JORDIE BARRETT MOVES to 12 for the URC clash of Leinster and Connacht at the Aviva Stadium tomorrow (KO: 5.30pm, RTร 2, Premier Sports 1).
The western province have named a strong side with Bundee Aki, Mack Hansen and Finlay Bealham all starting.
For Leinster there are 13 changes in personnel to the starting XV from last Saturdayโs 15-7 win over Clermont, with Barrett switching to inside centre and Jimmy OโBrien swapping from the wing to full-back.
๐ | ๐๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ฅ๐ง๐ค๐จ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ค๐ข๐๐ฃ๐...
โ Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) December 20, 2024
๐ซก Here is your #LeinsterRugby team to face @connachtrugby at Aviva Stadium tomorrow!#NeverLessThanEverything #LEIvCON pic.twitter.com/JTmtItfIvM
Jack Conan captains the side from No 8 with Alex Soroka, who is making his first appearance of the season, and Scott Penny joining him in the back row.
Diarmuid Mangan is one of five academy players named in the starting XV and he will partner RG Snyman in the second row. Jack Boyle and Rabah Slimani will scrum down either side of academy hooker Gus McCarthy in a repeat of the same front row who faced Connacht in October.
Ross Byrne and Luke McGrath are the half-back positions, with academy player Charlie Tector picked to partner Barrett in the centre.
With OโBrien at full-back, the academy pair of Andrew Osborne, who scored in Octoberโs win over Connacht in Galway, and Aitzol Arenzana-King have been given the nod on the wings.
Lee Barron, Michael Milne and Cian Healy provide the front row cover from the bench with Brian Deeny, Ryan Baird and Max Deegan offering further reinforcements in a 6-2 split.
Jamison Gibson-Park and Harry Byrne are the replacement halfbacks.
For Connacht, international trio Aki, Hansen and Bealham all start for the first time since the November internationals, with two other players named in that Ireland squad โ captain Cian Prendergast and Dave Heffernan โ also in the starting XV.
๐ข ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฆ
โ Connacht Rugby (@connachtrugby) December 20, 2024
Your Connacht 23 heading up the M6 tomorrow ๐
โ๏ธ Internationals back
๐ Josh Ioane returns
๐ช 6/2 split
Read more๐ https://t.co/LKZYn1xnoM #OneConnacht pic.twitter.com/mQ0kdKHi3C
Josh Ioane returns from injury to play for the first time since the end of October โ he lines out at out-half with Ben Murphy alongside him at scrum-half.
Denis Buckley completes an experienced front row with Heffernan and Bealham, while Josh Murphy moves to the second row to partner Darragh Murray. Paul Boyle starts at No 8, with Shamus Hurley-Langton as openside flanker.
Cathal Forde moves to the 13 jersey alongside Aki, Piers OโConor also returns from injury to start at full-back, and winger Shane Jennings completes the side.
Connacht have opted for a 6:2 split on the bench with Sean Jansen returning from suspension, Santiago Cordero covering the back field and Conor Oliver again wearing 23.
Leinster
15. Jimmy OโBrien
14. Aitzol Arenzana-King
13. Charlie Tector
12. Jordie Barrett
11. Andrew Osborne
10. Ross Byrne
9. Luke McGrath
1. Jack Boyle
2. Gus McCarthy
3. Rabah Slimani
4. Diarmuid Mangan
5. RG Snyman
6. Alex Soroka
7. Scott Penny
8. Jack Conan (Capt)
Replacements:
16. Lee Barron
17. Michael Milne
18. Cian Healy
19. Brian Deeny
20. Ryan Baird
21. Jamison Gibson-Park
22. Harry Byrne
23. Max Deegan
Connacht:
15. Piers OโConor
14. Mack Hansen
13. Cathal Forde
12. Bundee Aki
11. Shane Jennings
10. Josh Ioane
9. Ben Murphy
1. Denis Buckley
2. Dave Heffernan
3. Finlay Bealham
4. Josh Murphy
5. Darragh Murray
6. Cian Prendergast (Capt)
7. Shamus Hurley-Langton
8. Paul Boyle
Replacements:
16. Dylan Tierney-Martin
17. Jordan Duggan
18. Jack Aungier
19. Oisรญn Dowling
20. Sean Jansen
21. Caolin Blade
22. Santiago Cordero
23. Conor Oliver
Ref: Chris Busby (IRFU)
Barret V Bundee should be cracking โ canโt wait
I canโt understand parachuting Ioane in, his form has been muck. And Carty, MOTM last week, dropped completely.
@David Hickey: Ioane looked like he was kicking a beachball in the wind last time the teams played..
Where is poor Tommy OโBrien? Really hope he didnโt pick up an injury this week. Think Connacht will really fancy this. Iโm a little concerned that weโve got Tector out of position at 13 and Mangan in the row. That being said, itโs a fantastic opportunity for both to make an impact obviously. Excited to see Soroka get a start too. Heโs bulked up a good bit and is a great option in the lineout. Hopefully he gets a well deserved injury free run now. Can see this being close.
@Carmine Lorenzo: we have gone with slow and slower at 9 and 10. This was the perfect game for gunne at 9 and trector at 10 but Leo canโt see past his favourites.
@Carmine Lorenzo: I say a post about him earlier he is hoping to get all his injuries sorted soon hopefully
@chris mcdonnell: Look, we know you never want to see Ross in blue ever again but Tector is no longer considered a 10 by Leinster, whether you agree with it or not. He has not started a game at 10 in about 3 years. Ross is perfect for this type of game with so many academy players in the mix. Also, we are only 1 injury away from needing his experience in the cc in Jan.
@Paul Ennis: since when is not considered a 10? Frawely wasnโt considered a 10 by Cullen either, neither was carbury all to accommodate byrne. And you can throw madigan in that mix too. Tector is a 10, heโs never going to good enough to play 12 like henshaw, osbourne or Barrett for that matter. 12โฒs are just much than Charlie. As for the champions cup , we have pendergast, frawley Barrett and Tector who can all play 10. Ross was a perfect back up sexton but he isnโt and never will be the top class 10 leinster or ireland need.
@chris mcdonnell: Lots of players start their youths careers in one position and then move to another. Would you still define Henshaw as FB? Gordon DโArcy? Owen Farrell? Jordie Barrett? Charlie hasnโt played 10 regularly since U20s โ 3 years ago. He might have had 3 caps for Leinster around that same time and for me, he has never showed the game management skills and confidence required (in the same way as Jack Crowley or Sam P have). His best Leinster performances to date have been at centre. He is still in the Leinster academy and he is working hard to secure a professional contract next season. There is talent at 10 come down the tracks in Leinster, Munster and Ulster and if I was Charlie (or if I was advising him) I would be concentrating hard on a career as a centre.
@chris The coaches are watching training and if a player is not picked there is a good reason, after all they want to win the game too!
I expect 7 points at least the difference everything leinster rotate they drop to a difference team connacht will give it a good go
@sean oโfarrell: Shanie? Or did you go to same school as Shanie?!!
@Ray Ridge: Jesus.Ray you obessed with me today and nope it aint me my grammar far worse
@Ray Ridge: Stick to the rugby you utter plonker.
Leinster holding back the big guns for the trip to Thomond next week. With a strong Connacht 23 that could backfire on them. With a 7 point table lead a loss probably wouldnโt be a great concern.
@TL55: wonโt be a loss
Tector becoming the new Frawley I see!
@Andrew: third five-eight:)
Tectorโs gone from 10 to second five-eight, to 13, heโll be on the wing next:)
Has murphy now overtaken devine at connacht? Huge show of faith in murphy that all 3 are available and devine is the player to miss out.
@Patrick OโSullivan: Very impressed with murphy allright bet ya rr would beg to differ
Heโs been good alright infairness, still raw but has potential.
Who or what is rr?
@Patrick OโSullivan: ray ridge the what lol
Ryan Baird not ready to start yet it seems. Shame. Really hope he starts getting significant game time during the champions cup games and is fully ready to go for the 6N.
Wonder if Carty injured or sick? Heโs been in solid form recently and Josh has been a bit meh for me all season.
Leinster going with their b team will hopefully will make it interesting.
@Papa Kilo: I wouldnโt bet on it. They went with a mix and match team in Dexcom stadium a couple of months ago, and the game was effectively over after 15 minutes.
@Ray Ridge: Looking forward to reminding you of this asinine comment on Saturday evening Ray.
@Patrick Kennedy: tbf I traveled to that match and Connacht gave up after 20 mins. At no point did the team or home crowd believe they had the chance to win
@Patrick Kennedy: 99 percent predictions wrong one percent right is old ray
@Papa Kilo: the โA Teamโ is barely better than this โB Teamโ that you are referring to.
@David Gaffney: Except for the 10 or so players that are missing.
There are 4 Match Points and 3 Bonus Points up for grabs by Irish clubs in each of the 4 upcoming interprovincials. Letโs hope that none of these BPs are wasted โ 12 in all โ as our provinces badly need them! (Yes, Leinster too, in order to take some pressure off SA tour.)
I wanted to see loads rested but this is going too far. GR, JMcC and Clarkson could have been in the 23. Tector at 13 is odd. Larmour and TOB are back fit I thought? Finally Gunne has been in form and JGP is one that could have done with a rest
Iโve not had a chance to see either in action much. Anyone have a view on which loose head has a higher ceiling Milne or Boyle?
Genuinely curious.
@Andrew: Milne is physically more developed as heโs a few years older but word is Boyle has a higher ceiling which I have to say, I havenโt seen signs of yet. He got floor by his opposite number v Ulster a few weeks ago
@Andrew: Milneโs only issue is the scrummaging. He appears to struggle a bit but is great around the park. Really like him. Boyle also looks seriously good and has been earmarked for a long time. Maybe not quite as dynamic as Milne but he possibly has a better all round game?
@Carmine Lorenzo: what is Boyleโs point of difference vs Milne? he seems considerably lighter/less powerfull around the park so would be surpirsed if he is the better scrumager. Also, what about Paddy McCarthy?
@adizlack93: size is not the only factor when scrummaging. Technical ability, tenasity and dog are massive in a prop.
@Andrew: at LHP, Boyle for sure โ good scrummager and gets around the park. Milne should be converted to TH
This is a huge test for that leinster team, i think if Carty was starting iโd have Connacht as slight favorites. Donโt think it will be a repeat of the Galway fixture. Both benches strong and Connachts backs may like the open spaces in the Aviva