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Preview: Leeds Carnegie vs London Irish

Decisiveness reqired...
By Peter Creek January 24 2008
Life as a Leeds Carnegie fan is a bit of a roller coaster ride at the moment. This weekend’s encounter with London Irish is not a match for the faint hearted as a lot rides on its outcome. For Leeds this game is the first of a series of “cup-finals” which will decide the club’s fate come the end of May.

London Irish, who are currently enjoying a wonderful run in the Heineken Cup, have developed into a right set of party poopers of late. They will be hell bent on precipitating another relegation season on Leeds just as they did at HQ two years ago. As the season slowly ticks away everything has suddenly become very clear and simple for the Carnegies.

 

A win on Sunday followed by a winning run which will lift them clear of the drop zone is the answer. Stuart Lancaster has an easy job this week – pick the best team for the job and motivate it with this simple message: “ If you want to stay in the Premiership then win this game” The management team have experimented almost non-stop this season. The club’s strongest side is fairly obvious to most observers:

 

15. Lee Hinton  - Not the strongest of kickers but  confident under the high ball and an incisive runner with it in his hands.

14. Tom Biggs – First name on the teamsheet

13. Rob Vickerman – improving with every game and the man most likely to.

12. Lee Blackett – solid in defence and has shown glimpses of his attacking talents.

11. John Hepworth – must be in the side for his defence splitting runs.

10. Alberto Di Bernado – has shown, on occasions, real GP class.

9. Joe Bedford – capable, on his day, of dictating the play for Leeds.

1. Mike MacDonald – solid in the scrum, dangerous from close in.

2. Villi Ma’asi – The find of the season, a big impact player.

3. Colin Noon – Best scrummager in the club.

4. Stewart Hooper – consistent in the lineout, must lead decisively.

5. Eirik Lund -  Having a great season after a slow start.

6. John Dunbar – peerless on the blindside, big hitter.

7. Calum Clark – quick and fearless.

8. Rhys Oakley – consistent and influential.

Subs: James Brooks, Andy Tuilagi, Tommy McGee, Michael Cusack, Pablo Bouza, Danny Paul and Phil Nielsen.

 

Right that’s the team picked and the pre-match speech written. Lanny and his management team can relax on Saturday night and put their feet up. For the rest of you it is just as easy. Turn up early on Sunday, have a few beers with the excellent London Irish fans then shout yourself silly for eighty minutes while the boys do the business for us on the pitch.

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24 Jan, 2008 10:19 Report
farmertyke (IP Logged)
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Re: Preview: Leeds Carnegie vs London Irish
As you say team selection quite easy really. Might have had Balding in or is he still injured?

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24 Jan, 2008 13:02 Report
DCM (IP Logged)
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Re: Preview: Leeds Carnegie vs London Irish
Hepworth on the wing?

Unlikely, that lump Satala will be there to display his complete unease with his surroundings.

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24 Jan, 2008 13:15 Report
apb (IP Logged)
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Re: Preview: Leeds Carnegie vs London Irish
DCM

Please moderate your language. There's really no need to be abusive.

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24 Jan, 2008 14:18 Report
DCM (IP Logged)
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Re: Preview: Leeds Carnegie vs London Irish
APB - I don't mean that in an offensive way.

Lump can be a good quality. And if Satala could use his frame more effectively, I'd be happy!

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24 Jan, 2008 15:54 Report
tykesam (IP Logged)
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Re: Preview: Leeds Carnegie vs London Irish
Cant wait,
The inlaws are coming up (Irish fans) should be a great game,lets hope the weather dosnt intervene.
p.s.I agree with some other posters time to give Armstrong and/or Hughes a run.

SOMETIMES YOU JUST HAVE TO HOPE AND PRAY!

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24 Jan, 2008 16:10 Report
Griff (IP Logged)
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Re: Preview: Leeds Carnegie vs London Irish
Nice preview, although I'm not sure you can really blame us at HQ for your relegation... It was the first game of the season, there were others that contributed (and before you scream I fully understand that giving a home fixture away was deemed to be stupid it's still only one game).

I'm looking forward to my trip back to my college stomping-ground, see y'all there.

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24 Jan, 2008 18:16 Report
CardyRoadTyke (IP Logged)
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Re: Preview: Leeds Carnegie vs London Irish
Good Preview, thanks Peter

Looking forward to the Lads performing to their strengths and pulling off what in theory (bearing mind Irish's HC form) would be an unlikely win.

Here's hoping - Come on you Leeds!

------------------------------------
Watching the Cricket 'till August, then
looking forward to winning rugby in ND1...

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24 Jan, 2008 18:29 Report
Wildwillie (IP Logged)
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Re: Preview: Leeds Carnegie vs London Irish
Griff - we all went to HQ that day & came away thinking that it had been a big mistake surrendering home advantage. After that game our season never really took off.

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24 Jan, 2008 21:49 Report
oopnorth (IP Logged)
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Re: Preview: Leeds Carnegie vs London Irish
The LI MB is very quiet about the game, and are not coming over here to assail us with merry Irish/Reading quips.

Perhaps they can't spell Carnegie on Google.

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25 Jan, 2008 09:50 Report
Griff (IP Logged)
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Re: Preview: Leeds Carnegie vs London Irish
Apologies oopnorth - many of our more sociable folks had a bit of a heavy weekend at our away match in Treviso. Don't be offended if they have trouble raising their spirits for a January match in sunny Leeds (some people don't know the magic).

Wildwillie, while I can understand the feeling about the LDH can you really claim it was to blame for the entire season ? Surely coaches are there to get players playing their best. Professional players can't afford to let one-match affect their whole season and supporters have to let stuff go at some point.

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25 Jan, 2008 10:05 Report
apb (IP Logged)
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Re: Preview: Leeds Carnegie vs London Irish
No Griff, you don't understand.

ITS ALL YOUR FAULT.

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25 Jan, 2008 10:34 Report
Griff (IP Logged)
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Re: Preview: Leeds Carnegie vs London Irish
Ah, now you put it so clearly I see.

Sorry.

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25 Jan, 2008 10:46 Report
apb (IP Logged)
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Re: Preview: Leeds Carnegie vs London Irish
Yeah, so ha! Let that be a lesson to you young man!!!

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25 Jan, 2008 11:52 Report
Giles the drunk (IP Logged)
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Re: Preview: Leeds Carnegie vs London Irish
"We all agree Terry the Tyke is a Hamster"

One of my favourite away trips !!

Come on you Irish !!

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25 Jan, 2008 11:57 Report
Fan of Rugby (IP Logged)
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Re: Preview: Leeds Carnegie vs London Irish
The team in full is:
15. Leigh Hinton
14. John Holtby
13. Jonny Hepworth
12. Lee Blackett
11. Tom Biggs
10. Alberto Di Bernardo
9. Joe Bedford (c)
1. Mike MacDonald
2. Vili Ma'asi
3. Tommy McGee
4. Pablo Bouza
5. Erik Lund
6. Jon Dunbar
7. Calum Clark
8. Rhys Oakley
16. Fosi Pala'amo
17. James Parkes
18. Danny Paul
19. Adam Balding
20. James Brookes
21. Andy Tuilagi
22. Rob Vickerman

Looks a very strong team. Looking forward to seeing Hepworth in the centres with Blackett. Holtby in for Satala after impressing in training.

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25 Jan, 2008 12:06 Report
Mark_C (IP Logged)
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Re: Preview: Leeds Carnegie vs London Irish
Let's hope he impresses on the pitch too!

Looks a good side, though.

Is Welding still injured?

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25 Jan, 2008 12:10 Report
prawn cocktail (IP Logged)
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Re: Preview: Leeds Carnegie vs London Irish
Giles, at least WE knew what poor Terry was. I have no idea what the current thing is. I do know, however, which I prefer.

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25 Jan, 2008 12:24 Report
Wildwillie (IP Logged)
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Re: Preview: Leeds Carnegie vs London Irish
Nice to see John Holtby getting a start.

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25 Jan, 2008 14:25 Report
Fan of Rugby (IP Logged)
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Re: Preview: Leeds Carnegie vs London Irish
Yeh, I think Richard Welding is still injured

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26 Jan, 2008 16:30 Report
Tyke Steve (IP Logged)
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Re: Preview: Leeds Carnegie vs London Irish
If all goes well I think this should be a win for us. I think we can get the result here.

Your bullets cannot harm me! My wings are like a shield of Steel!

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26 Jan, 2008 16:33 Report
Dorset Tyke (IP Logged)
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Re: Preview: Leeds Carnegie vs London Irish
I don't think it is going to matter either way Wuss are beating Bris so that is us....

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26 Jan, 2008 16:37 Report
Tyke Steve (IP Logged)
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Re: Preview: Leeds Carnegie vs London Irish
Quote:
Dorset Tyke
I don't think it is going to matter either way Wuss are beating Bris so that is us....

In that case, we'll have to win with a 4 try BP then (Sm125)

Your bullets cannot harm me! My wings are like a shield of Steel!

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26 Jan, 2008 21:46 Report
MadMonk (IP Logged)
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Re: Preview: Leeds Carnegie vs London Irish
No pressure then! At least our Wuss mates will be backing the visitors.(Sm144)

It is also a "must win" game for Irish who now have a taste for Heineken (competition, not beer - get real!) We have a long climb to make GP top 6 (- Now HC quarters are fixed we cannot rely on an English club winning so 7th will not do.)

Unfortunately having recently returned from Treviso I will be following procedures online but look forward to the return leg at the end of the season

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