Leinster v Northampton 19/12 1PM

[mildlyinterested]

ROC says HB to start for Leinster

Meanwhile, Harry Byrne is in line for his first European start for Leinster against Northampton on Saturday. The promising 21-year-old replaced his brother Ross in last week's win over Montpellier and looks set to wear the No 10 jersey at the RDS.

https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/ ... 73011.html

[Jonny tight lips]

Team today?

[wixfjord]

Massive shout to start HB if so, and well warranted.

Leocaster are brilliant at giving young guys chances not just as a last resort, but even when there are other, more senior options.

[mildlyinterested]

Team today?

tomorrow i'd assume

[wixfjord]

15. Jimmy O’Brien (25)
14. Hugo Keenan (21)
13. Garry Ringrose (78)
12. Robbie Henshaw (50)
11. Dave Kearney (155)
10. Harry Byrne (17)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (96)
1. Cian Healy (223)
2. Rónan Kelleher (17)
3. Andrew Porter (68)
4. Ryan Baird (15)
5. James Ryan (42)
6. Rhys Ruddock (181) CAPTAIN
7. Josh van der Flier (86)
8. Caelan Doris (35)

16. James Tracy (117)
17. Peter Dooley (82)
18. Michael Bent (148)
19. Ross Molony (102)
20. Josh Murphy (38)
21. Luke McGrath (135)
22. Ross Byrne (92)
23. Dan Leavy (69)

[Serb]

You’re a European starter now Harry.

[wixfjord]

Lucky we didn't put out the espoirs, that's not a 'second string' Saints team.

15 Tom Collins
14 Ryan Olowofela
13 Fraser Dingwall
12 Rory Hutchinson
11 Taqele Naiyaravoro
10 George Furbank
9 Tom James

1 Alex Waller (c)
2 Sam Matavesi
3 Paul Hill
4 Alex Moon
5 Api Ratuniyarawa
6 Nick Isiekwe
7 Tom Wood
8 Shaun Adendorff

Replacements:
16 Mikey Haywood
17 Francois van Wyk
18 Owen Franks
19 Alex Coles
20 Teimana Harrison
21 Henry Taylor
22 Piers Francis
23 Matt Proctor

[wixfjord]

Saints 9/10 are pretty inexperienced in those jerseys. Still, big pack with plenty of Premiershpi experience and lots of X factor in the backs.

A TBP here would be a good result, certainly not the foregone conclusion that many thought.

[Jonny tight lips]

15. Jimmy O’Brien (25)
14. Hugo Keenan (21)
13. Garry Ringrose (78)
12. Robbie Henshaw (50)
11. Dave Kearney (155)
10. Harry Byrne (17)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (96)
1. Cian Healy (223)
2. Rónan Kelleher (17)
3. Andrew Porter (68)
4. Ryan Baird (15)
5. James Ryan (42)
6. Rhys Ruddock (181) CAPTAIN
7. Josh van der Flier (86)
8. Caelan Doris (35)

16. James Tracy (117)
17. Peter Dooley (82)
18. Michael Bent (148)
19. Ross Molony (102)
20. Josh Murphy (38)
21. Luke McGrath (135)
22. Ross Byrne (92)
23. Dan Leavy (69)

Really excited to see the Ryan/ Baird second row. If your going to persist with the 6-2 split maybe Frawley would be better on the bench, certainly more versatile than the Byrnes

[fourthirtythree]

Name a position Dan Leavy doesn't cover? There. Knew you couldn't.

[Flash Gordon]

Name a position Dan Leavy doesn't cover? There. Knew you couldn't.

8! I was away in Bath and he was played off the park!

[Flash Gordon]

You’re a European starter now Harry.

Very exciting looking team, we are going to play with some pace! Feel sorry for Frawley, very unlucky not to be in the frame.

[curates_egg]

Really excited to see the Ryan/ Baird second row. If your going to persist with the 6-2 split maybe Frawley would be better on the bench, certainly more versatile than the Byrnes

Fully agree with this. I can see the logic in using a 6-2 split as a tactic. But doing for every game smacks a little bit of pig-headedness.
Translation: made total sense last weekend; not seeing the logic this one.
But, if you insist on doing it, and you have a back that covers 10 very well and two other positions...well, surely, you pick them.
I can understand they want Ross on the bench as an insurance policy for Harry...but then go with a bloody 5-3 split on the bench FFS.

That said, it's an exciting young XV.

[fourthirtythree]

Name a position Dan Leavy doesn't cover? There. Knew you couldn't.

8! I was away in Bath and he was played off the park!

Unfortunately I have to agree! The 5/2 bench split makes some odd things happen though. Just looked at Munsters squad and there's seven sizes in it.

[Ruckedtobits]

Without Dev & Fardy, our line-out looks skinny and inexperienced. Will have to use Rhys at the front and hope Kelleher doesn't overthrow at 4 & 6. We have used JVdF on occasions but not often.

If we get sufficient ball that team can play at great tempo. Hoping to see as many double-team tackles as in the first 15 mins last week. That really shakes the confidence of opponents when their strength is made to look like a weakness early on - ask Paul Williamse where he bumped into Rhys & Dev last weekend.

[limecat]

Match Preview

Well that was easier than expected.

In fairness if you wanted to draw a big, expensive French team in the first round you'd pick Montpellier. Despite all the money pumped in the club for big name imports in the last six or seven years, they always manage to be less than the sum of their parts.

Read more...

[carlow man]

You’re a European starter now Harry.

Very exciting looking team, we are going to play with some pace! Feel sorry for Frawley, very unlucky not to be in the frame.

I think Cian Kelleher can count himself very unlucky not to be involved. He would be a great number 23 and hes prob in the shape of his life and in serious form. Looks dangerous every time he gets on the ball this season. Shame he doesn't get a run this week.

[ronk]

You’re a European starter now Harry.

Very exciting looking team, we are going to play with some pace! Feel sorry for Frawley, very unlucky not to be in the frame.

I think Cian Kelleher can count himself very unlucky not to be involved. He would be a great number 23 and hes prob in the shape of his life and in serious form. Looks dangerous every time he gets on the ball this season. Shame he doesn't get a run this week.

Yeah. But if you drop JOB and move Keenan across it’s also tough. 6-2 split has been pretty consistent with Leavy.

[ronk]

If you start Harry Byrne you have to be prepared to pull him if he bombs. It’s not something I’d expect but it makes sense to have Ross on the bench.

[joooooe]

If you start Harry Byrne you have to be prepared to pull him if he bombs. It’s not something I’d expect but it makes sense to have Ross on the bench.

Christmas Dinner Chez Byrne would be super awks in that situation.

"Can you pass the gravy, Ross?"

"Are you sure you can handle it, Harry? Maybe I should do it for you?"

"I'm surprised Mum picked you to have the gravy at the start of the meal."

Etc.

There's a terrific mirror, mirror thread in this for the usual The Quickening suspects.