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Wednesday, 3 August 2011
Monday, 23 May 2011
Leinster 33-22 Northampton Saints
Finally getting around to writing my match report, my apologies for taking so long, but my nerves have not been in a good place for the last few days. I have (and so has every other Leinster fan!) been on an emotional rollercoaster!
What a final! What a comeback!
Northampton came straight out of the traps and got stuck into the men in blue, and nowhere was this more evident than in the scrum. Tonga'uiha had said in the days leading up to the match, that when the Saints scrum is dominant it transfers out to the rest of the squad. And it showed!
It seemed to show on the Leinster side too with uncharacteristic errors. Five big knock ons in the first half from players you just wouldn't expect it from, Nacewa, Heaslip, D'Arcy, Strauss and O'Driscoll.
Northamptons first try came from their powerful scrum when they went to the blindside and Calum Clark stepped inside and off-loaded to put Phil Dowson over.
Leinster were unlucky after a break from Horgan and an off-load to Strauss that was knocked on when Strauss had acres of space in front of him.
Horgan was at it again when he put Dowson on his rear and broke through the Northampton line. He passed to O'Brien who passed to O'Driscoll, and O'Driscoll raced to the line only to be thwarted by a very fine tackle from Ben Foden and a knock on.
Brian Mujati was sin binned for a pull back on Healy. Harsh, considering that Leinster were still inside their own half.
This didn't dampen Saints spirits though. New prop Tom Mercey came on and picked up where Mujati left off. They even won a scrum against the head! And from that scrum they ran at Leinster. Bashing up into the Leinster defence until the ball got to Foden and he side stepped O'Driscoll, of all people.
For their third try, they moved the ball from touchline to touchline until captain Dylan Hartley and his big boys forced themselves over the line for the try.
22-6 at half time. It was looking very ominous for the men from the capital at this stage.
Leinster came out in the second half, much like Northampton did in the first, like bats out of hell!
A great initial break from a ruck by O'Driscoll and Heaslip which brought Leinster up to the Northampton line. They banged away at the Saints defence until Sexton received the ball with big Soane Tonga'uiha standing in front of him, Sexton turned on the pace and beat him on the outside to go over.
D'Arcy was desparately unlucky not to get a try when he went over the line. Paul Diggin did exceptionally well to hold him up.
From the ensuing scrum the ball was moved to the far touchline and then eventually moved back to under the posts where Sexton dummied to dot down over the line.
For Leinsters third try it was a case of great running lines and utter commitment from the entire team for Hines to barge his way over to score.
There was still time for Northampton to get back into the game, but they looked deflated and almost disinterested at that stage.
Leinster went on to win and Sexton missed a penalty to break the record for highest individual point scorer in a final.
Something very drastic happened in the Leinster dressing room at half time. In the second half they became the Leinster we all know and love! We saw Healy barnstorming, Strauss roaming, Ross scrummaging, Cullen leading, Hines off loading, O'Brien destroying, Jennings rucking, Heaslip striding, Reddan sniping, Sexton unleashing, Fitzgerald hitting, D'Arcy stepping, O'Driscoll scything, Horgan claiming and Nacewa catching. It was brilliant!!
In my opinion Jennings had a significant part in this revival. When he plays, Leinster play better. O'Brien was getting on the ball a lot more because Jennings was doing the dirty work at the breakdown. Also the ruck ball was quicker.
Another place was the scrum. The front five came out and played like a completely different outfit! As a prop myself, I know when you're getting smashed in the scrum, you just want the game to end and you dread every blow of the refs whistle in fear of another humiliating defeat in what should be your bread and butter. So for Healy, Strauss and Ross to come out in the second half after taking such a physical and mental bashing and perform in the way that they did was truly remarkable!
The main catalyst for the revival was (Man of the Match) the magnificent Sexton! He grabbed this game by the scruff of the neck and refused to let his team lye down! I really hope he can replicate more performances like this in the world cup!
This was a truly great final with everthing that a rugby fan could ask for! And Romain Poite didn't interfere!!
Next stop for most of these players is the World Cup, we can only hope that that final can be even just a fraction as good as the one witnessed here!
What a final! What a comeback!
Northampton came straight out of the traps and got stuck into the men in blue, and nowhere was this more evident than in the scrum. Tonga'uiha had said in the days leading up to the match, that when the Saints scrum is dominant it transfers out to the rest of the squad. And it showed!
It seemed to show on the Leinster side too with uncharacteristic errors. Five big knock ons in the first half from players you just wouldn't expect it from, Nacewa, Heaslip, D'Arcy, Strauss and O'Driscoll.
Northamptons first try came from their powerful scrum when they went to the blindside and Calum Clark stepped inside and off-loaded to put Phil Dowson over.
Leinster were unlucky after a break from Horgan and an off-load to Strauss that was knocked on when Strauss had acres of space in front of him.
Horgan was at it again when he put Dowson on his rear and broke through the Northampton line. He passed to O'Brien who passed to O'Driscoll, and O'Driscoll raced to the line only to be thwarted by a very fine tackle from Ben Foden and a knock on.
Brian Mujati was sin binned for a pull back on Healy. Harsh, considering that Leinster were still inside their own half.
This didn't dampen Saints spirits though. New prop Tom Mercey came on and picked up where Mujati left off. They even won a scrum against the head! And from that scrum they ran at Leinster. Bashing up into the Leinster defence until the ball got to Foden and he side stepped O'Driscoll, of all people.
For their third try, they moved the ball from touchline to touchline until captain Dylan Hartley and his big boys forced themselves over the line for the try.
22-6 at half time. It was looking very ominous for the men from the capital at this stage.
Leinster came out in the second half, much like Northampton did in the first, like bats out of hell!
A great initial break from a ruck by O'Driscoll and Heaslip which brought Leinster up to the Northampton line. They banged away at the Saints defence until Sexton received the ball with big Soane Tonga'uiha standing in front of him, Sexton turned on the pace and beat him on the outside to go over.
D'Arcy was desparately unlucky not to get a try when he went over the line. Paul Diggin did exceptionally well to hold him up.
From the ensuing scrum the ball was moved to the far touchline and then eventually moved back to under the posts where Sexton dummied to dot down over the line.
For Leinsters third try it was a case of great running lines and utter commitment from the entire team for Hines to barge his way over to score.
There was still time for Northampton to get back into the game, but they looked deflated and almost disinterested at that stage.
Leinster went on to win and Sexton missed a penalty to break the record for highest individual point scorer in a final.
Something very drastic happened in the Leinster dressing room at half time. In the second half they became the Leinster we all know and love! We saw Healy barnstorming, Strauss roaming, Ross scrummaging, Cullen leading, Hines off loading, O'Brien destroying, Jennings rucking, Heaslip striding, Reddan sniping, Sexton unleashing, Fitzgerald hitting, D'Arcy stepping, O'Driscoll scything, Horgan claiming and Nacewa catching. It was brilliant!!
In my opinion Jennings had a significant part in this revival. When he plays, Leinster play better. O'Brien was getting on the ball a lot more because Jennings was doing the dirty work at the breakdown. Also the ruck ball was quicker.
Another place was the scrum. The front five came out and played like a completely different outfit! As a prop myself, I know when you're getting smashed in the scrum, you just want the game to end and you dread every blow of the refs whistle in fear of another humiliating defeat in what should be your bread and butter. So for Healy, Strauss and Ross to come out in the second half after taking such a physical and mental bashing and perform in the way that they did was truly remarkable!
The main catalyst for the revival was (Man of the Match) the magnificent Sexton! He grabbed this game by the scruff of the neck and refused to let his team lye down! I really hope he can replicate more performances like this in the world cup!
This was a truly great final with everthing that a rugby fan could ask for! And Romain Poite didn't interfere!!
Next stop for most of these players is the World Cup, we can only hope that that final can be even just a fraction as good as the one witnessed here!
Thursday, 19 May 2011
Heineken Cup Final Preview
Leinster vs. Northampton
I am getting stupidly excited about this game!
These are the two teams that deserve to be in the final, and what a final it has the potential to be.
Northampton have plenty of grunt up front and lethal finishers out wide. Leinster have plenty of grunt up front, but probably don't have the same calibre of lethal finishing out wide. What they do have is a far more unpredictable midfield.
James Downey is going to do what he does best, direct running and bashing it up the middle. He will feel that he has a point to prove to the Irish selectors in this game and no better time to try and prove a point than in a big final against the man whose shirt you're after.
Roger Wilson is another man out to prove his worth. While he's not as dynamic as Jamie Heaslip, he does offer a tough physical edge and robust ball carrying to his game (I personally would have him ahead of Denis Leamy).
Both Leinster and Northampton are capable of playing the game tight when they need to and throwing the ball around when the time is right. (Let's hope that the time is right a lot!!)
Now the scrum. Does Joe Schmidt go with Heinke Van der Merwe to try and nulify the big Northampton scrum? Van der Merwe is a better scrummager than Cian Healy but Healy is more mobile in the loose. Do you start Van der Merwe and then unleash Healy to cause some destruction with his ball carrying when Northampton are starting to tire? Or, do you start Healy and have him compete with Soane Tonga'uiha around the park?
Another selection issue is at scrum half. Do you go with Eoin Reddan for his snappier service or do you go with Isaac Boss for his extra physicality? Northampton have some huge ball carriers in the frames of Downey, Wilson, Courtney Laws, Dylan Hartley and the ultra destructive Tonga'uiha. With men like that in the opposition Boss' physicality could come in handy. On the other hand, do you want to get your backline, especially the midfield in this game, moving.
Whichever players Schmidt goes with, like a good friend of mine said: 'In Schmidt we trust!'
I think Leinster will come out on top in this game due to a better midfield and while Northampton have very big ball carriers up front I feel the Leinster pack are a bit more street wise.
COME ON LEINSTER!!!! Let the legacy continue!
I am getting stupidly excited about this game!
These are the two teams that deserve to be in the final, and what a final it has the potential to be.
Northampton have plenty of grunt up front and lethal finishers out wide. Leinster have plenty of grunt up front, but probably don't have the same calibre of lethal finishing out wide. What they do have is a far more unpredictable midfield.
James Downey is going to do what he does best, direct running and bashing it up the middle. He will feel that he has a point to prove to the Irish selectors in this game and no better time to try and prove a point than in a big final against the man whose shirt you're after.
Roger Wilson is another man out to prove his worth. While he's not as dynamic as Jamie Heaslip, he does offer a tough physical edge and robust ball carrying to his game (I personally would have him ahead of Denis Leamy).
Both Leinster and Northampton are capable of playing the game tight when they need to and throwing the ball around when the time is right. (Let's hope that the time is right a lot!!)
Now the scrum. Does Joe Schmidt go with Heinke Van der Merwe to try and nulify the big Northampton scrum? Van der Merwe is a better scrummager than Cian Healy but Healy is more mobile in the loose. Do you start Van der Merwe and then unleash Healy to cause some destruction with his ball carrying when Northampton are starting to tire? Or, do you start Healy and have him compete with Soane Tonga'uiha around the park?
Another selection issue is at scrum half. Do you go with Eoin Reddan for his snappier service or do you go with Isaac Boss for his extra physicality? Northampton have some huge ball carriers in the frames of Downey, Wilson, Courtney Laws, Dylan Hartley and the ultra destructive Tonga'uiha. With men like that in the opposition Boss' physicality could come in handy. On the other hand, do you want to get your backline, especially the midfield in this game, moving.
Whichever players Schmidt goes with, like a good friend of mine said: 'In Schmidt we trust!'
I think Leinster will come out on top in this game due to a better midfield and while Northampton have very big ball carriers up front I feel the Leinster pack are a bit more street wise.
COME ON LEINSTER!!!! Let the legacy continue!
Saturday, 30 April 2011
Leinster 32-23 Toulouse
WOW! How intense was that? An epic encounter where both sides turned up and fronted up.
It almost looked like the gods were against Leinster when a David Skrela penalty after just three minutes came off the post and bounced over Brian O'Driscoll's head for Florian Fritz to come charging in and put the ball down. Leinster did nothing wrong, it was just desperately unfortunate.
Toulouse made Leinster work really hard all over the pitch and didn't give Leinster an inch without Leinster really earning it. Toulouse were tenacious at the breakdown and forced Leinster to commit bodies.
Leinster came back with the forwards hammering up around the edges. Eventually Jamie Heaslip stretched for the score and just about got it down on the line.
In the second half Toulouse got a try close to the Leinster line and put on the squeeze. They wheeled it for scrum half Jean-Marc Doussain to bolt forward and off load to Louis Picamoles to dot it down.
The intensity continued and Cian Healy went charging up field breaking a couple of tackles that got the Leinster crowd and players pumped. Enter Heinke Van Der Merwe from the bench to replace Healy. He was obviously pumped after watching Healy's rampage. He went straight into the scrum and annihilated Census Johnston. The players and crowd got even more pumped! Turning point?
Leinster's second try was almost a carbon copy of their first. With the forwards flexing their muscles in the fringes and phase after phase. The opportunity nearly got away when Isaac Boss's pass didn't go to hand, but Jonny Sexton showed great commitment by catching the ball in contact. The ball made it's way to O'Driscoll who ran in from 2 metres. Not the best try he's ever scored, but he will be delighted with it none the less.
There was still plenty of time for a team of the quality of Toulouse to steal it at the death but Leinster held out and now march on to Cardiff.
This game was massively intense and physical throughout. Neither side was willing to take a backwards step. Leinster's forwards got some payback for last years semi final when Toulouse absolutely smashed them up front. They can be very proud of themselves, as can the rest of the squad. Massive effort put in by all!
My Man of the Match is Jamie Heaslip. He was excellent all game. He ran great lines and was a constant thorn in the Toulousian side.
Honourable mentions for Richardt Strauss and Gordon D'Arcy.
Next stop Cardiff!
It almost looked like the gods were against Leinster when a David Skrela penalty after just three minutes came off the post and bounced over Brian O'Driscoll's head for Florian Fritz to come charging in and put the ball down. Leinster did nothing wrong, it was just desperately unfortunate.
Toulouse made Leinster work really hard all over the pitch and didn't give Leinster an inch without Leinster really earning it. Toulouse were tenacious at the breakdown and forced Leinster to commit bodies.
Leinster came back with the forwards hammering up around the edges. Eventually Jamie Heaslip stretched for the score and just about got it down on the line.
In the second half Toulouse got a try close to the Leinster line and put on the squeeze. They wheeled it for scrum half Jean-Marc Doussain to bolt forward and off load to Louis Picamoles to dot it down.
The intensity continued and Cian Healy went charging up field breaking a couple of tackles that got the Leinster crowd and players pumped. Enter Heinke Van Der Merwe from the bench to replace Healy. He was obviously pumped after watching Healy's rampage. He went straight into the scrum and annihilated Census Johnston. The players and crowd got even more pumped! Turning point?
Leinster's second try was almost a carbon copy of their first. With the forwards flexing their muscles in the fringes and phase after phase. The opportunity nearly got away when Isaac Boss's pass didn't go to hand, but Jonny Sexton showed great commitment by catching the ball in contact. The ball made it's way to O'Driscoll who ran in from 2 metres. Not the best try he's ever scored, but he will be delighted with it none the less.
There was still plenty of time for a team of the quality of Toulouse to steal it at the death but Leinster held out and now march on to Cardiff.
This game was massively intense and physical throughout. Neither side was willing to take a backwards step. Leinster's forwards got some payback for last years semi final when Toulouse absolutely smashed them up front. They can be very proud of themselves, as can the rest of the squad. Massive effort put in by all!
My Man of the Match is Jamie Heaslip. He was excellent all game. He ran great lines and was a constant thorn in the Toulousian side.
Honourable mentions for Richardt Strauss and Gordon D'Arcy.
Next stop Cardiff!
Thursday, 28 April 2011
Leinster vs. Toulouse Preview
Toulouse. Just hearing the name makes you instantly think 'Kings of Europe'. It was a name that used to instill fear in me. Not anymore! I'm just getting more and more excited about the prospect of these two teams clashing in such a big game!
Anything Toulouse can do, Leinster can do and sometimes better!
Toulouse have always had big grunt up front and flair out wide and so do Leinster. But, Toulouse don't have the best ball carrier in Europe (if not the world) and the best player in the game for the past ten years! I'm sure you know who the two men are, if not, you can't seriously call yourself a rugby fan!
I really can not wait for this game! It has all the makings of a classic encounter. Two teams who play heads up rugby and who have the mindset to run/counter attack when the time is right.
Toulouse can sometimes be their own worst enemies. They seldom kick and sometimes they play the game with the attitude of that they don't mind the opposition scoring because they'll just score more. Leinster on the otherhand have a great kicker when it's needed and a wall like defence. I hope to see Toulouse turn up with their attitude and their chests pushed out and their chins held high, because if they do, this game will be epic in every sense of the word! And regardless of the winner, the game of rugby will gain even more fans!
The big dilemma for Leinster is who to play in the back row? Does Joe Schmidt go with the ultra physical combination of Jamie Heaslip, Sean O'Brien and Kevin McLaughlin or the ultra streetwise combination of Heaslip, O'Brien and Shane Jennings?
McLaughlin is hugely physical. He hits targets like a cannonball and hits rucks like a battering ram. His lineout work has developed hugely as was evident against Leicester when he had Tom Croft and others in his pocket for the day.
Jennings brings a totally different set of skills to the table. He is an out-and-out number seven. He is the ultimate link man in play and his work rate in and around the ruck is exceptional. You might lose a little in the lineout, but when have you ever heard of Toulouse having an intimidating lineout?
I would pick Jennings to start and when he tires I would bring in McLaughlin to up the physicality and smash a few tired Toulousian bodies!
Another thing Leinster need to do is get people running off O'Brien. Too often we see O'Brien breaking through defences and having no options but to go to ground and hope that his team mates can retain the ball. Luke Fitzgerald, Isa Nacewa and Shane Horgan need to be right on top of O'Brien whenever it looks like he's going to carry, if they do it will pay off with a lot of tries! I hate to say it, but if they watched some footage of Chris Ashton they could learn some things about the way to track the game breakers.
COME ON LEINSTER!!!!
ALLEZ LES BLEUS!!!!
Anything Toulouse can do, Leinster can do and sometimes better!
Toulouse have always had big grunt up front and flair out wide and so do Leinster. But, Toulouse don't have the best ball carrier in Europe (if not the world) and the best player in the game for the past ten years! I'm sure you know who the two men are, if not, you can't seriously call yourself a rugby fan!
I really can not wait for this game! It has all the makings of a classic encounter. Two teams who play heads up rugby and who have the mindset to run/counter attack when the time is right.
Toulouse can sometimes be their own worst enemies. They seldom kick and sometimes they play the game with the attitude of that they don't mind the opposition scoring because they'll just score more. Leinster on the otherhand have a great kicker when it's needed and a wall like defence. I hope to see Toulouse turn up with their attitude and their chests pushed out and their chins held high, because if they do, this game will be epic in every sense of the word! And regardless of the winner, the game of rugby will gain even more fans!
The big dilemma for Leinster is who to play in the back row? Does Joe Schmidt go with the ultra physical combination of Jamie Heaslip, Sean O'Brien and Kevin McLaughlin or the ultra streetwise combination of Heaslip, O'Brien and Shane Jennings?
McLaughlin is hugely physical. He hits targets like a cannonball and hits rucks like a battering ram. His lineout work has developed hugely as was evident against Leicester when he had Tom Croft and others in his pocket for the day.
Jennings brings a totally different set of skills to the table. He is an out-and-out number seven. He is the ultimate link man in play and his work rate in and around the ruck is exceptional. You might lose a little in the lineout, but when have you ever heard of Toulouse having an intimidating lineout?
I would pick Jennings to start and when he tires I would bring in McLaughlin to up the physicality and smash a few tired Toulousian bodies!
Another thing Leinster need to do is get people running off O'Brien. Too often we see O'Brien breaking through defences and having no options but to go to ground and hope that his team mates can retain the ball. Luke Fitzgerald, Isa Nacewa and Shane Horgan need to be right on top of O'Brien whenever it looks like he's going to carry, if they do it will pay off with a lot of tries! I hate to say it, but if they watched some footage of Chris Ashton they could learn some things about the way to track the game breakers.
COME ON LEINSTER!!!!
ALLEZ LES BLEUS!!!!
Saturday, 9 April 2011
Leinster 17-10 Leicester
Great game! Powerful performance!
It didn't start too fantastically for the men in blue with the Tigers bashing away at the gainline. But it would have been a big confidence builder for them with the Tigers barely making an inch. Richardt Strauss hit everything that moved that wasn't wearing blue!
Some great go forward from Mike Ross who rumbled forward with ball in hand (is there a more beautiful sight than that of a prop charging forward with the ball?). After that initial charge the team ran some great lines and offloaded well before Strauss offloaded to Luke Fitzgerald ,with the line at his mercy, who dropped the crucial pass. Frustrating and unlucky.
Leinster made a lot of line breaks and made a lot of ground but didn't convert some of it into points.
In the second half Leicester came out and put it up to Leinster again like at the start of the first half. This time though, they got the break, and Alessana Tuilagi smashed through Brian O'Driscoll to dive for the line. Sean O'Brien got across to force him into touch and save the day! Phew!
Cometh the hour, cometh the man. And I don't mean O'Driscoll. Isa Nacewa has been immense all season and he scored a magnificent individual try. He ran from just outside his own half ,after a Leicester clearance kick, and carrying the ball in both hands, he dummied and stepped his way to the Leicester try line. He turned half of the Tigers inside out in the process!
Leicester never know when they're beaten though, and kept attacking Leinster. Their persistence paid off when Rob Hawkins ran from deep and took the pass from Ben Youngs to get over the Leinster line.
That brought the gap to just 7 points and a few very uncomfortable minutes at the end.
Leinster held out, Leicester go out.
The Leinster pack were awesome today, especially the tight five. The scrum went well, the lineout went well and the ruck went well. Leinster were on top in every facet of play during this game and deserved the win in the end. Isa Nacewa was the standout player in the backline in a game that was decided by the big men up front.
Leinster have certainly banished the demons of Thomond from last week and can take an awful lot of positives from this performance.
My Man of the Match is Richardt Strauss. He defended superbly, carried supremly, offloaded expertly and did his donkey work brilliantly! Honourable mentions for the rest of the tight five and Isa Nacewa.
Now bring on the rest of them!
COME ON LEINSTER!!!!
It didn't start too fantastically for the men in blue with the Tigers bashing away at the gainline. But it would have been a big confidence builder for them with the Tigers barely making an inch. Richardt Strauss hit everything that moved that wasn't wearing blue!
Some great go forward from Mike Ross who rumbled forward with ball in hand (is there a more beautiful sight than that of a prop charging forward with the ball?). After that initial charge the team ran some great lines and offloaded well before Strauss offloaded to Luke Fitzgerald ,with the line at his mercy, who dropped the crucial pass. Frustrating and unlucky.
Leinster made a lot of line breaks and made a lot of ground but didn't convert some of it into points.
In the second half Leicester came out and put it up to Leinster again like at the start of the first half. This time though, they got the break, and Alessana Tuilagi smashed through Brian O'Driscoll to dive for the line. Sean O'Brien got across to force him into touch and save the day! Phew!
Cometh the hour, cometh the man. And I don't mean O'Driscoll. Isa Nacewa has been immense all season and he scored a magnificent individual try. He ran from just outside his own half ,after a Leicester clearance kick, and carrying the ball in both hands, he dummied and stepped his way to the Leicester try line. He turned half of the Tigers inside out in the process!
Leicester never know when they're beaten though, and kept attacking Leinster. Their persistence paid off when Rob Hawkins ran from deep and took the pass from Ben Youngs to get over the Leinster line.
That brought the gap to just 7 points and a few very uncomfortable minutes at the end.
Leinster held out, Leicester go out.
The Leinster pack were awesome today, especially the tight five. The scrum went well, the lineout went well and the ruck went well. Leinster were on top in every facet of play during this game and deserved the win in the end. Isa Nacewa was the standout player in the backline in a game that was decided by the big men up front.
Leinster have certainly banished the demons of Thomond from last week and can take an awful lot of positives from this performance.
My Man of the Match is Richardt Strauss. He defended superbly, carried supremly, offloaded expertly and did his donkey work brilliantly! Honourable mentions for the rest of the tight five and Isa Nacewa.
Now bring on the rest of them!
COME ON LEINSTER!!!!
Friday, 8 April 2011
Leinster vs. Leicester Preview
Here we are, the knockout stages of the Heineken Cup, and Leinster are set to play against the one team that I really wanted them to avoid. Leicester Tigers.
One reason that I wanted Leinster to avoid them is because Leicester travel well. They've had two games away from home in a row and won both. In one of the games they inflicted Bath's worst ever home defeat.
Another reason is that even if they play badly they're so big and powerful that they can just beat the crap out of you and hold on to the ball and squeeze out a victory. If this happens, Shane Jennings is a massive loss. As a supreme pilferer he could have had a go at stopping them. Let's hope that it doesn't come down to that.
Nathan Hines is going to have to be at his irritating best at ruck time to keep Leicester busy and hopfully suck in some of their big runners to the breakdown.
Leo Cullen's knowledge of the enemy camp could be priceless. He played under Richard Cockerill for a couple of years so he know's him quite well.
Manu Tuilagi is talked about in a big way with his big hits and powerful runs. But, he is also a bonus for Leinster. Tuilagi can get caught up in shooting up and trying to smash people and leaving a big gap in the defensive line behind him, and the best man to exploit that is the man directly opposite him. Brian O'Driscoll. I'm sure O'Driscoll has been watching videos and has thought about ways to take advantage of it.
For Leinster to come out on top they have to stop Leicester's big power runners from gaining ground and getting the team on the front foot. Also, Eoin Reddan has to keep Ben Youngs in his pocket and not let him get his strut going.
This will probably be a very tight one with the winning margin being only a couple of points. I know that Leinster are more than capable of pulling it off and I really hope that they do!
COME ON LEINSTER!!!!
One reason that I wanted Leinster to avoid them is because Leicester travel well. They've had two games away from home in a row and won both. In one of the games they inflicted Bath's worst ever home defeat.
Another reason is that even if they play badly they're so big and powerful that they can just beat the crap out of you and hold on to the ball and squeeze out a victory. If this happens, Shane Jennings is a massive loss. As a supreme pilferer he could have had a go at stopping them. Let's hope that it doesn't come down to that.
Nathan Hines is going to have to be at his irritating best at ruck time to keep Leicester busy and hopfully suck in some of their big runners to the breakdown.
Leo Cullen's knowledge of the enemy camp could be priceless. He played under Richard Cockerill for a couple of years so he know's him quite well.
Manu Tuilagi is talked about in a big way with his big hits and powerful runs. But, he is also a bonus for Leinster. Tuilagi can get caught up in shooting up and trying to smash people and leaving a big gap in the defensive line behind him, and the best man to exploit that is the man directly opposite him. Brian O'Driscoll. I'm sure O'Driscoll has been watching videos and has thought about ways to take advantage of it.
For Leinster to come out on top they have to stop Leicester's big power runners from gaining ground and getting the team on the front foot. Also, Eoin Reddan has to keep Ben Youngs in his pocket and not let him get his strut going.
This will probably be a very tight one with the winning margin being only a couple of points. I know that Leinster are more than capable of pulling it off and I really hope that they do!
COME ON LEINSTER!!!!
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