Heino Cup Pool 5, Round 6: Exeter Chiefs vs Leinster

First topic message reminder :

Well here we are at the last of the pool games, with lowly Exe (and one or two other results) standing between the current European champions and qualification for the knock-out phase of this year's tournament. Leinster overcame the challenge of the Chiefs back in October at the RDS with a 9-6 victory. Thoughts?

You'd kill the silly old buzzard! Cruelty to buzzards

Feic me - 3 years ago I would have been banging on the hoardings at the north end, hoping that the 3 game losing streak was just a glitch (although I was fairly dispassionate about Leinster A coming to Sandy Park in the B&I Cup) Now, we all trust in Rob - Clermont has shown there's still learning to be done but the result at the RDS gives us hope. Leinster seem to have many of their crocked players back, whereas Exe seem to be as equally depleted as the frst round, in different areas.

Does it matter? - not a jot. Our boys, our lovely passionate, robust and relentless boys go up against the kings of europe. This is what they've worked for - the tough days at Roth, Brickfields, Donny and the Mennaye, and Welsh with that lanky winger, Bris with their Prem experience. They've come through it all, worked their way through the Prem to qualify for the Heiney. Feicen shocked by the Glos result in the first Prem game -dare to dream?

Well, we're living that dream now, on the back of a squad of tremendous, committed players, a dedicated coaching staff and a management who are driving the success.

I don't care about the result on Saturday - I care that we're there in the HC playing Leinster. I have a new emotion now - I worry that Exe won't qualify for the HC next season - if we don't, there will still be some competitive games in Euro next season, but if we do, how can we top a pool with Leinster and Clermont?

Bring it on.

Quick injury update - looks like Muldowney and Dollman might recover from knocks picked up on Sat, perhaps less likely for Big Aly, but Camacho is certainly out. The good news is that Haydn Thomas may have recovered and Jack Nowell is ready to claim the vacant wing spot (not sure what's with Josh Tatupu tho). Backrow and frontrow issues remain as detailed above



PS great post, Dub, love it

I have just made my SG random guesses. I tipped Exeter to edge this one.

But on checking others' predictions I note that As must have been on a potent cocktail of mescaline and whisky.

Cmon Chiefs .

How do you get tickets for said final?

toml wrote:How do you get tickets for said final?

Option 1

Step 1 buy a time machine
Step 2 go back to the 24hr period last summer when they were on sale
Step 3 buy some

Option 2
Be a season ticket holder in one of the Clubs that makes the final, and hope to get one through the Club.

Option 3
Buy an expensive travel package that comes with match tickets

Thanks Jenny, hopefully option 2 will happen... But option 1 definitely caught my eye!

greytiger wrote:I have just made my SG random guesses. I tipped Exeter to edge this one.

But on checking others' predictions I note that As must have been on a potent cocktail of mescaline and whisky.

Cmon Chiefs .

I may have been a little ambitious with my prediction, P, but expect to be within 5 points give or take!

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:

greytiger wrote:I have just made my SG random guesses. I tipped Exeter to edge this one.

But on checking others' predictions I note that As must have been on a potent cocktail of mescaline and whisky.

Cmon Chiefs .

I may have been a little ambitious with my prediction, P, but expect to be within 5 points give or take!

That's no probs. You can be within 5.............Tries!

Ah ok then, you can be within 5 points. as long as the score is 49 54 or so

I hope Leinster and Munster get what they want or there will be a lot of players with a point to prove in Cardiff on the 2nd of Feb.

Twas less than 3 years ago that we went to Sandy Park

A look at the teamsheets is interesting

http://www.irishrugby.ie/rugby/match_centre.php?section=overview&fixid=95641

I'll do a where are they now

Girvan Dempsey...............Retired
Niall Morris...............Leicester
Eoin O'Malley...............Bench
Shaun Berne...............Retired
Dave Kearney...............Bench
Ian Madigan...............Bench
Paul O'Donohoe...............Connacht
Stan Wright...............Stade Francais
Richardt Strauss...............1st teamer
Mike Ross...............1st teamer
Trevor Hogan...............Retired
Malcolm O'Kelly...............Retired
Eoin Sheriff...............Saracens
Paul Ryan...............Retired
Stephen Keogh...............Retired

Jason Harris-Wright...............Connacht
Ronan McCormack...............Retired
Devin Toner...............1st teamer
Ciaran Ruddock...............Neath RFC
Dave Moore...............Connacht
Kyle Tonetti ...............Connacht
Simon Keogh...............Retired

Connacht = dumping ground for former Leinster players?

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:Connacht = dumping ground for former Leinster players?

As Oliver Cromwell said....To hell or to Connacht

I must have missed the Ruddock move to Neath?

And Asbo, only POD and Dave Moore went directly to connacht, Tonneti was at Sale and Harris-Wright was at Bristol.

Mickado wrote:I must have missed the Ruddock move to Neath?

Was reported in the Indo during last summer. (So it must be true ) Not sure he actually went though. May be focusing on another career.

Right v2 attendees at the match:

Suspicious Lurker/Hoog
Gibson
Perthshire Puma
Kiwi Pete
Ozzy Pete
red_stag
PJ Holybloke
Tattie Scones RRN
Effervescent Elephant/Carpe Diem
Rava
myself

A fine crew. Anyone else going?

No. Once a season is fine ta

wouldn't miss it ASBO and I second Dubbelyews sentiments.
The fun goes on

C'mon the s

Hoping to be there, but the impending birth of a grandchild in Sheffield may get in the way. Priorities, eh?



Safe travelling to all.

So what you're saying is that it's only snow that will keep you away?

Is the expression on 's face,

(1) Surprise at the speed of his teams ascent?
(2) Concern about just how difficult things could get at the weekend?
(3) A sign that he has seen the list of V2 attendees?
(4) Something else entirely?

Looks like embarrassment to me, perhaps he has been caught out in public with nothing on but his head dress.

Glas a du wrote:So what you're saying is that it's only snow that will keep you away?

Snow on the route Up North could be my Get Out of Jail Free card

Glas a du wrote:Looks like embarrassment to me, perhaps he has been caught out in public with nothing on but his head dress.

I can tell you've been to Sandy Park before.

Dubbelyew L Overate wrote:

Glas a du wrote:So what you're saying is that it's only snow that will keep you away?

Snow on the route Up North could be my Get Out of Jail Free card

WLO - aye

MrsP wrote:Is the expression on 's face,

(1) Surprise at the speed of his teams ascent?
(2) Concern about just how difficult things could get at the weekend?
(3) A sign that he has seen the list of V2 attendees?
(4) Something else entirely?

My money is on (3), MrsP

Or maybe he's just doing the Tomahawk Chop thing you guys do down there?

How does that go again?

It's tricky, MrsP, lots of complicated words and sentence structure - a mere medico like yourself would never grasp it - best you stick to Uuullllllssssssstttttteerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Do I need to dig the songsheets out that we used at Quins As?

Aye, those are the ones, but we'll keep it simple and just use the first six pages

It's one of those chants that make our one look like a carefully crafted classic!

I'd watch out at the weekend though. You wouldn't want to be waving them Tomahawky yokes around too much in case someone points out the risks to Health and Safety!

Mind you. I wouldn't want to be the one pointing out the Health and Safety risks to someone with one of them yokes in their hand either!

Could get nasty!

Briz airport closed, but Exe airport ok. Chiefs confirm light snow fall at Sandy Park, but conditions not expected to worsen and match will go ahead as planned

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:Briz airport closed, but Exe airport ok. Chiefs confirm light snow fall at Sandy Park, but conditions not expected to worsen and match will go ahead as planned

There will be a great calm over Exeter at about 17:30 on Saturday. All rain and snow will stop and a gap will appear in the clouds.

A loud voice will boom out from the heavens which will say "On the 6th day Bod created.........space" Then a team in Blue will rain down with furious anger causing a weeping and gnashing of teeth. And Bod will look upon this and see that it is good.

Reasons why Leinster will not qualify for the quarters:

I keep hearing reports that Exeter have only ever given up four tries once since promotion in all competitions. Anyone know who that one team was?

Furthermore, Im told the pitch at Exeter is quite narrow and not exactly conducive to high scoring expansive rugby.

Weather will probably be shocking.

Exeter are decent and have a big pack that will attempt to draw Leinster into a 10 man battle.

Racing Metro have lots of key injuries and have no interest in this match after taking a hiding by Sarries last week. Try fest for Munster.

Toulon dont need to win to secure a home quarter v Montpellier away but Montpellier do need to win to qualify. Bernard la Porte and Fabien Galthie are old chums. A marginal win for Montpellier and losing bonus for Toulon would send them both through and Leinster out. Wouldnt be surprised if this happened.

That team was Clermont - nobody else has done it

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:That team was Clermont - nobody else has done it

Ah yes of course. Well at least it was a recent game. That gives us some hope.

GunsGerms wrote:

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:That team was Clermont - nobody else has done it

Ah yes of course. Well at least it was a recent game. That gives us some hope.

I thought it was a rhetorical question. Clermont have BPs in every game bar the 2 v Leinster.

Just looking at BBC website - all sorts of travel warnings in England and a forecast of a 40-hour snowstorm. Any chance that this game - and other HC games in Enghland not going ahead?

Not s chance, this game will go ahead

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:That team was Clermont - nobody else has done it

Ah yes of course. Well at least it was a recent game. That gives us some hope.

I thought it was a rhetorical question. Clermont have BPs in every game bar the 2 v Leinster.

Slipped my sieve like mind.

Sandy Park pitch is wide (69m, just 1m short of the maximum) and is a well drained, good surface.

Weather forecast is not bad - about freezing with a stiffish wind which usually swirls around, but no rain or snow.

10 man rugby - I hope there'll be a bit of it, but it would be uncharacteristic based on this season.

Is the pitch not covered As - just in case?

Dubbelyew L Overate wrote:Sandy Park pitch is wide (69m, just 1m short of the maximum) and is a well drained, good surface.

Weather forecast is not bad - about freezing with a stiffish wind which usually swirls around, but no rain or snow.

10 man rugby - I hope there'll be a bit of it, but it would be uncharacteristic based on this season.

Thanks for that. Odd that I heard different re the pitch. I think it was Emmet Byrne former Leinster prop who said in a recent podcast that it was narrow. Dont quote me on that though.

Hopefully the game will go ahead.

Re the 10 man rugby. I suppose Im just expecting Exeter being very physical and tryng to suck Leinster into an armwrestle which might now be a bad tactic given the weather. However, it wouldnt suit Leinster at all.

Exe team:

15 Luke Arscott
14 Ian Whitten
13 Sireli Naqelevuki
12 Jason Shoemark
11 Matt Jess
10 Gareth Steenson
9 Kevin Barrett
1 Ben Moon
2 Neil Clark
3 Hoani Tui
4 Tom Hayes (capt)
5 Dean Mumm
6 Tom Johnson
7 James Scaysbrook
8 Richard Baxter

16 Jack Yeandle
17 Carl Rimmer
18 Craig Mitchell
19 James Hanks
20 Ben White
21 Will Chudley
22 Ignacio Mieres
23 Nic Sestaret

Surprised (and delighted for him) to see Nic Sestaret on the bench

Rob Kearney
Isa Nacewa
Brian O'Driscoll
Gordon D'Arcy
Luke Fitzgerald
Jonathan Sexton
Eoin Reddan

Cian Healy
Richardt Strauss
Mike Ross
Leo Cullen
Devin Toner
Kevin McLaughlin
Sean O'Brien
Jamie Heaslip


Sean Cronin
Heinke van der Merwe
Michael Bent
Rhys Ruddock
Shane Jennings
Isaac Boss
Ian Madigan
Fergus McFadden

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:Rob Kearney
Isa Nacewa
Brian O'Driscoll
Gordon D'Arcy
Luke Fitzgerald
Jonathan Sexton
Eoin Reddan

Cian Healy
Richardt Strauss
Mike Ross
Leo Cullen
Devin Toner
Kevin McLaughlin
Sean O'Brien
Jamie Heaslip


Sean Cronin
Heinke van der Merwe
Michael Bent
Rhys Ruddock
Shane Jennings
Isaac Boss
Ian Madigan
Fergus McFadden

Strong bench! 22 internationals in the team!

Oh Yeah Baby.

Best team on the park. Roux and Browne our only injuries with any hope of making the squad.

4 trys or die trying.