Leinster v Glasgow Warriors Friday 28th February 2020

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Leinster v Glasgow Warriors
RDS
Dublin

Friday February 28th 2020
KO 19.35

Live on Premier Sport


Well Glasgow head off to Dublin this Friday to see if they can be the first team to beat them this season.

It's an international window so both teams will be short of front line players, not that that has held Leinster back so far, in what has been a remarkable season for them.

Glasgow though, after a very poor start to the season, which included a thrashing by Leinster at home, do seem to have rediscovered their mojo somewhat having taken 15 points from their last three league games and have put themselves back into play off contention in the process. They have been playing some pretty good stuff in the process, having remembered how to hold onto the ball and to score tries!

Glasgow are maybe not quite as intimidated by the RDS as some teams clearly are as well, having won there at the end of last season, in a game they needed to win, to cement their place at the top of their conference. The noises coming out of the camp this week are bullish and they clearly intend to give this match a good crack.

Leinster, for their part, have not really been tested so much this season, beating most teams without getting out of the low gears. They may find that a fired up and confident Glasgow team will give them a very good game on Friday night.

I am hoping for a Glasgow team something like this, with the big injury question around Nakarawa:


1. Seuili
2. Turner
3. Keeble
4. Harley
5. Nakarawa (if fit, Swinson if not)
6. Wilson
7. Gibbins
8. Fagerson M
9. Horne G
10. Horne P
11. Tagive
12. Grigg
13. Jones
14. Seymour
15. Bryce

Subs:

Allen
Stewart/Delekoto (no preference)
Nicol/Nuke/McQuillan (depending on who is fit)
Swinson/Davidson (depending if Naks is fit)
Gordon
Dobie
Jackson
Steyn

Going on the most recent census figures Wales (2011) has just over 3 million and Leinster (2016) has just over 2.6 million.

On current estimates however Wales has over 3.2 million and Leinster has over 2.9 million.

Closer than some people believe.

Transport links are sh1t. You can't even get between many dublin sububurbs by public transport. Never mind from one paer of the province to another. Unless you want to go to the centre of Dublin first.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:
Leinster have done a fantastic job of breaking away from the Dublin club image it had in the early 2000's which led to rugby supporters from the likes of Wexford, Meath etc actually supporting Munster instead. The fact that Leinster is actually well supported here in Meath is a huge shock. That's like Pontypridd fans supporting Cardiff!

Ah, I think a bit of the support thing for Munster was due to them being bloody good at the time and most people instinctively liking to cling to successful things.  
That is Not to say the fandom was plastic/shallow/coat-tailing.  It wasn't plastic, it was a genuine emotional connection and it was easy to support an Irish side that was bullying - or not letting themselves be bullied by - some big European (English and French)sides at the time.  That's kind of an easy thing for an Irish rugby fan to get behind, especially in those early days when Provinces were only beginning down the road of Professionalism.

And...... I don't really think that 'special' place in the heart for the 'fighting Irish' Munster has really wilted too much in the minds of Leinster rugby people either.  There is a lingering respect and fondness.  Perhaps the newer generation don't share that but I'd think many of the older fans do.  Munster carved the way and in reality made Leinster believe it was possible to rule European rugby.

Pot Hale wrote:It is the Leinster Branch that ensures the proper spadework is being done around the 9 counties.  Dublin is undoubtedly the hub, but they are developing some strong spokes into Wicklow, Kildare, Carlow, Wexford, Louth and Meath.  

At a quick count, 23 of the squad/academy are not traditional.  Here’s the split of the squad who played in Schools Cup - 3 schools dominate.  

St Michaels 17
Blackrock 9
Castleknock 1
Newbridge 2
Belvedere 3
Clongowes 8
Andrews 2
Gerards 1
Gonzaga 1
Wesley 1
St Mary’s 1

Nice bit of analysis, so 46 come from the schools cup with 23 from other routes, so a 2:1 split. Terenure would be a noticeable missing school from the above, would make a dozen schools heavily invested in an annual cup competition for school kids in the 11-17 age.

It makes you wonder could that environment be cultivated elsewhere. Funds is the immediate thought, but is money the starting point? Or does it need to be the kudos for winning, multiple rivalries/derbies, a passion/culture to excel and if those were there, funds would follow?

thebandwagonsociety wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:It is the Leinster Branch that ensures the proper spadework is being done around the 9 counties.  Dublin is undoubtedly the hub, but they are developing some strong spokes into Wicklow, Kildare, Carlow, Wexford, Louth and Meath.  

At a quick count, 23 of the squad/academy are not traditional.  

Nice bit of analysis, so 46 come from the schools cup with 23 from other routes, so a 2:1 split. Terenure would be a noticeable missing school from the above, would make a dozen schools heavily invested in an annual cup competition for school kids in the 11-17 age.

It makes you wonder could that environment be cultivated elsewhere. Funds is the immediate thought, but is money the starting point? Or does it need to be the kudos for winning, multiple rivalries/derbies, a passion/culture to excel and if those were there, funds would follow?

I've expanded and updated the list in the Leinster thread:
https://www.606v2.com/t68812p100-leinster-rugby-2019-20-squad-news-n-stuff#3892980