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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2015/apr/04/leinster-v-bath-european-champions-cup-live
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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Leinster v Bath: European Champions Cup – live! | Leinster v Bath: European Champions Cup – live! |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 4.24pm BST16:24 | |
| 43 min The scrum is a bit of a mess but Ford gets the kick away to Kirchner. Leinster carry it back up to the Bath 10m line then get it right through the hands. Ford stops Kearney so left they go. | |
| 4.23pm BST16:23 | |
| 42 min Bath get the scrum on their own 22 and how they could do with some decent ball here, if only for their front row’s confidence. Kirchner is playing on the right wing, incidentally. | |
| 4.22pm BST16:22 | |
| McFadden is able to walk off, which is something, but he won’t play any further part today. | |
| 4.21pm BST16:21 | |
| 41 min McFadden’s day will be done. He dipped his head and accidentally thumped it into Eastmond’s shoulder; he’s out cold. Zane Kirchner coming on but yet another sickening head injury. | |
| 4.20pm BST16:20 | |
| 41 min Leinster restart and Bath knock on straight away before Healy burrows up to the 22. Left it goes and Leinster immediately looking to find a way through this Bath defensive line. There’s a clash of heads now and play is immediately stopped... | |
| 4.18pm BST16:18 | |
| Leinster have missed 14 tackles so far, which gives some hope to Bath. Anyway, we’re about to get back underway. | |
| 4.14pm BST16:14 | |
| Scrum penalties are not careless penalties. They are penalties conceded through force of opposition, not silly mental errors. Tough to stop. | |
| A good point this. Bath’s poor handling has seen them give away too many scrums and they’re getting stuffed in that area. It’s handing Leinster both kicks at goal and territory and that’s rather a big advantage to be ceding anywhere, let alone Dublin. | |
| 4.05pm BST16:05 | |
| Well, that was rather familiar. Smart kicking and excellent territorial play from the Irish to accompany some big meaty hits. Handling errors, poor discipline and the concession of far too many kickable penalties from the English, who at least scored a nice try but find themselves 10 points down. We’ve been here before. | |
| 4.03pm BST16:03 | |
| Half time: Leinster 15-5 Bath | |
| Bath win quick ball from the lineout, around 35m out, and go left. McFadden then absolutely pummels Watson with a Courtney Lawes-esque tackle, the ball goes backwards and eventually into touch and that’s half time. | |
| 4.02pm BST16:02 | |
| 40 min Leinster take it in inside the 22 and go through the phases, just waiting for the clock to go red before booting it off. The ball goes loose off a Bath boot though and Gopperth is forced to kick to touch, so we will have one final play. | |
| Updated at 4.04pm BST | |
| 4.00pm BST16:00 | |
| Penalty (Madigan 39) Leinster 15-5 Bath | |
| 15m in from the right, 35m out, this is the toughest kick so far for Madigan. He strikes it beautifully though and carves another three points between the uprights. | |
| 3.59pm BST15:59 | |
| 38 min It’d be interesting to see the territory stats, although not, I guess, if you’re a Bath fan. Leinster lineout 30m out on the right and they get yet another penalty as Bath enter a maul at the side. | |
| 3.58pm BST15:58 | |
| 37 min Bath have possession on their on 10m line but can’t go anywhere. Back it goes for Ford, who puts his kick left out on the full. Watson returns to boos. | |
| 3.57pm BST15:57 | |
| 36 min Ford sends up a high ball after Bath win the lineout, but Fitgerald claims it on the bounce. Madigan is down receiving treatment. | |
| 3.57pm BST15:57 | |
| 35 min Ford restarts and Fitzgerald wriggles out of his 22. Boss’s pass to Gopperth is poor and prevents Leinster from going wide right, but the fly-half switches to his left and sends a skimming kick off his weaker peg into touch on the Bath 10m line. | |
| 3.55pm BST15:55 | |
| Penalty (Madigan 35) Leinster 12-5 Bath | |
| It creeps over off the left-hand post and Madigan has four from four. | |
| 3.54pm BST15:54 | |
| 33 min Scrum’s really are the worst thing about rugby, aren’t they? Leinster will disagree mind as they’ve smashed Bath here and win the penalty as Paul James is thoroughly battered by Mike Ross and gets forced up. 37m out, right in front. | |
| Updated at 4.24pm BST | |
| 3.51pm BST15:51 | |
| 31 min The ball goes loose in contact and Ford exchanges kicks with Kearney. Banahan runs it back but then he throws a pass behind Young and the ball gets knocked on by the scrambling defence. | |
| 3.49pm BST15:49 | 3.49pm BST15:49 |
| 30 min A good kick from Gopperth, but we’re back with the TMO who is checking for a high tackle on Fearns just before Ford’s charged down kick. It’s OK, says Msr. Garces and Leinster have a lineout on the Bath 10m line. Cronin peels off the back and makes good ground as Bath’s defence is rocked backwards in contact. | 30 min A good kick from Gopperth, but we’re back with the TMO who is checking for a high tackle on Fearns just before Ford’s charged down kick. It’s OK, says Msr. Garces and Leinster have a lineout on the Bath 10m line. Cronin peels off the back and makes good ground as Bath’s defence is rocked backwards in contact. |
| 3.48pm BST15:48 | 3.48pm BST15:48 |
| 29 min After some kick-tennis, Ford looks to chip over the top and sees his kick charged down by Jordi Murphy. The ball bounces kindly for Joseph, but he gets isolated on the left and holds on. | 29 min After some kick-tennis, Ford looks to chip over the top and sees his kick charged down by Jordi Murphy. The ball bounces kindly for Joseph, but he gets isolated on the left and holds on. |
| 3.47pm BST15:47 | 3.47pm BST15:47 |
| Penalty (Madigan 28) Leinster 9-5 Bath | Penalty (Madigan 28) Leinster 9-5 Bath |
| From 38m, dead in front, Madigan extends the lead to four with a slightly unconvincing kick that drifted slightly right but made it through. Leinster are good value for their lead, their experience showing. | From 38m, dead in front, Madigan extends the lead to four with a slightly unconvincing kick that drifted slightly right but made it through. Leinster are good value for their lead, their experience showing. |
| 3.45pm BST15:45 | 3.45pm BST15:45 |
| 27 min Madigan sends the penalty to touch on the left, about 45m away from his own line. Toner wins the lineout and they go quickly off the top, with Fitzgerald popping up off his wing in midfield. Bath shut the move down, but Webber is offside when he tackles Boss at the back of a ruck. | 27 min Madigan sends the penalty to touch on the left, about 45m away from his own line. Toner wins the lineout and they go quickly off the top, with Fitzgerald popping up off his wing in midfield. Bath shut the move down, but Webber is offside when he tackles Boss at the back of a ruck. |
| 3.44pm BST15:44 | 3.44pm BST15:44 |
| Watson sin-bin 26 | Watson sin-bin 26 |
| 26 min ...it looks like he has his eyes on the ball but got his timing wrong. Jerome Garces agrees with me and does indeed send Anthony Watson to the sin-bin. | 26 min ...it looks like he has his eyes on the ball but got his timing wrong. Jerome Garces agrees with me and does indeed send Anthony Watson to the sin-bin. |
| Updated at 4.10pm BST | |
| 3.43pm BST15:43 | 3.43pm BST15:43 |
| 26 min Boos ring out around the Aviva as Kearney appears to be taken out by Watson in mid-air at the restart. To the TMO we go and I reckon this could be a yellow card as Watson didn’t really challenge for the ball... | 26 min Boos ring out around the Aviva as Kearney appears to be taken out by Watson in mid-air at the restart. To the TMO we go and I reckon this could be a yellow card as Watson didn’t really challenge for the ball... |
| 3.41pm BST15:41 | 3.41pm BST15:41 |
| Penalty (Madigan 25) Leinster 6-5 Bath | Penalty (Madigan 25) Leinster 6-5 Bath |
| From around 10m to the left of the posts, Madigan does indeed retake the lead for Leinster. | From around 10m to the left of the posts, Madigan does indeed retake the lead for Leinster. |
| 3.40pm BST15:40 | 3.40pm BST15:40 |
| 24 min Slow, patient phase play in midfield from Leinster and Fearns goes off his feet around 30m, giving Madigan the chance to retake the lead for Leinster. | 24 min Slow, patient phase play in midfield from Leinster and Fearns goes off his feet around 30m, giving Madigan the chance to retake the lead for Leinster. |
| 3.40pm BST15:40 | 3.40pm BST15:40 |
| 23 min Leinster reclaim the ball from a high, shallow restart. It’s worth mentioning Ford’s neat dummy to take out Toner and Murphy before accelerating over the line for that try. | 23 min Leinster reclaim the ball from a high, shallow restart. It’s worth mentioning Ford’s neat dummy to take out Toner and Murphy before accelerating over the line for that try. |
| 3.39pm BST15:39 | 3.39pm BST15:39 |
| 22 min Ford’s conversion, from 16m in from the right, drifts against the inside of the post and bounces back out. | 22 min Ford’s conversion, from 16m in from the right, drifts against the inside of the post and bounces back out. |
| 3.38pm BST15:38 | 3.38pm BST15:38 |
| Try! Leinster 3-5 Bath (Ford 21) | Try! Leinster 3-5 Bath (Ford 21) |
| This is gorgeous. The attack looks to have died as Bath pass loosely along the line and the ball bobbles loose, but they recover and Ford attacks the line with an arching run round to the right. He simply has too much pace for Madigan, gets round him and glides over to the right of the sticks. | This is gorgeous. The attack looks to have died as Bath pass loosely along the line and the ball bobbles loose, but they recover and Ford attacks the line with an arching run round to the right. He simply has too much pace for Madigan, gets round him and glides over to the right of the sticks. |
| Updated at 3.53pm BST | |
| 3.37pm BST15:37 | 3.37pm BST15:37 |
| 20 min Watson and Madigan exchange kicks, then Agulla runs it back and steps past a couple of tackles. Left it goes to Louw and he breaks a couple more before Young takes it up into the 22, then... | 20 min Watson and Madigan exchange kicks, then Agulla runs it back and steps past a couple of tackles. Left it goes to Louw and he breaks a couple more before Young takes it up into the 22, then... |
| 3.36pm BST15:36 | 3.36pm BST15:36 |
| 19 min Leinster’s scrum is very good again and they go through the hands, left to right. Up to halfway they go and Kearney knocks on in the tackle from Banahan, but the referee sees it going the other way and gives Leinster the advantage. Once that’s over, Gopperth kicks high but it’s not a great one. | 19 min Leinster’s scrum is very good again and they go through the hands, left to right. Up to halfway they go and Kearney knocks on in the tackle from Banahan, but the referee sees it going the other way and gives Leinster the advantage. Once that’s over, Gopperth kicks high but it’s not a great one. |
| 3.34pm BST15:34 | 3.34pm BST15:34 |
| 17 min Bloody hell, Ford is going for goal. It’s around 47m from the line and wide, wide on the right. A reasonable effort, but it drops that wee bit short and wide. From the restart, Hooper knocks on around 14m inside Leinster’s half. | 17 min Bloody hell, Ford is going for goal. It’s around 47m from the line and wide, wide on the right. A reasonable effort, but it drops that wee bit short and wide. From the restart, Hooper knocks on around 14m inside Leinster’s half. |
| 3.32pm BST15:32 | 3.32pm BST15:32 |
| 15 min Ford kicks down the middle again and Gopperth clears wonderfully over halfway. Bath take the quick lineout though and Fearns chases Ford’s high return. McFadden takes it well and runs around to the left. The ball goes left and Cronin goes down the touchline, but Agulla makes a great tackle when the ball goes inside for Murphy. Cronin enters at the side and that’s a penalty to Bath. | 15 min Ford kicks down the middle again and Gopperth clears wonderfully over halfway. Bath take the quick lineout though and Fearns chases Ford’s high return. McFadden takes it well and runs around to the left. The ball goes left and Cronin goes down the touchline, but Agulla makes a great tackle when the ball goes inside for Murphy. Cronin enters at the side and that’s a penalty to Bath. |
| Updated at 3.34pm BST | Updated at 3.34pm BST |
| 3.30pm BST15:30 | 3.30pm BST15:30 |
| Penalty (Madigan 14) Leinster 3-0 Bath | Penalty (Madigan 14) Leinster 3-0 Bath |
| From just outside the 22, about seven or eight metres to the right of the sticks, Madigan gets this whole scoring lark underway. | From just outside the 22, about seven or eight metres to the right of the sticks, Madigan gets this whole scoring lark underway. |
| 3.29pm BST15:29 | 3.29pm BST15:29 |
| 13 min The ball is slowed up and we go back for the penalty at the scrum. Not sure about that decision as Leinster looked headed for the line. | 13 min The ball is slowed up and we go back for the penalty at the scrum. Not sure about that decision as Leinster looked headed for the line. |
| 3.28pm BST15:28 | 3.28pm BST15:28 |
| 12 min This is a great scrum from Leinster and they get the advantage. No need as they sweep left, with Kearney then Madigan taking it up to the 22. Leinster go through the phases and they drive up to under the posts. | 12 min This is a great scrum from Leinster and they get the advantage. No need as they sweep left, with Kearney then Madigan taking it up to the 22. Leinster go through the phases and they drive up to under the posts. |
| Updated at 4.12pm BST | |
| 3.28pm BST15:28 | 3.28pm BST15:28 |
| 11 min Flats is making me feel old. | 11 min Flats is making me feel old. |
| Mike Ross still wears black boots. Weirdo. | Mike Ross still wears black boots. Weirdo. |
| 3.27pm BST15:27 | 3.27pm BST15:27 |
| 10 min Gopperth now stabs it through but Watson gathers and looks to launch the counter from his own 22. He gives it inside to Banahan who has come off his wing and bursts through, going on a great line down the middle. He offloads to no one though and Te’o sweeps up the loose ball. Eventually Bath disrupt it at a ruck and concede a scrum. | 10 min Gopperth now stabs it through but Watson gathers and looks to launch the counter from his own 22. He gives it inside to Banahan who has come off his wing and bursts through, going on a great line down the middle. He offloads to no one though and Te’o sweeps up the loose ball. Eventually Bath disrupt it at a ruck and concede a scrum. |
| 3.25pm BST15:25 | 3.25pm BST15:25 |
| 9 min Cronin throws to the back and Houston pinches it. Young sends up a high kick, which Fitzgerald takes on halfway then sends inside. Leinster go through the phases up around the Bath 10m line. | 9 min Cronin throws to the back and Houston pinches it. Young sends up a high kick, which Fitzgerald takes on halfway then sends inside. Leinster go through the phases up around the Bath 10m line. |
| 3.24pm BST15:24 | 3.24pm BST15:24 |
| 8 min Leinster scrum then, on their own 22 and Bath are penalised as James doesn’t drive straight. Gopperth, the future Wasp, finds a mighty touch down the left just inside Bath’s 22. What a kick that was. | 8 min Leinster scrum then, on their own 22 and Bath are penalised as James doesn’t drive straight. Gopperth, the future Wasp, finds a mighty touch down the left just inside Bath’s 22. What a kick that was. |
| 3.23pm BST15:23 | 3.23pm BST15:23 |
| 7 min Bath win the lineout and head towards the 22 with Fearns making good ground. Bath’s backs stand deep and go looking for space. Eastmond comes around on the loop, takes it off Louw and attacks the line, but then his wide pass for Banahan is poor and goes forwards into touch. | 7 min Bath win the lineout and head towards the 22 with Fearns making good ground. Bath’s backs stand deep and go looking for space. Eastmond comes around on the loop, takes it off Louw and attacks the line, but then his wide pass for Banahan is poor and goes forwards into touch. |
| 3.22pm BST15:22 | 3.22pm BST15:22 |
| 5 min Penalty to Bath at the scrum, which is great news for Palma-Newport, who has a wonderful beard. Ford finds touch on the right, midway inside the Leinster half. | 5 min Penalty to Bath at the scrum, which is great news for Palma-Newport, who has a wonderful beard. Ford finds touch on the right, midway inside the Leinster half. |
| Updated at 3.23pm BST | Updated at 3.23pm BST |
| 3.20pm BST15:20 | 3.20pm BST15:20 |
| 4 min The field is broken and Leinster spin it across from right to left. Heaslip loops one over the top to Madigan, who ships it on to Gopperth, but the Ireland international’s pass is forwards. | 4 min The field is broken and Leinster spin it across from right to left. Heaslip loops one over the top to Madigan, who ships it on to Gopperth, but the Ireland international’s pass is forwards. |
| 3.19pm BST15:19 | 3.19pm BST15:19 |
| 3 min Leinster’s success rate on their own feed in this tournament is a distinctly poor 78%, but they secure the ball under pressure this time. Madigan sends it up high and Watson, at 15, claims but doesn’t have space to run. Bath recycle, but then spill it just inside their own half. | 3 min Leinster’s success rate on their own feed in this tournament is a distinctly poor 78%, but they secure the ball under pressure this time. Madigan sends it up high and Watson, at 15, claims but doesn’t have space to run. Bath recycle, but then spill it just inside their own half. |
| 3.18pm BST15:18 | 3.18pm BST15:18 |
| 2 min This is all very crisp. Leinster win clean ball and Boss pokes the kick upfield, finding touch just over his own 10m line. This time it’s not a great lineout as Attwood fumbles what looked to be a reasonable throw from Webber. Scrum Leinster, 15m in from the left about 8m inside their own half. | 2 min This is all very crisp. Leinster win clean ball and Boss pokes the kick upfield, finding touch just over his own 10m line. This time it’s not a great lineout as Attwood fumbles what looked to be a reasonable throw from Webber. Scrum Leinster, 15m in from the left about 8m inside their own half. |
| 3.17pm BST15:17 | 3.17pm BST15:17 |
| 1 min Ford, in white, kicks off left-to-right. Kearney claims it safely outside his 22. How many times have I typed that in recent weeks? It’s flung back to Gopperth and he fires into touch near halfway on the right. Bath win the lineout and Ford finds a very nice touch himself with a cross-field dink into the 22. | 1 min Ford, in white, kicks off left-to-right. Kearney claims it safely outside his 22. How many times have I typed that in recent weeks? It’s flung back to Gopperth and he fires into touch near halfway on the right. Bath win the lineout and Ford finds a very nice touch himself with a cross-field dink into the 22. |
| 3.15pm BST15:15 | 3.15pm BST15:15 |
| Jerome Garces is the man with the whistle. | Jerome Garces is the man with the whistle. |
| 3.14pm BST15:14 | 3.14pm BST15:14 |
| The battle of the open-sides, Sean O’Brien v Francois Louw, is going to be magnificent. This is actually O’Brien’s first appearance for his province since the start of the season when he injured his shoulder. We could also see a head-to-head between two former rugby league teammates, Sam Burgess and Ben Te’o. Also look out for the young third-choice tight-head Kane Palma-Newport, who faces the Lion Cian Healy. | The battle of the open-sides, Sean O’Brien v Francois Louw, is going to be magnificent. This is actually O’Brien’s first appearance for his province since the start of the season when he injured his shoulder. We could also see a head-to-head between two former rugby league teammates, Sam Burgess and Ben Te’o. Also look out for the young third-choice tight-head Kane Palma-Newport, who faces the Lion Cian Healy. |
| 3.04pm BST15:04 | 3.04pm BST15:04 |
| Brian O’Driscoll is wearing maroon chinos. Where’s your messiah now, | Brian O’Driscoll is wearing maroon chinos. Where’s your messiah now, |
| Flanders | Flanders |
| Ireland? | Ireland? |
| 3.03pm BST15:03 | 3.03pm BST15:03 |
| Leinster 0-0 Bath | Leinster 0-0 Bath |
| OK we don’t have a live scores feed for this match, so I’m putting this non-event (we’ve still got 15 minutes to kick-off) right here so it appears at the top of your key event list at the top/right* of your screen. | OK we don’t have a live scores feed for this match, so I’m putting this non-event (we’ve still got 15 minutes to kick-off) right here so it appears at the top of your key event list at the top/right* of your screen. |
| Also it’s only 15 minutes to kick-off and I’m worried the football men are still on the telly. | Also it’s only 15 minutes to kick-off and I’m worried the football men are still on the telly. |
| •Delete depending on what you’re reading this on. | •Delete depending on what you’re reading this on. |
| 2.57pm BST14:57 | 2.57pm BST14:57 |
| @leinsterrugby I just found 2 tickets for the match today on the ground. Get in touch if you've lost yours #LEINvBATH | @leinsterrugby I just found 2 tickets for the match today on the ground. Get in touch if you've lost yours #LEINvBATH |
| 2.55pm BST14:55 | 2.55pm BST14:55 |
| Bath have won the toss. This isn’t cricket, so it doesn’t matter. But then I’ve been on OBO duty for six weeks, so I’m reporting it out of habit. | Bath have won the toss. This isn’t cricket, so it doesn’t matter. But then I’ve been on OBO duty for six weeks, so I’m reporting it out of habit. |
| 2.51pm BST14:51 | 2.51pm BST14:51 |
| One noteworthy name among the Bath replacements: Peter Stringer returns to the Aviva Stadium. This could be an emotional game for the former Ireland number nine. I can’t imagine supporters of Bath or Leinster, England or Ireland, would begrudge him a good game should he make it on today. | One noteworthy name among the Bath replacements: Peter Stringer returns to the Aviva Stadium. This could be an emotional game for the former Ireland number nine. I can’t imagine supporters of Bath or Leinster, England or Ireland, would begrudge him a good game should he make it on today. |
| 2.30pm BST14:30 | 2.30pm BST14:30 |
| Stat! The back rows are going to have to be on their best behaviour today: | Stat! The back rows are going to have to be on their best behaviour today: |
| 80 - @Ian_madigan (80) and @George_Fordy (69) rank 1st and 3rd for points scored in the @ChampionsCup 2014/15. Duel. pic.twitter.com/CtXGwgn3uJ | 80 - @Ian_madigan (80) and @George_Fordy (69) rank 1st and 3rd for points scored in the @ChampionsCup 2014/15. Duel. pic.twitter.com/CtXGwgn3uJ |
| 2.29pm BST14:29 | 2.29pm BST14:29 |
| If anyone fancies sending in predictions, please feel free. Leinster by 10, I reckon, in a neat reflection of Ireland v England. | If anyone fancies sending in predictions, please feel free. Leinster by 10, I reckon, in a neat reflection of Ireland v England. |
| 2.25pm BST14:25 | 2.25pm BST14:25 |
| Elsewhere today, there is football on. This being 2015, you’ve no excuse for navigating away from here rather than opening them in new tabs, but Barry Glendenning has a very entertaining match between Arsenal and Liverpool and Niall McVeigh is on the 3pm kick-off clockwatch/seeing who wins the office sweepstakes. Just remember that I’ve got the better sport right here. | Elsewhere today, there is football on. This being 2015, you’ve no excuse for navigating away from here rather than opening them in new tabs, but Barry Glendenning has a very entertaining match between Arsenal and Liverpool and Niall McVeigh is on the 3pm kick-off clockwatch/seeing who wins the office sweepstakes. Just remember that I’ve got the better sport right here. |
| 2.19pm BST14:19 | 2.19pm BST14:19 |
| The teams have been confirmed as announced earlier in the week and thus as below. | The teams have been confirmed as announced earlier in the week and thus as below. |
| The team takes a pre-match stroll out on the famous pitch. #QF pic.twitter.com/1cXOezyUtF | The team takes a pre-match stroll out on the famous pitch. #QF pic.twitter.com/1cXOezyUtF |
| Someone might want to let Bath’s social media person know that this ground is less than five years old and this isn’t THE Lansdowne Road pitch. Someone pedantic, I guess. | Someone might want to let Bath’s social media person know that this ground is less than five years old and this isn’t THE Lansdowne Road pitch. Someone pedantic, I guess. |
| 2.15pm BST14:15 | 2.15pm BST14:15 |
| Afternoon folks. Today is about one thing, and one thing only: revenge. The last time an English side went across the Irish sea and tried to take Dublin, things didn’t go too well for them. They were battered and bruised, not outfought as many expected but rather outsmarted. They got sucked into traps, gave penalties and possession away and found themselves kicked to death by a team that plays deathly dull anti-rugby but plays it mighty effectively (actually that’s kinda ironic when you think about it). A few short weeks ago in the Six Nations, England were given a royal stuffing by Ireland, more so than the 19-9 scoreline suggested. | Afternoon folks. Today is about one thing, and one thing only: revenge. The last time an English side went across the Irish sea and tried to take Dublin, things didn’t go too well for them. They were battered and bruised, not outfought as many expected but rather outsmarted. They got sucked into traps, gave penalties and possession away and found themselves kicked to death by a team that plays deathly dull anti-rugby but plays it mighty effectively (actually that’s kinda ironic when you think about it). A few short weeks ago in the Six Nations, England were given a royal stuffing by Ireland, more so than the 19-9 scoreline suggested. |
| So now England’s George Ford, Anthony Watson, David Attwood and Jonathan Joseph, humbled that day, go back to the Aviva stadium to face Leinster with revenge on their minds. Well, revenge and proving themselves proper European heavyweights, reaching the semi-finals of Europe’s premier competition and turning around English teams’ poor recent away record in European knock-out rugby. Actually, on second thoughts, let’s not get too hung up on that whole revenge thing. | So now England’s George Ford, Anthony Watson, David Attwood and Jonathan Joseph, humbled that day, go back to the Aviva stadium to face Leinster with revenge on their minds. Well, revenge and proving themselves proper European heavyweights, reaching the semi-finals of Europe’s premier competition and turning around English teams’ poor recent away record in European knock-out rugby. Actually, on second thoughts, let’s not get too hung up on that whole revenge thing. |
| Bath, beaten twice in the opening two rounds of the pool stages, are, by some distance, the underdogs today. However, they came back from the dead in said pool stages to qualify and produced one of the very finest performances of any team this season when winning in Toulouse. Leinster on the other hand have wobbled a wee bit; they’re off the pace in the Pro 12, are without a win in three and didn’t fully convince in winning their pool. It could just be that they’re feeling the effects of actually having to qualify for the competition now. Clearly part of the Anglo-French conspiracy to sideline the Celtic nations, this whole getting-in-on-merit thing. | Bath, beaten twice in the opening two rounds of the pool stages, are, by some distance, the underdogs today. However, they came back from the dead in said pool stages to qualify and produced one of the very finest performances of any team this season when winning in Toulouse. Leinster on the other hand have wobbled a wee bit; they’re off the pace in the Pro 12, are without a win in three and didn’t fully convince in winning their pool. It could just be that they’re feeling the effects of actually having to qualify for the competition now. Clearly part of the Anglo-French conspiracy to sideline the Celtic nations, this whole getting-in-on-merit thing. |
| However this revenge-mission-but-not turns out, be it Die Hard 3 (brilliant) or I Spit on Your Grave (terrible), let’s celebrate the return of the best show in northern hemisphere rugby anyhow. After what was, let’s face it, a pretty poor, stodgy Six Nations, saved by its final weekend (the whole of which I missed with flu), the European Champions Cup should provide us with tense, high-grade, attacking rugby. Indeed there are a few sides – Leinster, Toulon, Clermont, Saracens and Northampton – who you’d fancy to challenge for the Six Nations title. Never mind tradition, this is where it’s at this spring. | However this revenge-mission-but-not turns out, be it Die Hard 3 (brilliant) or I Spit on Your Grave (terrible), let’s celebrate the return of the best show in northern hemisphere rugby anyhow. After what was, let’s face it, a pretty poor, stodgy Six Nations, saved by its final weekend (the whole of which I missed with flu), the European Champions Cup should provide us with tense, high-grade, attacking rugby. Indeed there are a few sides – Leinster, Toulon, Clermont, Saracens and Northampton – who you’d fancy to challenge for the Six Nations title. Never mind tradition, this is where it’s at this spring. |
| The number of Six Nations stars on show today lends weight to this theory. The hosts make nine changes and feature nine of the championships’ winning players in their starting XV. You can add internationals Fergus McFadden and Isaac Boss to that lot, not to mention Richardt Strauss, Jack McGrath, Marty Moore, Eoin Reddan and Gordon D’Arcy on the bench. Bath too have shuffled their side from that which consigned London Welsh to relegation last Sunday, with Watson, Joseph, Ford and Attwood all coming in as well as Wales’ prop Paul James.. Vengeance or no, this is a hell of a good looking match. | The number of Six Nations stars on show today lends weight to this theory. The hosts make nine changes and feature nine of the championships’ winning players in their starting XV. You can add internationals Fergus McFadden and Isaac Boss to that lot, not to mention Richardt Strauss, Jack McGrath, Marty Moore, Eoin Reddan and Gordon D’Arcy on the bench. Bath too have shuffled their side from that which consigned London Welsh to relegation last Sunday, with Watson, Joseph, Ford and Attwood all coming in as well as Wales’ prop Paul James.. Vengeance or no, this is a hell of a good looking match. |
| Kick-off is at 3.15pm BST. Here are your teams: | Kick-off is at 3.15pm BST. Here are your teams: |
| Leinster: Rob Kearney; Fergus McFadden, Ben Te’o, Ian Madigan; Luke Fitzgerald; Jimmy Gopperth, Issac Boss; Cian Healy, Sean Cronin, Mike Ross, Devin Toner, Mike McCarthy, Jordi Murphy, Sean O’Brien, Jamie Heaslip (c). | Leinster: Rob Kearney; Fergus McFadden, Ben Te’o, Ian Madigan; Luke Fitzgerald; Jimmy Gopperth, Issac Boss; Cian Healy, Sean Cronin, Mike Ross, Devin Toner, Mike McCarthy, Jordi Murphy, Sean O’Brien, Jamie Heaslip (c). |
| Replacements: Richard Strauss, Jack McGrath, Marty Moore, Tom Denton, Dominic Ryan, Eoin Reddan, Gordon D’Arcy, Zane Kirchner. | Replacements: Richard Strauss, Jack McGrath, Marty Moore, Tom Denton, Dominic Ryan, Eoin Reddan, Gordon D’Arcy, Zane Kirchner. |
| Bath: Anthony Watson; Horacio Agulla, Jonathan Joseph, Kyle Eastmond, Matt Banahan; George Ford, Micky Young; Paul James, Rob Webber, Kane Palma-Newport, Stuart Hooper (c), Dave Attwood, Carl Fearns, Francois Louw, Leroy Houston. | Bath: Anthony Watson; Horacio Agulla, Jonathan Joseph, Kyle Eastmond, Matt Banahan; George Ford, Micky Young; Paul James, Rob Webber, Kane Palma-Newport, Stuart Hooper (c), Dave Attwood, Carl Fearns, Francois Louw, Leroy Houston. |
| Replacements: Ross Batty, Nick Auterac, Max Lahiff, Matt Garvey, Alafoti Faosiliva, Peter Stringer, Sam Burgess, Tom Homer. | Replacements: Ross Batty, Nick Auterac, Max Lahiff, Matt Garvey, Alafoti Faosiliva, Peter Stringer, Sam Burgess, Tom Homer. |