LAST UPDATE | 7 Sep 2023
CIARÁN FRAWLEY STARTS at out-half for Leinster in tomorrow evening’s friendly with Munster at Musgrave Park (KO: 6pm).
The 25-year-old last started as 10 for Leinster against Benetton last September.
Scott Penny captains the team, that includes four senior internationals in the starting lineup, along with four members of the province’s academy.
Jordan Larmour starts at full-back, with Tommy O’Brien and Rob Russell on the wings. Liam Turner and Ben Brownlee form the centre partnership, with Frawley and Cormac Foley completing the backline.
Academy props Jack Boyle and Rory McGuire pack down either side of Lee Barron. Brian Deeny and Jason Jenkins are in the heart of the pack, with Max Deegan, Penny and James Culhane in the back row.
The bench includes nine Academy players, along with experience from the likes of Leinster centurions Ross Molony and Luke McGrath.
Munster welcome back both Andrew Conway and Jack Daly after the pair missed last season due to injury.
Jack O’Donoghue captains a Munster squad which includes seven Academy players, with Kieran Ryan, Evan O’Connell and Shay McCarthy all set to make their first senior appearances off the bench. Ireland U19 international Stephen Kiely is also in line to debut.
Simon Zebo starts at full-back for the first time since returning to the province in 2021 with Conway and Calvin Nash on either wing.
There is a new-look centre partnership of Rory Scannell and Shane Daly, with Daly starting in midfield for the first time since 2018.
Neil Cronin and Tony Butler start in the half-backs. Academy out-half Butler, who made his competitive debut against Wasps in December 2021, makes his first senior start in the 10 jersey.
Josh Wycherley, Scott Buckley and Stephen Archer pack down in the front row with Gavin Coombes in the second row alongside Fineen Wycherley.
O’Donoghue, John Hodnett and Alex Kendellen start in the back row.
Munster:
- 15. Simon Zebo
- 14. Andrew Conway
- 13. Shane Daly
- 12. Rory Scannell
- 11. Calvin Nash
- 10. Tony Butler
- 9. Neil Cronin
- 1. Josh Wycherley
- 2. Scott Buckley
- 3. Stephen Archer
- 4. Gavin Coombes
- 5. Fineen Wycherley
- 6. Jack O’Donoghue (captain)
- 7. John Hodnett
- 8. Alex Kendellen
Replacements:
- 16. Chris Moore
- 17. Kieran Ryan
- 18. John Ryan
- 19. Evan O’Connell
- 20. Jack Daly
- 21. Ruadhán Quinn
- 22. Ethan Coughlan
- 23. Fionn Gibbons
- 24. Stephen Kiely
- 25. Shay McCarthy
Leinster
- 15. Jordan Larmour
- 14. Tommy O’Brien
- 13. Liam Turner
- 12. Ben Brownlee
- 11. Rob Russell
- 10. Ciarán Frawley
- 9. Cormac Foley
- 1. Jack Boyle
- 2. Lee Barron
- 3. Rory McGuire
- 4. Brian Deeny
- 5. Jason Jenkins
- 6. Max Deegan
- 7. Scott Penny (captain)
- 8. James Culhane
Replacements:
- Gus McCarthy
- Paddy McCarthy
- Temi Lasisi
- Ross Molony
- Conor O’Tighearnaigh
- Diarmuid Mangan
- Will Connors
- Luke McGrath
- Sam Prendergast
- Charlie Tector
- Andrew Osborne
- Jamie Osborne
- Aitzol King
- Chris Cosgrave
Where did it all go wrong for Jordan Larmour? In an alternative world he’d be starting for Ireland this weekend.
Frawley getting game time at 10 just in case anything happens to sexton or crowley.
@chris mcdonnell: and byrne?
@chris mcdonnell: I wouldn’t hold my breath on that one Chris, more chance of ROG getting the call up.
@Sèan: no Byrne doesn’t get close enough to the line or move fast enough to get injured
@Paddy Kennedy: so if anything happen to one of our outhalfs you don’t think farrell would call up the only outhalf that has been in the training camps for the past number of months
@chris mcdonnell: I think that if Frawley has never shown any sort of form at 10 when he has played there for Ireland the likelihood of him getting called up is very slim.
It was also meant as tongue in cheek Chris, maybe calm down a bit?
@Paddy Kennedy: just how many minutes have you seen him play at 10 for Ireland?
munster streaming it for 6 euros
@Paddy Farrell: link please or website
@Gary Galligan: taught u watching the french v new zealand game
@Gary Gallihttps://accessmunster.ie/?dm_i=5GVN,UWW1,1UGAD4,3M9X4,1gan:
There you go.
@Pat Curran: watch both bro
Conners recovered, good to see. No sign of the Munster team?
I wonder if certain players are being played to keep them sharp as they’re on standby for a WC call-up
2 very closely matched teams. Could be a great game. Where is carbury?
@chris mcdonnell: expect him back to play connaught in their next friendly
@chris mcdonnell: Should be starting in this game I reckon.
@chris mcdonnell: he’s playing the Pro-Am golf, it’s seems he been on a break from rugby these past 6 months
Frawley to get game time at 10 this season ahead of Harry Byrne?
Any chance of this being televised?
@Declan White: Who’s gonna pay to show this?
Still 34 degrees here in Bordeaux. Beautiful city.
Amazing fall from grace for Jordan Larmour. Squad member in 2019, Grand Slam winner the season before. Doubt he expected to be playing in this friendly on the opening weekend of RWC.
@Andrew Martin Farrell: like Conway he’s been blighted by injuries. Hard to disagree with selection of others ahead of him. Even at his best in an attacking sense he remains suspect under the high ball.
@Andrew Martin Farrell: Earls ahead of Larmour and Stockdale is a nostalgia pick.
Hasn’t played most of last season and gets picked for the world without showing any real form.
@Oran Burns: ahh you poor crater
@Oran Burns: as opposed to the other 2 who have been burning it up!! The fact is is that Earls is a superb all round winger while the other 2 have shown that they’ve got major flaws in their game
@Oran Burns: people still hoping that stockdale rediscovers his form from 2018? its been five years. i think that was the exception and what we’ve seen since is the norm in terms of his ability. and its not been very good.
@Niall English: 18/19 was in great form, was good form 19/20 as well, 20/21 was mostly at full back and wasnt as effective, 21/22 played one game due to injury, 22/23 has been decent but not outstanding, but thats more as Ulster regressed in attack as players that looked great in 21/22 looked poor in 22/23, Hume, Lowry, Balacoune, Stockdale, Doak, McIlroy, they didnt all suddenly hit poor form, was a system issue. Ulster have said the attack is too blunt and reliant on maul tries and aim to change it next season.
@Oran Burns: none of those 3 were exceptional last season but Earls gets the call as he’s more solid and reliable. He was great in NZ last summer too
@Oran Burns: I personally would have gone for Larmour. However Earls is 100 per cent not there on nostalgia…he is there because Farrell and Co think he is better.
Where’s Carberry? Another injury?
@James A: he’s got a niggle apparently
You can’t bring everyone to the WC. Sorry for Jordan and Connors, injuries have blighted their careers. Josh Murphy same thing, great players including Frawley in that
Munster by 8
@david walsh: I’d like that but wouldn’t be confident. No Aherne so Coombes in SR with internationals away. At some of the younger crew will get game time.
@TL55: yeah that’s an interesting one for Gavin Coombes having just spent a lot of time in WC camp. Good to see John Ryan back too… I’d say Ciaran Frawley must have been very close too…who knows what’s going to happen over the next number of weeks
Munster team: Simon Zebo; Andrew Conway, Shane Daly, Rory Scannell, Calvin Nash; Tony Butler, Neil Cronin; Josh Wycherley, Scott Buckley, Stephen Archer; Gavin Coombes, Fineen Wycherley; Jack O’Donoghue (C), John Hodnett, Alex Kendellen.
Replacements from: Chris Moore, Kieran Ryan, John Ryan, Evan O’Connell, Jack Daly, Ruadhán Quinn, Ethan Coughlan, Fionn Gibbons, Stephen Kiely, Shay McCarthy.
Would have hoped for one of the Edogbos and ahearne to feature. Never seen Butler play, Joey must be injured again, no luck.