Investec Champions Cup 23/24 - Rd 2

[Leonormous Boozer]

it wont be Sam.

Ciarans chance.

Probably but it shouldn't be. Frawley is what he is and it's not a starting 10. He started the season as 4th choice 10 and I don't think he's done enough to deserve this over Prendergast who has played well too.

A big kick, yes, but he's ran two really disjointed performances against Munster and the 2nd half v LAR.

Harsh yeah but there's huge depth and potential at 10 rn and I don't think Frawley is in the picture beyond the quirks that the transition period and injuries are bringing up at the moment.

 

[munstermuffin]

Probably but it shouldn't be. Frawley is what he is and it's not a starting 10. He started the season as 4th choice 10 and I don't think he's done enough to deserve this over Prendergast who has played well too.

A big kick, yes, but he's ran two really disjointed performances against Munster and the 2nd half v LAR.

Harsh yeah but there's huge depth and potential at 10 rn and I don't think Frawley is in the picture beyond the quirks that the transition period and injuries are bringing up at the moment.

A massive fan of Frawley but agree with that. He is a talented utility player suited to 22.
And not to take alot away from Leinster last week but La Rochelle are not anywhere near being decent this season . And that kind of overhyped the Frawley performance. But I always said 10 is a specialist role. If they do want Frawley there his game time would want to be invested there

 

[BakkiesBokke]

I'd usually back us at home against just about any side but our form and selections have been a bit off of late. Probably we need La Rochelle sending a 2nd team. But I expect they value the tournament too much and we will also be going all in here so likely to see a lineup of

1 Harris / Gqoboca
2 Dweba / Venter
3 Malherbe / Fouche
4 Van Heerden / Stassen
5 Porter / Smith
6 Fourie
7 Dayimani / Theunissen
8 Roos
9 De Wet / Jantijes
10 Libbok / Blommetjies with a 6-2
11 Zas
12 Willemse
13 Nel
14 Loader
15 Gelant

I've got my tickets. Can't wait. It looks like quite cool weather. Under 25 celcius probably. I'm sure coming from winter, playing in SA on a hot day would be a factor for the Europeans. I reckon a very tough encounter for us despite home advantage.

 

[munstermuffin]

Peter O'Mahony looking less likely for us. Failed his fitness test for markers this morning.

 

[Groundhog]

Peter O'Mahony looking less likely for us. Failed his fitness test for markers this morning.

Ooph not great. Any word on Frisch? Didn't see him in any training pictures.

 

[die_mole]

Is Dan biggar injured or scared? No one knows.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Anyone venturing to Sandy Park this weekend should be very wary of the the travelling fans. They're happy to assault opposition fans and players alike. Of particular concern is the below individual who, as the most intelligent of the cohort, tends to be the ringleader and is happy to incite violence.

 

[West Country Wail]

Just be careful coming to
Sandy Park even if you're on holiday

 

[Groundhog]

Anyone venturing to Sandy Park this weekend should be very wary of the the travelling fans. They're happy to assault opposition fans and players alike. Of particular concern is the below individual who, as the most intelligent of the cohort, tends to be the ringleader and is happy to incite violence.

View attachment 18560

Anyone travelling from Manchester need not look out for this man. He will be making zero noise, not watching the match and be there exclusively to drink 7 euro pints with his mates from the Castle Golf Club. He will break down crying if you mention Johnny Sextons retirement though.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Anyone travelling from Manchester need not look out for this man. He will be making zero noise, not watching the match and be there exclusively to drink 7 euro pints with his mates from the Castle Golf Club. He will break down crying if you mention Johnny Sextons retirement though.

View attachment 18562

This isn't as effective as mine because mine was based in fact and this one is genuinely true. (€6.50 for a Guinness though, bargain town)

 

[munstermuffin]

Ooph not great. Any word on Frisch? Didn't see him in any training pictures.

Tony Fresh is fine. He is fit and has trained.

 

[Groundhog]

Tony Fresh is fine. He is fit and has trained.

Class, he is badly needed. He's become one of our most important players now on the ball and off it.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Definite rotation but I still like it - bit concerned about the lack of breakdown threat, and how green the frontrow is

Would've liked us to go properly all out but can understand the choice not to, especially with the short turn around

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Would have preferred Sam but Frawley deserves a shot after two big moments in as many weeks. Clearly a team picked in response the fatigue from last week's clash.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

View attachment 18567

Would have preferred Sam but Frawley deserves a shot after two big moments in as many weeks. Clearly a team picked in response the fatigue from last week's clash.

Compared to some of the lovely previous Leinster shirts, that's horrid.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Compared to some of the lovely previous Leinster shirts, that's horrid.

Won't be touching any Castore gear any time soon (I don't buy jerseys anymore but like training gear for gym or the sweatshirts), it all looks bad and poor reviews re quality.

 

[Which Tyler]

Saturday evening
Ref: Sam Grove-White (SRU)
TJs: Ru Campbell (SRU) & Rob McDowell (SRU)
TMO: Holly Davison (SRU)

Cardiff:
1 Corey Domachowski
2 Liam Belcher (capt)
3 Keiron Assiratti
4 Rory Thornton
5 Teddy Williams
6 Alex Mann
7 Lucas de la Rua
8 Mackenzie Martin.

09 Tomos Williams
10 Tinus de Beer
11 Mason Grady
12 Ben Thomas
13 Rey Lee-Lo
14 Josh Adams
15 Cam Winnett

16 Evan Lloyd, 17 Rhys Carre, 18 Rhys Litterick, 19 Josh Turnbull, 20 Alun Lawrence
21 Ellis Bevan, 22 Willis Halaholo, 23 Gabriel Hamer-Webb.

Bath:
1 Beno Obano
2 Tom Dunn
3 Thomas du Toit
4 Josh McNally
5 Charlie Ewels
6 Miles Reid
7 Chris Cloete
8 Alfie Barbeary

09 Ben Spencer
10 Finn Russell
11 Will Muir
12 Cameron Redpath
13 Ollie Lawrence
14 Joe Cokanasiga
15 Tom de Glanville

16 Hame Faiva, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Will Stuart, 19 Quinn Roux, 20 Elliott Stooke, 23 Jaco Coetzee
21 Louis Schreuder, 22 Orlando Bailey

 

[Groundhog]

It's a pretty resounding meh. Assuming they actually line out as named why not put Coombes at 8, Ahern in the row and O'Donoghue at 6. Whatever about form Coombes isn't a Second row.

Back three does look way better and Jager will be handy off the bench, although Archer is blessed to be in the 23. Thank god Barron is back and our centres are what I wanted to see.

 

[Rinkadink]

Bordeaux Begles v Bristol Bears

Referee: Frank Murphy
ARs: Pete Martin & Padraig Reidy
TMO: Olly Hodges

Bordeaux Begles: 15. Romain Buros, 14. Damian Penaud, 13. Yoram Moefana, 12. Ben Tapuai, 11. Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10. Matthieu Jalibert, 9. Maxime Lucu, 1. Jefferson Poirot, 2. Maxime Lamothe, 3. Carlü Sadie, 4. Guido Petti, 5. Thomas Jolmes, 6. Bastien Vergnes, 7. Mahamadou Diaby, 8. Pete Samu

Replacements: 16. Clément Maynadier, 17. Ugo Boniface, 18. Sipili Falatea, 19. Kane Douglas, 20. Marko Gazzotti, 21. Antoine Miquel, 22. Théo Nanette, 23. Pablo Uberti

Bristol Bears: 15. Rich Lane (27 apps), 14. Noah Heward (10 apps), 13. Piers O'Conor (128 apps), 12. James Williams (28 apps), 11. Kalaveti Ravouvou (3 apps), 10. Sam Worsley (5 apps), 9. Sam Wolstenholme (3 apps); 1. Max Lahiff (74 apps), 2. Gabriel Oghre (5 apps), 3. George Kloska (38 apps), 4. Ed Holmes (100 apps), 5. Josh Caulfield (13 apps), 6. Joe Owen (5 apps), 7. Jake Heenan (c) (101 apps), 8. Magnus Bradbury (31 apps).

System players: 16. Will Capon (80 apps), 17. Sam Grahamslaw (3 apps), 18. Steven Longwell (debut), 19. James Dun (24 apps), 20. Paddy Pearce (4 apps), 21. Oscar Lennon (8 apps), 22. Joe Jenkins (10 apps), 22. Jack Bates (35 apps).

....

Normally I'd say this fixture would be exciting to the neutral but with the huge rotation in that Bristol side we'll be lucky to get a point versus Bordeaux's strongest. Given that Bristol got a 5 pointer last week v Lyon and Newcastle away in 6 days time, I can see the need for heavy rotation with no pressure. Should be a great experience for many academy lads coming through and knock the rust off some others, plus fans get to see who can step up, but for neutral I'm not sure it will be the most entertaining. Weather is good though and Bristol 2nd XVs have a history of causing upsets in Europe so who knows.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Saints looking on top against Toulon. Toulon might simply muscle their way to victory in the second half but Saints are looking much more slick. They may rue the 2 missed conversions.