Leinster to take on Super Rugby opposition

Super Rugby franchise the Melbourne Rebels will face the Heineken Cup champions Leinster on their upcoming tour of the United Kingdom.

Leinster will take on fellow Heineken Cup finalists the Northampton Saints and the Australian Super Rugby franchise in Donnybrook as part of their pre-season campaign.

The visit of the Australian side who boast a string of Wallaby internationals on their roster including the likes of Sam Cordingley, Stirling Mortlock, England's Danny Cipriani as well as former Leinster second row Adam Byrnes will provide Leinster with a strong test before welcoming the Saints to Donnybrook a week later.

Commenting on the Irish province's pre-season plans, Leinster Coach Joe Schmidt said: "These two high-profile games, against top class opposition, will be very challenging which is ideal leading into the PRO12 campaign.

"Melbourne are a new franchise with high ambitions who boast a strong array of young and experienced talent. We know all about Northampton's many qualities from their performances both in their domestic league and in Europe last year and both sides will provide us with a real test as we look to integrate some of our new signings into the panel ahead of the start of the PRO12,” he added.

Notch wrote:I should correct myself; Munster and Connacht have three pre-season games which is the norm. Ulster and Leinster have just two, which is less than usual.

Notch wrote:Yeah, but it's a good game for them. Can you imagine the motivation for some of the Connacht lads who won't be involved in the RWC squad to play in front of the Irish management and against their direct competition?

Probably going to be a lot easier for Elwood to motivate them for that one than any other pre-season match going

Mickado wrote:What would you think of this as a potential Leinster team lads?

VDM – Strauss – McGrath/Hagan
Toner – Sykes
Murphy - Ruddock – Ryan
Boss – McKinley
Carr – O’Malley – Macken – Conway
D. Kearney

JHW – Hagan/McGrath – Shawe – Browne – ? – Du Toit – Madiga/Berquist – Nacewa

That’s assuming the following players are in the Ireland squad:

Healy, Cronin, Ross, Cullen, O’Brien, Heaslip, McLaughlin, Jennings, Reddan, Sexton, Fitzgerald, Horgan, BOD, Darcy, Kearney, McFadden. Who to cover the backrow though? Paul Ryan has retired with injury, maybe that Gilsenan lad from Clongowes?

red_stag wrote:01 Ah Yo
02 Reynecke
03 Maguire
04 Browne
05 McCarthy
06 Muldoon
07 O'Connor
08 Naoupu
09 O'Donoghue
10 Nikora
11 Vainikolo
12 Matthews
13 McCrea
14 Tuohy
15 O'Halloran

Taylorman wrote:Going by the comments on these boards it wouldnt go well if Leinster were to lose.

Most SH posters agreed Rebels would finish dead last, primarily because of it being a new franchise but also because it was influenced by NH players.

In saying that I would still expect the Rebels to win given the compettition they have had all year far outweighs anything Leinster have in stock.

Rebels played against every player currently in the national teams ranked 1,2 and 3 respectively. Leinster played against none.

Simple logic.

Taylorman wrote:Going by the comments on these boards it wouldnt go well if Leinster were to lose.

Most SH posters agreed Rebels would finish dead last, primarily because of it being a new franchise but also because it was influenced by NH players.

In saying that I would still expect the Rebels to win given the compettition they have had all year far outweighs anything Leinster have in stock.

Rebels played against every player currently in the national teams ranked 1,2 and 3 respectively. Leinster played against none.

Simple logic.

Taylorman wrote:Yeah thats right Biltong and its not in a tournament environment. I mean the Rebels might well be going for a NH tour cos half the team are homesick. What is the point of a tour at this point unless its to wind down and have some fun. Or perhaps its where theyll think theyll pick up some wins.