LEINSTER HAVE NAMED their side for tomorrow’s pre-season friendly against Northampton Saints at Franklin’s Gardens [KO 7.30pm].
Ross Molony will captain the side once again, while Scott Penny starts in the back row for his first appearance since his shoulder surgery.
Hugh O’Sullivan and Ciarán Frawley are the half-back pairing while the bench includes Jamison Gibson-Park, who could make his return from injury.
Head coach Leo Cullen named an extended bench of 13 players for the trip.
Leinster (v Northampton Saints)
15. Hugo Keenan
14. Fergus McFadden
13. Jimmy O’Brien
12. Joe Tomane
11. Cian Kelleher
10. Ciarán Frawley
9. Hugh O’Sullivan
1. Peter Dooley
2. Rónan Kelleher
3. Michael Bent
4. Ross Molony (captain)
5. Ryan Baird
6. Max Deegan
7. Scott Penny
8. Caelan Doris
Replacements:
Bryan Byrne
James Tracy
Michael Milne
Roman Salanoa
Scott Fardy
Josh Murphy
Will Connors
Jamison Gibson-Park
Ross Byrne
Dave Kearney
Conor O’Brien
Rory O’Loughlin
Adam Byrne
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Despite Neil Francis’ constant barracking of Michael Bent in the press he has been a great signing and servant to Leinster,
@Diarmuid O’Rourke: neil francis is the rugby equivalent of joe brolly, a horrible pundit
@Diarmuid O’Rourke: absolutely. The phrase unsung hero was meant for guys like Bent. He’s given great service. A guy who’s made the most of his ability who rarely lets us down when called upon.
@Kevin:
Kevin thatis the reason he is still here after so many years and still getting picked::
@Diarmuid O’Rourke: francis is a clown. A lazy rugby player and an even worse pundit
@Kevin: Francis acussed Bent of holding back Furlong’s career ..I think Furlong was a starting test Lions at 21 !
The Leinster academy easily the best in northern hemisphere if not the world. Other provinces should take notes opposed to signing journeymen ( granted not the same playing population or number of rugby schools outside Dublin , Wicklow & Kildare)
@John Carey: only the other 3 provinces sign Journeymen?
@John Carey: Joe tomane is one of the finest journey men to have ever don an Irish provincial rugby jersey
@John Carey: why couldn’t you compliment the Leinster academy system without having a pop at the other provinces it’s uncalled for.
@John Carey: still have five non natives in the squad though.
@John Carey: a bit daft to mention journey men and we have Tomane in the side.
@Tim Magner:
“God” werent we so lucky but with the others we did ok ::
@Ian Verdon:
He specks for himself not the rest of us
@Martin Quinn: no doubt Martin, have to say Lowe & fardy have been up there with some of the best signings. Jgp a very handy player too
@Tim Magner: I rate JGP as a better player than McGrath. Not many agree with me but hey.
@Chris Mc: before last year I thought he was just ok but he seemed to improve and looked really good. He definately seems a great lad to put a bit of zip in a game when he comes on anyway
@John Carey: you don’t help genuine Leinster fans with wumming like this
@John Carey: first rule of trolling: don’t mention journeymen when your side contains Joe Tomane.
Even without the internationals that is some match day 28. A great blend of youth and experience and there’s still v good players not involved Ed, Vakh, Dunne, Patterson, mullin, Daly and Lowe to name a few, depth is ridiculous. Glad Ronan’s neck injury was only minor, he had been going very well pre season as has Baird. That br could well be our senior br in a few years time, a great balance of speed, power and dexterity.
As much as I’m looking forward to the WC( and I am massively) seeing how the provinces go especially Leinster and Munster(most call ups) without their internationals will be very interesting and exciting.
@Ian Verdon: I’ve always liked periods when the internationals are away. It’s great to see what the next generation can do. Gives those young guys great experience playing senior rugby and massively aids their development.
@Kevin: 100%, there’s always 1 or 2 that really press on during this period, in some cases even more. It will be very intriguing which of the lads that only appeared a few times last year or none at all stake their claim. The pre season form of a number of them has been very encouraging.
@Ian Verdon: spot on about the level of talent available. It would be nice to see a program set up between Leinster and perhaps London Irish that would allow players go on loan so guys like Mullins and Dooley could get more game time at a higher level.
@Aidan Prior: That would be cool although I am happy of some of the older guys ie dooley moving to one of the other provinces if its going to improve his game time. Having said that with Jack gone I would imagine he’ll get more game time unless Vakh has switched sides( he has had a few appearances at Lh recently) or if Milne overtakes him. The competition is so fierce and the production line so productive that If someone doesn’t take their chance over a 2/3 year period there’ll be a younger player chomping at their heels to overtake them. Long may it continue.
@Ian Verdon: don’t be surprised If porter switches back
@Ian Verdon: Molony needs to kick on this year, the kids are catching up and he’ll need to keep ahead of them. The windows are less of an opportunity now Dev will be around with Fardy
@Chris Mc: that’s a good shout re porter but having said that Bent is in the twilight of his career and Vakh and Aungier both whilst still very young haven’t made the step up and time waits for know one. Clarkson was excellent for the U20’s last season and has an incredible engine on him he could well be a top class th.
I don’t think a Sr partnership of Fardy and dev are agile enough, I can see Ross being given significant game time over the next 2/3 months and the fact he’s been made captain both last season and over the summer is a good vote of confidence. You’re right tho he does need to really step up, he’s 25 now and with the likes of Baird(more a th prop), Dunne and Ryan( not James) there is a significant stream of really impressive quality coming through.
@Ian Verdon: * more of a th lock
@Ian Verdon: Baird looks a real talent & looks big enough to play tighthead side, himself & Ryan could be some pairing
@Tim Magner: He’s put on some bulk too over the summer, I can seen him being a th lock in the long run. A great communicator too, great level of leadership also for a young lad. His rugby is of a high level and will only improve. Dunne also looked very promising last season and looked very comfortable in the senior side and he’s a big chap as well. Could be a Golden age at lock with the two Ryan’s, Baird and Dunne at Leinster.
@Chris Mc: good shout that and one I wouldn’t be opposed to.
Good squad considering who is missing. Real exciting back row of Deegan, Doris & Penny. Great to see him back. He’ll be an important player for Leinster this season given Leavy’s injury.
I can see that back row becoming a regular feature in the years to come.
There are 7/8 guys in that squad that could be playing in the 1stXV in 2020, thinking of 9,10×2 ,3,5,6,7,8. Looking forward to WC and seeing Leinster over the next few months with the kids in charge
Peter Dooley should have moved to one of the other provinces last year. 25 now with hardly any top class rugby played. Eric O’Sullivan was brave enough to make the move and is flying now and Dooley should be at Connacht or Munster too imo. His career will bever be fully fulfilled if he stays at Leinster.
@Dino Baggio: Dooley better off in leinster than Munster, we’ve killer, Cronin, O’Conner with younger wycherly coming up
@Tim Magner: true re Munster, Connacht or Ulster a couple of seasons ago should have been his move. If a lad isn’t a starter by 23 at his province he should be moving on imo
@Dino Baggio: Eric O’Sullivan never got a pro contract with Leinster. Ulster signed him from Trinity
@Harry Fanning: he obviously didn’t have a difficult decision to make then. Point still stands though, you need to be playing regularly to develop and off you’re not by 23 then you should be moving imo
Like the look of the back row. Real mix of skills and physicality.
Anyone know about anyone who might light up the senior cup this year?
Why are Leinster still persisting with Fergus McFadden and not blooding the younger players ? Surely it’s time for a change.