How a short Dublin walk felt like a millions miles on Saturday for one set of Leinster brothers
Just a short walk separates the RDS from the Aviva Stadium’s back pitch in Dublin, but the approximate 950-metre distance would have felt like a million miles on Saturday for one pair of Leinster brothers.
Cian Kelleher’s return to the native province was widely trumpeted at the start of 2019, the 25-year-old believing it was the right time for him to come home after earning his stripes during three productive years at Connacht.
Thing is, if he stayed in Galway he would more than likely have been in the mix for Connacht’s Champions Cup start at home to Montpellier on Sunday.
Instead, rather than being part of Leinster’s latest start to a European campaign, their five-try 33-19 dismissal of a plucky Benetton, Kelleher was on low-key All-Ireland League club duty with Lansdowne who fell to a sullen 0-7 home defeat to Young Munster.
All the more curious for the winger, who has made just a single PRO14 start for Leinster since his return to Dublin, his younger brother Ronan continued to enjoy his meteoric rise to prominence by scoring on his European debut, a 30th minute try being the 21-year-old’s seventh score in six outings this term.
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It’s the sort of ravenous form that could even catapult him into the frame for Ireland consideration ahead of the 2020 Six Nations due to skipper Rory Best’s retirement and Sean Cronin’s injury lay-off.
Kelleher breezily looked the part at the RDS. His efficient lineout throwing was backed up not only by a healthy tackle count that reached double figures during his 56 minutes, he also highlighted how is key another of this new breed of ball-playing front rowers. A neat offload out of contact when running a defensive line some minutes after his try illustrated he has the hands to match his heft.
Cronin’s injury has opened the door for Kelleher to keep on thriving this winter, but his European debut was in sharp contrast to the fortunes of another European novice Caelan Doris, his former Ireland under-20s colleague. Doris is another highly regarded talent but he was unable to similarly look the part in his first European start in the No8 shirt left vacant by Jack Conan’s World Cup injury.
Doris had the misery of hanging around for just 16 minutes, his contribution realistically amounting to just two carries off Benetton restarts, the first where he was penalised for holding on and the second where he left poleaxed and heading down the tunnel for a HIA.
Toner shows how you bounce back from an RWC setback
Much was made on Friday about how champions Saracens had selected just four players from last May’s Champions Cup final XV for their weekend’s opener at Racing, England’s World Cup campaign a prime reason for the salary cap crisis club.
Leinster, meanwhile, only pitched in against Benetton with seven repeat starters from their defeat six months ago to the Londoners in Newcastle, Garry Ringrose, James Lowe, Johnny Sexton, Luke McGrath, Cian Healy, Devin Toner and James Ryan the familiar faces still on deck.
Ringrose stole the limelight, aggressively running in a hat-trick, but it was value of an Ireland player who was axed pre-World Cup by Joe Schmidt that caught the eye in the trenches.
An inability to carry in traffic was a reason why Toner was cast aside for South African Jean Kleyn, but the veteran wasn’t shy of getting his hands on the ball at the RDS. Not only was there a trademark fetch at the lineout in the lead-up to Ringrose’s second score, there was also a decent platform-setting carry to a ruck a couple of phases later. His positive attitide went a long way.
‘Most teams in Europe have fines if you arrive late, but we think making players understand that to be on time is a value is more important’
– @MarcoBortolami tells @heagneyl about the transformation at @BenettonRugby to get back into @ChampionsCup https://t.co/utb25EvECk— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 16, 2019
There is so much to like about Benetton’s style
It was 19 months ago when Benetton first provided evidence to an Irish audience that something really was stirring in the Kieran Crowley era. Just weeks before Leinster lifted both Champions Cup and PRO14 trophies, the Italians pickpocketed them at the RDS with a 17-15 win that was the precursor to their run to the league quarter-finals the following season.
Under the baton of the 1987 World Cup winner, they have become a very easy on the eye, ambitious outfit. Whereas in their years of struggle, penalties would have unquestionably been pointed at the posts at every opportunity, there is now a sense of mischief about them and their swagger was rewarded in helping to make proceedings at the RDS very watchable.
For instance, rather than Ian Keatley take a pot at the posts for 3-5, they went to the corner, backed their set-piece and their maul and came away with a 7-5 lead through Dean Budd. It didn’t continue to work, mind. Two further first-half penalties to the corner went unrewarded, but they stuck with the tactic in the second half and had reward through Epalahame Faiva before coming unstuck again.
To their credit, though, even though they eventually found themselves looking well-beaten at 33-14 heading into the closing ten minutes, they encouragingly refused to fold and had the game’s final say with a third try.
WATCH: RugbyPass Rugby Explorer takes a trek through Italian rugby, stopping off at Benetton after visiting Rome
Comments on RugbyPass
Think you might have written this just before the Brumbies got thrashed last weekend
5 Go to commentsI really do believe that Billy Proctor should be selected at least in the larger squad but also it would be my choice at 13, much more a center than Ioane who can still play at wing. Roigard if fit should play, otherwise it should be Perenara or Christie. Also, Iose could deserve a spot at blindside. Of course, being a Canes supporter I’m biased but I really believe that at least Billy P is deserving a chance and being Holland one of the Selectors, I’m having a little hope he could grab it.
12 Go to commentsI would not play Swinton I’d pick Wright or Hanigan. The rest are decent starters, but can’t agree on any subs except Tupou. My take on the subs: Gibbon, Ueslese, Tupou, LSL, Wilson, White, Will Harrison, and Petaia.
5 Go to commentsSBW the biggest moron to pull on a black jersey a park footy player at best
7 Go to commentsSBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
7 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
12 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
12 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
5 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
7 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
12 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
12 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
5 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
5 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
12 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
45 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
12 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
12 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
12 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to comments