NOBODY HAS BEEN able to stop Max Holloway since his loss to Conor McGregor but he finally appears to have met his match.
The UFC featherweight, who has climbed to fifth in the 145lbs rankings, has won seven bouts in a row since being defeated by the Irishman in August 2013.
However, Holloway’s progress was emphatically halted yesterday when he took to Periscope to film a sparring session with his 3-year-old son, Rush.
The little fella looks like he’ll be well capable of following in his dad’s footsteps, displaying an impressive array of high kicks and a devastating left hook.
Max eventually let his guard down and was clocked with a rasper down the pipe which left him needing an ice pack for his nose. Cub Swanson and Cole Miller, that’s how it’s done.
Here’s hoping Max recovers in time for his eagerly-anticipated meeting with Jeremy Stephens at UFC 194 in Las Vegas on 12 December.
Good to see this is a strong selection from Leinster. Need as close to full strength as possible to get playing again before the Quins game. Disappointed Frawley isn’t given the keys at 10 I must say. Lee Barron and Milne are both fit, and travelled I believe, but not selected as they are leaving. Same isn’t applied to Ross Byrne. In any case, he’s played well recently so Frawley needs to show when he comes on that he should start a week later.
@Carmine Lorenzo: I would actually rather see RB at 10 now, has shown well recently and Frawley just doesn’t have time in the saddle there this season to fill me with confidence. Perfect for 6/2 bench this weekend though
@Carmine Lorenzo: I think the 6/2 bench lends itself to Frawley as a replacement. You couldn’t go the other way round. At least if there is an injury, Frawley comes in to any one of 3 positions where if Byrne was on the bench you would have to disrupt your 10 and bugger up the weeks prep. Having said that, I am happy enough to have Ross at 10. He played well last time out and also nailed all his kicks. That could be important in what is likely to be a tight game. Certainly won’t be a repeat of 2 years ago.
@adizlack93: yeah I’d agree there. The time in the saddle is the important part. Frawley didn’t have a great showing vs Cardiff/ospreys (can’t remember which) and then Ross was good in the most recent game against one of them.
@Paul Ennis: yeah you’re right the 6-2 is likely a big part of this, particularly given they will be at altitude. I’ve no problem with Ross starting either however, he played well last time around. He seems to have overcome that place kicking hump that seemed to be affecting him too. How are you calling this? Finding it very hard! Altitude a big big factor, although we flew there last Saturday as I understand, so hopefully acclimated well by now. Will be a tight one score game, which the Bull might just edge.
@Carmine Lorenzo: yeah, it was Ospreys he played pretty poorly against during the fallow week and Ross played well against Cardiff. Frawley just isn’t given the chance to string together appearances at 10
Cullen doing his very best to get rid of frawley.
@chris mcdonnell: he’s possibly the best player in Ireland for the bench role in a 6-2 split other than Barrett
Had been curious to see who Leinster would play in this game. Normally they announce the touring squad, but this year no mentioned.
Glad to see Boyle, Mangan, Culhane, A. Osbourne, Cooney, and the O’Briens involved.
Would have liked to see Gus Mc at 2, Clarkson at 3, Frawley at 10 and J. Osbourne at 12. As well as Tector on the bench.
Don’t get the point of playing Ross B.
@Andrew: This tour is always seen as 2 games with a rotation of players… with Harlequins in 2 weeks time, Snyman & Barrett will be heading back to Dublin early. My guess is that Frawley will start next week, so will Gus and Charlie. If we pick up a couple of losing bonus points, or even 1 win it will be a hugely successful tour.
That’s probably the strongest side Leinster have put out on South African soil.
@SimonT: I thought this would have been a weaker side going by history when leinster went to SA. Still think the timing of the SA tour for leinster needs to change
@SimonT: Except maybe a certain URC SF last year!!
@SimonT: I think the side beaten by the Bulls last year was considerably stronger.
Strong bulls outfit , am expecting 4 from 4 this weekend from the S’effricans …bulls should take this , very strong pack starting and in reserve, good to see Willie back at 15…stormers, sharks all starting t0 get their front runners back from long injury. Am expecting a surge from the saffas in this last strength and in to the playoffs (hopefully all 4 sides)…lions to do the business tonight against cardif, cmon lions ….
@Stuart: last stretch
@Stuart: that’s a very good leinster side considering the Irish players missing. I’d not be too confident if I were you.
@chris mcdonnell: well frawley is there. He likes an old dropkick at the death. Should be a good one :)
@Stuart: yep bulls probably win,but then in fairness not a lot lrinster can do when 3 years in a row leinster send a weak enough team,lets face it snyman and barrett aside none of the others will start v harlequins bar injury
@David Clarke: there is loads Leinster can do, they can send a feckin team down to SA..:)
@Stuart: Bulls definitely favourites… but there is a solid spine to this Leinster team through Snyman – McGrath – Byrne – Barrett – J O’Brien. Plenty of experience there and a few upstarts to help cause a small upset. Osborne and T O’Brien both have a bit of gas and Culhane has a monster performance bursting to get out of him. Conney and Boyle were excellent last time out. This could be the game for Leinster to close out 1st spot.
@Stuart: Looking through the Bulls team I would have expected something stronger.
A lot of injuries then?
The bench looks better than the starting team.
And what’s going on at flyhalf? Looking through the guys history he looks like a journeyman scrumhalf.
@Stuart: he’s covering injures so that won’t be at 10.
@Barry Moran: a few , goose , Peterson , moodie (arendse) on loan in Japan, elrigh low, nortje injured , yes agree big call with the 10…the halfbacks are the weak link , when Pollard arrives in July should plug that hole. Still a pretty decent side
@Paul Ennis: yes agree, I can see that, pretty decent side in comparison to what has previously been sent, should be a good one :)
@Stuart: Big ask to come away with full points, very hard game for Leinster at attitude, strong Bulls team too who probs have been waiting all year for this scalp. Still loadsa points in the bank for Leinster so would be “a mere flesh wound”… pressure at second spot tho, Glasgow probs beat us (barr a decent performance). The Bulls at Altitude first is good thing, Sharks are at sea level, maybe thats the easier of the 2 (if you can call it that). Means it’s probs to be quite close in the top 4.
@Thesaltyurchin: agreed, it’s going to be a tight run in that top 4. Tonight will be tough for Munster but the rest of their games all look winnable …for the bulls and sharks they should at least win all their home games so 4 from 6 going forward …the stormers have a lot of long-term injuries back and are looking near back to full strength which will make a massive difference ..I think they are going to fly up table and finish around 6th.. and you are right, Leinster dopping points in SA doesn’t really make any difference ..they are still primed to top the league ..I however would somehow like to see them in SA at full strength in the knockouts (my own selfish ask) ha
@Stuart: possibly you are correct but the Glasgow game is one Glasgow have earmarked to go all out for. All teams see Leinster as the “big scalp” in our league. I think Leinster need to take points home from SA to guarantee top spot.
@Stuart: Make no mistake, Leinster are absolutely targeting points down here, no question. The Irish 6N contingent gets stood down for 1-2 weeks after the tournament so this is, arguably, as strong a side as they could put out. So that says everything re their priorities for this. Tomorrow will be a close run game, hopefully closer than last June. Hard to see Leinster winning however. And if you want to see them at full strength, then tell the organisers to stop putting their SA tour right after the 6N every year!
@Oliver Curley: If Leinster take any points away from SA, top spot IS guaranteed. Glasgow cannot afford to target one game, they need to win 5 from 5 with 4 bonus points to even have a sniff of taking top spot on the last weekend. Leinster can drop 11 points in those same 5 games and still be 3 points clear going into that last game. 0 points from SA would be a set back but not the disaster it was last year.
I think Ross is just a safer bet right now than Frawley.
A win here is close to guaranteeing top spot so worth a bit of extra effort but not worth compromising anything for the champions cup.
I expect the experienced core of this team will be shipped home after and we’ll see the usual kids game next week.
@Barry Moran: safer? We are so far ahead in the league actually having a go would be the better tactic. Gunne and frawley taking them on with Barrett and the O’Briens outside would be worth seeing. Mcgrath and byrne are slow and predictable, I’ll admit Mcgrath is suited to our new style but he doesn’t allow the ball to go wide quickly.
@chris mcdonnell: A win here and the next four games are complete freebies to play whoever they like.
Drop both of these sa games with no points and Glasgow have a window to take top spot in the last round.
I know you’ve got your prejudices but surely even you can see from recent performances that the odds of winning are far greater with bryne over frawley right now.
@Barry Moran: sorry but I don’t see that.
@chris mcdonnell: did Ross Byrne steal sweets from you when you were a child or something? . He’s moving on, any chance you could ????
@David Leahy: I just don’t want to see the same mistakes this year as we have had for the past 4 seasons.
Leinster side looks a lot stronger than the touring party last year. Anyone know if the bulls are at full strength?
@Mark O’Keeffe: they put out their strongest team but have some injuries
Does anyone know if Paddy McCarthy is injured.
This match would have been great experience for him.
@Michael Maher: yeah injured I think. Raging as this tour could have offered a great platform for him to show what he can do. Showed well off the bench recently against the Welsh sides
@Carmine Lorenzo: I was also very impressed by the TH (McGuire I think) he looks like a big man, good in the scrum and made a couple of great turnovers.
@Michael Maher: Yeah McGuire is a great prospect alright. I’m really disappointed we’re losing him to Ulster.
@Michael Maher: McGuire is heading North this summer
@Carmine Lorenzo: makes wayfor teh freak of nature that is Smyth. He will be (if he maintains his fitness) a star player for both club and country. What he did last year in the Sct as a prop I have never witnessed before at schools level.
Why isn’t Jack Boyle’s brother starting?
@Ben Breathnach: They’re holding him back for next week’s game
Losing bonus point and/or a try bonus point the target given how the table sits. Anything more is a bonus.
Assume Slimani, Snyman and Barrett in particular will all be on a plane asap after the game ends.
It is a good Leinster side, but it is 25 Celsius and 64% humidity as well as the elevation. It might be a tall order. Losing BP in both games or one win should be enough to secure home advantage in knockouts. I reckon they will give a good account of themselves.
Is Jordan Larmour injured?
@Rugbyanbeer: yes he’s still injured
@Stephen Nolan: thanks for your reply
Big opportunity for Ivan Soroka off the bench , he’s been a fearsome LH in AIL for years , if he can come on and compete with a bulls pack his career will take off
@Owen ODonoghue: he’s a little too old at this stage for a career but what a great experience for him.
@chris mcdonnell: never too old Chris