JACK CONAN IS named among the replacements for Leinster’s trip to France for a pre-season friendly against Bordeaux-Bègles on Friday evening [kick-off, 7pm Irish time].
Conan missed Ireland’s summer tour of South Africa, and will provide options for Leo Cullen on the bench alongside Scott Penny and Liam Molony. Fintan Gunne and Luke McGrath are also in reserve to play scrum-half.
James Culhane captains the team as an extended 31-man squad makes the trip to the Stade Chaban-Delmas to continue preparations for the 2024/2025 season. Culhane will be joined in the back row by Will Connors and Max Deegan while Michael Milne and Thomas Clarkson will line up either side of John McKee at hooker. Brian Deeny and Conor O’Tighearnaigh will slot into the second row.
Harry Byrne has been selected to play at out-half and will link up with scrum-half Cormac Foley.
Leinster XV
Leinster Rugby (caps in brackets):
15. Andrew Osborne (2)
14. Tommy O’Brien (35)
13. Liam Turner (29)
12. Ben Brownlee (9)
11. Rob Russell (32)
10. Harry Byrne (68)
9. Cormac Foley (20)
1. Michael Milne (41)
2. John McKee (27)
3. Thomas Clarkson (41)
4. Brian Deeny (22)
5. Conor O’Tighearnaigh (4)
6. Max Deegan (113)
7. Will Connors (49)
8. James Culhane (8) CAPTAIN
Replacements:
Lee Barron (16)
Gus McCarthy (1)
Jack Boyle (11)
Rabah Slimani (0)
Rory McGuire (3)
Diarmuid Mangan (3)
Scott Penny (72)
Jack Conan (148)
Liam Molony (1)
Fintan Gunne (3)
Luke McGrath (212)
Ross Byrne (162)
Charlie Tector (8)
Hugh Cooney (0)
Aitzol King (1)
Henry McErlean (3)
“Arsenal- have been regarded, over the years as one of the best attacking teams in europe.
Seriously…
Seriously? The comment is fair. The philosophy of Wenger has always been very attack minded, some of his teams played exquisite ball. The current batch just need a world class striker to carry on the tradition. And even without one they can still occasionally deliver.
Yes attack minded but not one of the best attacking teams in europe
Unknown have to agree, they have not been that good in the attacking department! Attack minded yes but not achieving end product!!
Moyes going to United and being replaced by Martinez was the best thing to ever happen to Everton in a while. They’ve improved so much since he was put in charge.
Could have the bragging rights in Liverpool next may, hopefully
Don’t like that prediction for Villa. They really need to pick up 3 points, after this game they have last season’s top 5 all in a row. Could quite easily be bottom of the league by the end of October.
Seriously unlucky fixtures for Villa. Hopefully they stay up I have a soft spot for them because my mate supports them. Maybe they can pull off a few shock results (as long as it’s not against Liverpool ;) )
A lot of people seem to have a soft spot for Villa. Not sure if it is the handy guaranteed 6 points or the whole Italia 90 thing with lots of Irish players in the Villa team at the time (my reason for supporting them).
Anyway, hopefully Benteke will be back soon and in time for the Liverpool game, he seems to enjoy that fixture ; )
Great to see someone comin through the ranks. As s villa fan am a bit sick and tired of 2 to 6 million signings promising much but delivering nothing. At least if he doesnt fulfill his massive potential we wont be too much out of pocket. My biggest fear is that he will be all people are hyping him up to be and will be sold for big money which will be invested in another round of 3 million pound players who just aint up to it. At least this year we might have someone to get the holte end out of their seats.
Gareth the Irish team in Italia 90 was Bonner, Morris, McCarthy, Moran, Staunton, Houghton, Townsend, McGrath, Sheedy, Aldridge and Quinn. McGrath was the only Villa player at the time …. dunno what your talking about !!!
Four of those players ended up as Villans, don’t be such a flute!
Sorry football history nerd, the other 3 must have signed soon thereafter. As I said the reason I start supporting them was because of the number of Irish players in the team (it wasn’t because of all the recent trophies they had won), it quite possibly was a couple of years after Italia 90 that I start taking an interest in English football.
Hope that clears that up for you.
There’s a flute here ok, surname Killilea. Ur argument would be equivalent to someone becoming a Spurs fan in 1987 because Gazza, Lineker and Paul Stewart were their heroes. Jes*s wept !!!!!
Gareth – I know who played for Ireland in Italia 90, their clubs at the time and that makes me a nerd. Hmm strange
How long did it take you to google that anyway. Yeah, at least I’ve the balls not to hide behind some stupid name calling out people pretending you know some fact that you actually googled. Good lad, fair play to Ya
Didn’t have to google anything. I remember Italia 90 with great affection and those who played are indelibly affixed in my consciousness
No, not at all, I was wrong, congratulations on knowing which Irish was playing for what club in 1990.
Fair play to u Mr Killilea – all contributors using a pseudonym are demeaned. Sleep easy having the ‘balls’ to use ur real name. A real act of bravery !
Very fond, why are you being a knob to people on here?? No reason for it!
Daithi I reckon ur in conjunction with the other 2. Is ur surname O Sé perhaps?
Spurs beat Southampton home and away last season so no reason they shouldn’t win on Sunday.
Leopold, sneaky, like it, like it alot
Spurs have a great chance of a top 4 finish this year
And then you woke up covered in a cold sweat
Bookies have United at 1000/1 to be relegated. Looks like good value now, worth a fiver.
They’ll have the red carpet out for ya in paddy power Alan and be hoping you leave for than a fiver with them
I’m not that foolish with my money Declan, just winding up the united fans is all. It’s fun to throw in a United are muck comment every now and then and sit back and watch as they lose the plot :)
Especially for you and other Scouse- ham- ton ( all 3 rolled into one ) supporters
Given the way that his team crumbled against League One opposition three nights ago, Van Gaal has is used to proving his critics wrong. Went unbeaten at Ajax through a whole season with a young team full of nobody’s winning the dutch league and champions league . At Barcelona, the club stood tenth after 14 games of the 1998/99 season but ended as champions. With Bayern Munich Van Gaal’s side were seventh after 13 matches but won the Bundesliga. And not two months ago Van Gaal defied a wave of public pessimism to lead the Netherlands to the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup™, where they lost on penalties to Argentina.
Bazinga if you make up a clever name (in your head anyway) then there should be no need to explain that name. How is it 3 rolled into 1 could you explain I can only make out a reference to Liverpool and Southampton, where is the 3rd team referenced?
Scouse for obvious reasons, Totten(HAM) Southamp(TON) =
Scousehampton !
Couldn’t agree more Alan , it’s our duty to take the pi$$ and is all in the name of good banter , some are really good at giving it but terrible at taking it on sides ,all good fun but it’s the vile ones who take it to a different level on twitter that spoil it
What a load of tomfoolery!
Liverpool 4
Tottenham 0
Burnley 3
Man U 1
Spurs 3 – 1 Liverpool : Burnley 0 – Man U 2
I wonder who you support
Who do u reckon I support Leopold ?
I was referring to Sean Lee, you nicked in ahead of me with your comment.
Ahhh Motley where have you been hiding ?
Ferguson in the end left man utd with a poor team. He never got rid of poor players like Nani and Anderson. Moyes want given a chance and bought badly. LVG is finally removing and selling the dregs of united’s squad. Unfortunately there are too many dregs in the squad that he inherited
Charles, if David Moyes got the same results as v Gaal in his 3 games do you think you would be so positive?
Charles they were not bad players when they came to the club first , Anderson believe it or not bossed the midfield in a CL final against Chelsea , Nani had more goals and assists in his first two season the Ronaldo did in his first two
How come predictions are always utterly predictable? Put all the top sides as winning unless they face each other – then do a draw and then do all the sides below that a bit random as no one cares anyway. It’s likely at least one of city, arsenal, United or Chelsea will lose but nobody doing predictions will even attempt to predict that. How boring.
Liverham !