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Today

14:05

United Rugby Championship

Jordie Barrett starts as Leinster name 9 Lions for Zebre Parma

By Ian Cameron

9 days ago

Sam Prendergast (R) and Jordie Barrett of Leinster look on during the Investec Champions Cup semi-final match between Leinster Rugby and Northampton Saints at the Aviva Stadium on May 03, 2025 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Jordie Barrett is named in the starting XV as James Ryan returns from injury to take his place on the bench as Leinster ring the changes for Saturday’s United Rugby Championship clash with Zebre in Parma.

Given the nature of the fixture and the opposition, head coach Leo Cullen has named a surprisingly heavyweight 23 for the task at hand.

The inclusion of Barrett, who was a second-half substitute in the Heineken Champions Cup semi-final defeat to Northampton, is likely to raise eyebrows. Cullen was on the receiving end of heavy criticism this week for not starting the All Blacks star against the Gallagher Premiership champions; and now Leinster are choosing instead to start him against 15th-place URC outfit Zebre Parma.

The New Zealand international starts at inside centre alongside Garry Ringrose, one of six British and Irish Lions tourists included in the starting side.

Newly-minted Lion Ryan will make his first Leinster appearance since January if introduced, having been selected among a strong group of replacements.

Fixture

United Rugby Championship

Leinster

76 - 5

Full-time

Zebre

All Stats and Data

The lock is joined on the bench by fellow Lions tourists Andrew Porter and Jamison Gibson-Park, with Robbie Henshaw and Ciarán Frawley also named.

Frawley will win his 100th Leinster cap if he takes the field.

Jack Conan leads the side from No.8, flanked by Josh van der Flier and Ryan Baird. Academy second row Diarmuid Mangan partners Joe McCarthy in the engine room, while Rónan Kelleher packs down between Jack Boyle and Thomas Clarkson in a new-look front row.

Luke McGrath returns at scrum-half to partner Sam Prendergast at ten, with Barrett and Ringrose combining in midfield. James Lowe and Jimmy O’Brien are named on the wings, with Jamie Osborne at full-back.

In total, nine Lions players are included in the matchday 23 for Leinster’s penultimate regular-season fixture.

Leinster Rugby:
15. Jamie Osborne
14. Jimmy O’Brien
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Jordie Barrett
11. James Lowe
10. Sam Prendergast
9. Luke McGrath
1. Jack Boyle
2. Rónan Kelleher
3. Thomas Clarkson
4. Joe McCarthy
5. Diarmuid Mangan
6. Ryan Baird
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Jack Conan CAPTAIN

Replacements:
16. John McKee
17. Andrew Porter
18. Rabah Slimani
19. James Ryan
20. James Culhane
21. Jamison Gibson-Park
22. Ciarán Frawley
23. Robbie Henshaw

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Comments

1 Comment

RedWarriors 9 days ago

Think Barrett will want to play every match left. I feel for him. What a player for Leinster. A real pity he wasn’t given the chance to make the difference from the start against the Saints.

I expect a response from Leinster tomorrow. They must win the URC. Thats a step in the right direction. The crowd needs to get behind them. All in this together etc.

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Comments on RugbyPass

Cantab 5 days ago

Teenager Braxton Sorensen-McGee reflects on dream Black Ferns debut

Although NZ won comfortably enough they weren’t always convincing and a better opposition may well have found them out. If our gun 7s players can translate their skills to the 15s game the team would have the ability to beat anyone. Need to be given the chance though.

4 Go to comments

James 5 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

And how do you see the Wallabies loosehead / Lion’s tighthead battle Nick?

37 Go to comments

dw 5 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Also interested in your thoughts on A Bell. Haven't noticed many scrum issues recently. He also seems to play 60 or so mins every game. A bit of a fan (even though he’s a tah..) but wondered if the Lions would target his scrummaging

37 Go to comments

dw 5 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

True. And you look at how the European coaches have got so much out of skelton and how much the local fans love him…and then some Oz fans will still say “he played poorly for the tahs I'm 2015!”

37 Go to comments

dw 5 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Thanks Nick but your headline has just jinxed us and reminded me of that night in 2013!

I love any analysis of the scrums such as the above. Cheers.

Allalatoa seems to be in good form and Nongorr appears to be able to hold his own? I think they will pick Tupou regardless of form. After Friday night I am concerned he could be sent off in the first five mins of the test though! He got too pumped up and hit a player high and was carded

37 Go to comments

RedWarriors 5 days ago

'Most complacent selection decision you will ever see': Barrett benching slammed as Leinster knocked out

I watched the mainstream NZ pundits eg Mils Muliaina and they DID back NZ to win almost to a man.

Ireland will talk their team up as anyone would with the caveats we are playing the ABs and match was de facto 50:50, That is not the same as dismissing the opposition. EG After the quarter John Kirwan said he was sorry France didn’t win versus SA becuase a ‘France-NZ final would be perfect. (The semis had not even been played yet, England and Argentina completely dismissed! He didn’t even realize his own arrogance) NZ are not even aware of the arrogance they exude. Has no Kiwi politely asked the national team to take down the ‘Superstars and Humble Heroes’ boasting on the AB site? Its cringeworthy stuff. Do NZ really see themselves like this?

Note all this BS about Irish arrogance started just after NZs defeat in the 2022 series. Not a coincidence.

Also: this is Irish national TV. We will talk our team up as everyone does. We care too much about judgemental and thin skinned Kiwis getting offended.

91 Go to comments

JM 5 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Aussie rugby fans are obsessed with players they hate, for whatever reason.

Michael Hooper is another one, and the hatred only increased whenever he won John Eales medals or the two times he was nominated world player of the year.

I reckon it is because our forwards are technically and mentally weak they put it all on one player who they think should make way for the messiah.

Same for the general team performance and the hate put on players like White, Lolesio, and Foley who should be pulling rabbits out of the hat every play.

I reckon, if we had of had 5 players with Hooper’s desire and drive spread across the team (and especiallythe forwards), we wouldn’t have woken up in the bottom of the ditch.

37 Go to comments

RedWarriors 5 days ago

'What he’s given to this club is nothing short of incredible'

He shouldn’t have been picked. Not physically able for the most intense matches notably in Twickenham last year. Giving him the captaincy was also a very short sighted decision then after RWC 2023. Ireland have a tendency to be a little too loyal, which can mean the team ages and the rebuild is bigger than should be.

Plenty of lads out there to fill that squad.

4 Go to comments

OJohn 5 days ago

Geoff Parling returns to Leicester as head coach

Hooray

0 Go to comments

Carlos 5 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

He was also a YC magnet.

37 Go to comments

Carlos 5 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Windsor-Faulkner-Price. 😊

37 Go to comments

Solenn Bonnet 5 days ago

Leinster cleanse palette with record URC scoreline against Zebre

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0 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 5 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Ah, the Pooler front row ! Most legendary in the history of the , I would think. Max Boyce helped…”Here we. here we, here we go, with the Pontypool front row.”

37 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 5 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Would not go as far as whole house in our family, but for me, yes, W1. Loved playing in the scrum, love watching now😀

37 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 5 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Yes, I see that article here on RP, Nick. That is good news that Schmidt is going to look at the o’seas players.

Yes, I would think you are right that LAR will qualify. On the same points as MP, but surely they are too good not to win this crunch game….could be tEnse for ROG in the stands though.

37 Go to comments

BC 5 days ago

Who would make it into a Women's British and Irish Lions starting XV?

I would pick Oifa Wafer at 6, put Aldcroft in the second row with Ward. I think Wafer is one of the few non-England players mentioned that would contend for a Red Rose shirt, the others being King and possibly Neve Jones. Conversely there are two English players mentioned, Sing and Venner, that probably won’t even make the Red Rose WC squad, let alone a Lions Tour. Still a lot can change in two years, watch out for Millie David.

1 Go to comments

Otagoman II 5 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Great article NB, thanks. I would like to know what is the reasoning why so many things are penalties in the scrum. Is it to do with safety or something else?

37 Go to comments

NB 5 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

👍