Amlin Final- Leinster v Stade Francais

First topic message reminder :

Right all,

So Leinster get another shot at the double (albeit the downgraded double).

Stade come to Dublin to kick off a predominant French weekend (interesting now how France came last in the 6N eh?). Stade come to Dublin off the back of a very bad loss to Biarritz (52-17) and currently lie in 10th place of the French Top 14 league, that being said they do boast quite a few top drawer players in Pape, Parisse, Dupuy, Warwick and Sackey. On top of that they have ex-Leinster players Contempomi and Stan Wright as part of their overall squad.

On the other side of the halfway line we have Leinster. Leinster have won 15 of their last 16 games in all competitions, they along with Clermont and Toulon are the only team playing for a European and domestic double, this is Leinster 3rd European final in 3 years. They boast the familiar names of Healy, Sexton, Kearney, Heaslip, O'Brien and Nacewa not to mention some chap called O'Driscoll. Working against Leinster is the 6 day turn around. There last number of games have been tough; Darcy has been ruled out with a torn calf, BOD and Strauss both went off early against Glasgow. Coach Joe Schmidt has said that realistically the lads are only going to get to train on Wednesday and Thursday (possibly Tuesday) such was the physicallity of the Glasgow test and indeed the Ospreys and Biarritz ones before it.

I don't know the number of Stade fans who will make it to the game but there are 2 other French teams in town and I imagine they will be supporting the "visitors", the Dublin and Leinster faithful will descent on their D4tress and lend their weight to the team which have got to be running on empty.

Use this thread to discuss possible teams, injury updates, team announcements, verdicts, tactical analysis and whatever else.

I'm heading to the game if anyone fancies a few pints before/during/after???

Believe

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

rodders wrote:

Golden wrote:
I certainly wouldn't have thought he was one of the best 5 players in Europe this year.

I wouldn't have thought he was in the best 5 in D4!

Lets Sean O'Brien do all the showy ball carrying, just for the good of the team. Get's stuck into being the highest tackler and hitting all the rucks....

And this is the thanks he gets? FFS lads. He's had a great season. Fofana will get it though

Wow how terribly unselfish! When I used to play I used to let my teammates score all the tries too .....

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

rodders wrote:

Golden wrote:
I certainly wouldn't have thought he was one of the best 5 players in Europe this year.

I wouldn't have thought he was in the best 5 in D4!

Lets Sean O'Brien do all the showy ball carrying, just for the good of the team. Get's stuck into being the highest tackler and hitting all the rucks....
And this is the thanks he gets? FFS lads. He's had a great season. Fofana will get it though

I thought that WAS O'Brien doing all that. His tackle stats are usually the highest. Heaslip had his two best games recently when O'Brien wasn't available as he took on a lot of the carrying, but he seemed to have a higher workrate in general. He should be playing like this alongside O'Brien anyway.

Good luck Leinster. Hopefully Gibson, Micky T, Kado, Hughie (unless he is an Ulster fan now?) and all end up as happy as the last two years finals.

Lovely weather for it too.

Anyone got a link to game please? Desperate....

The BBC have just announced that Heaslip deserves his nomination.

It must be true then guys so let's move on.

Good luck chaps!

I don't know, Rodders. If it was a home game I'd be a little more at ease. But playing in Ulster's home ground will make things a little more edgy.

Madigan try.

Great start, hopefully Stad pack up and give us an easy game

Sexton looked slow then! Lazy....

Excellent start for Leinster

Nice try. Shecksy rugby as Gibbo would say

Nigel is going to have to look at the scrums, as somebody is standing up. Twice that's happened now.

McGrath getting a bit of a lesson so far in the scrums.

Cracking defence by Leinster fair play to them.

Williams was so close to scoring there

What a try saver by Sean O'Brien. Terrific!

asoreleftshoulder wrote:McGrath getting a bit of a lesson so far in the scrums.

What is wrong with Healey ?

Hes been rested.

Conway needed to hit him harder there

Did I just see Sexton limping and feeling his groin then ?

parrise gets through twice the work of any other forward

Stade putting in some good phases, exciting rugby but Leinster are deadly on turnovers

Golden wrote:Hes been rested.

What for ?

Lovely catch and offload from Conway there. Hes really been playing well lately

What a try. Conway is really coming out of his shell now, what an improvement. Munster have signed a great player.

LordDowlais wrote:Did I just see Sexton limping and feeling his groin then ?

LordDowlais wrote:

Golden wrote:Hes been rested.

What for ?

Apparently he needs an operation, Dowlais.

For the Pro12 final. 3 massive games in 3 weeks was deemed a bit much for him.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:

Golden wrote:Hes been rested.

What for ?

Apparently he needs an operation, Dowlais.

Schmidt said before the game he was tired after last week and with a six day turnaround they aren't starting him.

I thought he was getting an operation after the Lions tour, and might have been rested until the tour.

Mmm I missed the 1st 20 minutes and game over already it seems

Only a rumour Rory. He might not even be injured for all we know.

I am pretty positive it was Healy he specifically mentioned for the tired thing, but not 100%

I'm sure they are managing his injury too.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Only a rumour Rory. He might not even be injured for all we know.

The operation thing is just a rumour? Ah right.

Sexton is on fire. Wow. Putting all sorts of pressure on the opposition.

Classy pass from ROG pupil...

Kearney...slide in...don't be bloody diving...injuries!!!!

I didn't expect this score line. Stade are playing well enough too, but Leinster are so clinical.

Stade no4 butchered that

Shocking play by Stade

Really happy with how McGrath has sorted out his side of the scrum,Stade are still stronger but they aren't getting penalties or momentum any more.Fair play to the kid.

Good workout for leinster defense so far but stade are being a bit naive in attack.

Har har...someone said this is the same level as the HC...Leinster have perfected the art of non-rugby....

Risca Rev wrote:I didn't expect this score line. Stade are playing well enough too, but Leinster are so clinical.

Stade are too deficient in the basics. Loopy passes from Dupuy to no-one, butchering 2 on 1s, running laterally, and no-one trying to claim high balls. Nacewa has the freedom of his wing when the ball goes up in the air. Who is even marking him?

Stade have had lots of ball but they kind of look like amateurs in comparison to Leinster with respect to very basic rugby skills!

Elaborate DOD...educate me. Non-rugby? - Go.

Yeah the Stade passing is pretty shocking but in truth that's endemic in French rugby,even Clermont don't have a great passing game but they make up for it by some wonderful offloading and serious power running.

Leinster have sussed out Stade and are toying with them. The Frenchies for some reason are refusing to take the ball up the guts. Every ruck they've swung it wide, before doing the necessary and got nowhere.

Notch wrote:

Risca Rev wrote:I didn't expect this score line. Stade are playing well enough too, but Leinster are so clinical.

Stade are too deficient in the basics. Loopy passes from Dupuy to no-one, butchering 2 on 1s, running laterally, and no-one trying to claim high balls. Nacewa has the freedom of his wing when the ball goes up in the air. Who is even marking him?

Stade have had lots of ball but they kind of look like amateurs in comparison to Leinster with respect to very basic rugby skills!

Yeah, I really meant playing ok bar taking their chances. They are creating a few though. Now they're chasing the game, it will probably make them more frantic though.

Well they are getting into positions to score, but really... no cutting edge at all. Leinster are in second gear, cruise control engaged.

Sting is gone out of the game.

There is such a massive difference between the Heineken and the Amlin.