Champions Cup Pool 5: RC Toulon v Leinster, 13 December

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RC Toulonnais v Leinster Rugby
Sunday 13 December 2015
KO: 16:15
Stade Félix Mayol, Toulon

Live on FR2 / Sky Sports / beIN Sports

Referee Nigel Owens (Wales)
Touch Judge 1 Gwyn Morris (Wales)
Touch Judge 2 Wayne Davies (Wales)
Fourth Official Derek Bevan (Wales)
TMO Derek Bevan (Wales)
Assessor John Sheehan (Ireland)
Citing Commissioner John Byett (England)

A. Head to Head

2 Played 2
2 Wins 0
0 Losses 2
0 Draws 0
54 Points 34

B. Recent Form

19 April 2015
Toulon 25 - 20 Leinster

6 April 2014
Toulon 29-14 Leinster:

C. Teams

RC Toulonnais

15. Delon Armitage; 14. Bryan Habana, 13. Mathieu Bastareaud, 12. Ma'a Nonu, 11. Drew Mitchell; 10. Matt Giteau, 9. Eric Escande; 1. Florian Fresia, 2. Guilhem Guirado, 3. Matt Stevens, 4. Samu Manoa, 5. Romain Taofifenua, 6. Mamuka Gorgodze, 7. Steffon Armitage, 8. Duane Vermeulen

16. Anthony Etrillard, 17. Xavier Chiocci, 18. Levan Chilachava, 19. Juan Smith, 20. Tom Taylor, 21. Maxime Mermoz, 22. Anthony Meric, 23. Jocelino Suta

Leinster Rugby

15. Rob Kearney; 14. Fergus McFadden, 13. Ben Te'o, 12. Luke Fitzgerald, 11. Isa Nacewa; 10. Johnny Sexton, 9. Isaac Boss; 1. Cian Healy, 2. Richardt Strauss, 3. Mike Ross, 4. Devin Toner, 5. Mike McCarthy, 6. Rhys Ruddock, 7. Josh Van Der Flier, 8. Jamie Heaslip

16. Sean Cronin, 17. Jack McGrath, 18. Martin Moore, 19. Tom Denton, 20. Jordi Murphy, 21. Eoin Reddan, 22. Ian Madigan, 23. Dave Kearney

Sextons kicking from hand and Healy's transgressions aside it's been a very good half from Leinster.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:VDF and Ruddock are immense.

Neither look outmuscled or outplayed by the considerably powerful Toulon back row so far. Certainly two of the form selections going into the Six Nations. VDF is stopping arguably the world's best number 8 dead in his tracks off the scrum.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:VDF and Ruddock are immense.

Indeed they are, VdF is an amazing player.

Excellent defensive effort from Leinster to hold out Toulon after Healey's brain flatulence. Still think that Toulon will have just that bit too much.

Toulon, although very savage at the break down, look to be constantly infringing and I can imagine that Owen's will take more notice of that in the 2nd half.

VdF being dropped for the Wasps game was criminal.

Surprising halftime score but it's been pretty much all Toulon possession. Leinster living off penalties but that won't be enough.

If they get a losing bonus point out of this it would be a great result but can see Toulon pulling away in second especially with their bench.

VinceWLB wrote:VdF being dropped for the Wasps game was criminal.

SOB is always going to be selected ahead of him.

6) Ruddock
7) SOB
8) Heaslip

The starting back row and for Leinster and Ireland this season. Injuries permitting of course.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

VinceWLB wrote:VdF being dropped for the Wasps game was criminal.

SOB is always going to be selected ahead of him.

6) Ruddock
7) SOB
8) Heaslip

The starting back row and for Leinster and Ireland this season. Injuries permitting of course.

CJ Stander might be involved in the back row selection. He has been the form player in my opinion.

The main concern for both Leinster and Ireland must be the lack of consistency and form shown by Jonny Sexton. He has become a bit of a liability at times, some of his kicking has just given possession and territory straight back to Toulon at crucial moments.

eirebilly wrote:

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

VinceWLB wrote:VdF being dropped for the Wasps game was criminal.

SOB is always going to be selected ahead of him.

6) Ruddock
7) SOB
8) Heaslip

The starting back row and for Leinster and Ireland this season. Injuries permitting of course.

CJ Stander might be involved in the back row selection. He has been the form player in my opinion.

Heaslip won't be dropped.

That's the problem right there Rory, why not drop Heaslip if there is a currently better player?

Anyways, I hope Leinster pull off something in the 2nd half.

Sexton's passing and kicking are way off today. Might be an idea to pull him off and get Madigan on.

eirebilly wrote:That's the problem right there Rory, why not drop Heaslip if there is a currently better player?

Anyways, I hope Leinster pull off something in the 2nd half.

Because he is very consistent and he will be the captain.

The funny thing is Leavy would have been seen as the star at u20 level but Vdf has transitioned a lot better. Although that could be down to Leavy being unlucky with injuries as he has showed he is a quality player.

As I suspected, Owen's watching Toulon more at the breakdown so far.

Don't think it'll happen, but I'd haul sexton off, mads at 10 and leave toe and like in the centre, worst sexton has played in ages

I cant see too much wrong with what Toner did there...

Thought Strauss was concussed again for a minute there. Really worried about him.

EDIT: he's off. He needs a massive break from rugby. simply way too many head injuries this season

Golden wrote:Thought Strauss was concussed again for a minute there. Really worried about him.

EDIT: he's off. He needs a massive break from rugby. simply way too many head injuries this season

I think he is coming off to be checked now.

This could be the end of Strauss, which would be a huge shame.

One sided refereeing from Owens in this second half so far, wonder how much he got under the table at half time.

Owens seems hell bent on Toulon winning

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Owens seems hell bent on Toulon winning

I guess this is Rugby in 2015 when money buy success.

Sexton needs to come off now. This is painful to watch.

At this last breakdown, toulon lock had its elbow on the grounf but i guess it's allowed if you are a toulon player.

Why isn't Leinster playing for territory, Toulon's lineout is woeful

Again Toulon do not release after the tackle and yet win the turnover penalty...

Give it a rest boys, that is the same nonsense that Chunky is criticised for. Grow up.

nathan wrote:Why isn't Leinster playing for territory, Toulon's lineout is woeful

So is sextons kicking today

Nothing in that at all

Very harsh penalty.

Who is that assistant ref? Never seen him before

Good refereeing.

That is never a late hit, just didn't use his arms as well as he could have done. Would not say its a penalty.

Good man Nidge. Thank God he didn't listen to the touch judge

Good decision, need to be careful on his tackling technique through as he was close to not using his arms

Ben Teo is prone to giving away a lot of penalties around the tackle and ruck area.

VDF again. Amazing.

Yikes Denton against this Toulon pack.

The biggest issue for Leinster today has been Sexton, clearly not having a great game and yet wont be swapped until too late.

Sexton is a funny player, you can tell within 15mins whether or not he will have a bad day.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:Give it a rest boys, that is the same nonsense that Chunky is criticised for. Grow up.

Denton is the luckiest player in pro rugby. Getting to play in the CC against Toulon because he has an Irish granny. This selection policy really is something the IRFU have to look at

Breakdown is an issue for Leinster too, but then it always whoever plays against toulon

Leinster have fought hard but Toulon are a team full of superstars playing at home.
Hope they can get a try at the end here as reward for the effort.

Rhys Ruddock would have been MOTM if Leinster had won. VDF a close second. Exceptional performance from them both.

nathan wrote:Breakdown is an issue for Leinster too, but then it always whoever plays against toulon

To be fair, they have been very fortunate at the breakdown. Toulon are very clever and quite subtle, as I said before the tackler is always very slow to roll away and they rarely seem to support their bodyweight.

Madigan should have been on ten minutes ago at least

Sexton needs to stop missing so many players out with his passing

So can we expect to see the likes of ringrose, Tracey, molony or Kelleher in the final group games?