Crossfield kick by Chris McDonnell – Part 8

For the first time this season I am not fully confident of a Leinster win. It is Black Friday I guess that might have something to do with it.

This lot have won their last 5 games, they have a mean defence, they are at home and we have a full team missing with Ireland or injured with from playing with Ireland.

Now that's out of the way I do think we will win but this will be a real test. I like the pack and the backline is exciting if a bit raw but they will have had the Benefit of training together for the past two weeks or so. Some of the younger players getting a real chance to step up.

I'd like to give a big up to Michael Bent, playing tighthead tonight. He had been a fantastic servant for us and while he has never hit the heights we would have loved, he has never the less got us out of many's a hole. He's covered both tight and loose and not many can do that. He is better at loose but then again most props are. Anyway give it socks tonight Michael.

Another player playing today is kinda in the same boat as Bent and that's Dom Ryan. Another who has watched younger players coming through and passing him by in the pecking order but is always ready to do his job when called on. I hope both have stormers today and give Leo some real selection problems when the internationals come back.

I find writing much easier when I have something to give out about but I have to say Leo, stu and girv are doing a really good job this season so credit where's it's due.

A win would be great tonight, a loss with a bonus would be ok, getting beat without a bonus not good but if we win with a bonus then we need to move to a new league. (maybe a topic for another day).

Chris McDonnell - 47 years old, 32 years of playing rugby union and 12 playing rugby league, I have started a rugby match in every position apart from 9. Find myself as a tighthead prop these days. Leinster fan first and foremost but will watch Munster if they’re on the telly.

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Crossfield kick by Chris McDonnell – Part 7

Hello boys and girls, it's almost impossible to have a decent moan about Leinster these days as we are not only playing great rugby be we are winning too. So I'll turn to the Ireland team.

Reports say that Rob Kearney is starting fullback. I am not going to get into the fact that nothing he has done in 3 seasons suggests he should play for Ireland, Joe picked him so that's that.

Joe in his wisdom has selected Trimble, Zebo, Kearney, Payne and Henshaw (4 full backs and a 6 foot 3 winger). So basically Joe believes we can't beat them by playing rugby so it's a box kicking fiesta for the start to the finish. Kick the ball high into the sky and chase after it. Hopefully Conor Murray gets his boxkicks right and the chasers chase all day, otherwise we are going to get a tanking.

Now I know most people believe we will get beat anyway so at least have a cut and play some rugby but with this selection Joe see a possible way to win, it's going to be horrible to watch but he thinks its our best chance.

Now the other selection that causes concern is Jordi Murphy at 7. I am a Murphy fan kinda. He's a very intelligent rugby player and suited to playing 6 or 8 but I have grave concerns about him at 7. I'd rate JVDF, Sean O'Brien and even Dan Leavy as better 7's. Jordi won't make mistakes and won't give away penalties, he will make tackles and hit rucks but will not give you what any of the other 3 give you. He's not the power house that SOB is. He's not as quick and doesn't make as many tackles as Josh and he's not as brutish and offers the try scoring option that Dan gives.

Saying that he done a very good job v Munster but Munster played a very tight, straight up type of game that day, similar to what South Africa did in the summer. The allblacks will not run straight lines all day and a real open side I believe is what's needed.

I am not going to predict the result. It's simple for us to have a chance Murrary's boxkicks need to be on the money and Sexton needs to make even kick count on the score board. Oh and please god don't let any of the All Blacks run at the turnstile that is Rob Kearney.

Chris McDonnell - 47 years old, 32 years of playing rugby union and 12 playing rugby league, I have started a rugby match in every position apart from 9. Find myself as a tighthead prop these days. Leinster fan first and foremost but will watch Munster if they’re on the telly.

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Crossfield kick by Chris McDonnell – Part 6

First game of our European campaign today.

I really like the team even though I'd love Johnny to be playing I think Joey will definitely be up to the task.

I didn't understand dropping JVDF last week for Jordi Murphy and equally after his performance I don't know why Jordi is dropped from the squad. Leo doesn't reward form, it's like he picks teams weeks in advance and sticks to it baring injury.

Saying that it's a really good pack and I think we are on for a good European run this season.

Our centres really clicked last week and filled Leinster fans with lots of hope for the future.

There's been a lot of talk that the lineout is better and on our own ball it definitely is (apart from one or two wobbly ones from Tracy). We still put no pressure on their ball. The tallest man in rugby stands at the back watching and two or three players shuffle up and down the lineout and by the time they decide who should jump and where the ball is already lost.

Throw Dev up and force their hooker to beat him at full stretch. It's as simple as that.

Anyway I said last week we'd win by 15 points without a bonus and I wasn't far off this week we will win by 6.

My only gripe is Rob Kearney and Zane Kirchner both are full backs and only one should play at a time, my choice is ZK as he has been attacking better. Both miss tackles and both shoot out of the line and miss man and ball, see Munster second try and watch Rob go for the interception and miss giving them a walk over for an easy 7.

Even with both of them and the risks involved with their defence there will be 4 points in the bag this evening.

What's the betting on Ireland 4 - France 0?

Chris McDonnell - 47 years old, 32 years of playing rugby union and 12 playing rugby league, I have started a rugby match in every position apart from 9. Find myself as a tighthead prop these days. Leinster fan first and foremost but will watch Munster if they’re on the telly.

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Crossfield kick by Chris McDonnell – Part 5

I am not a fan of rotating the squad but even I realised that our season could pivot with the next 4 games coming up so resting some and getting others up to match pace was not a bad idea.

A reasonable gamble that paid off.

The pleasing thing was a definite improvement in the weakest parts of our game namely our lineout and our poor second half of games.

Leo take a bow you got it right.

Big shout out to Noel Reid who put his body on the line at the end to win the game for us. Well done Mr Reid. The attacking part of his game was never in question so we may finally get to see the best of this young man.

I think we might have found a 9 although I think I noticed a sidestep at the base of some rucks (snap out of that Mr Gibson-Park).

Good job also to the two debutantes and 80 minutes for Ian Nagle was a real good shift.

Only problem now seems to be the scrum is not the weapon it use to be and with Munster really firing at scrumtime this is going to be a major factor in this game.

Anyway for Saturday I'd like to see this matchday squad...

15. Henshaw 14. Kirchner 13. Ringrose 12. Reid 11. Isa 10. Sexton 9. Gibson-Park

1. Healy 2. Cronin 3. Furlong 4. Molony 5. Toner 6. Ruddock 7. JVDF 8. Heaslip
McGrath, Tracy, Ross, Kearney, Leavy, McGrath, Carbury, A Byrne

Mystic MC last week once again predicted another win for the boys in blue I am going for another win against our biggest rivals on Saturday. I'm going for a 15 point win but no bonus point.

Chris McDonnell 47 years old, 32 years of playing rugby union and 12 playing rugby league, I have started a rugby match in every position apart from 9. Find myself as a tighthead prop these days. Leinster fan first and foremost but will watch Munster if they’re on the telly.

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Crossfield kick by Chris McDonnell – Week 4

I got last weeks prediction correct, bonus point win. I am going for the same again tonight.

This is a very strong side and a powerful bench, we are getting better each week and players coming back can only be a good thing.

4 tries and a 10 point win.

This game maybe be the Johnny Sexton show but I think this game will be won in the frontrow. 3 serious athletes starting and a bench of 3 totally different players, McGrath ( the best loosehead in Europe) Tracy a ball on fire and the every reliable Mike Ross. If that's not enough 5 top class backrowers in the squad to top it off. If we get the lineout right both on our ball and start to attack the opposition ball we could have one of the best packs in Europe.

Interesting Leo picks the same centres again ( funny he rarely rotated the centres last season either). I am as big a fan of Noel Reid going forward as I am the total opposite to his defence.

I believe he's vital for the type of game we are trying to play and if he get the defence right could be a top class player for us. He hardly got a game last year and with Henshaw getting closer he may find himself out of the squad quickly enough if he doesn't.

The biggest talking point about the squad is the 6-2 split with two halfbacks on the bench with 6 caps between them. It's a risk Leo but I like the idea of taking chances and we might just get a few minutes with a forward ( Sean Cronin on the wing or Dan Leavy at 12) it will make it very interesting.

Anyways signing off as a very happy Leinster fan, I'm not a glass half full type normally but really see progress so far this season and as one of Leo's biggest critics hats off he's certainly getting it right so far this season. Keep it up Leo.

Chris McDonnell 47 years old, 32 years of playing rugby union and 12 playing rugby league, I have started a rugby match in every position apart from 9. Find myself as a tighthead prop these days. Leinster fan first and foremost but will watch Munster if they’re on the telly.

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Crossfield kick by Chris McDonnell–Week 3

I honestly thought we would win last weekend and up until the interception I was looking good with my prediction.

Plenty of positives and massive improvement on the week before.

3 tries v Glasgow away is a very good days attacking work.

Defence let us down I hate to harp on the old days but shaggy, hickey and Isa would not have allowed any one man to score 4 against us.

The only thing I will mention about the collapse of a 10 point lead was Cadbury's running of the ball that led to the interception was the correct thing to do.

We had a massive amount of space, quick ball and numbers out wide.  The problem was rob Kearney drifted outside Seymour allowing the interception. Mr Henry's main point in his time with us was we need to run straight, if rob had listened the Henry we would have had 5 points in the bag rather than nothing. He got paid a lot of money to point out the simple things and we didn't do as he said.

If Rob had ran a straight line he would have ghosted past Seymour and had himself and Zane in open space with a defender 35 yards back ( who was waiting on a Cadbury clearance kick)

It was then a simple 2v1 for the bonus point try and the win.

Rob did exactly what Ben Teo did in the European semi final and ran outside as Madigan threw the interception.

People are spouting on about game management, game management is putting games beyond reach of the opposition, Cadbury's game management was correct, rob's line was not. If we are to get back to the top table we need to 1.  be able to spot these opportunities and 2. Finish them off.

I really hope we continue to be adventurous as I believe this is our best chance to progress and not only win but win playing attacking rugby.

As for this weeks team, good to see some players back and hopefully we kick on. Not sure about molony and JVDF on the bench, if it's to rest them they should have had the week off, i can't think of any other reason as both are playing really well and should be now considered first choice.

Maybe Healy should have started and bring on McGrath but no biggie there.

It is great to see Cian getting some form back.

I am predicting a bonus point win tonight and onwards and upwards for the boys in blue.

Chris McDonnell - 47 years old, 32 years of playing rugby union and 12 playing rugby league, I have started a rugby match in every position apart from 9. Find myself as a tighthead prop these days. Leinster fan first and foremost but will watch Munster if they’re on the telly.

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The Crossfield Kick by Chris McDonnell - week 2

Firstly I watched last weeks game from a hospital bed so it's hard to really tell what when on but I think we tried to pass the ball and offload more than last season but as I have said before the skill set is not the same standard as it used to be, saying that practice makes perfect. Keep it up lads.

We did drop a bonus point and made a bad team look almost decent.

There were some very good individual performances but as a team we didn't really gel.

Leo has a habit of not allowing a team going into a big game a practice run the week before, preseason lineups looked nothing like the team that started on Friday. We made 8 changes from the previous week going into the first European game last season and got spanked.

Players need to play with the same players week in week out to get the understanding required to play off the cuff attacking rugby.

Sexton, BOD, Darcy, Rob K, and Isa played together all the time and knew exactly what each other would do without having to second guess.

It doesn't have to be the same 15 every week but at least 11 or 12 of the same starting lineup to get the continuity and balance right.

After round one the four big winners were Glasgow, Munster, Ulster and the Ospreys.  Cardiff  maybe?

Now to this week, I'd like to see almost the same team maybe with Zane K at 15 and Tracy at 2.

Healy to last longer and Ross to play more.

McCarthy needs to up his level but I think that will come with game time.

We are heading into a massive game. Glasgow have just thumped the champions and now get us at home; a win for them and they'll be odds on for a top four finish already. For us minimum of a losing point and stopping them get one.

Saying that if Leo gets the selection and tactics right we are well capable of beating Glasgow.

Finally I am delighted we finally have a coach with real experience at he club.

Well done Leo you have really put the club first with this appointment.

Chris McDonnell - 47 years old, 32 years of playing rugby union and 12 playing rugby league, I have started a rugby match in every position apart from 9. Find myself as a tighthead prop these days. Leinster fan first and foremost but will watch Munster if they’re on the telly.

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Leinster should attack more and rotate less

After several comments on our Facebook page, we have finally convinced him to write a post for us. 

Please welcome Chris McDonnell making his Harpin debut

As this is my first attempt at this I'll keep it simple.

First and foremost I am a Leinster fan who deems Munster our greatest rivals but personally as much as I like beating them if we can't win league or ERC I secretly hope they do.

I shoot from the hip and I am not very PC.

I believe we have had a massive drop off in talent and skill set in our first team.

I believe that we went from Joe's passing and running at spaces game to this running at faces, win the collision rugby rather than beat the man.

Until we try to create and use space we will be a shell of the team we could be.

I blame Matt O’Connor out loud for a lot of this but do realise we lost the bod's, shaggy's, Leo and Shane Jennings all very close to each other along with the IRFU messing about with Sexton sending him to France, forcing Isa to retire and never replacing Hines or Brad Thorne. We've replaced no one. Best signing in ages is Henshaw but he's replacing both Madigan and Teo, I'm not sure if that's great business as we won't see too much of Henshaw because of the Ireland setup and his injury.

I was also opposed to Leo getting the job, I saw nothing in his year as forwards coach to suggest he was the man to lead the club. He let Quinn Roux go and signed Douglas who went from an international secondrow to a J3 player in a matter of months and back to a World Cup secondrow as soon as a he got away from Leo.

Equally I don't understand why Triggs and Nagle are at the club and believe they are going to block the paths of Molony, Kearney and James Ryan considering we have Dev and Mike in the squad.

We have a squad of international rugby players, a superb academy and a massive catchment area.

It's like buying a Rolls-Royce and letting your 16 year old nephew drive it because you've had a chat with him about cars plus he was very good at driving games on PlayStation. It doesn't make sense. The argument no one wanted the job doesn't wash, since Leo was appointed, Ulster, Munster and Glasgow have all had top class experienced coaches appointed.

Saying that, I do believe the Leo and Gerv have made all the right noises durning the summer their train of thought seems to be going in the right direction, so they get my full backing (until Christmas at least).

One last gripe…I was not a fan of the rotation system Leo used last season and thought we should have for at least half a game during preseason played with a team close to the one which will start the league next weekend.

I worry about losing Kurt he has been fantastic for us think we need a replacement fast. I wish him all the best back home and hope everything works out for him and his family.

Still it has to be said we are plenty good enough to win the league and I'd expect us to do so - 3 years without a league title is not acceptable.

We have the best pack by a mile in the league and even without our first 8 our second is the still the best pack in the league, Sexton on his day is the man but we do need someone to score tries; Dave, Ferg, Zane and Rob need to add 5 pointers regularly the past 2 seasons.  Our attack is not good enough, these players are - so let's sort it out lads.

I am hoping that Noel Reid learns to defend as I believe he could be the key to moving the ball - he attacks the way a Leinster centre should do.

Young Mr Ringrose may get quicker ball without Big Ben as inside centre which could allow him to cross the line a little more himself and then there's Ferg as well.

We also have a bunch of very talented young players coming through (too many to mention) and I have very high hopes for them.

Ok so I know all this sounds very negative but I do genuinely believe we will get back on track this year. I think a league title and getting out of our group would be enough to keep me happy, I don't mind losing too much but only if we try play the right way.

Anyway here's to another great season of Leinster rugby

Chris McDonnell - 47 years old, 32 years of playing rugby union and 12 playing rugby league, I have started a rugby match in every position apart from 9. Find myself as a tighthead prop these days. Leinster fan first and foremost but will watch Munster if they’re on the telly.

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