Heineken Rugby Cup final

[JimmyGreaves]

Great for Irish rugby.

Leinster 32-23 Toulouse

Heineken Cup champions Toulouse beaten by a great Leinster effort. Let's hope they win it now

[pharvey]

Didn't get to see the game unfortunately as I'm on my way back to China. From the write-ups though, it certainly sounds like a frenetic game!! Doesn't sound like BOD was on form though - despite his try.

[Arcadian]

Really good game, can`t agree about wanting Leinster to win it though as Northampton (my team) play Perpignan in the other semi today.

[Arcadian]

Northampton v Leinster today, come on Saints!

[pharvey]

Well, for those in the slightest interested: -

The teams:

Leinster: 15 Isa Nacewa, 14 Shane Horgan, 13 Brian O'Driscoll, 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Luke Fitzgerald, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Sean O'Brien, 6 Kevin McLaughlin, 5 Nathan Hines, 4 Leo Cullen (capt), 3 Mike Ross, 2 Richardt Strauss, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements: 16 Jason Harris-Wright, 17 Heinke van der Merwe, 18 Stan Wright, 19 Devin Toner, 20 Shane Jennings, 21 Isaac Boss, 22 Ian Madigan, 23 Fergus McFadden.

Northampton: 15 Ben Foden, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Jon Clarke, 12 James Downey, 11 Paul Diggin, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Lee Dickson, 8 Roger Wilson, 7 Phil Dowson, 6 Calum Clark, 5 Christian Day, 4 Courtney Lawes, 3 Brian Mujati, 2 Dylan Hartley (capt), 1 Soane Tonga'uiha.
Replacements: 16 Brett Sharman, 17 Alex Waller, 18 Tom Mercey, 19 Mark Sorenson, 20 Mark Easter, 21 Stuart Commins, 22 Shane Geraghty, 23 Joe Ansbro.

Date: Saturday, May 21
Kick-off: 17:00 (16:00 GMT)
Venue: Millennium Stadium
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant Referees: Jerome Garces (France), Pascal Gauzere (France)

Personally I'll be watching (or at least trying to) as a neutral - both have certainly looked good through the competition, with the Saints actually with a 100% record - should they win the final, they'll be the first side in the history of the competition to take the title unbeaten. Unfortunately for them, I don't quite see it happening - Leinster by 5 pts.

Should be a great battle in the forwards though - Northampton with the upper hand in the front 5, Leinster undoubtedly favorites in the back row.

BOD and Isa Nacewa to lead the way in the backs.

Here's to a great game - hopefully the donkey of a French ref will let the game flow

[dtaai-maai]

Here's to a great game - hopefully the donkey of a French ref will let the game flow

Who??

donkeyref.jpg (12.95 KiB) Viewed 784 times

[pharvey]

Seems a good likeness......

[JimmyGreaves]

Yes, Really looking forward to this one.

Both sides have done really well to get this far and I hope they are all 100% fit so we have a great game of rugby and that's the only 100% I want!

[barrys]

Does anyone know of any Internet site streaming the match life and which is accessible here in Thailand?

[pharvey]

Does anyone know of any Internet site streaming the match life and which is accessible here in Thailand?

Your best bet Barry is to go to http://www.myp2p.eu
Click on the ''Live Sports'' Tab
Followed by "Rugby Tab'' and you'll get a full list of what is available.

I have found over recent months that a better stream (if available) can be obtained directly through ''Sopcast''. You'll need to download the file - small, safe and free. Once done, go to ''live Channels'' and look for ''Sportzone'' which tends to show the rugby.

Hope all works out OK for you and you get to see the game

[EDIT] Link for Sopcast download http://www.sopcast.com/download/
Direct link for Leinster vs Northampton http://www.myp2p.eu/broadcast.php?match ... art=sports

[JimmyGreaves]

What a game of two halves and well done leinster. I was down in the dumps after 40 mins but soon shot to life. Cracking game!

This was an interesting quote

'This is a big mental hit for a fairly sizeable chunk of the England squad after the Six Nations. Hope we don't meet the Irish in NZ.'


Barry the Heineken Cup final and games are on Hua Hin Cable eurosport 2 channel.

[barrys]

Hi pharvey,

Thanks a million for that!!

Managed to watch it from your link, though I almost turned it off and went to bed after 40 minutes.

Delighted I didn't though!!

Northampton undefeated all season up to the final, and then ...

... what a massive 2nd half altogether by Leinster


Great game of rugby, the quintessential example of a game of 2 halves.

Congratulations Leinster - what a superb performance!!

[barrys]

Barry the Heineken Cup final and games are on Hua Hin Cable eurosport 2 channel.

Thanks for the tip JG, but where I live in a small village outside Paknampran we don't have cable TV

But never mind - we get to see most things we want between True and the Internet!!

[pharvey]

You're more than welcome Barry - more than happy to share with fellow supporters of the ''higher game''!! You'll find the site(s) great for a big selection of sporting events.

And what a game it was! I think Sexton may just be a shoe-in for the Irish XV , what a performance - 28 pts!

Certainly cannot take anything away from Northampton - quite frankly mullered Leinster and their forwards in the first 40. Then what a turnaround....... must have been one hell of a half-time pep talk!

Congrats to both sides on a great spectacle and a great advertisement for Rugby Union as a whole. Well done Leinster on a hard fought and well deserved title - ''Champions of Europe''