Treviso v Leinster - Sat 18/1; 1pm your time

[johng]

We got knocked out in the qf by eoin reddan single handedly.

Reigning champs Munster got knocked out in the qf by scarlets

[curates_egg]

If we get 5 points, is that some kind of record I wonder? Has anyone dropped less than 1 point?

29 has been done before (as mentioned above) but we will set a new record if we win on Saturday: the first pro rugby team to win the first 16 games of the season:
https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/ ... 59422.html

[olaf the fat]

We won't be rotating much. Benetton beat Lyon at home and in reality beat Northampton there too but for dodgy refereeing. They gave it a good go in the RDS as well as Franklin's Gardens at the weekend. The only game they weren't competitive in was Lyon away. This is not a game we will be taking lightly.

Healy Cronin Porter
Toner Ryan
Ruddock Doris VDF

McGrath Byrne
Henshaw Ringrose
Lowe Larmour DKearney

Kelleher, Dooley, Furlong, Fardy, Deegan, JGP, Frawley, RKearney

We tend to take them for granted based on their old form. The have moved on from that and are a really tough team. Dont forget they had a win and a draw in the RDS in the last couple of years - not many teams have had that.

[Ruckedtobits]

We won't be rotating much. Benetton beat Lyon at home and in reality beat Northampton there too but for dodgy refereeing. They gave it a good go in the RDS as well as Franklin's Gardens at the weekend. The only game they weren't competitive in was Lyon away. This is not a game we will be taking lightly.

Healy Cronin Porter
Toner Ryan
Ruddock Doris VDF

McGrath Byrne
Henshaw Ringrose
Lowe Larmour DKearney

Kelleher, Dooley, Furlong, Fardy, Deegan, JGP, Frawley, RKearney

+1
Surprised how many have suggested that Treacy will disappear. He has had a few really good games with lots of (successful) throws to No 6. Also think that Fardy is perfect to start games like this and release Ryan off the bench for much bigger impact. It could be that JGP could start to put early tempo on the game. Luke was a little sloppy on Sunday in first quarter. (Offside penalty and slow to a couple of breakdowns).

The other big factor will be the conditions. Treviso is not good when wet.

[riocard911]

Deffo need to work on our defensive maul for this game. Treviso's hooker with the skull cap, Faiva, has been scoring tries off line out mauls this season at an incredible rate incl. A hat trick of them vs Zebre.

[glenageary]

If we get 5 points, is that some kind of record I wonder? Has anyone dropped less than 1 point?

29 has been done before (as mentioned above) but we will set a new record if we win on Saturday: the first pro rugby team to win the first 16 games of the season:
https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/ ... 59422.html

I really dont care about this "record" talk - the only thing that matters is come the 20th June at 1700hrs will we have Silverware or not? preferably two pieces - Star x 5 is the only record worth having

[wixfjord]

Kelleher not available and decision on Ryan to be made later in week.

[bails]

Putting Treviso into perspective, I dont think it would be wrong to say they have probably been the best side we have seen at the RDS over the last 2 and a half years.

Glasgow last season, who beat us in a high scoring game might be the only other side to challenge that.

So another 3-0 victory in Italy will do just fine.

[wixfjord]

Andrew Porter looks like he's gearing up to steal some Treviso nerds' lunch money this weekend.

[blockhead]

If we get 5 points, is that some kind of record I wonder? Has anyone dropped less than 1 point?

29 has been done before (as mentioned above) but we will set a new record if we win on Saturday: the first pro rugby team to win the first 16 games of the season:
https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/ ... 59422.html

I really dont care about this "record" talk - the only thing that matters is come the 20th June at 1700hrs will we have Silverware or not? preferably two pieces - Star x 5 is the only record worth having

Word dude!

[curates_egg]

I really dont care about this "record" talk - the only thing that matters is come the 20th June at 1700hrs will we have Silverware or not? preferably two pieces - Star x 5 is the only record worth having

I'll settle for silverware on the 23 May at 2000hrs.

[Serb]

Treviso have had some good results against us, but you’d have to qualify that with the fact they faced us in the RDS when the league was already won and we were fielding second string teams at home. Noel Reid started at 10 last season FFS.

We sent a strong team over to them last season and hockeyed them 31-3. They’re definitely a decent side, but we should be putting them away with relative ease. Not convinced we’ll get 5 points, but I don’t think a win will be in doubt.

[Ruckedtobits]

Weather for Saturday is more Donegal than Venice! Heavy rain in Treviso from early a.m. through the day. Fairly strong breeze also. Not a day for good rugby.

This game will be about our pack and half-backs efficiency.

[curates_egg]

15. Jordan Larmour (45)
14. Dave Kearney (145)
13. Garry Ringrose (71)
12. Robbie Henshaw (43)
11. James Lowe (40)
10. Ross Byrne (83)
9. Luke McGrath (120) CAPTAIN
1. Cian Healy (215)
2. Seán Cronin (177)
3. Andrew Porter (61)
4. Devin Toner (243)
5. James Ryan (36)
6. Max Deegan (59)
7. Josh van der Flier (79)
8. Caelan Doris (28)

16. James Tracy (105)
17. Peter Dooley (72)
18. Tadhg Furlong (107)
19. Ross Molony (92)
20. Rhys Ruddock (168)
21. Jamison Gibson-Park (84)
22. Ciarán Frawley (21)
23. Rob Kearney (216)

Referee: Karl Dickson (England)

[Barry]

assume Fardy is injured ?

[curates_egg]

Most of the expected changes but two strange ones:
- no Fardy; wasn't mentioned as injured.
- Deegan at 6 and Ruddock on the bench...a serious whiff of IRFU meddling about that one.

[bluemagic]

Fardy rested ahead of what will be a busy 6 nations period?

[wixfjord]

Poor auld Rhys has had a tough week!

[bails]

Poor Rhys Ruddock, what did he do to deserve this week.

We need to mind him, as with International rugby appearing to draw to a close, his family connections might draw him Toward South Wales and we can’t afford to let quality like that walk.

[blockhead]

Luke McGrath as captain eh, good man yourself, now mind those passes.

Furlong - Porter, Porter - Furlong. Great stuff init!