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I agree with Feic, as I would not like to see Toner start. It's not just the lineout, his hands are superb too and my real fear is for when Leinster start to get their offloading game going. That is where they'll kill us.
I also think Cronin's throwing has improved a lot and wouldn't be utterly surprised if he got the nod, as I'm going to guess he's a stronger scrummager than Strauss.
Charteris is shorter also O'Connell at the moment is an excellent target to have though Toner should be the one to take over if he keeps this season's form up.Originally Posted by Squeals
Yeah Cronin's improved a lot at throwing seems to be slipping a bit recently though. His scrummaging prowess has been mentioned by Feek in interviews before.
Last edited by big ginger 8; 30-04-12 at 08:53 AM.
"But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you walk on my dreams."
-William Butler Yeats
Most pretentious signature 2013
Depends which Ulster show up. If they defend like they did against Munster, it'll be a long day for the boys in blue, if they defend like they did in the first half against Edinburgh, we could be okay.
I'm hoping to have to defend like neither. We can't go through that number of tackles and win for a third time in a row. It just seems impossible. I would like us to keep the ball and play in the opposition half for more than ten minutes of the match for once.
Although, yes, the defensive display against Embra wasn't all that - although really, both came down to skin of the teeth stopping them at the five metre line FAR, FAR too often in both games.
BG8 - Figured as much. Considering Best's reputation as a scrummaging hooker, Ulster's propensity for going on the attack here, and Ruan Pienaar's ability to establish a 60m threat zone, I'd have considered the scrum more important than the lineout. I'd say the Ulster and Leinster scrums are fairly well matched, but all it takes is the ref suddenly agreeing with us, or a good day for us, and you're 9 points down aggregate over the course of the match. There's not much in it, but I'd start Cronin.
Stay the **** away from the fanzones. The last one in Cardiff had one bar with about 6 taps for the 1000's who turned up. The fanzone itself just turned into a massive queue for the bar.
As Schmidt said after the Clermont game, it'll be a challenge to get the teams head right for this game.
Ulster havent beaten Leinster in quite a long time, there is a reason for that.
When's the last time Ulster sent out a full team against us in fairness? Now I'd agree with you that we have a black mark over them, but it'd be silly to underestimate them. They've beaten Tigers, Clermont and Munster this year - they're obviously a top side.
Ulster are a very good side but I can't see Leinster being complacent. Leinster were heavy favourites in the final last season too but Northampton ripped them a new one in the first half. Leaving that sort of a mountain to climb will have stuck in the memory.
They werent far off a full team a few weeks ago. Aside form injuries and suspensions, I dont think they rested that many players. They really wanted to win it, and were well short against a Leinster team that didnt even ask Darce and Nacewa to travel.
Dont get me wrong, I rate Ulster very highly, they remind me of us a few years ago when we ambushed Munster in Croke park. They have an excellent spine and some real match winners. However:
1. We are used to winning against them, they are used to losing to us. Mentally that is hard to overcome.
2. They have no bench, we have serious strength in depth.
3. I just dont believe that THEY really think they can win it themselves. They will go all out for it of course, but during the match, when the game goes against them I dont think they are strong enough to turn it around.
We were without Best, Tuohy and Ferris, all of whom could have played. Throw in Afoa being suspended and we were missing half of the first choice pack. We were no where near full strength that day, and given that we could have been, I'd question how much we were really bothered. The Rabble Pro was a very long shot by then. The Jackson/Humphreys decision was very ballsy that day as well.
So I don't think that'll be playing on Ulster minds. We've shattered, or came close to shattering a few big milestones this season already. I've been very impressed by the self-belief of Ulster this season.
The superior depth thing is a sodding big issue though. As is the fact Leinster are better coached. On paper, I'd say the teams are fairly even... on grass, not so much.
Nah, I'd say Leinster have the better first 15 on paper... but not so much better that our first 15 couldn't do them on an off-day.
However, the strength of the bench is completely different, they have the depth to really change the game and up the ante in the second half if they need to.
If Leinster play to anything like their potential, I simply cannot see us winning. However if they have a bad day and their bench cannot overly influence the game... we can definitely win.
I'll travel in hope rather than expectation - even if we don't win, if you'd gave me the HEC final before the start of the year, including hammering Leicester and beating Munster away, I'd have bit your arm off!
I think we have a superior front five (not by much), back-row and half-backs very difficult to call, disadvantage in the centres and back-three (again not by much). I reckon a combined best of both team would look like this:
Healy, Best, Afoa
Thorn, Muller
Ferris, Heaslip, O'Brien
Pienaar, Sexton
Trimble, Wallace, O'Driscoll, Nacewa,
Kearney
8 Leinstermen, 7 Ulstermen
It's definitely hope rather than expectation, but I equally think the potential is there. The pack are going to need the greatest damn game of their lives though.
I dont think many of us would doubt that. The potential is definately there. I meant it as a compliment when I said that you guys remind me of where Leinster were four or five years ago, just before we ambushed the turnips munchers, and started to win trophies.
You are building something very special up there and with Jackson coming on (very impressed with him), Wilson coming home, and Payne to return to fitness you are only going to get stronger. I think you'll be looking to be the number one team in Ireland but I'd say you are still about two years away from having the strength and belief to do it.
More than good enough to win this final, but it would be a huge surprise.
But when you factor in the coach and the bench it kinda heads off in one direction.
It'll be won or lost in the last 30 minutes or so.
[QUOTE=Peat;499051]I think we have a superior front five (not by much), back-row and half-backs very difficult to call, disadvantage in the centres and back-three (again not by much). I reckon a combined best of both team would look like this:
Healy, Best, Afoa
Thorn, Muller
Ferris, Heaslip, O'Brien
Pienaar, Sexton
Trimble, Wallace, O'Driscoll, Nacewa,
Kearney
8 Leinstermen, 7 Ulstermen
It's definitely hope rather than expectation, but I equally think the potential is there. The pack are going to need the greatest damn game of their lives though.[/QUOTE
Fitz instead Trimble, makes up way more ground
Charteris is 6' 9"', Toner 6' 6/6 7. O'Connell at the mo is giving it the beans but three seasons from now will he be??
But lads i cant say enough about D Ryan, he's going to be a massive player in the coming years, he has everything
Wikipedia (dodgy source I know) and the Leinster Rugby site have Toner at 6'10'' and the Six Nations site has him as 6'9'', so at the very least he's the same height as Charteris.
I'd like to think O'Connell could still be around and in form in three years. Maybe he could do a Brad Thorn on it? Though in fairness he does seem like a bit of a freak in that regard, but it's a possibility at least.
Donncha Ryan is an excellent player and should definitely be in Ireland's starting 15, but I'm not sure how much he can improve on where he is, given that he's 28. Dan Tuohy, although only two years younger, would probably have more scope to develop as a player.
Toner is 6'10 ?
ss
Toner is 6'10"
Devin Toner 6'7"Look at him! Look at his gangly stick body towering over Leo Cullen and everyone else. Srsly, 6'10". If they're lying about his height they've revising it downwards.
Log - I can't argue with any of that, save that I do think the belief is there. Just not the strength. Seriously not the strength. The coaching and bench thing is... well, yeah.
As a rule I ignore height/weight stats from teams. Numerous sources put Dafydd Jones at 6'6" when he isn't a shade over 6'3".
Chart is right about 6'9", no clue about Toner.
Toner is definitely 6'10" I have it from the horses mouth It's pretty obvious anyway he's a head taller than Cullen who's 6'6" according to every single source I've seen.
"But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you walk on my dreams."
-William Butler Yeats
Most pretentious signature 2013
I'm going to tell Dev to try to stand beside some taller people in the line up;
As an aside, I remember seeing Shane, Adam, and Luke lined up for the anthems a few years back. Couldn't see all of Luke's head or Shane's chin.
I am 6'6", and you can trust me
I am 5'10...**** yeah.
ss
I also weight 260 and run 100m in 9.9s.
Would I lie to the internet?
No you wouldn't ...
ss
Why aren't you on the 7's team then? We could do with having '95 Jonah Lomu.
I've got more hair.Why aren't you on the 7's team then? We could do with having '95 Jonah Lomu.
We can shave it off.
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