Bath v Leinster Sat 3.15 BT Sports

[LeinsterLeader]

Whilst most of what has been said is true and without wishing to dampen any enthusiasm (mostly in the squad thread), i think it only fair to keep the following in mind:

1) by all account the pitch is a bog and based on weather forecasts will be worse by Saturday. Obviously this may be a leveler and could make tries hard to come by.

2) in reality we’ve only really put out our “A” team twice so far this year (Wasps and Toulouse. Arguably Connacht as well). And we weren’t exactly brilliant in either (or at least not till Wasps fell apart).

3) in reality we cannot afford to lose this. It’s the most important game of the season so far. If we win we’re in the box seat to take the group, but if we lose..... well it would be hard work to advance from there and we would be looking at away trips at best.

So with that being said I’d take a 5-6 win now and then look to do the real damage at the Aviva.

But then again we could be playing the St. Batildas under 7s away and I’d be nervous so what do I know

[Barry]

Whilst most of what has been said is true and without wishing to dampen any enthusiasm (mostly in the squad thread), i think it only fair to keep the following in mind:

1) by all account the pitch is a bog and based on weather forecasts will be worse by Saturday. Obviously this may be a leveler and could make tries hard to come by.

2) in reality we’ve only really put out our “A” team twice so far this year (Wasps and Toulouse. Arguably Connacht as well). And we weren’t exactly brilliant in either (or at least not till Wasps fell apart).

3) in reality we cannot afford to lose this. It’s the most important game of the season so far. If we win we’re in the box seat to take the group, but if we lose..... well it would be hard work to advance from there and we would be looking at away trips at best.

So with that being said I’d take a 5-6 win now and then look to do the real damage at the Aviva.

But then again we could be playing the St. Batildas under 7s away and I’d be nervous so what do I know

good job we're not playing St. Michaels or you'd be a basket case.

[wixfjord]

A bit coy from Cullen, but hopefully positive signs.

https://www.the42.ie/leinster-leo-culle ... 9-Dec2018/

Cullen is due to announce his starting team for the Pool 1 fixture tomorrow afternoon at 12pm, but it appears that slight injury concerns over Dan Leavy, Jordan Larmour, Jack Conan and Rory O’Loughlin are subsiding.

“As the week has progressed, they are closer to getting selected,” said Cullen. “The guys have trained well this week so far, so everyone’s in good form and looking forward to the game.

[riocard911]

Pre-match presser with Leo & Rhys: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqsFqH5ghQ8

[tingman]

Whilst most of what has been said is true and without wishing to dampen any enthusiasm (mostly in the squad thread), i think it only fair to keep the following in mind:

1) by all account the pitch is a bog and based on weather forecasts will be worse by Saturday. Obviously this may be a leveler and could make tries hard to come by.

2) in reality we’ve only really put out our “A” team twice so far this year (Wasps and Toulouse. Arguably Connacht as well). And we weren’t exactly brilliant in either (or at least not till Wasps fell apart).

3) in reality we cannot afford to lose this. It’s the most important game of the season so far. If we win we’re in the box seat to take the group, but if we lose..... well it would be hard work to advance from there and we would be looking at away trips at best.

So with that being said I’d take a 5-6 win now and then look to do the real damage at the Aviva.

But then again we could be playing the St. Batildas under 7s away and I’d be nervous so what do I know

We will win this. Bath not great - symptomatic of the GP malaise...we will be all right here - bog or hard ground...talent and street smarts will prevail.

[mildlyinterested]

interview with Reid in leinster indo supplement, might suggest he is starting.

[TerenureJim]

Given conditions of that pitch back row is the real key, this will be trench warfare

[carlow man]

interview with Reid in leinster indo supplement, might suggest he is starting.

Rather have rol than Reid.

[mildlyinterested]

interview with Reid in leinster indo supplement, might suggest he is starting.

Rather have rol than Reid.

assume ROL is out if Reid is starting.

[mildlyinterested]

apparently Fardy isn't on the plane to England.

Leavy and Conan both on plane.

[LeinsterLeader]

apparently Fardy isn't on the plane to England.

Leavy and Conan both on plane.

You at the airport with your binoculars MI?

Okay, you win. You're the biggest Leinster fan

[Lar]

Anyone on the JWT trip to Bath will be on the same flight as the team. I think it was scheduled to leave Dublin at 11.00am.

[curates_egg]

Leavy no8!!!
Conan on the bench.

Reid starts at 12.
ROL on the bench.

[mildlyinterested]

Leinster Rugby (caps in brackets):

15. Rob Kearney (202)
14. Jordan Larmour (28)
13. Garry Ringrose (55)
12. Noel Reid (106)
11. James Lowe (20)
10. Johnny Sexton (153) CAPTAIN
9. Luke McGrath (102)
1. Cian Healy (197)
2. Seán Cronin (160)
3. Tadhg Furlong (91)
4. Devin Toner (224)
5. James Ryan (21)
6. Rhys Ruddock (149)
7. Josh van der Flier (66)
8. Dan Leavy (58)

16. James Tracy (77)
17. Ed Byrne (30) – European debut
18. Andrew Porter (39)
19. Ross Molony (71)
20. Jack Conan (80)
21. Jamison Gibson-Park (59)
22. Ross Byrne (57)
23. Rory O’Loughlin (48)

[jimbobjoe]

Leavy at 8 is a weird one. With that back row I would've thought Leavy at 6 and Ruddock at 8.

[curates_egg]

Leavy at 8 is a weird one. With that back row I would've thought Leavy at 6 and Ruddock at 8.

I think we all thought that. Conan actually being fit enough to be on the bench, adds an added curve to the ball.
They are our 4 best back row players though.

[johng]

Burns out. So it does.

[riocard911]

If Josh and Rhys continue where they left off in the Test series, we should be flying!!!

[johng]

15. Ruaridh McConnochie

14. Semesa Rokoduguni

13. Jackson Willison

12. Jamie Roberts

11. Joe Cokanasiga

10. James Wilson

9. Will Chudley

1. Nathan Catt

2. Tom Dunn

3. Henry Thomas

4. Dave Attwood

5. Charlie Ewels (c)

6. Tom Ellis

7. Sam Underhill

8. Francois Louw

Replacements

16. Jack Walker

17. Jacques van Rooyen

18. Max Lahiff

19. Elliott Stooke

20. Matt Garvey

21. Kahn Fotuali’i

22. Cooper Vuna

23. Alex Davies

[riocard911]

15. Ruaridh McConnochie

14. Semesa Rokoduguni

13. Jackson Willison

12. Jamie Roberts

11. Joe Cokanasiga

10. James Wilson

9. Will Chudley

1. Nathan Catt

2. Tom Dunn

3. Henry Thomas

4. Dave Attwood

5. Charlie Ewels (c)

6. Tom Ellis

7. Sam Underhill

8. Francois Louw

Replacements

16. Jack Walker

17. Jacques van Rooyen

18. Max Lahiff

19. Elliott Stooke

20. Matt Garvey

21. Kahn Fotuali’i

22. Cooper Vuna

23. Alex Davies

Mercer didn't recover from last week's knock. Not surprised.