Connacht v. Leinster - Saturday 29th September at 515 PM

What a load of crap from Healy and luke Fitzgerald on about disrespect from Mul and how Leinster have a hatred tiwards Connacht.
Both would want to get over themselves its not that long ago a young Sexton was standing over ROG goading him now that was disrespect.

Well we've always felt quite a bit of antipathy towards them for all their resources etc.
But if they are starting to feel hatred towards us, then they must finally be seeing us as a threat. More of the same please!

Despite the unguarded response to an unexpected & nonsensical question by Mensa's Cian Healy, and the best efforts of Ross O'Carroll-Kelly tribute act Luke Fitzgerald to talk up this fixture, I'm finding it hard to see any other scenario than Leinster resting pretty much everyone and sending down a seconds team. Hopefully we'll see Fardy & Tomane though.

Any of the really big names who started against Edinburgh definitely won't start against us, as picking them would commit them to a minimum 5 starts on the trot (Henshaw's played the last three so that would mean eight on the trot). Those who didn't start against Edinburgh probably won't start against us, as that would mean 4 starts in a row.

Leinster have one league win against us in the Sportsground before the first tranche European games, in 2006. Admittedly that's a tiny sample size (about half a dozen games) but you get the feeling they have much bigger fish to fry, and if we play to anything close to the standard we did last week we should put them away.

Couldn't agree more Overstrander. Bring on the hatred. At least that presupposes respect.
I would take very little credence of what wee Luke has to say. He's never been the brightest which I guess is exemplified by him depending for his profile (and income) these days on a sponsored podcast. This was the guy if we remeember during his career was wont to pull out of games suffering from nothing more than a broken nail!

overstrander wrote: Well we've always felt quite a bit of antipathy towards them for all their resources etc.
But if they are starting to feel hatred towards us, then they must finally be seeing us as a threat. More of the same please!

Couldn't agree more. I've always hated the term "Everybody's second favorite team" often applied to Connacht. It's like you neighbors cute little puppy who wags his tail, does what he's told and loves when you pet him and tell him what a good boy he is. Leinster now have to deal with the fact that Connacht is now a fully grown Rottweiler. Fine if respected and left alone, but set foot in our garden and you'll probably be counting you vital parts on the way to A&E if your lucky.

salmson wrote: Despite the unguarded response to an unexpected & nonsensical question by Mensa's Cian Healy, and the best efforts of Ross O'Carroll-Kelly tribute act Luke Fitzgerald to talk up this fixture, I'm finding it hard to see any other scenario than Leinster resting pretty much everyone and sending down a seconds team. Hopefully we'll see Fardy & Tomane though.

Any of the really big names who started against Edinburgh definitely won't start against us, as picking them would commit them to a minimum 5 starts on the trot (Henshaw's played the last three so that would mean eight on the trot). Those who didn't start against Edinburgh probably won't start against us, as that would mean 4 starts in a row.

Leinster have one league win against us in the Sportsground before the first tranche European games, in 2006. Admittedly that's a tiny sample size (about half a dozen games) but you get the feeling they have much bigger fish to fry, and if we play to anything close to the standard we did last week we should put them away.

Cullen won't get drawn into the big rivalry hype as some people in the media have pushed this week. as much as I'd like to see aki v henshaw matchup the stats as you say point towards many of the big names being rested. Rob Kearney may get a start which considering the pace we have in the back three we can put him under a lot pressure

15. Rob Kearney (198)
14. Jordan Larmour (25)
13. Garry Ringrose (52)
12. Joe Tomane (4)
11. James Lowe (15)
10. Johnny Sexton (150) CAPTAIN
9. Luke McGrath (98)
1. Cian Healy (193)
2. Seán Cronin (156)
3. Tadhg Furlong (87)
4. Devin Toner (220)
5. Scott Fardy (24)
6. Rhys Ruddock (144)
7. Josh van der Flier (62)
8. Jack Conan (77)

16. James Tracy (69)
17. Ed Byrne (25)
18. Andrew Porter (33)
19. Ross Molony (66)
20. Seán O’Brien (116)
21. Nick McCarthy (28)
22. Ross Byrne (52)
23. Rory O’Loughlin (44)

How wrong was I? Henshaw the only first XV guy missing (you could debate lock and 7 but he's the only unquestioned starter left out). First appearance at the Sportsground for Sexton in 8 years.

(15-9) Tiernan O’Halloran, Cian Kelleher, Tom Farrell, Bundee Aki, Matt Healy, Jack Carty, Kieran Marmion, (1-8)Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan (C), Finlay Bealham, Ultan Dillane, Quinn Roux, Sean O’Brien, Colby Fainga’a, Robin Copeland.

Replacements (16-23): Tom McCartney, Peter McCabe, Dominic Robertson-McCoy, James Cannon, Paul Boyle, Caolin Blade, Craig Ronaldson, Niyi Adeolokun.

2 Tickets Bothar Mór End. €20 Each.

You might consider Leinster's team selection as a show of respect or you might consider it as an opportunity for Connacht to relive 2016. In my view Connacht is up for this. Indeed it's been many years since Leinster came to our ground with the likes of the team they have announced. So it's happy times in every way for Connacht. They won't lose if they lose. And if they win. Well....