Leinster mind games begin? - Champions Cup (A) - Saturday 06th April 2024 - KO:8:00pm

[Leicestertinytiger]

Good team all things considered - especially the back 3.

Glad we haven’t taken any risks with our returning test players. What’s the point in risking injury when they’re not 100%.

Their team especially the bench is ridiculous mind.

[Rugbygramps]

Looks like Martin, Chessum and Reffel are injured. That is pretty much any chance we had. Hate to be pessimistic but we needed them.

If we loose then couple of weeks off before Saints hopefully they will have recovered by then

[westwinds31]

As we thought, Leinster's "injury concerns" were probably minor niggles.

[Rugbygramps]

No Martin, Chessum or Reffell - it's a worry unless they're being "saved" to be ready for Saints away.

Reported as coming back from 6 nations as battered, no point in making them worse

[Scott1]

I expect to be 14-0 down and the game over within the first 10 minutes

[westwinds31]

No Martin, Chessum or Reffell - it's a worry unless they're being "saved" to be ready for Saints away.

Reported as coming back from 6 nations as battered, no point in making them worse

Battered but fine for Reffell and Chessum to turn out vs Gloucester ??!! "We're going for every trophy that we're in" doesn't really add up.

[watsonjm]

Still don't understand Kelly at 13. Simply hasn't worked.

Assuming Scott is fit would have liked to have seen

12: Keely
13: Scott
14: Kata

As something a bit different to what we've already tried multiple times this season and hasn't really worked.

[Darc Tiger]

Not ideal, obviously, and I go in with no expectations. Just hoping we come through unscathed.

That said, happy to see Shillcock named as a 15.

[DeadlyDunc]

Think the lack of power in the 2nd row and any real threat at the breakdown without Reffell will mean Leinster will secure plenty of quick ball and run up a decent score.

Our bench front row is pretty average too so after 50mins I think we’ll be struggling at the set piece. Think Dan might be playing 65+ mins if we can hold them to within a score or two.

As we know - if we have any injuries we can only put out a decent to good club standard XV but that’s tough to cope against a pretty much full blown international 23.

[Rugbygramps]

No Martin, Chessum or Reffell - it's a worry unless they're being "saved" to be ready for Saints away.

Reported as coming back from 6 nations as battered, no point in making them worse

Battered but fine for Reffell and Chessum to turn out vs Gloucester ??!! "We're going for every trophy that we're in" doesn't really add up.

And neither was anywhere near their best especially Reffell who was no where near his best. They also could have made any issues worse. Very easy to read into things that aren’t there, and also why would Mckellar lie, his latest statement was they were touch and go and that the 6 nations hadn’t done them any favours

[westwinds31]

Reported as coming back from 6 nations as battered, no point in making them worse

Battered but fine for Reffell and Chessum to turn out vs Gloucester ??!! "We're going for every trophy that we're in" doesn't really add up.

And neither was anywhere near their best especially Reffell who was no where near his best. They also could have made any issues worse. Very easy to read into things that aren’t there, and also why would Mckellar lie, his latest statement was they were touch and go and that the 6 nations hadn’t done them any favours

Who said he was lying ? The comms could be better. I'm disappointed that we're not sending our gun 23. I'm still annoyed that we've actually drawn Leinster again.

if they're injured then fine, I have no reason to dispute that. Every player in Europe is battered at this time of the season, carrying knocks etc. It's a case of managing contract/training and patching up for game day. Obviously not in 3 of our international's cases, which leads me to believe that their injuries are worse than just the normal week to week niggles. For these 3 players, who are at the start of their club careers, it's a worry.

[Wayne Richardson Fan Club]

If we are within 20 points at the final whistle I would take that.
Once Tommy went off at WR it was game over.

Few round pegs in square holes in that starting XV.

[Rugbygramps]

Battered but fine for Reffell and Chessum to turn out vs Gloucester ??!! "We're going for every trophy that we're in" doesn't really add up.

And neither was anywhere near their best especially Reffell who was no where near his best. They also could have made any issues worse. Very easy to read into things that aren’t there, and also why would Mckellar lie, his latest statement was they were touch and go and that the 6 nations hadn’t done them any favours

Who said he was lying ? The comms could be better. I'm disappointed that we're not sending our gun 23. I'm still annoyed that we've actually drawn Leinster again.

if they're injured then fine, I have no reason to dispute that. Every player in Europe is battered at this time of the season, carrying knocks etc. It's a case of managing contract/training and patching up for game day. Obviously not in 3 of our international's cases, which leads me to believe that their injuries are worse than just the normal week to week niggles. For these 3 players, who are at the start of their club careers, it's a worry.

Don’t get why everything that isn’t totally explainable is a worry, but that’s your opinion. It could be just not recovering as quickly as hoped, look at JVP.
Realistically Saints beat Munster and have another European game, we loose have a week off and have a fully fit firing squad in 2 weeks. Sometimes coaches have to make hard calls

I’m also unsure why you’re annoyed we’ve drawn Leinster again that’s just how the pools worked out, it wasn’t pre determined

[Rugbygramps]

If we are within 20 points at the final whistle I would take that.
Once Tommy went off at WR it was game over.

Few round pegs in square holes in that starting XV.

Such as

[watsonjm]

If we are within 20 points at the final whistle I would take that.
Once Tommy went off at WR it was game over.

Few round pegs in square holes in that starting XV.

Such as

Freddie on the wing
Hatherell in second row
Kelly at 13