Bath vs Leinster DOUBLE HEADER Teams/Discussion

First topic message reminder :

USING THIS THREAD FOR BOTH GAMES

So Bath went down with a huge fight last week and really put the game to a slightly misfiring Leinster "away" side. Huge performances from Louw and Caldwell in particular and the boot of Barkley giving Bath a lot to cheer about considering the doom and gloom that was felt before the game.

Leinster had a few chances to put the game beyond Bath but didn't take some opportunities they should have. Sexton put in a huge shift which steadied the ship big time, displaying great defence and game management while SOB put in some big carries and great steals.

The game ended 13-18 to Leinster, leaving the pool still somewhat open.

The return game is this Saturday in Lansdowne Rd. Bath fans are expecting the same team out as the injury situation doesn't seem to have changed where as Leinster fans are expecting their "home" team to take the field, introducing the likes of Healy, Toner, Jennings, reddan and O'Malley from the off.

How will the game go?
What are your team perdictions?
What are the vital areas between the teams?
What tactical plans need to be in place for each team?
Will this thread survive without another ROG vs Sexton cat fight?
Score predictions?

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:Abendanon Cuthbert Hipkiss Barkley Banahan Donald Claassens Flatman Biller Wilson Attwood Caldwell Louw ©, Mercer & Taylor - Subs v Leinster - Beech Catt Perenise Spencer Beattie Cook Heathcote & Vesty

Was hoping they wouldn't go for Hipkiss. He does scare me I have to say. Hope our pack can strangle the ball so he doesn't get it much. And with banahan coming in off his wing and Donald being so physicall, barkley and Hipkiss will get space due to this. Both are good footballers too.

I really hope we have our foot on the neck of their pack early on, get Johnny to kick corners for the first few and let them know that they will get nothing easy.

kicking game?
Who should win that if it begins?
Kearney/Sexton/Boss/McFadden or Donald/Classens/Barkley/Abendanon???

Isn't Hooperman the Shamrock Rovers mascot?!

Mickado wrote:Isn't Hooperman the Shamrock Rovers mascot?!

Whooa Ted. Bathite won't know that If that's not Stuart Hooper's nickname, it bloody well should be.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAYel8dKDtw

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAYel8dKDtw

I've heard that theme tune before. Everyday when i'm waiting to go on a conference call, thats the hold music (musak?)

Simon Taylor? 50 caps for Scotland, 2 Lions tours. Yeah, that guy.

Mercer, young openside, real talent and many fans think he should start every game. Argubaly our first choice back row.

Bath 0 - Leinster 5

Bathite wrote:Simon Taylor? 50 caps for Scotland, 2 Lions tours. Yeah, that guy.

Mercer, young openside, real talent and many fans think he should start every game. Argubaly our first choice back row.

As soon as I posted that question I though. "Oh yeah, Scotland."

Bathite- are you happy that McFadden is playing rather than O'Malley or does it bother you one way or the other?

Don't take this the wrong way fella, but not that fussed about your outside backs. You have the advantage up front and enough quality to win the game, so wasn't that fussed who you had 11-15, should be arbitary to be honest, unless you have some absolute muppets there, which you don't!

On a personal level, I love watching Nacewa play, always rated Kearney and hope he continues getting back to form and wanted to see more of McFadden. I'm still not completely set on Sexton yet, not doubting his quality, just don't have a real affinity/admiration for him as yet

What do you think of Fitzgerald starting to come back into form?

I agree that Darcy isn't really that threatening and Nacewa is somewhat limited on the wing but I would still say our backs our dangerous we managed to score 5 tries against a team that beat you, they have to be somewhat good. Granted that was with O'Malley at 13 not McFadden

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:What do you think of Fitzgerald starting to come back into form?

I agree that Darcy isn't really that threatening and Nacewa is somewhat limited on the wing but I would still say our backs our dangerous we managed to score 5 tries against a team that beat you, they have to be somewhat good. Granted that was with O'Malley at 13 not McFadden

Ah Pete. He's already said we're great. Don't rub his nose in it.

Could come back to bite us in the ass.

Yeah, was a bit confused, I was praising your backs, saying that it didn't really matter who you picked 11-15 as they are all threatening and because 1-10 will be dominant and do the damage

Someone on Leinster fans made a really good point.

When Nacewa arrived nobody knew his best position, he was shifted around at the Blues from centre to OH, to wing etc. when he settled at fullback for us he was a revelation, but maybe after a few more games he'll be just as good on the wing.

Mickado wrote:Someone on Leinster fans made a really good point.

When Nacewa arrived nobody knew his best position, he was shifted around at the Blues from centre to OH, to wing etc. when he settled at fullback for us he was a revelation, but maybe after a few more games he'll be just as good on the wing.

Ah yah don't read that sh1te, do yah?

Sorry Bathite didn't read the threatening part. My bad

I think of all the positions in the backline, the wing is the position that gets the least amount of ball, granted you can go looking for it etc but it's not like centre or flyhalf where you get the ball relatively regularily. For instance off a scrum the flyhalf will get the ball most of the time and feed one of his centres. The ball may not get into either wingers hands though. Fullback obviously collects the most kicks also.

I just think it would be good to put Iosa where he will have more impact.

The continuous selection of SOB at 7 I think is because the IRFU want him to be selected there, and I honestly think he is going to be the Irish 7 for a long time. He is growing into the role very well, though I think it might be better for Ruddock to start over McLaughlin at 6.

I don't think it's that at all, I think Schmidt wants to have a big team for the away games and so plays the more physical McL instead of the more specialised Jennings and thus SOB goes to 7. This is definitely a Leinster thing not an Ireland thing

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

Mickado wrote:Someone on Leinster fans made a really good point.

When Nacewa arrived nobody knew his best position, he was shifted aroun
d at the Blues from centre to OH, to wing etc. when he settled at fullback for us he was a revelation, but maybe after a few more games he'll be just as good on the wing.

Ah yah don't read that sh1te, do yah?

Serious amount of slacking going on in work today. Had to read something!

I still think the IRFU have some input on SOB playing at 7.. that is where he will be playing for Ireland over the next while, so they would want him to be getting as much gametime at 7 as possible.

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:I don't think it's that at all, I think Schmidt wants to have a big team for the away games and so plays the more physical McL instead of the more specialised Jennings and thus SOB goes to 7. This is definitely a Leinster thing not an Ireland thing

Correct. It's all about fielding the heaviest pipe hittin muthafukkahs from 1 to 9.

Would you like to meet McLaughlin, O'Brien and Heaslip down a dark lane?

Also. Browne in the 2nd row ahead of Toner. More Grunt.

Boss over Redan..... Same

VDM ahead of Ciano is a lot more debatable as there's no way I would like to see a photo of either of them even in a bright lane.

But VDM is a great tackler and an abrasive customer.

You could argue the same in MaFad over O'Malley

No, grassy knoll type IRFU involvement imho.

Correct. It's all about fielding the heaviest pipe hittin muthafukkahs from 1 to 9.

Love it.

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:I don't think it's that at all, I think Schmidt wants to have a big team for the away games and so plays the more physical McL instead of the more specialised Jennings and thus SOB goes to 7. This is definitely a Leinster thing not an Ireland thing

Correct. It's all about fielding the heaviest pipe hittin muthafukkahs from 1 to 9.

Would you like to meet McLaughlin, O'Brien and Heaslip down a dark lane?

Also. Browne in the 2nd row ahead of Toner. More Grunt.

Boss over Redan..... Same

VDM ahead of Ciano is a lot more debatable as there's no way I would like to see a photo of either of them even in a bright lane.

But VDM is a great tackler and an abrasive customer.

You could argue the same in MaFad over O'Malley

No, grassy knoll type IRFU involvement imho.

Yeah I agree this has been happening for the last year and a bit under Schmidt, it's nothing new

Not sure why anyone thinks Leinster will steamroller the Bath pack. There have been plenty of bigger Aviva teams that have tried and not achieved dominance.
Bath's problem has been too many different combinations throughout the side over the season, though a mix of injuries and player rotation. We have another new combination in the front row and also in midfield too and at this level, particularly against an opposition that has the bulk of a national side, any fluency will be difficult to achieve.

Bath are definitely underdogs and us season ticket holders will show up in anticipation of an interesting game rather than expectation of a positive result but that is how McGeechan often likes it....Who is the ref?

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:Abendanon Cuthbert Hipkiss Barkley Banahan Donald Claassens Flatman Biller Wilson Attwood Caldwell Louw ©, Mercer & Taylor - Subs v Leinster - Beech Catt Perenise Spencer Beattie Cook Heathcote & Vesty

An interesting selection, no place for Biggs and who will play fullback Bendy or Cuthbert? Bath look pretty heavy at the back, some big boys in that line up so McFadden and D'Arcy need to put their tackling boots on as I can see both wingers coming into midfield looking for work. Also, no replacement hooker? Hmmmm..... 3 Academy players on the bench....

I can't see a thread in the selection other than big backs, the pack look a bit short on ball carriers and will be lacking in dynamics when it comes to the loose, I can see how big backs could punch some holes in the Leinster defence, but they'll need to get front foot ball first and it doesn't look to me like that's a selection likely to provide a solid platform, maybe the gameplan is to run Leinster's socks off and keep the ball alive?

Hey, what do I know?

If the idea is to keep the ball loose then Bath may be on to something in the first half as we have our "big bruising away side" out not our more nimble fellas, we are expecting a fight and have prepared accordingly. If you guys start spraying the ball wide some of our guys like Toner, Jennings, and Healy would be better choices for that kinda game offensively and defensively.

I think Leinster are gonna take 5 points here. I dont see that Bath have markedly improved since last season and they've lost back to back to Ulster the last 2 seasons in a row. On that basis you would have to say back to back wins for Leinster who are much stronger than Ulster, are likely here.

I can see Leinster smoothering them for the first 50mins and holding a small lead and then cutting loose with the likes of Healy, Cronin, Toner, jennings, Reddan and O'Malley coming in. Maybe not 5 points but it could happen, then again bath may surprise everyone

Well if Bath pull off an upset I'll be the first to eat my words and congratulate them

I guess I will have to fit in at 2nd then!

I'll be amazed if Bath get anything out of this game. Hope they do though, the Jeff and HC is better with a strong Bath team.

Should be a good game. Can't see past a leinster win. Anyone got a good link?

Galwegian go to the links I sent you yesterday you will find them there.

Great start by Leinster there, good running rugby, pleasure to watch.

Thomond will you send me on the link you sent Galwegian?

Dead cert try butchered by Leinster.

Poor decision to go for the lineout in the first 5 mins, when it wasnt a really difficult 3.

Hope you guys find a link this is a great game so far...! Wonderful skills..

Leinster butchered 2 chances, good start by both teams.

The Rec is a stunning ground.

Bath is a stunning city...!

Really entertaining game this so far, Leinster could easily be a long way ahead already though!

Will this be on TG4 later?

6-0 just about deserved for Bath as they have been pressurising well & looking better than they have been for a while

6-0 bath now, a better game than the score suggests, both sides playing very flat on the gain line with some great defence too.

Leinster must be kicking themselves, they could be three tries up if it wasnt for the last pass...

Starting to look its just not Leinster day.

Mmm great break bu Obrien there but an equally good tackle by Banahan Obrien knocks on but ref misses it.
Unlucky to concede 3 at the end.
6-3 HT

So who is playing well so far?