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Leinster find a different position for out-half Harry Byrne
Leinster have selected No10 Harry Byrne at inside centre for the first time in two years. The 24-year-old has started 35 times in his 60 appearances for the Irish province and has nearly always been named at fly-half.
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It was during the 2022 Guinness Six Nations when he was given a three-game run at No12, playing against Ospreys, Lions and Benetton in quick succession. In that series, he formed a 12/10 partnership with his older brother Ross.
That combination has now been revived for Saturday night’s URC game at Cardiff, the younger Byrne returning for provincial duty following his recent involvement with Andy Farrell’s Ireland.
Byrne played the closing 25 minutes of the round two Guinness Six Nations win over Italy on February 11 but was omitted from the replacements when Farrell opted to go with a six/two forwards/backs bench in last Saturday’s round three win over Wales.
He has since gone back to Leinster where he will now start at centre outside his brother Ross, who returned to playing in the February 17 home win over Benetton after a shoulder injury sidelined him for the winter months.
Another recent Ireland cap restored to the Leinster backline for the trip to Wales is Jordan Larmour, who also featured off the Test bench against the Italians. His start at full-back in place of Henry McErlean will see him win his 100th provincial cap.
The inclusion of Byrne at No12, which is the only other change in personnel to XV that started two weekends ago at the RDS, has resulted in Jamie Osborne and Liam Turner moving to Nos13 and 14 respectively with Tommy O’Brien excluded.
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Leinster head into round 11 of the URC as league leaders three points ahead of Glasgow after eight wins in 10 outings.
Leinster (vs Cardiff, Saturday)
15. Jordan Larmour (99)
14. Liam Turner (24)
13. Jamie Osborne (37)
12. Harry Byrne (60)
11. Rob Russell (25)
10. Ross Byrne (152)
9. Luke McGrath (202)
1. Jack Boyle (10)
2. Lee Barron (14)
3. Thomas Clarkson (34)
4. Ross Molony (172)
5. Jason Jenkins (30)
6. Will Connors (44)
7. Scott Penny (65, capt)
8. Max Deegan (106)
Replacements:
16. John McKee (22)
17. Michael Milne (32)
18. Michael Ala’alatoa (59)
19. Brian Deeny (17)
20. Rhys Ruddock (225)
21. Ben Murphy (10)
22. Sam Prendergast (11)
23. Ben Brownlee (5)
The sights and sounds of the Ireland open training session in Dublin on Thursday. #GuinnessM6N #IrelandRugby #ENGvIRE pic.twitter.com/8W9Fom5GIj
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 29, 2024
Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe 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?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 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!
5 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 …
33 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
4 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.
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