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United Rugby Championship

Leinster to unleash Ireland big guns for Scarlets clash

By Josh Raisey

17 Nov 2023

Leinster's Irish centre Garry Ringrose (L) talks to Leinster's Irish lock James Ryan during a captain's run at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on May 19, 2023 on the eve of the Champions Cup rugby union final against La Rochelle. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has named a near full strength side to face the Scarlets tomorrow in the United Rugby Championship at the RDS Arena.

Garry Ringrose and James Ryan return to the starting XV to co-captain the side, with the likes of Hugo Keenan, Jamison Gibson-Park, Andrew Porter, Josh van der Flier and Caelan Doris all returning after Ireland’s World Cup campaign. With Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong also on the bench, this is an extremely experienced side married with the inexperience of 20-year-old No10 Sam Prendergast, with Ross Byrne backing him up from the bench.

Leinster currently sit in second place in the URC, level on points with the leaders the Bulls, while the Scarlets are third from bottom having only won one of their first four matches.

WATCH as departing coach Jacques Nienaber drops a hint that he might return to the Springbok fold in the not too distant future

Speaking ahead of the game, Leinster assistant coach Robin McBryde said: “Scarlets had a few tough away trips to the South African teams. They have nothing to lose, and are coming here to make a point.

“There is no more dangerous team than the Scarlets in that mode. They are very dangerous in the backs. If the forwards can give them a platform, they will be a handful.”

Leinster XV(caps in brackets):
15. Hugo Keenan (56)
14. Jordan Larmour (92)
13. Garry Ringrose (116) CO-CAPTAIN
12. Jamie Osborne (34)
11. Jimmy O’Brien (72)
10. Sam Prendergast (7)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (5)
1. Andrew Porter (108)
2. Rónan Kelleher (47)
3. Thomas Clarkson (29)
4. Joe McCarthy (20)
5. James Ryan (73) CO-CAPTAIN
6. Max Deegan (102)
7. Josh van der Flier (128)
8. Caelan Doris (68)

Replacements:
16. Dan Sheehan (47)
17. Jack Boyle (6)
18. Tadhg Furlong (134)
19. Ross Molony (165)
20. Scott Penny (60)
21. Fintan Gunne (0)
22. Ross Byrne (149)
23. Ciarán Frawley (71)

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Comments on RugbyPass

Carlos 1 hour ago

43-year-old Ma'a Nonu scores first try for Toulon in 7 years

C’est la même chose avec le rugby Hispane. Ríen de l’Argentine ou otres pays.

3 Go to comments

BA 1 hour ago

'Not a normal rugby team' - The Leinster flex that floored Jake White

Chiefs Saders Brumbies Blues Canes at full noise can foot it with any club provincial team in the world just as I’m sure is the same for Bath Bordeaux whoever is at top of the top comps going around surely if u knew rugby u would know that? Obviously the Bulls cannot according to Jake but I don’t believe that …Leinster lost to a Prem club this year btw

13 Go to comments

Mark 3 hours ago

Three Premiership final battles that would have influenced Steve Borthwick

Very nuanced!!

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fl 3 hours ago

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You are very stupid!

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fl 3 hours ago

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Yet more evidence that 2026 will be the year that Rassie finally overhauls his aging squad!

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Alex 3 hours ago

43-year-old Ma'a Nonu scores first try for Toulon in 7 years

Incredible!! What a legend!

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Tk 4 hours ago

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It is going to be interesting seeing some of Razor’s selections this year, wing included. Telea has gone, Clarke has not had a great year, Sevu goes missing in the big tests, Jordan will play 15. Narawa, Carter, Tavatavanawai have all put their hands up with great SR form.

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Carlos 5 hours ago

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And yet another year where I haven’t seen one minute of any game. Or maybe I did catch 30 seconds of highlights on YouTube….

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Mark 5 hours ago

Three Premiership final battles that would have influenced Steve Borthwick

Borthwick patently has his favourites, and the current England team are largely in his own image, dull, boring and one dimensional.

Don’t expect the ugly sisters to suddenly become cinderalla at midnight!!

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Hammer Head 5 hours ago

Johann van Graan: The Bulls boy who would be England's king

I agree. It’s a pity though that none of the best are back home coaching our franchises.

13 Go to comments

RedWarriors 6 hours ago

'Not a normal rugby team' - The Leinster flex that floored Jake White

I was actually at the match. Leinster were the outstanding team in the league stage. Leinster’s squad depth meant the Bulls could only nick a late win in Pretoria against an understrenght Leinster. Simple put, Leinster are significantly better this year compared to last. The Dublin match last year was a big win by Leinster. Yes they won by a point in the RDS three years ago but thats not relevant to yesterday.

As Leinster are such a dangerous team, it forces an opponent to focus on a strategy to undermine them and that way get their game on the pitch. Leinster allowed that against Northampton. But that was not going to happen again. The Bulls attack in last 10 minutes of the first half was as savage as anything in the URC this year. Yet Leinsters coaching plan repelled them allied to savage commitment from the players. The defense was outstanding, pressure at breakdown outstanding. Leinster did not win the European cup but arguably at their best this year no other European team could reach that height. They reached that yesterday. Leinster completely removed Bulls ability to hurt them.

And Croke Park….100 years ago the Brits fired machine guns into spectators injuring 100s and killing loads. No Irish team ever performs badly there. Same with Irish supporters. Opposition players might as well be Brit Tommies with machine guns.

I think a great Leinster team, played a great game plan, to the height of their power in a horrible stadium for opponents. If Bulls score before half time they were back in the match. They went down, but they went down fighting.

13 Go to comments

JW 6 hours ago

Broken hand or not, Richie Mo'unga is still New Zealand's best 10

Well it might fly in the direction his leg his kick but you just watch the ball closely it’s wobbling all over the show lol even his kick for Clarke was awkward just lucky it bounced right into his hands.

303 Go to comments

Top16 6 hours ago

43-year-old Ma'a Nonu scores first try for Toulon in 7 years

Marrant. Vous parlez du top 14 uniquement parce que Nonu a marqué un essai.

Ok, c'est une très grande star du rugby avec une belle longévité au très haut niveau. Mais pas un mot sur les affluences et l'ambiance dans les stades français ce week-end ?

Quand on regarde le Super Rugby, l'URC ou la PR rien d'équivalent à l'horizon.

Dommage car je pense qu'il y a une relation de cause à effet entre la rentabilité des Ligues et l'attrait du public (donc des diffuseurs).

L'argent que tous envie au top 14 vient pour des raisons plutôt claires à mes yeux.

Mais bon….

3 Go to comments

RedWarriors 7 hours ago

Jordie Barrett hints at Leinster return after lifting his first club trophy

He has played and behaved brilliantly in Leinster. It was lovely to see him getting a huge cheer when he got his medal yesterday.

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CV 7 hours ago

'Not a normal rugby team' - The Leinster flex that floored Jake White

Have you seen the lineups of the French clubs? The only team Leinster struggled against in the group stage was La Rochelle, who are rebuilding for next season. They were ranked 9th in the Top 14 when Leinster beat them. That is how strong the Top 14 is. I hope they play Bordeaux next season, that’s going to be one hell of a game.

13 Go to comments

IkeaBoy 7 hours ago

'Not a normal rugby team' - The Leinster flex that floored Jake White

All absolutely fair.

They were universally hailed as chokers last year in the CC final despite being a drop goal away from beating Toulouse. A Toulouse team that went on to drop 60 PTS on UBB in that years top 14 final.

I can't understand Irish fans who seem to think we'd be better off without a dominant Leinster?

13 Go to comments

JJ 7 hours ago

Adam Beard: 'It’s a bit clichéd, but you only have one life. You want to experience things.'

One of those players that you don’t realise how good they are until they’re not there. The stats on Squidge rugby were incredible. Wales’ lineout in 2023 with Beardy 91%, without Beardy 71%. In 2024 it was 92% and 73%. I guess it’s odds on that Montpellier will draw the Ospreys in the European Challenge Cup.

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PB 7 hours ago

Johann van Graan: The Bulls boy who would be England's king

Also Franco Smith, Deon Davids and Mzwandile Stick

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SK 7 hours ago

'Not a normal rugby team' - The Leinster flex that floored Jake White