Dragons V Leinster

First topic message reminder :

Well......

Dragons lose 1 player (Faletau) to the Wales Squad. (ok 2 then Coombs also)

Leinster lose EIGHTEEN. (Count 'em) If the Dragons can't win this one at home..........

Hard to make too much of a stab at a team but here goes.

O'Connell
Dundon
Bent
Roux
Denton
Ryan
Jennings
Ruddock

Cooney
Gopperth
Tuqiri
Goodman
Macken
Fitzgerald
Kirchner

Tracy
Dooley
Furlong
Marshall
Gilsenan
Mcgrath
Reid
Fanning

Lots of Academy players and a couple of NIQs returning from injury (Hopefully)

Lyn Jones agrees with my sentiments on Leinster's squad.

Lyn Jones wrote:"Leinster are very similar to the Ospreys, they have a good culture and academy system that is nurturing good habits, all within a team ethos.

"This is something that we are looking to achieve ourselves over the coming years. We can't shortcut that and it takes time to improve, grow and get better. We can't rush that process."

All very true Rev, the problem is that our third level of depth in the front 5 is inexperienced at best, and is likely to struggle. Good exposure for the likes of Jack O'Connell, Tadgh Furlong and James Tracey but the preferred method of playing these lads would be to blend them into the team gradually, which is easier said than done.

It's a good development step playing the Dragons front five.

My nomination for the most self-deprecating thread of the year goes to... this one.

 

Dragons by 80   

 

Bonus point within the opening five minutes!

Luckless Pedestrian wrote: 

Bonus point within the opening five minutes!

Last time I was in Dave Parade, the Dragons had a bonus point over Leinster before half time.

You should visit more often, Jen.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:You should visit more often, Jen.

Our record has improved since I stopped going.

Actually it has improved since Cheika left. He used to send 3 senior players plus the academy over every year.......

Leinster team to face Dragons...
The Leinster team to face the Newport Gwent Dragons in Friday night's RaboDirect PRO12 clash in Rodney Parade (KO: 7.05pm) has been named...
The Leinster management have selected an exciting line up for the trip to Newport in a match which will see Springbok international Zane Kirchner make his first start for the province after coming on as a replacement in the win over Connacht last weekend.

Kirchner is named to start at full back in a back three which includes the fit again Lote Tuqiri and St. Mary's College captain Darragh Fanning. Luke Fitzgerald, one of four Ireland internationals in the starting line-up, continues his midfield partnership with Noel Reid while there are recalls for Jimmy Gopperth and scrum-half John Cooney, who makes his 24th appearance for the province.

Shane Jennings leads the team and the experienced back-rower is named in the back-row alongside Rhys Ruddock and Dominic Ryan, who is set to appear in Leinster colours for the 51st time. Michael Bent switches to loose-head in a front row which also includes Aaron Dundon and Martin Moore who trained with the Ireland squad earlier this week.

The replacements bench includes seven players who have either graduated or are current products of the Leinster Academy including Wexford born tight-head prop Tadhg Furlong who is another product of the Leinster Youths system to progress through the ranks in recent years.

LEINSTER:

15: Zane Kirchner
14: Darragh Fanning
13: Luke Fitzgerald
12: Noel Reid
11: Lote Tuqiri
10: Jimmy Gopperth
9: John Cooney

1: Michael Bent
2: Aaron Dundon
3: Martin Moore
4: Quinn Roux
5: Tom Denton
6: Dominic Ryan
7: Shane Jennings CAPTAIN
8: Rhys Ruddock

REPLACEMENTS:

16: James Tracy
17: Jack O'Connell
18: Tadhg Furlong
19: Ben Marshall
20: Leo Auva'a
21: Luke McGrath
22: Cathal Marsh
23: Brendan Macken

REFEREE: John Lacey (IRFU), ASSISTANT REFEREES: Ian Davies, Neil Hennessy (both WRU), TMO: Gareth Simmonds (WRU)

Damn, Schmidt's let you have Martin Moore. Blydi Leinster bias.

Dragons Team to Face Leinster
Hallam Amos, Tom Prydie, Pat Leach, Ross Wardle, Adam Hughes, Jason Mason, Richie Rees; Owen Evans, Sam Parry, Dan Way, Adam Jones, Matthew Screech, Jevon Groves, Lewis Evans (c), Netani Talei.

Replacements
Hugh Gustafson, Nathan Williams, Francisco Chaparro, Rob Sidoli, Ieuan Jones, Jonathan Evans, Kris Burton, Dan Evans.

Bit underwhelmed by that. I would prefer Chaparro to start, Talei at 6 and Ieuan at 8. Guess Dan Evans is being rested? Though Amos was very good under the high ball at the Liberty.

Happy with that under the circumstances.

Academy players are Tracy, O'Connell, Furlong and Marsh.

Moore, Marshal & Reid are in their first year out of the Academy.

Decent side though. No excuses. (Except perhaps a good few new combos)

Risca Rev wrote:Dragons Team to Face Leinster
Hallam Amos, Tom Prydie, Pat Leach, Ross Wardle, Adam Hughes, Jason Mason, Richie Rees; Owen Evans, Sam Parry, Dan Way, Adam Jones, Matthew Screech, Jevon Groves, Lewis Evans (c), Netani Talei.

Replacements
Hugh Gustafson, Nathan Williams, Francisco Chaparro, Rob Sidoli, Ieuan Jones, Jonathan Evans, Kris Burton, Dan Evans.

Bit underwhelmed by that. I would prefer Chaparro to start, Talei at 6 and Ieuan at 8. Guess Dan Evans is being rested? Though Amos was very good under the high ball at the Liberty.

Some cool names in there (Besides the Californian housing estate) Leech and Screech. Jason Mason, (His ma had a sense of humour) And a good old Old Testament Hallam Amos.  

Why the hell isn't Chaparro starting?

Jason Mason is Jason Tovey...  

munkian wrote:Jason Mason is Jason Tovey...  

How disappointing.   I reckoned no one's mammy could be that cruel

Denton ahead of Marshall is a strange call.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Denton ahead of Marshall is a strange call.

Not a call that I would make certainly (or you obviously) But In no way strange. O'Connor has used Denton ahead of Marshall every time this season. I think Marshall got a bit of a knock in the friendly in Ravenhill in August though. So that could change as the season progresses.

Interesting to see Bent switch over to LH also. Perhaps he will go better there?

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Denton ahead of Marshall is a strange call.

Not a call that I would make certainly (or you obviously) But In no way strange. O'Connor has used Denton ahead of Marshall every time this season. I think Marshall got a bit of a knock in the friendly in Ravenhill in August though. So that could change as the season progresses.

Interesting to see Bent switch over to LH also. Perhaps he will go better there?

Strange was the wrong word for sure but I did think once Marshall returned from injury, he would be back to where he was in the pecking order last season. He was the younger and better option as he was in fine form last season, but by most accounts Denton was good in the A game a couple of weeks ago.

I'm looking forward to this now as the team is quite exciting. I really hope Furlong gets time on the pitch too.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Denton ahead of Marshall is a strange call.

Not a call that I would make certainly (or you obviously) But In no way strange. O'Connor has used Denton ahead of Marshall every time this season. I think Marshall got a bit of a knock in the friendly in Ravenhill in August though. So that could change as the season progresses.

Interesting to see Bent switch over to LH also. Perhaps he will go better there?

Strange was the wrong word for sure but I did think once Marshall returned from injury, he would be back to where he was in the pecking order last season. He was the younger and better option as he was in fine form last season, but by most accounts Denton was good in the A game a couple of weeks ago.

I'm looking forward to this now as the team is quite exciting. I really hope Furlong gets time on the pitch too.

I agree with all that. Perhaps Marshall and Roux are too similar/inexperienced to play together?

Denton will probably call the lineouts for example.

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

LeinsterFan4life wrote:

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Denton ahead of Marshall is a strange call.

Not a call that I would make certainly (or you obviously) But In no way strange. O'Connor has used Denton ahead of Marshall every time this season. I think Marshall got a bit of a knock in the friendly in Ravenhill in August though. So that could change as the season progresses.

Interesting to see Bent switch over to LH also. Perhaps he will go better there?

Strange was the wrong word for sure but I did think once Marshall returned from injury, he would be back to where he was in the pecking order last season. He was the younger and better option as he was in fine form last season, but by most accounts Denton was good in the A game a couple of weeks ago.

I'm looking forward to this now as the team is quite exciting. I really hope Furlong gets time on the pitch too.

I agree with all that. Perhaps Marshall and Roux are too similar/inexperienced to play together?

Denton will probably call the lineouts for example.

That could be the case. He can also play in the backrow as you know. I wonder if he could be a good 8 like Copeland, given how they are quite similar. Ruddock has been in great form the last couple of seasons but 8 is not his best position.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:That could be the case. He can also play in the backrow as you know. I wonder if he could be a good 8 like Copeland, given how they are quite similar. Ruddock has been in great form the last couple of seasons but 8 is not his best position.

Again I agree. (What's wrong with me?) I like Marshall at 8, and I don't like Ruddock there. He is playing really well at 6 though.

Marshall can play 4,5,6,8. Makes him a great bench option (Unfortunately for him)

I could well have gone Ruddock, Jennings, Marshall with Ryan on the bench.

Decent options anyway as 7 can be covered by Jennings and Ryan. 8 by Ruddock and Marshall and all 4 of them can play 6.

Having said all that big Leo will probably come on for Jennings or Ryan with Rhys shifting to 6

Bent as a LH sounds like a terrible idea.. lets put two slow THs on the field from the start.  Also, if Moore is around the Ireland extended squad we can't use him for a full 80 minutes so that means Bent switching at some stage.  I'd have preferred us to just give O'Connell the bit of experience and if needed have two THs on the bench with either able to come on for the LH position.

Denton tends to be great in training, but never really applies that to the field... MOC should have that figured out at this stage.

Putting Lote on the wing when he has hamstring problems sounds genius. Fanning getting a call up is good to see, he was solid when needed at the start of the season.

I'd have preferred McGrath in front of Cooney, we are going to stunt his development by having him behind Boss.Reddan.Cooney.  I can see him heading away.  He is a terrific player and showed in a key game against Ospreys last season that he is already at high Pro12 level of skill and game management.

Does anyone know who the referee is for this?

Token '0 Paddy  

John Lacey of Ireland. With two welsh touchies. 2 v 1

The name doesn't ring a bell. It was that Nordie-Scottish ref last time and he let Leinster get away with murder at the breakdown.

I guess it works both ways. He'll either be wise to Leinster's inevitable cheating  or he will let them get away with it. Hopefully the two Welshies will help him out, though most touchies (99.9999999999999999999999999%) we see at RP don't tend to bother their bum.

Good to have Tovey back but would of liked to of seen Jones in at 8.
We must win this, Leinster will be a good outfit but Christ they are missing so many players and we are at home... Dragons by 8.

It's an important game for us. If we lose and the Scarlets and Blues both win, they'll leapfrog us in the table.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:The name doesn't ring a bell. It was that Nordie-Scottish ref last time and he let Leinster get away with murder at the breakdown.

Nope. He used to play on the wing for Munster. Quite a decent ref. You will recognise him when you see him.

Takes no sh1t. V strict on certain things at ruck time.

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:Happy with that under the circumstances.

Academy players are Tracy, O'Connell, Furlong and Marsh.

Moore, Marshal & Reid are in their first year out of the Academy.

Decent side though. No excuses. (Except perhaps a good few new combos)

How could I forget Luke McGrath the reserve scrum half.

That's 5 of the bench from the Academy and 1 1st year out. Leaving Big Leo and Bren Macken (The youngest player in the senior squad) on a VERY inexperienced bench.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:It's an important game for us. If we lose and the Scarlets and Blues both win, they'll leapfrog us in the table.

According to the latest Erc qualification rules, it looks like these 3 teams will be scrapping it out for the final qualifying place for any potential European comp next season.

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

munkian wrote:Jason Mason is Jason Tovey...  

How disappointing.   I reckoned no one's mammy could be that cruel

Phil and Gary Neville's grandmother must have taken too much gas during childbirth.

Look forward to seeing how Zane fares tonight.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:The name doesn't ring a bell. It was that Nordie-Scottish ref last time and he let Leinster get away with murder at the breakdown.

Lacey is a good ref.

Murder at the Breakdown?

Yeah..it was a good enough song, I suppose - although I was never really into pop/dance floor music.

Was that one of sattelite dish face's songs?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1269205/Sophie-Ellis-Bextor-I-dont-care-people-think-I-look-bit-odd.html

Was with the Rev, Lucky, Prop and Penfro at Dave a few weeks back. Always wanted to get there.

Its a real rugby ground. Man they sold pappadums  from a stall. Feic burgers.

Class.

Not sure about this one. We have enough at the back to do damage, but will they get the ball to do it?
Moore has been excellent. Dundon is steady. No worries there. But Bent? Roux and Denton? They need to front-up or feic off tonight.  Backrow is grand.

Having Fitz at 13, I like. Great hands, great defender, fast brain and has a wicked step.   Reid is getting his chance and he must make the best of it. Want to see hunger from these fringe goys.

Really happy Gopperth is playing here. This is his type of game. His nous may clinch it for us.

Excited to see some of the bench play. Love watching our Academy spelers develop.

Lots of unknowns here, but, I'm hoping Jenno can just about lead us home tonight.

I know Dragons will go all out here. If we don't respond... The game is theirs for the taking. Their pre-season wish in turning  Dave into a basterd place to visit, looking for a result, is working.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:It's an important game for us. If we lose and the Scarlets and Blues both win, they'll leapfrog us in the table.

Too right so come on Ulster, come on Leinster and boo to you Treviso.

Dregs scrum destroyed a la bloos.
Looking ominous says Jiffy.

Leinster blow it with a wonky put in.
Not much action in the shallowed end so far.

I see we have a nice unbiased ref again. 

Scrums are a farce in general. Complete lottery.

That was close from Gopperth. Leinster score with their first backs move in several weeks!

It's being checked. It deserved a try. But it's in touch.

LordDowlais wrote:I see we have a nice unbiased ref again. 

I'm not a ref blamer in general. Difficult job.

It was a great covering tackle on Reid.

Now that's a counter-attack! Brilliant rugby from the Dragons

Beautiful Dragons Try there.