HUGO KEENAN RETURNS to make his first start for Leinster since October as the province host Bath for their Champions Cup clash at the Aviva Stadium tomorrow (KO: 5.30pm, RTร2, Premier Sports 1).
There are five changes to the starting XV from Sundayโs win over La Rochelle in France, with Hugo Keenan returning to the full-back spot after recovering from a wrist injury.
โ ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐ ๐๐ค...
โ Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) January 17, 2025
๐ This is the Leinster Rugby team who will face @BathRugby in the @ChampionsCup tomorrow.
๐๏ธ Limited tickets still available here: https://t.co/bnr4wDTDn9#LEIvBAT #NeverLessThanEverything pic.twitter.com/yqzQUcZEsV
Keenan will be joined in the back three by Jamie Osborne and Garry Ringrose, who shifts over to the wing to accommodate a centre partnership of Jordie Barrett and Robbie Henshaw.
Sam Prendergast continues at ten with Jamison Gibson-Park once again his half-back partner.
Andrew Porter and Rabah Slimani have been drafted into the starting line up after coming off the bench in La Rochelle, with Rรณnan Kelleher keeping his place at hooker.
Joe McCarthy once again partners James Ryan in the second row, while Josh van der Flier continues at seven.
Jack Conan comes in to captain the team while Max Deegan returns at flanker.
Academy hooker Gus McCarthy is joined on the bench by Cian Healy and Thomas Clarkson as the front row options, while RG Snyman and Caelan Doris also take their place among the strong line-up of the replacements.
Jimmy OโBrien offers the outside back cover while Ross Byrne and Luke McGrath will provide the reinforcements at half-back.
Leinster
15. Hugo Keenan
14. Garry Ringrose
13. Robbie Henshaw
12. Jordie Barrett
11. Jamie Osborne
10. Sam Prendergast
9. Jamison Gibson-Park
1. Andrew Porter
2. Rรณnan Kelleher
3. Rabah Slimani
4. Joe McCarthy
5. James Ryan
6. Max Deegan
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Jack Conan (Capt)
Replacements:
16. Gus McCarthy
17. Cian Healy
18. Thomas Clarkson
19. RG Snyman
20. Caelan Doris
21. Luke McGrath
22. Ross Byrne
23. Jimmy OโBrien
Bath
15. Tom de Glanville
14. Joe Cokanasiga,
13. Ollie Lawrence,
12. Max Ojomoh,
11. Ruaridh McConnochie,
10. Finn Russell,
9. Ben Spencer (Capt)
1. Beno Obano
2. Niall Annett
3. Will Stuart
4. Quinn Roux
5. Ross Molony
6. Ted Hill
7. Miles Reid
8. Alfie Barbeary
Replacements:
16. Tom Dunn
17. Francois van Wyk
18. Thomas du Toit
19. Charlie Ewels
20. Josh Bayliss
21. Louis Schreuder
22. Orlando Bailey
23. Jaco Coetzee
Ref: Luc Ramos (FFR)
Why is Ross Byrne on the bench still?? Where is Frawley
@adizlack93: irfu I say
@sean oโfarrell: Dont see why? Probs has a knock or something. Unless that was sarcasm, if so nicely played ;)
@adizlack93: Has anyone actually watched frawleys performances this year?
They havenโt been good, ross hasnโt been any better but Frawley is not the golden child heโs made out to be.
Heโs not a kid, heโs has his chances and theyโve been taken and not taken.
Heโs an excellent choice for a 6-2 bench but specialist flyhalf, it just hasnโt been good enough.
@Barry Moran: thatโs just not true. Frawley was very good at the start of the season at 10 , just look at the croke park game, our attack fell off a cliff when he was moved out of the outhalf position.
@chris mcdonnell: He was OK in those games, disregarding prendergast, I would have been happy to call him an upgrade for the season on bryne but ever since he bombed so hard against the abs heโs been very poor and I expect thatโs shown in training too hence the non-selections.
@Barry Moran: he hasnโt played 10 since the ABโs cameo so how has he bombed?
@chris mcdonnell: If he wants gametime coming off the bench and playing well, whatever the position, is the first step and he hasnโt done that.
He just isnโt reliable enough to be the idealised version you have in your mind.
@Barry Moran: Or maybe you donโt really watch any games.
@Carmine Lorenzo: Iโm almost certain Iโve seen every professional game Frawley has played. I used to be a big fan but he rolls the dice a few times against the springboks, comes up big and thatโs all anyone wants to think about him.
At least in the context of bringing other guys down, if frawley was getting gametime at 10 theyโd be punching him down as soon as things go wrong.
@Barry Moran: What chances has he had ? How many times was he started at 10 for Leinster in the past 5 years compared to the Byrne Bros ? and after his performance in SA he deserved a start in the Autumn series, but no brought on for limited time against NZ and then practically blamed for losing the game as if the 12 penalties, 30 missed tackles and line out shambles were all his fault. If he had been given half the starts that the others got he would be the best 10 in Ireland. Remember Crowley was taken off in that second test and Frawley won the game against the World Champions in their backyard. The guy is class and is an out and out 10, and my advice for him is to GTFO of Leinster and Ireland and go to France or England where he would be appreciated.
Big props to Deegan, deserves the start (imo). Doris and RG coming on at the same time is terrifying lol, hoping for a belter of a game.
@Thesaltyurchin: 100% deagan deserves the start but baird should be on the bench. Cullen messing with his ireland spot.
@chris mcdonnell: how do you know heโs been dropped? More than likely protecting him after a knock or resting him after returning from injury. Why do people always assume the worst in Cullen.
@anthony davoren: 10 years since he took over, 4 URCโs and 1 champions cup, considering the squad, funding and resources he has at his disposal the question should be is he actually the worst, even matt oconnor had a better record.
@chris mcdonnell: You donโt get that Leinster being successful is the side gig.
Cullenโs primary brief is producing players to play for Ireland and the way you hear a lot of people going on heโs been entirely too successful at that job.
@chris mcdonnell: Requires a 6-2 bench, which in turn requires Frawley.
@anthony davoren: Not โpeopleโโฆ itโs just Chris. Leo used to take his lunch money when they were kidsโฆ (Only kidding Chris!!)
@Paul Ennis: Not to mention Leoโs mum used to pick up Chris from school at age 20
@Barry Moran: alot of that is in spite of him. Not because of him, 4 players in the Irish camp either slipped through his hands or he let go, ben Murphy ??? The likes of JGP, frawley , osbourne at 15, farrell had to over rule him. The supply comes from the schools and youth systems. Cullen is blessed with that production line and still gets it wrong.
@chris mcdonnell: well thatโs the most nonsensical comment I have ever seen and it shows how little you know about rugby. If Leo has been they bad he wouldnโt be continuously offering new contracts. What you are saying goes against what all his peers say and also all the past and present players who are all full of praise for him as head coach. Maybe just maybe Chris you donโt know as much as they do about the game
@chris mcdonnell: Wow, youโre taking this to the grave.
Youโre actually going to try and argue that a head coach that regularly uses 50-60 players a season with a 79% win rate, getting to 5 champions cup finals is nothing but a drag on the entire operation.
Iโm disappointed with the lack of final wins as well but they didnโt exactly lose to chumps.
Youโve no perspective on these issues, only present yourself as the most entitled of fans holding bitter weak grudges only to your own detriment.
@Conor Lynott: why would you insult Leoโs mum
@Paul Ennis: it might just be me, fair enough but if you have the faster car in the race and you never win, you have to ask what the driver is doing. Honestly if Cullen wasnโt the fantastic player and club captain he was would he get such an easy ride.
@anthony davoren: 4 urc titles in 10 years with the best club squad the league has ever seen if thatโs doing his job fair enough.
@chris mcdonnell: I donโt think Cullenโs record as a player even comes into it anymore. He will always be known as the coach who got Leinster to more finals and won more trophies than any other. He will be remembered for taking the car crash squad over from Matt Whatshischops, giving several kids debuts in a write off Champions Cup campaign and turning them all into cup winners and Ireland internationals within 3 years. I also believe, for what itโs worth, he will add a 2nd European trophy to his list along with an unprecedented 4th final in a row. Who knows from there.
@chris mcdonnell: Youโre genuinely the worst Leinster fan, or even fan, on here. Your arrogance is unparalleled even by Ray or the late (from the 42) Jim Demps standards. Iโd honestly be ashamed to think so much of myself and so little of the lads who literally dedicated their life to this team. Just like Ray you repeat the same comments here over and over again and have stopped adding anything of value to the conversation a long time ago, so blinded by hate are you to Cullen and Byrne. Youโre the definition of the type of fan that is everything thatโs wrong with Irish rugby. That is all.
@chris mcdonnell: Ok so say Cullen gets fed up with your broadsides on comment forums and he resigns tomorrow. Who comes in to replace him as Head Coach / DoR?
@Carmine Lorenzo: Munster fan who often disagrees with Chris here. I think its reasonable to question whether Leo has done a good job. He is not responsible for youth development. He is surrounded by capable people and a system that works. Maybe he does have responsibility for the health of the organisation in that regard i dont know. The only thing that i know for certain that he is exclusively responsible for certain, however, is team selection and that has on numerous occasions been really, really bad. Some of the biggest squad selection mistakes in Irish rugby have been Cullenโs Leinster.
@chris mcdonnell: Just listening to Leo Cullen regarding squad selectionโฆ have we all forgotten this is a 6 day turnaround? Sensible to manage players. Doris has a little bit of stiffness, Baird and Furlong took very small knocks. If anything trying not to ruin their Ireland chances. Leo is a team player and puts country on a level with province when it comes to player development and management. The man is under rated, under appreciated and we will miss him when he is gone. Having said that, he has such a small ego that I am sure it doesnโt bother him what we think.
Frawley :โ(
The Frawley fall off needs to be studied
@Jacob: Itโs Leo. If Ross was actually better, why doesnโt make the Ireland squad?
@Kieran Bacon: not that black and white. making irish squads just means the irish coach thinks you are a better player amongst other factors. when the wheels come off the farrell bandwagon, there will be a new coach and he will select the players he likes.
@Jacob: unless dictated by injury, Ross Byrne ahead of Frawley makes no sense.
@Kieran Bacon: if Ross was better, weโd have a few trophies over the past 3 years. Cullen has just refused to give frawley a chance at 10 because heโd have to admit he was wrong. Done the same with madigan and carbury forced then to play out of position and they both left the club.
@Jacob: is it Neibarr that he wants a Hansie Pollard type player at the end of the game to just kick and do nothing with the backline?
@chris mcdonnell: Ross had Leinster in the perfect position to win the cup last season b4 he went off. Frawley came on, and Leinster got well beaten.
@chris mcdonnell: so your assertion is one player is at fault for not winning anything and the DoR, the same DoR who hired Stuart Lancaster when he could see the gaps in his own experience, and also sees training everyday, picks a team based on what people externally might think ? Just checkingโฆ.
I fully believe Cullen has cost leinster massively over the past 10 seasons. His failure to take the best club side with the most money and resources while most of the players won grand slams and 6 nations, he can hardly win the URC is simply not good enough. He let Beinre go , had no time for JGP, never even noticed osbourne could play 15 until farrell told him.played carbury and madigan out of position,both left the club As for Ross, was a good second choice player was given the chance to take over from sexton and it just didnโt work out, simply heโs just not quick enough to play 10 at the highest level. Year after year Leo tells us about learning lessons, with this much learning he should be either the dalai lama or take over Stephen Hawkins works in Cambridge university.
@chris mcdonnell: Christ, give it a break
@Kieran Bacon: frawley has never started at 10 for Ireland. He also misses out on irish 23s regularly. Be was brought in because ireland had screwed up their depth at 10 and he is versatile.
He gets the exact same treatment there as he does in Leinster so both coaches must know something
@Andrew Dunne: Ross doesnโt even fit that profile anymore. He rarely kicks out of hand and his place kicking confidence has taken a hammering since he was dropped to 2nd or 3rd choice. Samโs appearance on the scene is amazing, but it has had a detrimental effect on the performances of Byrne and Frawley.
@Kieran Bacon: that was a Smidt decision that Farrell has continued. Itโs about preference. Cooney was best 9 in Ireland for a good period and couldnโt make even training camp. Carty was flying and he couldnโt get in for ages
@Kieran Bacon: Probably because heโs not a utility back. Which is the only reason Frawley does. Frawley has never, ever been ahead of Byrne at Leinster, for a reason. If Frawley had performed as well as RB last week. Shot at goal apart, his fanboys would be creaming themselves.
@John Buckley: I see. And what did Ross do in 2023 in the Aviva when we were camped in the LR 22 and he never called or went for the drop goal which would have won the game.
@chris mcdonnell: Right soโฆ no time for a player he signed. And if youโre going to give him grief, to use your language, of โletting beirne goโ what about all the players developed in that time. Sheehan, Doris, Keenan? You do get not every player that comes through the academy can be contracted and players develop at different rates, right?
no baird?
@Niall English: leinster rest players every week
No Frawley or Baird is really disappointing. I guess they want to ease Furlong back in or maybe he picked up a slight tweak and they donโt want to risk him. Doris as impact is a nice touch + heโs played insane amount of minutes this season so if weโre well clear maybe no need to bring him on
Why does RS never start
@Seanie: rumoured that one of the conditions of Leinster signing him is that he cannot start ahead of McCarthy or Ryan in big games when both are available.
@JohnDoe: You dont know then ok
@Seanie: didnโt Cullen all but confirm that?
@Michael Corkery: confirm what i dont read every post are be online every day i just know he is a world class player never seem s to start same with tom Ahearn
@Seanie: why are you so hostile? People are trying to answer your question. The conditions of Synmanโs contact wonโt be made public and I gave you a plausible explanation
@Seanie: Murray K stated as much in a recent article.
@JohnDoe: im.not
@Colin Rainier: Ok thanks for no information not one person told me why
@JohnDoe: Thats nonsense that he wont be playing ahead of ryan and mccarthey he is better than both
Osbourn as well
4 centres in the Leinster back line. Any chance youโd send one to Munster?
@Kenjo: hold
@Kenjo: Iโd hate to be a winger in that leinster squad
@Kenjo: you probably will need Liam turner at some stage.
@Kenjo: Jordan Larmour, James Lowe, Tommy OโBrien, Jimmy OโBrien & Liam Turner all injured. I would have liked to see Andrew Osborne start. I definitely do not like Garry Ringrose starting on the wing as it completely weakens the midfield. He is the best 13 on the planet right now. I would have preferred Robbie on the bench.
@Paul Ennis: Sorry Jimmy OโBrien is not injured, but it is still a big list
Leinster need wingers with pace wheres JL injured i suppose
@Kevin: why? They never had them before and scored at will the last three seasons.
@Kevin: Just wingers would be a start. Pace would be a bonus!
Is Furlong injured again?
@Fagin Strauss: he gets injured walking into the team announcement meetings.
@Fagin Strauss: thatโs incredible if true
@Niall English: youโre a bitter loser Niall English
@Fagin Strauss: Dont say that. Still if he bumps a toe he should b sat down until 6n
@adizlack93: not at all. calling it as it is. himself and henderson have a serious amount of top level mileage on the body and spend more time on the treatment table than on the rugby pitch. amount of game time relative to the wages they are on is a poor return on the investment.
@Niall English: you are a loser. Every comment you make is designed to have a sly pop at Leinster. Youโre not remotely knowledgeable or funny. Maybe just stfu and stick with your own pi$$ poor club ??
@Fagin Strauss: no, his wife had a baby during the week.
@adizlack93: not at all. i also included henderson in that ar guement. and id also rather see POM and Murray put out to pasture but because i think their ability at their age relative to their wages is a poor investment. the same way that given hendersons and furlongs recent injury profile and factoring mileage on the bodies, its poor value for money. its easy when it doesnt come out of your pocket, but if it was your money ive no doubt youd feel the same. but theres a level of old boy sentiment in irish rugby that you get to bow out on your terms when you see fit. sure how long has healy been trotted out for 10 minutes at the end of games, which will lead to further issues down the line for porter and he is now going week in week out for 65/70 minutes, that will catch up eventually.
@adizlack93: at least I and my fellow supporters got to celebrate a final victory and homecoming in the not too distant past. been so long since the leinster trophy cabinet was opened, theres cobwebs on the handles.
@Niall English: Iโm convinced a Dublin lad rode your missus
@adizlack93: in your heaaaddd, in youuurrr heeadddd, zombie, zombie!
@adizlack93: Iโd say a Munster lad rode your sisters sideways !
@Niall English: You need to get out more
@Lulu: the only sisters Munster men ride are their own, respectfully.
@adizlack93: thatโs a bit rich as it describes yourself to a tee as regards Munster .
If Frawleys not picked there is a reason .
@Deirdre Kennedy: the reason is Leo Cullen. 10 years as leinster coach 4 URC titles and 1 champions Cup with the greatest club squad and endless finances. The man has a worse record than matt OโConnor.
@chris mcdonnell: Toulouse and La Rochelle have had the greatest club squads over the last number of years.
@chris mcdonnell: Would you ever give over with your endless bs and attacks on Leo. Iโm beginning to think that you wouldnโt even know if rugby ball was pumped or stuffed! Comparing Leo to MOC is a joke. Engage your brain before you engage the keyboard
@chris mcdonnell: are you the new Ray
@Shane Hanley: his record is worse than MOCโs
@anthony davoren: and they have about the same record as leinster in the URC over the past 3 seasons
@chris mcdonnell: Wash your mouth out with soap for mentioning that clownโs name
@Shane Hanley: BS ? facts are facts, and throw in a Magners League Final loss to Connacht to crown the whole lot. BUT letโs extend his contract in November 24 for another 2 years as a reward for failure.
I think leinster by at least 25 , tackling is not a pre requirement in the Gallagher premiership
@damien reidy: To get top seeding, a margin of 40+ should be the target, after 4 tries scored, hopefully by 30 minutes.
Why is everybody in here so pressed lmao.