MATT O’CONNOR HAS gone for a familiar line-up as Leinster face their biggest game of the season this Sunday in the Champions Cup semi-final against Toulon in Marseille.
Some pundits discussed the possibility of a 10/12/13 combination of Ian Madigan, Gordon D’Arcy and Ben Te’o but the only change to the matchday 23 that faced Bath is second row Ben Marshall coming in for Tom Denton on the bench.
Leinster were beaten by the two-time European champions at the quarter-final stage last year but importantly, they have Sean O’Brien at openside this time around. And amazingly, this will only be the Carlow Cannonball’s third start of the season for his province.
Jamie Heaslip continues to captain the side from number eight while Mike McCarthy once again starts at second row, after the news this week that Australian import Kane Douglas’ season is over.
The game kicks off on Sunday in Marseille at 15.15.
Leinster
15. Rob Kearney
14. Fergus McFadden
13. Ben Te’o
12. Ian Madigan
11. Luke Fitzgerald
10. Jimmy Gopperth
9. Isaac Boss
1. Cian Healy
2. Sean Cronin
3. Mike Ross
4. Devin Toner
5. Mike McCarthy
6. Jordi Murphy
7. Sean O’Brien
8. Jamie Heaslip CAPTAIN
16. Richardt Strauss
17. Jack McGrath
18. Marty Moore
19. Ben Marshall
20. Dominic Ryan
21. Eoin Reddan
22. Gordon D’Arcy
23. Zane Kirchner
Even when on the bench he didn’t get game time. The coach doesn’t like or trust him. Saturday once again showed just how wrong O’connor has been all season
O’Connor is just all wrong for Leinster.
He has a very big chance next season with Leinster during the World Cup, midfield won’t be as competitive so he should get a good run of matches.
Mark if Darcy doesn’t make the World Cup squad, he’ll play 12 with t’eo at 13. Then Madigan and sexton will be back so the midfield won’t be as easy to get into as you may think
That pop pass from O’Brien
Battle between him and Madigan for the 12 jersey next season.
It’s always to easy to see who coaches ‘just like/don’t like’. When Gopperth played badly it was ignored whereas when Madigan played mediocre or even if Reid played well decisions went against them.
It creates such a poisonous culture as some players start to feel entitled to spots and others feel it doesn’t matter how well they play they won’t get picked. Cody and Fergusson were masters at disregarding players identities and judging on match performance alone. MOC is such a stink manager.