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Thursday
12:00
PRO 14Cardiff RugbyEdinburghLeinsterOspreys

Leinster leave it late to deny Cardiff Blues

Leinster hooker Bryan Byrne

Leinster staged a sensational late comeback to get their Pro14 title defence off to a winning start with a bonus-point victory over Cardiff Blues.

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The Irish province looked in serious danger of losing their opening match on Friday as Cardiff surged into a 29-14 lead 10 minutes into the second half.

But Leinster showed exactly why they are champions with a stirring fightback led by replacement forward Bryan Byrne.

The hooker crossed twice, either side of Jamison Gibson-Park’s score, as Leinster put themselves within touching distance of victory, and Ross Byrne completed a barn-storming finish with a 78th-minute conversion.

Leinster’s fellow Group B sides did not fare as well, though, as Edinburgh and Southern Kings both fell to defeats.

Edinburgh earned themselves a losing bonus point in a 17-13 reverse against a George North-inspired Ospreys, while the Kings were well beaten by Zebre in Parma.

Zebre dominated from the start and ran in four tries on their way to a 32-16 triumph, Carlo Canna slotting 12 points amid scores from Oliviero Fabiani, Mattia Bellini, Jimmy Tuivaiti and Apisai Tauyavuca.

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Comments on RugbyPass

L
LE 6 minutes ago
Late George Hendy try sees Northampton nick win in France

Im not going to pretend to know Pau’s usual lineup or injury staus but Luc, Arufiel, Decron, Despres, Picquette & Jolmes were all starting when they beat Bordeax away a couple of weeks ago, The back row was the same to and Robsons just back from injury and is first choice 9. Losing Montoya before K/O must have been a blow. Sure seems some changes in the centres and front row but didnt look like a complete second string

22 Go to comments
J
J Marc 23 minutes ago
Late George Hendy try sees Northampton nick win in France

You are right, for teams who lost yesterday, it will be worst next games…

22 Go to comments
J
J Marc 25 minutes ago
Late George Hendy try sees Northampton nick win in France

Exactly.

22 Go to comments
J
J Marc 26 minutes ago
Late George Hendy try sees Northampton nick win in France

Any backs in yesterday side was first choice or playing at there own place. Any locks were first choice. Some players are injuried, Attisogbe, Simmons, Gailleton..

But some of them are fit, Grandidier, Brau Boirie, Auradou, Maximin,…..



...

22 Go to comments
H
Hammer Head 29 minutes ago
All Blacks: How the forwards depth rates against Razor's four deep project

By the criteria established at the beginning of this article, the ABs have 4 options per position, and that’s about it.

2 Go to comments
E
Eric Elwood 31 minutes ago
Stuart Lancaster's Connacht throw away 21-0 Challenge Cup lead

I should have put money on it! Now there was a horrible wind but still.

Their attack was irresistable in the first 30 mins. Eating up ground and inevitable tries. Work in progress hopefully, just dissapointed for them.



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3 Go to comments
I
Ic 35 minutes ago
Experienced commentator weighs in on Eben Etzebeth's verdict

18 weeks is fair.

Mitigation should never be applied to deliberate foul play as serious as this.



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17 Go to comments
P
PMcD 43 minutes ago
Late George Hendy try sees Northampton nick win in France

The Top 14 has already moved towards full teams at home and “rotated” teams away, which is very much where the Premiership is moving towards, which is down to how many games they have to play.

I think trying to move a full squad to a different continent, climate & altitude in a week is almost impossible, so we should accept the inclusion of the SA sides has made it hard for teams to compete on a fair basis and they usually lose the following week when they try.



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22 Go to comments
P
PMcD 46 minutes ago
Late George Hendy try sees Northampton nick win in France

It’s very hard for smaller clubs to manage on both league & Investec formats, especially with most clubs moving towards smaller sized squads than the past.

I think for a smaller club, you have to make a decision to prioritise the league or the Champions Cup, which you can see the decision from the lineups.



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22 Go to comments
T
Tom 46 minutes ago
'Shaking his head': Booed Louis Rees-Zammit's worst ever try proves vital for Bristol

He did well to finish it, the pass was fired at his shins

2 Go to comments
P
PMcD 49 minutes ago
Late George Hendy try sees Northampton nick win in France

I think that’s a fair comment.

I would say 25% give in at R1, those that lose the 1st game, I would say 50% give up by the 2nd round and then it drifts until the QF’s where you get some good games and then from SF onwards, this competition is excellent.



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22 Go to comments
T
Tom 51 minutes ago
Experienced commentator weighs in on Eben Etzebeth's verdict

It wasn't unfortunate or unintentional though. You've said yourself 12 weeks is fair so obviously you don't think it was unintentional either. If it was unintentional then it's a rugby incident and he deserves no ban… but it wasn't a rugby incident, he was grinning as he squeezed his thumb into a bloke’s eye socket.

This isn't a conspiracy to depower the Springboks. Whether or not EE is a dirty player he eye gouged someone and some people feel this ban isn't long enough.



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17 Go to comments
P
PMcD 53 minutes ago
Late George Hendy try sees Northampton nick win in France

In fairness Ed, you are correct, it’s ultimately how they qualify in the first place.

The format was much better before the SA teams were added but the ability to move a squad week to week to a totally different continent, climate, altitude, is a step too far and I think the SA teams have realised it doesn’t work (hence the weakened sides) and the organisers (and sponsors) don’t want to admit they got this wrong.



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22 Go to comments
P
PMcD 58 minutes ago
Late George Hendy try sees Northampton nick win in France

In the qualifying stages you would be playing the normal league teams (so is an extension of what you have) but the winners of each pool would then go into a knockout format, so the winners play the winners.

It’s not ideal but it would stop the weakened teams and give less excuses to field them, whilst making it easier for domestic fans to attend games.



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22 Go to comments
D
DH 59 minutes ago
Mark Robinson addresses the public criticism of NZR's decision making

Terrible administrator

12 Go to comments
P
PMcD 1 hour ago
How England are building the foundations for World Cup success in 2027

I think McCall would have known there were some deals involving key players and the joint housing investments (which in itself was no bad thing in principle) but I very much doubt he knew how to value monte carlo pricing strategy of future discounted cash flow image rights, which is ultimately the calculation methodology that got them into trouble, where you calculate the assumed value of the future benefit and put it into today’s value (ahead of the actual benefit) but it’s fair to say the whole episode stained quite a few CV’s along the way.

From a coaching, experience and player fit perspective, he was probably the leading candidate but I do think McCall would have found the wider RFU culture a bit of a challenge, so would have been a tricky debate, especially after Eddie Jones (culture was the main issue).



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267 Go to comments
J
JW 1 hour ago
New Club World Cup gets go ahead for 2028 and 2032

What do you mean very little? There are planned playoffs as part of the SH teams.

It is mot like a national WC or football CWC though no, this is going to be a legit tournament of the best in the world (as the article says). It’s not a feel good football type thing.



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42 Go to comments
P
Peterjohn 1 hour ago
What Tony Johnson is hearing about the vacant All Blacks assistant role

High ball coach??? Correct me if I'm wrong aren't these professional players top in their positions from across the country.

Catching and maintaining a high ball is a fundamental skill especially for the back 3 to have relative to their position. Now if you wanna teach props how to catch them maybe you might need a coach for that, otherwise these skills should be a pre requisite to even be considered to play wing or fullback.



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9 Go to comments
D
Dave Didley 1 hour ago
Stuart Lancaster's Connacht throw away 21-0 Challenge Cup lead

I'd hoped they didn't do that anymore!

3 Go to comments
W
Wayneo 1 hour ago
Mark Robinson addresses the public criticism of NZR's decision making

Yep, probably a prop forward.

12 Go to comments
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