Something red and dangerous is heading for the Aviva Stadium, tension is building up in Leinster...only one man can save us now...if only it was that simple...
How's that for a big introduction? Not that Leinster versus Munster at the Aviva stadium needs much talking up. There's going to be big hits, massive collisions, blood and guts, and that's just getting into the stadium (if it’s anything like getting into the Michael Bublé concert that is.) Hopefully the crowd this weekend will be treated to a less asinine performance than Michael dished up ( my apologies and commiserations to the anyone who is a fan of his).
If you’re from Ireland you must live in a cave if you don’t know that Leinster have beaten Munster in the last four fixtures between them. But Munster are four from four in the Magners this year, with Leinster’s one from four slightly less impressive. You can find some clues for Munster’s selection here http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2010/0929/wallaced.html. Even more cryptic clues for Leinster’s team are here: http://leinsterrugby.ie/5110.php.
I’ll bet Joel Schmidt is nervously scratching his head as he trys to work out who the hell to pick to produce a return to form for Leinster.
Going for him is:
Leinster is going to be really up for this one
Munster are going to be totally underestimating them
That’s about it for positives
Cons
Munster is going to be really up for this one
Munster have a far superior Magners record this season
The last place you want to get creamed is in your own back yard
Key players are missing and form of stars is uncertain
I really can’t see a happy ending here for Schmidt or Leinster – they have a critical mass of grunt absent from their scrum (Leo Cullen), and they have big problems with their two main play makers – Jonny Sexton has been one to verge of returning for 3 weeks now, and Reddan has looked out of sorts. So Munster by 10.
Rugby on the Telly
Thursday 30th
Cardiff Blues v Connacht RTE 2, 19.00
FRI OCT 1
Ulster v Glasgow, ML, BBC2, 19:05
SAT OCT 2
LEINSTER v MUNSTER, ML, TG4, 20:10
Thursday rugby! Cool! Connacht welcome back Johnny O’Connor as they travel to Cardiff, and look to build on their good start to the season. I’m tipping them to come up with the goods.
Friday sees Ulster take on Glasgow at home – the big news in that match is the inclusion in the squad of Springbok star Ruan Pienaar – he is one seriously talented player, and likely to make a big impact for Ulster.
Shark Bite
Sharks v Leopards, CC, SS3, 18:00
The Sharks lost out narrowly to the Lions last week but they face a vastly inferior member of the cat family this weekend – expect to see some fur flying.
Exile update
London Irish are top of the pile right now and Leeds Carnegie must be quaking in their boots considering what Irish did to Newcastle last week. It could be a cricket score.
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