Leinster v Ulster: Heineken Cup Quarter Final

Have a feeling it will be a case of Ulster team destroyed by injuries battling heroically and loosing late by a few points. Nowhere near the handicap on Paddy Power

 

I'd say Ulster will be within a score for most of it without ever really looking like causing an upset before Leinster pull away a bit at the end.

Henderson's fitness is crucial, I think there's too much of a gap between the respective tight fives without him.

 

Sexton rumoured to be crocked, Rob K and Jack McGrath rumoured to be fit but cut from 23, James Lowe again to enjoy a holiday season and miss out. Leavy kept on bench.

I still fancy Leinster but well Ulster hang in there and it could be a fun last 10

 

Rumoured Leinster team:
Larmour, A Byrne, Ringrose, O'Loughlin, D Kearney, R Byrne, JGP; Healy, Cronin, Furlong, Ryan, Fardy, Ruddock, O'Brien, Conan

 

Strengthened in ways and weakened in others.
Interestingly I believe Ross Byrne is a huge positive for Leinster.

 

Leinster Rugby (caps in brackets):

15. Jordan Larmour (33)
14. Adam Byrne (50)
13. Garry Ringrose (60)
12. Rory O’Loughlin (58)
11. Dave Kearney (132)
10. Ross Byrne (65)
9. Luke McGrath (107)
1. Cian Healy (202)
2. Seán Cronin (167)
3. Tadhg Furlong (96)
4. Scott Fardy (38)
5. James Ryan (26)
6. Rhys Ruddock (157) CAPTAIN
7. Seán O’Brien (122)
8. Jack Conan (84)

16. James Tracy (87)
17. Ed Byrne (39)
18. Andrew Porter (49)
19. Mick Kearney (49)
20. Dan Leavy (62)
21. Jamison Gibson-Park (68)
22. Noel Reid (118)
23. Rob Kearney (205)

Ulster team and replacements to play Leinster, Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final, Aviva Stadium, Saturday 30th March (5.45pm):
(15-9): M Lowry; R Baloucoune, D Cave, S McCloskey, J Stockdale; B Burns, J Cooney;
(1-8): E O’Sullivan, R Best (captain), M Moore, I Henderson, K Treadwell, N Timoney, J Murphy, M Coetzee;
Replacements (16-23): R Herring, A Warwick, W Herbst, A O’Connor, S Reidy, D Shanahan, L Marshall, A Kernohan.

 

Not the best team Leinster have ever named to be honest. I still think it'll be enough but I'm not as confident as I was.

 

Alles les Blues.

 

Allez*

Heading in to this, of course the weather turns to shite!

 

Very lucky there.

 

What an idiot

 

Conan is such a beast, great support from Byrne as well.

 

Gutted for Leavy, can't seem to catch a break.

 

This game is superb, awful shame with this injury. Sounds very unpleasant.

Get well soon Leavy.

 

Cracking match! Ulster playing great rugby.

 

Incredible by Ross Byrne to make that.

 

His legs gonna snap off like that Simpson's episode

 

Over 40 phases to kill 5 minutes, absolutely ridiculous.

 

Excellent game

 

Yep very good game to watch as a neutral