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Leinster and Munster name sides for Irish Christmas derby
Irish heavyweights Munster and Leinster have revealed their starting lineups for the upcoming URC interprovincial derby at Thomond Park on St Stephen’s Day.
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When the sides played in October in Dublin, Leinster ran out comfortable 27-13 winners.
There are two changes to the Munster team that defeated Northampton Saints last week. Shane Daly will start at fullback, with Calvin Nash and Keith Earls retaining their positions on the wings. Jack Crowley and Antoine Frisch will continue to play together in the midfield, with Conor Murray and Joey Carbery occupying the halfback positions.
In the front row, Dave Kilcoyne makes his first start since October and will join Niall Scannell and John Ryan, while Jean Kleyn and Tadhg Beirne will play in the second row. The starting lineup is rounded out by Jack O’Donoghue, captain Peter O’Mahony, and Gavin Coombes.
Josh Wycherley, Kiran McDonald, and Patrick Campbell of the Greencore Munster Rugby Academy will be among the replacements. McDonald will make his first appearance since the team’s win over South Africa A at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
Unfortunately, several players are unavailable for selection due to injuries. Jeremy Loughman, who sustained a knock in training, and Mike Haley and John Hodnett, who did not fully recover from last week’s physical match against Northampton, will all be sitting out.
Leo Cullen has named a Leinster side that is particularly powerful in the backs, while a little lighter in terms of first-team players in the forwards.
Ten players who played in Leinster’s win over Gloucester in the Heineken Champions Cup last week have been named in the starting lineup for the Thomond Park clash. Hugo Keenan will start at fullback, with Jordan Larmour and James Lowe on the wings.
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Larmour, who returned from injury last week, will make his first start since early October. Captain Garry Ringrose will start at centre, partnered by Jamie Osborne for the second time this season. Ross Byrne will start at fly-half, with Nick McCarthy making his first start of the season at scrum-half.
In the front row, Porter will be joined by Dan Sheehan and Cian Healy.
Ryan Baird and Joe McCarthy will form the second-row partnership for the first time together. The back row will consist of Rhys Ruddock, Scott Penny, and Max Deegan, with Ross Molony, Jack Conan, and Luke McGrath named as replacements.
LEINSTER TEAM:
15. Hugo Keenan
14. Jordan Larmour
13. Garry Ringrose CAPTAIN
12. Jamie Osborne
11. James Lowe
10. Ross Byrne
9. Nick McCarthy
1. Andrew Porter
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Cian Healy
4. Ryan Baird
5. Joe McCarthy
6. Rhys Ruddock
7. Scott Penny
8. Max Deegan
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REPLACEMENTS:
16. John McKee
17. Michael Milne
18. Vakhtang Abdaladze
19. Ross Molony
20. Jack Conan
21. Luke McGrath
22. Harry Byrne
23. Liam Turner
MUNSTER TEAM:
15. Shane Daly
14. Calvin Nash
13. Antoine Frisch
12. Jack Crowley
11. Keith Earls
10. Joey Carbery
9. Conor Murray
1. Dave Kilcoyne
2. Niall Scannell
3. John Ryan
4. Jean Kleyn
5. Tadhg Beirne
6. Jack O’Donoghue
7. Peter O’Mahony (C)
8. Gavin Coombes.
REPLACEMENTS:
16. Diarmuid Barron
17. Josh Wycherley
18. Roman Salanoa
19. Kiran McDonald
20. Alex Kendellen
21. Craig Casey
22. Rory Scannell
23. Patrick Campbell
Comments on RugbyPass
The shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
56 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
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