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Leinster and Munster make changes for Aviva clash
The early anticipated clash between Johnny Sexton and Joey Carbery will have to wait.
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Sexton isn’t in Leinster’s matchday squad for Saturday’s game at the Aviva Stadium, with one eye clearly on their Heineken Champions Cup opener against Wasps which follows six days later.
Ross Byrne, who was Leo Cullen’s preferred back-up at 10 at Leinster last season instead of Carbery, will once again line up at outhalf.
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Watch: Sexton discusses Champions Cup and Conor Murray
Munster three changes to the side that secured a record PRO14 win over Ulster last weekend at Thomond Park.
Jean Kleyn comes into the second row in the only change to the pack with Darren Sweetnam and Sammy Arnold joining the backline.
Andrew Conway is set to make his 100th Munster appearance in the clash.
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Peter O’Mahony captains the side in an unchanged back-row with two-try Tommy O’Donnell and CJ Stander keeping their places.
Conway starts at full-back with Sweetnam and Keith Earls on either flank.
Dan Goggin, a standout in the Ulster win with a two-try performance, is joined by Arnold in the centres.
The half-back pairing is unchanged as Joey Carbery is partnered by Alby Mathewson.
Front row trio Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell and Stephen Archer are also retained with Kleyn coming in to partner Tadhg Beirne in the engine room.
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Rob Kearney is set to win his 200th cap for Leinster. He made his debut in September 2005 away to the Ospreys scoring a try in a 22-20 loss.
Since then he has become one of the most decorated players in Irish rugby with 199 Leinster caps, 86 Ireland caps and eight caps for the British & Irish Lions.
It could also be a very special day for Luke McGrath who has been named among the replacements and is due to win cap 100 if introduced.
With Kearney in the number 15 jersey, Fergus McFadden is on the right wing with James Lowe on the left.
Robbie Henshaw and Rory O’Loughlin are selected in the centre with Jamison Gibson-Park and Ross Byrne in the half backs.
Jack McGrath makes his first appearance of the season at loose head prop having recovered from a knee injury. James Tracy and Michael Bent complete the front row.
Devin Toner becomes the third highest capped Leinster player of all time as he wins cap 222 in the second row with James Ryan beside him.
Rhys Ruddock captain the side from the back row with Dan Leavy and Seán O’Brien completing the pack.
Munster: 15. Andrew Conway; 14. Darren Sweetnam, 13. Sammy Arnold, 12. Dan Goggin, 11. Keith Earls; 10. Joey Carbery, 9. Alby Mathewson; 1. Dave Kilcoyne, 2. Niall Scannell, 3. Stephen Archer; 4. Jean Kleyn, 5. Tadhg Beirne; 6. Peter O’Mahony (C), 7. Tommy O’Donnell,8. CJ Stander.
Replacements: 16. Kevin O’Byrne, 17. James Cronin, 18. Ciaran Parker, 19. Billy Holland, 20. Chris Cloete, 21. Duncan Williams, 22. JJ Hanrahan, 23. Rory Scannell.
Leinster: 15. Rob Kearney; 14. Fergus McFadden, 13. Rory O’Loughlin, 12. Robbie Henshaw 11. James Lowe; 10. Ross Byrne 9. Jamison Gibson-Park; 1. Jack McGrath 2. James Tracy 3. Michael Bent; 4. Devin Toner 5. James Ryan; 6. Rhys Ruddock (C) 7. Dan Leavy 8. Seán O’Brien
Replacements: 16. Seán Cronin, 17. Cian Healy, 18. Andrew Porter, 19. Mick Kearney, 20. Josh van der Flier, 21. Luke McGrath 22. Noel Reid 23. Dave Kearney
Watch: Munster captain Peter O’Mahony on Champions Cup
Comments on RugbyPass
The Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
3 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
3 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
3 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to comments