THE COMPETITION FOR a spot in Leinster’s backline has just gone up a notch with the arrival of Jordie Barrett, although it remains to be seen exactly how they use him.
The Kiwi star has been playing at inside centre for the All Blacks in recent years, having initially broken into the side as a fullback. Barrett has also featured on the right wing for New Zealand in the past and even played at out-half once.
So it’s a good time to be fit and firing if you’re a Leinster back.
Jordan Larmour made his return from injury in last weekend’s win away to Ulster, scoring his third try in three starts on the wing for Leo Cullen’s side this season.
He wasn’t fit to be involved with Ireland in their November campaign, having been part of the tour to South Africa last summer without adding to his 32 caps, so being ready for the return of the URC was key.
“I feel like my game is in a good spot,” said Larmour. “Obviously, a bit frustrating getting that injury, it set me back a couple of weeks.
“Getting with the medical staff, getting me back to full fitness, and I’m feeling really good. And I’m just trying to go out there and keep putting good performances together week on week, keep backing them up and putting my hand up for selection, but I’m really enjoying it.”
Larmour has been in a good place with Leinster over the last two years, starting all eight of their Champions Cup games on the right wing last season. That form helped him to earn two caps during the 2024 Six Nations, ending an 18-month absence from the green jersey.
One reason that Larmour feels he has been enjoying his rugby so much is the influence of Jacques Nienaber since the South African defence specialist joined after the 2023 World Cup.
“Jacques, you know, he’s an unbelievable defensive coach so there are not many pictures he hasn’t seen on a rugby pitch so the confidence that he gives us, his level of detail is unbelievable,” said Larmour.
“The things he shows us in the meetings, we’re always going into games really well prepped. What you’ve done throughout the week, you back yourself, you just back yourself for what you’ve done. Sometimes you get it wrong, look at the review, see what you can do better but look we’ll always back ourselves in defence.”
Leinster face an interesting challenge in their Champions Cup opener this weekend as they visit Pat Lam’s Bristol.
The Bears are second in the Premiership thanks largely to their exciting attack, which often involves running the ball out of their own 22. The passing, support play, and sheer energy have been impressive from Bristol.
Larmour is looking forward to taking on the threats posed by the likes of wing Gabriel Ibitoye.
“They definitely like to attack from everywhere,” said Larmour.
“And the individuals they have, their back three alone, they could break tackles from anywhere, the offloading game they have, the speed, the footwork, the power, it’s definitely going to be a big challenge for us defensively because even inside their own 22, they’ll look to run the ball and keep the ball alive.
“So it’s definitely going to be a big challenge for us. We’ve just got to be on it and be connected, working as a team and I think our scramble D is going to have to be very important as well because there will be linebreaks so it’s just how to do we shut them down after those line breaks.
“It’s going to be a big challenge for us, probably the biggest one of the season so far, certainly defensively, but it’s one that we’re excited for, we always want to test ourselves against really good attacking teams in defence.”
I don’t remember when Bristol had a top class International winning set of backs running at them with a superstar AB thrown into the mix for good measure. Oh and a battle hardened International pack coming at them too. Don’t be surprised if Leinster do a number on them.
@Tom Reilly: “internationals” that based on the last world cup are a good team, decent, not great, or “world class”.
@Tom Reilly: This World class team with a South African world Cup winner and an all black superstar thrown in just for the craic can’t afford to go 65 minutes without a score like they did against Benneton and Munster or they won’t be doing a number on anyone in the Champions league this season.
@Ray Ridge: considering the Champions League is a football tournament it’d be very impressive if Leinster did a number on anyone in it
@Ray Ridge: Aw Ray why the sudden strong anti-Leinster rhetoric? Can you not provide us with your godly insights in an impartial manner?
@teuO6nLS: Champions Cup, Heineken Cup, Budweiser Cup call it what you will, the fact remains they will need to be better.
@Niall English: whinger, are you the new Ray?
Bristol are playing some outstanding rugby. Don’t be surprised if they do a number on Leinster this weekend. If Bristol were in the URC, they would be top of the league by a country mile.
@Ray Ridge: you’re an absolute dose.
@Kevin Dillon: if Leinster play like they did against Benneton, Munster, Argentina and Australia then they will lose this game. They will need to improve. This won’t be the cakewalk that the bookies and some so called pundits are predicting.
@Ray Ridge: they won’t lose and you know it. Just another prediction wrong or my gut feeling, you just want to be always controversial. #supportyourown.
@Kevin Dillon: I heard the same kinda arrogance before the semi final against the Bulls last season. I think I was the only one in the county who fancied the Bulls to beat them. They will have to improve on previous that’s all I’m saying. If they do improve then of course they can win.
@Ray Ridge: so basically when they win, you’ll say “i told you so”, and when they lose you’ll say “I told you so”. I got it now.
@Kevin Dillon: ray ridge is the only man in the history of time that the bookies chose to close his account for him as he was losing so much to them.
@Niall English: he never bets. He has no more faith in his own predictions than anyone else has. He said OZ would put 40 points on IRL and when I tried to make (a non monetary) bet on it, he ran a mile. He’s just making ridiculous statements for attention. I’ve used the mute button so I don’t even see the rubbish hé spouts
@Michael Corkery: he’s probably between 17 and 21 years old. Not sure why he gets so much airtime. Muted him months ago but still see everyone replying the whole time to his nonsense
@Ray Ridge: quiet, turd
@Ray Ridge: Surprised you get enough time off from the circus to write this stuff.
@Ray Ridge: I can say with confidence that you have never watched Bristol play .
The key in this game will be how French Referee Brousset officiates the breakdown – Premiership or URC interpretation. This will cause surprises to both teams.
All about the scramble D.
@Aidan Farrell: Bristol is the type of team that could really cause the leinster defence problems. As you said its all about the scramble. Not sure Barrett is up to speed with the system just yet.
@chris mcdonnell: You could be right on Barrett. Maybe he comes on from the bench for this one and starts v Clermont. Having said that, he is intelligent and experienced so he should be able to adapt quickly. If he starts, I would have confidence that JN is happy with his understanding of the system.
@Paul Ennis: 100% but I’m coming from the JN 13 weeks point. This defence will be new to him and it only really works if all the scramblers are on the same page. As you said he’s certainly good enough to jump right in. If we continue with the 6-2 split it’s going to be a very interesting selection and bench options. If JB is on the bench he covers everything from 10 to 15. Meaning we wouldn’t need any other cover apart from 9. Them SP , CF and ross are basically fighting for 1 shirt.
@Paul Ennis: isn’t the system you smash the guy in front of you?
I’m sure Jordie can do that!
@Oran Burns: correct until they get to the outside then it’s a manically controlled scramble
@chris mcdonnell: Not sure about a 6:2 this weekend. The number of backs that have been picking up injuries recently and I think we want both SP & CF in the squad. The interesting call will be 9. Do we stick with Lukey or give Fintan Gunne a run? He looked good when he came on last Friday.
@Paul Ennis: at 9 I would go with Gunne, in defence Luke is a beast but he still counts to 5 at ever ruck before he plays the ball.
We have a massive amount of forwards who deserve to play too, if we go JR and RG at 4 and 5. baird josh and doris as the backrow we still have big joe and conan added that deegan is playing better than ever, then throw in scott P. . Also JN likes 6 -2 as his defence needs so much energy from his forwards. ( considering the amount of work doris and jvdf got through over the past 4 weeks )( ryan and joe to a lesser extent) and a massive away game 6 days later. I can see 6 -2.
@chris mcdonnell: True… but Bristol will be running everything, playing all out attacking rugby. There will be gaps for Leinster to exploit and fresh legs on 20 mins could make the difference. A 6:2 works well v La Rochelle / Toulouse / Sarries. But not sure it is necessary v Bristol.
Leinster are good enough to win comfortably…….super D and attacking capability.Bristol are flaky and never have to face so many threats as L will present.L by 15
Larmour is 27??? Jaysus times flies