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Leicester have really set their stall out by picking Tuilagi ahead of Johne Murphy. Geordan is the only player in their backline with any sort of guile or creativity. Hipkiss is a crash ball merchant a la most English centres. Erinle is quick but his footballing skills are quite poor. If Leinster can gain parity up front and force Leicester to go wide I'm not sure that backline will have the cutting edge against a Leinster defence that has been excellent. (Is Mauger injured or what? I've seen Leicester play a few times this season and he hasn't been featuring at all.)

The game is going to be won and lost up front. Healy, Jackman and Wright have to front up big time. If they can withstand the onslaught up front then Leinster will win. Quick ball is an absolute must though.

Best is very unfortunate alright. He is a far better hooker than both Mears and Rees. Mears is tiny and he'd would be blown away by the Boks front row. Rees is decent around the park but his darts are shocking. He's half the reason Ireland won the Grand Slam in Cardiff. O'Connell had a field day on the Welsh throw. Matfield and Botha will dominate the lineout if he's picked.

I'd expect Ford to be the test hooker now.

Lost all respect for Shearer when Neil Lennon headbutted his boot and then Shearer threatened to withdraw from the England 1998 squad if he was banned. Always struck me as a very sneaky sort of a player.

Bolton is a big surprise considering we didn't see much of him in the league. Thought either Mark Scanlon or Chalky would've got the nod there. Both Bolton and Conway are similarish players and they'll both get forward at every opportunity. It's going to put a lot of pressure on Flanagan to mind the house at the back.

The rest of the team is as expected. Deccie Brennan and Andy Mac was always going to be a 50/50 call. I thought Mac's experience might see him given the nod but Deccie had been going well before his injury and deserves another shot. Flynn has been given a huge vote of confidence by the management and I hope he repays their faith in him by producing a big game on Sunday. If he and Dermot can dominate midfield than we will win. As much of threat as Niall McNamee poses, he can't do anything if he's not getting the ball.

Must be one of the strongest Kildare benches in many a year - Scanlon, Chalky, MacLochlainn, Rob Kelly, Hartnett, Donnelly and the two O'Flahertys. Having players on the line that can come in and change the game could be the difference on Sunday. Just as long as we don't use 6 substitutions though! 

Any word on the Biffo's line-up yet??

I've always noticed attending double headers that supporters from Ulster counties would for the most part support other Ulster counties playing in the other match. Also found this was the case with Connacht as well.

I don't think I've ever witnessed this with counties from either Leinster or Munster though. I've never heard a Kerryman shout for Cork or vice-versa. As a Kildareman, I don't think I could ever shout for either Meath, Dublin, Kings county or Queens county!

Any team news

According to the Leinster Leader, Kevin O'Neill is definitely out for Kildare. Keith Cribben is also out with a hamstring injury and Ken Donnelly is a doubt having undergone minor surgery on his knee. Mikey Hartnett is available though having shaken an injury.

There are rumours on the Kildare site that Alan Smith is now doubtful as well but I don't know how accurate that is.

Team will probably be named after training tomorrow night.

[although he has won in England-Long walk Hurdle was it?.]

Same as Donnelly,had my biggest bet of the week on what I saw as Banker on Sizing Europe in 08.I seen the dollar signs when he was coming down that hill,then Bang-Nothing.Couldnt believe it. But something showed up after that race that wasnt right about the horse.I dunno how well he travels really-some problems when he travelled over for Cheltenham lately,Transit sickness or something although he has won in England-Long walk Hurdle was it?.We will prob see more of him at home Id say tho. Quotes of 12-1 for the Arkle.

He won the Greatwood Hurdle at the Paddy Power Cheltenham meet in '07. Think he also won his maiden hurdle at Newbury but I could be wrong on that.

Doubt the bookies will be doing much business at a measly 12/1 for the Arkle. You'd think some of them would grow a spine. O'Regan was very pleased after the race though and he said that 2 miles over fences could be the making of him.

That's a big blow for the Lions chances. Flannery was a cert for the no2 shirt on the test team. Mears and Rees are both distinctly average hookers. I'd imagine Ross Ford will get the call up now. Wouldn't surprise me if he ended up starting the tests either.

Not been a big fan of Ben's but I don't think he should've got the boot tonight.

That Debra one is a right wagon and I can't believe she's gotten this far.

If Leicester turn the game into a dogfight then there'll only be one winner. They'll target the Leinster scrum with Castrogiovani and Julian White who can do serious damage in the tight. If Healy and Wright can hold their own there then Leinster have a big chance. Whittaker is going to be a massive player on Saturday. If he can get the ball away from the breakdown as quickly as he did against Munster then I'd fancy Leinster to shade it. If he's as slow and ponderous as he was in some of the earlier rounds though it'll be a long afternoon.

It'd be great for Irish rugby to see Leinster do it but as a Kildareman I'd also be delighted for Geordan Murphy to lift the cup as captain. He's shipped a lot of unecessary criticism from certain Irish rugby "supporters" over the last few years.

Is Ellistown's Johne Murphy going to be fit for the final? He was taken off in the Guinness Final last weekend

Anyone see no. 2 in the 6.10 at Leicester 

That's gas, noticed it myself this morning.

Sizing Europe is making his chasing debut at Punchestown this evening. I know he's turned into a bit of a hound but even on the worst of his hurdles form this year he wouldn't need to come off the bridle to win against this lot surely? Might be worth the double with Deutschland in the first.

Hope ya did that double.I backed Deutschland in the 1st but forgot about Sizing Europe.He won handy and definitely looks a prospect for chasing.He had no problem jumping and the 2 and half miles didnt take him off the bridle.Always liked the horse,would love to see him become a top chaser-Mite give me a chance to win some money back Iv lost backing him.

Did the double alright. Easy money! Not exactly a huge payout but it should cover the weekend's porter.

Was going to back Sizing Europe again in a single when he went out to evs but I bottled it. I often find these classy hurdlers are overpriced in beginners' chases. Your pretty much taking a shade of odds on about a horse jumping round.

He won pulling a plough after him today but that opposition wasn't up to much. He jumped very well but I'd still be a bit sceptical about him next year. He'll win races if he's campaigned shrewdly but he might struggle if he's pitched into the hot novice chases with the likes of Mikael D'haguenet, Fiveforthree and Pandorama, who are all going over fences.

Truth be told, I still haven't forgiven him for the '08 Champion Hurdle. Couldn't believe how well he was going coming down the hill until stopping like he'd been shot turning in. I'd say whatever happened him then is the cause of his problems. If De Bromhead can get him right he still has a future. It seems like he's been around forever but he's only a 7yo.

Whatever about the more recent tragedies and they're efforts to link there, this taunting about the recent death of the guard from Swinford is beyond the Pale:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJllMXyyRP0&feature=related

What an ignorant idiot.

I initially had great sympathy for the Shell to Sea campaign but clowns like this really aren't doing their image any good.

Anyone see no. 2 in the 6.10 at Leicester 

That's gas, noticed it myself this morning.

Sizing Europe is making his chasing debut at Punchestown this evening. I know he's turned into a bit of a hound but even on the worst of his hurdles form this year he wouldn't need to come off the bridle to win against this lot surely? Might be worth the double with Deutschland in the first.

[1. Corley]

When Willie Heffernan stares into the sun, the sun flinches! 

Only one more week to go now till we're all heading down to Queen's County. The closer this game gets the more nervous I'm getting from a Kildare point of view. We seem to be a lot of pundits 'dark horse' for the season and there's a lot of confidence and optimism around the county. That worries me because the Biffos won't fear us one bit. Why should they either because our recent record in Leinster is abysmal and league form is about as reliable come championship time, as Cheltenham form is at Aintree. Cribben will know a lot of the Kildare team like the back of his hand as well. I reckon we should have enough in the locker to beat them by a few points but memories of Wicklow last year temper my confidence. The game being away from Croke Park is a positive for us though.

Team I reckon will start:

1. Corley (Tight call with McCormack but probably shades it after his performance in Navan)
2. McGrillen (Excellent debut season so far apart from the Armagh game when Clarke gave him a bit of a roasting. His future will lie further out the field but his height and pace are a great asset to the full back line)
3. Foley (Has been tried here in the recent challenges. It's a bit of a concern to be going in with a novice full back but he's the type of guy that you feel could play in any position. O'Neill can't get back soon enough though)
4. MacLochlainn (This position looks up for grabs. For me, Flats is better out the field and has never really looked confident in the corner. Mac's experience over Deccie Brennan I think will win out. Could be the guy to pick up McNamee but he needs to be disciplined and not be giving away silly frees)
5. Scanlon (Chalky is apparently flying in training but McGeeney is a huge fan of this lad and I can see him getting the nod. Great man to hoover up the breaks around the middle)
6. Flanagan (One of Kildare's best players in the league. Certain starter)
7. Conway (He's going to be a key player for us this campaign. If he's on song and we get enough ball through him he has the ability to deliver the type of diagonal ball into the forward line that is impossible to defend. I reckon he's the best distributor of the ball we've had since Nuxer. If we're losing out around the middle though and he's ran at we could have a problem. His defending looked suspect at times during the league)
8. Earley (Vital he's on song for us. If he can dominate midfield than we could be in for a good day)
9. Flynn (Another position that's up for grabs. Kelly made good progress after a shaky start against Armagh but he's not a ball winner and his future will probably lie in the forward line. Flynn's probably on his last chance with the management and he needs to keep the head)
10. Kavanagh (Has started to finally fulfill his potential at senior level. He's a confidence player and it's good that he's coming off the back of a solid league. Needs to be chipping in with his 3 or 4 points a game for us to make an impact this year)
11. Paudie (I think the fact that this game is away from Croke Park is going to suit him more than most. He seems to lack the mobility to be as effective at Croker as he is at the tighter provincial grounds. Has the ability to kick long range points that could be badly needed)
12. Leper (He's been messed around over the past few years by being played in almost every position on the pitch. Has benefitted from being left in the forwards and he needs to keep up the sort of scoring he was doing during the league)
13. Smith (Hasn't hit the heights of last year this time around just yet but he was on the go all year with the u21s, the seniors and the sash in the county championship. If he's fully refreshed the hard ground should bring out the best in him. A real goal threat that we've lacked since Fennin at his peak)
14. Roli (Donnelly is apparently only 50/50 after having some work done on the knee. Roli looked a man reborn in the league and he offers a real ball winning presence in at full forward. I feel that games sometimes pass him by out in the half forward line and we're better off deploying him inside)
15. JD (The main man up front for us. If he's held or god forbid, injured, than we are shagged)

Jaysus that Ben lad is some tool alright.

He's not alone in that regard in this series though. Kate looks by far the most competant of the lot of them but she's hardly got much competition. I've given better presentations in college than the lad who was pitching for the losing team last night.