LEINSTER BEGIN LIFE with co-captains Garry Ringrose and James Ryan when the Ireland internationals make their first appearances of the United Rugby Championship following the disappointment of the World Cup.
Scarlets are the visitors to the RDS tomorrow, with Hugo Keenan also set to make his debut this term at full back while Ringrose will be in the centre alongside Jamie Osborne.
On the wings, head coach Leo Cullen has opted for Jordan Larmour and Jimmy O’Brien.
Sam Prendergast starts an RDS game for the province for the first time, where Jamison Gibson-Park will join him at half-back.
📥 | 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐬!
— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) November 17, 2023
Here is the #LeinsterRugby team to face @Scarlets_Rugby in the #BKTURC tomorrow evening.#LEIvSCA #FromTheGroundUp pic.twitter.com/fnwZWR9ZRs
In the pack, Thomas Clarkson will be in the front row alongside the returning Andrew Porter and Rónan Kelleher.
Joe McCarthy continues in the second row following his starring performance in the win over Dragons last time out, while his World Cup team-mates Josh van der Flier and Caelan Doris come into the back row for the first time this season.
Leinster
- 15. Hugo Keenan
- 14. Jordan Larmour
- 13. Garry Ringrose (co-captain)
- 12. Jamie Osborne
- 11. Jimmy O’Brien
- 10. Sam Prendergast
- 9. Jamison Gibson-Park
- 1. Andrew Porter
- 2. Rónan Kelleher
- 3. Thomas Clarkson
- 4. Joe McCarthy
- 5. James Ryan (co-captain)
- 6. Max Deegan
- 7. Josh van der Flier
- 8. Caelan Doris
Replacements:
- 16. Dan Sheehan
- 17. Jack Boyle
- 18. Tadhg Furlong
- 19. Ross Molony
- 20. Scott Penny
- 21. Fintan Gunne
- 22. Ross Byrne
- 23. Ciarán Frawley
I’m sure Murphy is a very good coach with plenty of strong recommendations but is this an opportunity lost to bring someone new into the fold with different ideas who isn’t tied to the current management team?
@Ricky Wright: I think Irfu have taken a good approach to u20′s management in the last number of years. They seem to go for coaches who place a high degree of emphasis on skills and heads up rugby. Probably why the 20′s have been more exciting to watch over the last number of years than the senior team.
@Punts & Race Discussion: if we look at the sort of players which have come through and are coming through at Munster and Leinster in the forwards it makes a great reading for the type of players Ireland are looking to produce. I know am missing a few guys here but off top my head that reads well from last few years. All athletically gifted and skilled.
Doris
Deegan
Baird
Connors
Kelleher
Penny
Porter
Ryan
Sheehan
Wycherley x2
Coombes
Ahern
Hodnett
@Punts & Race Discussion: personally I think it was a mistake to have the u20 national team head coach as the academy coach for a province. That was changed in January with Kieran Campbell being appointed. Now the rumour is he’s heading to England which is fair enough. The u20 game is a shambles at the moment due to lack of games as a result of covid. Hopefully it’ll get going again soon
Great Appointment