Tigers v Leinster (H) - Champions Cup - Saturday 20th January 2024 - KO: 3-15pm

[PAW2]

We played France last week, Ireland this week. I can't see a win and quite honestly would rather be out than be in the challenge Cup.

Europe, or what ever it is with the SA sides in, has lost its appeal.

I understand your point. I imagine the players would like to be competing in as many competitions as possible

...and the accountants

[AViewFromLe2]

I would not have an issue if we landed in the Challenge Cup, though I would be disappointed given the strong position we are in currently and the events needed for us to land there. It's more chance at games, especially at home, possibly against new teams and in a competition we would have a very strong chance of winning.

I do think if we were to land in it, there would be an expectation from Board Level to McKellar that he would need to go on and win it. I don't have an issue with that either. This is still a young group overall, it needs to get used to playing in crunch knock-out games and winning them, and winning competitions in general, no matter what they are. Installing a culture of winning needs to be across all formats, it'll help us in the long run moving forward.

[Big Dai]

In what to win what? I suppose it depends on your priorities and that could change year on year, depending on where you are in the league, for instance.

A lowly league position could mean that is viewed as lower priority. You can't go full bore on everything.........or can you.

Sorry I thought you were suggesting run a development team if we were to drop to the challenge cup. My point was that although it’s a secondary competition they aren’t secondary clubs. No you can’t go full bore, but when you reach the knockout stages you pick your best side imo

I think, realistically, expectation needs lowering this year and some new combinations need trying, of course these may be forced on us, but so far we've not clicked.

With Borthwick I gave up guessing the team. There were always some fast balls thrown. Which, as I happened, worked.

McKeller seems more predictable. This seems to be working less well.

[TigerFeetSteve]

I would be tempted to make sure we have Hurd on the bench at least for this game, he'll be starting vs Quins you think, we want him match sharp and ready.

[Rugbygramps]

I would be tempted to make sure we have Hurd on the bench at least for this game, he'll be starting vs Quins you think, we want him match sharp and ready.

I agree though Porter and Healey are their loose heads

[Rugbygramps]

Pitch under inflated tent so should be a good surface for tomorrow.
Forecast to be breezy and around 5 degrees come game time

[TigerFeetSteve]

STARTING XV

15 Freddie Steward [80]
14 Harry Simmons [38]
13 Matt Scott [72]
12 Dan Kelly [72]
11 Ollie Hassell-Collins [11]
10 Handré Pollard [24]
9 Tom Whiteley [21]
1 James Cronin [26]
2 Julián Montoya (c) [51]
3 Joe Heyes [136]
4 Harry Wells [188]
5 Ollie Chessum [52]
6 Hanro Liebenberg [97]
7 Tommy Reffell [108]
8 Jasper Wiese [70]



REPLACEMENTS

16 Archie Vanes [11]
17 Francois van Wyk [45]
18 Will Hurd [36]
19 Sam Carter [11]
20 Kyle Hatherell [12]
21 Ben Youngs [310]
22 Jamie Shillcock [17]
23 Solomone Kata [11]

[TigerFeetSteve]

Hassell-Collins, Hanro & Vanes all back!

[Darc Tiger]

Leinster fully loaded

[Rugbygramps]

Hassell-Collins, Hanro & Vanes all back!

Looks like you ere right about Hurd. Sensible call by the coaches

[TigerFeetSteve]

La Rochelle have picked a number 8 at 12....

Botia who has played in both the back row and centres at 7...

Will be interesting how that lines up vs Sale

[Tigers86asw]

Nothing on the website about the teams yet- not that I can see.

I wonder why the club thinks everyone is on Twitter. It’s a cesspit.

What about people who don’t use social media - children who want to know the team but don’t use it (to name just one example)

Get a grip Leicester.

Sorry for the rant but such an easy thing to fix.

[Bluelion]

Locked & loaded

https://www.leinsterrugby.ie/preview/le ... ab=preview

Leinster Rugby (caps in brackets)
15. Hugo Keenan (62)
14. Jordan Larmour (98)
13. Garry Ringrose (122) CO-CAPTAIN
12. Robbie Henshaw (83)
11. James Lowe (73)
10. Harry Byrne (59)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (133)

1. Andrew Porter (114)
2. Dan Sheehan (54)
3. Tadhg Furlong (138)
4. Joe McCarthy (27)
5. James Ryan (78) CO-CAPTAIN
6. Ryan Baird (61)
7. Josh van der Flier (134)
8. Caelan Doris (74) Replacements:

16. Rónan Kelleher (54)
17. Cian Healy (270)
18. Michael Ala’alatoa (57)
19. Ross Molony (170)
20. Jack Conan (138)
21. Luke McGrath (200)
22. Sam Prendergast (9)
23. Tommy O’Brien (30)

[Rugbygramps]

Nothing on the website about the teams yet- not that I can see.

I wonder why the club thinks everyone is on Twitter. It’s a cesspit.

What about people who don’t use social media - children who want to know the team but don’t use it (to name just one example)

Get a grip Leicester.

Sorry for the rant but such an easy thing to fix.

It’s a very good point and not sure why when it must be the same team doing it.
FYI the team always goes up on Instagram bang on 12 noon, which isn’t the cesspit that Twitter/X is

[Bluelion]

Inexperienced bench for Leinster with just the 928 caps!