Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Four Ireland players in Leinster 'A' squad for Connacht Eagles

Byrne of Ireland during the Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship match between Ireland and Scotland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. (Photo By Harry Murphy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Leinster Rugby has named its ‘A’ squad to face Connacht Eagles in the first round of the IRFU ‘A’ Interpro Championship at Creggs RFC on Saturday.

ADVERTISEMENT

With no senior fixtures for two weeks, these ‘A’ matches provide some much-needed game time for Leinster’s extended squad. Academy Manager Simon Broughton has selected a mix of senior and emerging talent, led by captain James Culhane.

Four Ireland internationals are included in the 25-man panel, with Will Connors and Harry Byrne starting; and Ross Byrne and Max Deegan feature on the bench. None of the four were selected for Ireland’s wider Autumn Nations Series squad, with the 23-times capped Ross Byrne by some way the most experienced of the quartet in terms of Test rugby.

Video Spacer

Can England bounce back to beat the Boks? | RPTV

Boks Office link up with For the Love of Rugby to discuss the Autumn Nations Series matches. Watch the full show on RugbyPass TV

Watch now

Video Spacer

Can England bounce back to beat the Boks? | RPTV

Boks Office link up with For the Love of Rugby to discuss the Autumn Nations Series matches. Watch the full show on RugbyPass TV

Watch now

Ireland back-row Connors and Harry Byrne bring valuable experience to the starting lineup, while Ross Byrne and Deegan add significant depth from the bench. The team also sees URC try-scorers Aitzol King and Andrew Osborne in the backline.

Ben Brownlee and Liam Turner will start in the centre together, with Fintan Gunne at scrumhalf.

John McKee returns from injury in the front row alongside Michael Milne and Rory McGuire. 

Brian Deeny and Conor O’Tighearnaigh are selected in the second row, with Diarmuid Mangan, Connors and Culhane completing the pack.

ADVERTISEMENT

Twenty-year-old Ruben Moloney starts at the fullback.

The game kicks off at 1 pm and will be streamed by Connacht Rugby.

LEINSTER A:
15. Ruben Moloney
14. Aitzol King
13. Liam Turner
12. Ben Brownlee
11. Andrew Osborne
10. Harry Byrne
9. Fintan Gunne
1. Michael Milne
2. John McKee
3. Rory McGuire
4. Brian Deeny
5. Conor O’Tighearnaigh
6. Diarmuid Mangan
7. Will Connors
8. James Culhane (CAPTAIN)

REPLACEMENTS:
16. Stephen Smyth
17. Alex Usanov
18. Niall Smyth
19. Max Deegan
20. Liam Molony
21. Cormac Foley
22. Ross Byrne
23. Caspar Gabriel
24. Conor Fahy
25. Ciarán Mangan

Related

In this episode of Walk the Talk, Jim Hamilton chats with double World Cup winner Damian de Allende about all things Springbok rugby, including RWC2023 and the upcoming Ireland series. Watch now for free on RugbyPass TV

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

H
Head high tackle 2 hours ago
'Razor's conservatism is in danger of halting New Zealand's progress'

I really dont know what the problem is Nick. Cane was immense this year and no one below him demanded the job. TJ perhaps less so but he was always going to start the season at 9 anyway due to the thing they call experience. I think guys like Lakai will have learnt a lot from the likes of Cane and Ill garrantee TJ has helped the Roigard/Ratima/Hothem settle in to their roles much better than they would have had there been no experience around. At the start of 2024 these guys had 3 tests between them. Im glad TJ was around.

The biggest fail area from my pov is centre. Razors lack of desire to change what is clearly failing is a worry. Is he waiting for a full year of SR? Is he not sure? I dont know the answer of course but He fiddled where he shouldnt have and didnt touch the area he should have. WJ at 15 is an experiment. Its not a clear decision yet either. WJ is an amazing attacking player. He isnt an amazing kicker or an amazing decision maker.

The 10 position is being handled very badly too. Its Dmac but BB is constantly in there, Its BB but no 15 to back that up or its no one. GET RID of the centre pairing and get Love in at 15. The backs will function way better. All the players get their SR backs working far better than Razor has gotten, and with no dedicated backs coach in the ABs its a clear problem area.


Also this comparing SA with NZ when 1 side is retaining all their stars and the other side has had some major changes isnt a apples with apples comparison. Imagine comparing a F1 racing team where 1 team was 100% settled and the other was brand new....Just not a comparison worth doing as it proves nothing other than the blatently obvious.

19 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Easterby takes the reins as cracks appear in Ireland's masterplan Easterby takes the reins as cracks appear in Ireland's masterplan
Search