Northampton V Leinster

First topic message reminder :

Big game for both sides. Northampton in decent form. Leinster without the injury list they had at this stage last year. (When they were a lineout away from beating Clermont in Clermont)

Mat O'Connor should have his homework done on NH. NH should have a chip on their shoulder after the 2011 final.

Leinster have never lost at Franklins Gardens. (Beat NH back to back when they were reigning champs)

Last time Leinster lost an away HC Pool game to anyone but Clermont was Wasps in Twickenham 5 years ago. (So no pressure then)

Hopefully a good spectacle with neither winner nor loser having any complaints.

Actual team.

15: Rob Kearney
14: Dave Kearney
13: Brian O'Driscoll
12: Gordon D'Arcy
11: Luke Fitzgerald
10: Ian Madigan
9: Eoin Reddan

1: Cian Healy
2: Sean Cronin
3: Mike Ross
4: Devin Toner
5: Mike McCarthy
6: Rhys Ruddock
7: Sean O'Brien
8: Jamie Heaslip CAPTAIN

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Aaron Dundon
17: Jack McGrath
18: Martin Moore
19: Leo Cullen
20: Shane Jennings
21: Isaac Boss
22: Jimmy Gopperth
23: Zane Kirchner

Saints

15. James Wilson
14. Ken Pisi
13. Dom Waldouck
12. Luther Burrell
11. George North
10. Steve Myler
9. Lee Dickson
1. Alex Waller
2. Dylan Hartley (capt)
3. Salesi Ma'afu
4. Samu Manoa
5. Courtney Lawes
6. Tom Wood
7. Phil Dowson
8. Sam Dickinson

REPLACEMENTS:

16. Mikey Haywood
17. Ethan Waller
18. Tom Mercey
19. Christian Day
20. Calum Clark
21. Ryan Glynn
22. Glenn Dickson
23. Jamie Elliott

asoreleftshoulder wrote:Ruddock getting another big game is good to see,unfortunate for McLaughlin to get injured but Ruddock is starting to hit some real form.He's still very young so now that his body is catching up with his talent he could be one hell of a player.

I don't think McLaughlin is injured. Unless you have info that he is?

Also. Nice that the whole 15 are Capped Irish Internationals. Kirchner & Gopperth the only men in the 23 not IQ

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

asoreleftshoulder wrote:Ruddock getting another big game is good to see,unfortunate for McLaughlin to get injured but Ruddock is starting to hit some real form.He's still very young so now that his body is catching up with his talent he could be one hell of a player.

I don't think McLaughlin is injured. Unless you have info that he is?

Also. Nice that the whole 15 are Capped Irish Internationals. Kirchner & Gopperth the only men in the 23 not IQ

I just read it here.

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/ian-madigan-to-start-at-outhalf-for-leinster-s-trip-to-northampton-1.1619512

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

asoreleftshoulder wrote:Ruddock getting another big game is good to see,unfortunate for McLaughlin to get injured but Ruddock is starting to hit some real form.He's still very young so now that his body is catching up with his talent he could be one hell of a player.

I don't think McLaughlin is injured. Unless you have info that he is?

Also. Nice that the whole 15 are Capped Irish Internationals. Kirchner & Gopperth the only men in the 23 not IQ

A first for an Irish team in the HC? I remember saying we'd 15 internationals on the pitch a couple of years back but Nacewa was one of those.

doctor_grey wrote:Hay mate,
Not sure anyone here cares about the Saints line-up quite yet.  This looks a bit more like a northampton v. LEINSTER thread, at least at the moment.  

Regarding North I don't like trying untried players at different positions.  This is one point which Lancaster was accused of getting wrong.  At least North did play 13 for Wales the other day for a little time.  With that in mind, if he can be effective he could open up more space for our young wingers.  On the other hand, he seemed to play better for Wales than for Saints (so far).  Can he pass the ball?

I think Saints pack is still pretty handy, even if Corbs is out.  This will be a fantastic test for the young Props.   In the back row, I am still not sure whether it is better to start Clark or Dowson.  I suppose the argument is Dowson can cover all three back row positions.

If healthy Wilson should be good at fullback.  

Hoping for the best!

Hello there good Doctor, hope all is going well on the East side of the continent! Sorry for the late reply, busy week.

Can't say as I agree 100% with the team selected, feel we always play better with Day in the team. He just seems to get his head down and the do the unattractive stuff well, kind of like Louis Deacon does for those strange people from up the road. Also seems to bring some leadership too. Still I can see why JM wants both Lawes & Manoa on the pitch from the start. No arguments regarding Dowson, he's looked better this season (felt he was below par last year).

Is the guy who wrote that beautiful piece on the Saints the same guy who does summarizing on commentary on some games? If it is I thought he always sounded pretty normal if a little boring when live. I know we English have Barnes who talks and writes some serious twaddle but at least he's consistent. If I've got the wrong guy then I apologise in advance.

Even as a Saints fan I think it's great that Leinster are starting with 15 Irish internationals. Can't wait for the game tomorrow, 11am kick off in my part of the world.

Hay mate,
My kickoff is at 1:00pm.  Looking forward.  

Absolutely agree about Day.  Very underrated player.  I also think he gives a little extra push in the scrum, and Saints will need every advantage.  

I don't mind seeing Lawes and Manoa, but I would prefer Manoa in the back row.  Mallinder must feel Dickenson can really add to the team, and I would guess will look for him to take the ball up a lot.  Not sure how he sees this as a mismatch, or at least a big opportunity, but maybe he does see something.  Biggest game of Dickenson's career.  

Probably a real power game coming, almost a return to old style 10 man English Rugby?

A little concerned about Waldouck at 13, but perhaps there are no other options at the moment.  Hopefully North can get some open space.   Also hoping we get to spend a lot of time in the Leinster half.   On paper this should be a great match.  Hoping for the best!

The guy who everyone believes wrote the article was the guy who was irrationally insulting the English when serving as one of the RWC commentators at the RWC2007 semi-final.  He got kicked off the coverage for that  (I remember thinking the guy was a seriously unglued bigot-no joke).  Truly has a bug up his keester about everything English.  Some Irish mates told me they think his parents could have been brother and sister, and to ignore the little cumquat.  Maybe its a good thing:  The more the insults, the greater the concern about Saints winning.

Have to admit, it does seem a bit intimidating to be going up against a team full of internationals.  Leinster look like a great team.

There is another point about Mallinder's Heineken Cup roster decisions.

Last year for the first Ulster match, he decided to go at 9-10-12 with Martin Roberts, Ryan Lamb, and Waldouck. That was a pretty fair disaster.

For the second match the following week at 9-10-12, he went Dickson, Myler, May. Clearly better, both attacking and an defenese.

Looking forward to this,should be a good game for the neutrals.

What a start, magic from O'Driscoll. Saints have their work cut out.

Three tries for Leinster and we aren't even at the half hour mark yet.

i thought darcy impeded lawes there. marginal but enough to make him unable to get to kearney

0-17 conversion to come. 3 tries down. great start.

Wonderful team try from Leinster.

Is the wind really strong or what cos myler is getting no distance on his kicks to touch

15 blue referees out there.

Leinster taking the :censored:iss. Unreal stuff.

Wow Leinster are on fire here... keep her lit lads!

I'll be honest and thought Saints would be far too powerful for this aging Leinster outfit. I'm stunned by the quality of the Leinster performance, I haven't seen them play this well since they beat Toulouse in 2011. Uber-impressive stuff.

BOD's playing? Can't be a Rabo game then.

rodders wrote:I'll be honest and thought Saints would be far too powerful for this aging Leinster outfit. I'm stunned by the quality of the Leinster performance, I haven't seen them play this well since they beat Toulouse in 2011. Uber-impressive stuff.

I was never giving Saints much chance.  No Corbisiero, Foden, Pisi, Fotuali'i and other injuries as well.  Not a good time to be playing an outfit like Leinster.

Cardiff Dave wrote:BOD's playing? Can't be a Rabo game then.

He's playing like a man possessed, 2 try assists and an important turnover.

rodders wrote:I'll be honest and thought Saints would be far too powerful for this aging Leinster outfit. I'm stunned by the quality of the Leinster performance, I haven't seen them play this well since they beat Toulouse in 2011. Uber-impressive stuff.

Leinster have also targeted Ken Pisi, who is not good defensively. Good homework, and some slick handling has done for Saints.

Artful_Dodger wrote:

rodders wrote:I'll be honest and thought Saints would be far too powerful for this aging Leinster outfit. I'm stunned by the quality of the Leinster performance, I haven't seen them play this well since they beat Toulouse in 2011. Uber-impressive stuff.

I was never giving Saints much chance.  No Corbisiero, Foden, Pisi, Fotuali'i and other injuries as well.  Not a good time to be playing an outfit like Leinster.

Yeah, fair point but there's plenty of quality and power there -North, Hartley, Lawes, Wood, Manoa etc. they are getting a schooling here at the minute.

Great break by Cronin but that's a mile forward.

Awful from Cronin, that should have been Northampton buried.

Passing the ball backwards is about as basic as it gets. Criminal from Cronin after a great break.

McCarthy having his best game for Leinster by a mile.

Engine#4 wrote:Awful from Cronin, that should have been Northampton buried.

They look buried to me even without that score.

Fitzgerald is having a great game, some brilliant supporting runs. Unlucky for reddan

Rugby Fan wrote:

Engine#4 wrote:Awful from Cronin, that should have been Northampton buried.

They look buried to me even without that score.

They're a good side, I don't want them arriving into Dublin thinking they have a hope  

Ulster get the bonus point too

BOD gets his try

BOD gets a fifth try with an interception.

At this point you start to doubt Saints will get on the scoreboard. It's late in the game, so they will probably run any penalties. With their current execution, it could be a nil result.

Cardiff Dave wrote:BOD's playing? Can't be a Rabo game then.

...and the other 12 or so.   

gotta be a yello

rarely have i seen a team slow the ball down in such obviously illegal a fashion as leinster today. unbelievable. is flyhacking a team philosophy at the ruck?

if a team is winning so comfortably and so effectively in attack why are they cheating so obviously in defense?

Breadvan wrote:

Cardiff Dave wrote:BOD's playing? Can't be a Rabo game then.

...and the other 12 or so.   

Yeah ok.
Bloody hell though. What a tuning.

Fitz over for his hatrick. Great to have him back and in form.

a bit of a schooling for Saints.

Hat-trick for Fitz  Leinster finding form under MOC. What were the boos about? I didn't notice anything untoward there.

Still think the SKY team will award Courtney Lawes the MOM because they love him.

I blame D'Arcy's beard.

quinsforever wrote:rarely have i seen a team slow the ball down in such obviously illegal a fashion as leinster today. unbelievable. is flyhacking a team philosophy at the ruck?

if a team is winning so comfortably and so effectively in attack why are they cheating so obviously in defense?

Thought you never complained about the ref?

6 tries to 1.
BOD MOM.
Leinster are the dogs.

DeludedOptimistorjustDave wrote:

quinsforever wrote:rarely have i seen a team slow the ball down in such obviously illegal a fashion as leinster today. unbelievable. is flyhacking a team philosophy at the ruck?

if a team is winning so comfortably and so effectively in attack why are they cheating so obviously in defense?

Thought you never complained about the ref?

i'm not complaining about the ref.

can you not read?

All of Leinster's starting 15 Irish as well.  Great stuff.

Well that was unexpected...

Do players keep all their man of the match awards? I mean players like BOD must have no room in his house.

Quins - it sounded awfully like you were. The answer is its not cheating to disrupt and go for turnovers done properly. How many penalties?

Saints given a real schooling and does this show the relative strengths of the leagues - both teams second in their leagues - and Leinster have been beaten in the league

quinsforever wrote:

DeludedOptimistorjustDave wrote:

quinsforever wrote:rarely have i seen a team slow the ball down in such obviously illegal a fashion as leinster today. unbelievable. is flyhacking a team philosophy at the ruck?

if a team is winning so comfortably and so effectively in attack why are they cheating so obviously in defense?

Thought you never complained about the ref?

i'm not complaining about the ref.

can you not read?

Is it any wonder the PRL don't want to play in the HC next year after a hammering like that. Also Leinster were quite legal at the ruck and impressively so. Where were they illegal? More like Saints (like a lot of PRL teams) didn't commit enough to the ruck and were hammered there as expected.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Well that was unexpected...

Why?