahead of Healy and VDM, Roux ahead of Leo, Ruddock starting. Have a vague recollection that we had back three injuries so Conway was starting on merit at that time but may be wrong. There were certainly some calls made with development in mind.

We had a fair few injuries alright, Dave Kearney had just completed RTP after nothing whatsoever happened against Munster, Darce and O'Malley were out for the (what was left of the) remainder of the season, Macken had a broken hand and BOD had an epidural for a back spasm. Conway was already on his bike.


I do think we'd be good value if we were allowed enter our A Side into the Challenge Cup. We'd try for a start and we'd put a lot into it, we'd also get a lot more out of it than the British and Irish Cup which is of almost no benefit to us.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

I'd be certain that a few of the selections you didn't acknowledge were for development reasons though.

[Dave Cahill]

I'd be certain that a few of the selections you didn't acknowledge were for development reasons though.

None of them were development reasons. I can't see a single 'non-standard' selection in that team that wasn't for injury or 'much more important match next weekend' reasons.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Only because you don't want to after your original point though.

[Dave Cahill]

I neither want nor need to.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Odd that we played Heaslip, SOB and Ross etc and the players rotated in were all young. I'd have thought we'd rest everyone entirely or play a more experienced side if the Ulster game took such precedence/we weren't thinking about developing players.

[simonokeeffe]

Definitely a few development picks in the pack

[Grumpy Old Man]

What was the team for the PRO12 final?

[simonokeeffe]

What was the team for the PRO12 final?

15: Isa Nacewa
14: Fergus McFadden
13: Brian O'Driscoll
12: Ian Madigan
11: Andrew Conway
10: Jonathan Sexton
9: Isaac Boss

1: Cian Healy (Jack McGrath, 77)
2: Richardt Strauss (Sean Cronin, 29-40, blood sub)
3: Mike Ross (Jamie Hagan, 75)
4: Leo Cullen CAPTAIN
5: Devin Toner (Quinn Roux, 73)
6: Kevin McLaughlin
7: Shane Jennings
8: Jamie Heaslip

REPLACEMENTS NOT USED: Rhys Ruddock, John Cooney, Andrew Goodman, Dave Kearney.

[Grumpy Old Man]

So the only personnel change in the backs was O'Driscoll for Rob Kearney. More changes in the forwards, Healy was the leading 1 back then, Strauss started the big matches, Leo for Quinn Roux. Was SOB injured in the Challange Cup final?

[fourthirtythree]

Resting? We had two trophies up for grabs and wanted both. Remember we had recently failed to get the league title after topping it due to being shagged after the European cup. We had an injury ravaged early season and were coming into form. It was on, the squad was available over the two and they were selected for that.

It may have been the crappy trophy but it was what was on offer, at home, in front of a packed crowd, many of whom had got the ticket for next to nothing when buying the ERC final and went on to support Clermont there.

I don't think it was a development selection, finals, it was a two legged winning one.

[Flash Gordon]

So the only personnel change in the backs was O'Driscoll for Rob Kearney. More changes in the forwards, Healy was the leading 1 back then, Strauss started the big matches, Leo for Quinn Roux. Was SOB injured in the Challange Cup final?

Drico was injured. The other 3 were more rotational I think. Strauss and Cronin were similar quality, Healy was first choice but Jack was a worthy deputy and Leo was first choice but was 35. People are can express their view on whether we fielded a weakened team for the Challenge Cup final, I don't think we did personally and ultimately we won the game 34-13 against a team that was so good that Stan Wright was on the bench.

Along the way we beat Wasps in the quarter final with this team

15: Rob Kearney
14: Dave Kearney
13: Fergus McFadden (Andrew Conway, 74)
12: Gordon D'Arcy
11: Isa Nacewa
10: Ian Madigan
9: Isaac Boss (John Cooney, 71)
1: Cian Healy (Jack McGrath, 63)
2: Richardt Strauss (Sean Cronin, 61)
3: Mike Ross (Jamie Hagan, 71)
4: Leo Cullen CAPTAIN
5: Devin Toner (Quinn Roux, 68)
6: Kevin McLaughlin (Rhys Ruddock, 61)
7: Sean O'Brien
8: Jamie Heaslip

And then we beat Biarritz with this team:
15: Rob Kearney
14: Fergus McFadden (Andrew Conway, 66)
13: Brian O'Driscoll
12: Ian Madigan
11: Isa Nacewa
10: Jonathan Sexton (Andrew Goodman, 51)
9: Isaac Boss (John Cooney, 61)
1: Cian Healy (Jack McGrath, 61)
2: Richardt Strauss (Sean Cronin, 61)
3: Mike Ross (Jamie Hagan, 61)
4: Leo Cullen CAPTAIN (Quinn Roux, 61)
5: Devin Toner
6: Kevin McLaughlin (Rhys Ruddock, 42-54, blood sub; 66)
7: Shane Jennings
8: Jamie Heaslip (Kevin McLaughlin, 79)

For me it's pretty clear we took the competition seriously and we played some pretty amazing rugby along the way.

[leinsterforever]

Whatever about the 2013 Challenge Cup win, if we were in the competition from the start now I think it would be better to save the Internationals' minutes for the Pro12.