All Black and Springbok pair to make Leinster debut
Former All Blacks centre Charlie Ngatai and Springboks lock Jason Jenkins are set to make their official Leinster bows this weekend in the opening round of the URC.
Ngatai joined from Top 14 side Lyon, while Jenkins made the relatively short journey from Limerick after a couple of seasons with Munster, where injury hampered his game time.
Leinster takes on Zebre Parma at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi and head coach Leo Cullen has named a mixed side, that includes both experienced Ireland internationals and young gun Leinster products.
Rhys Ruddock captains the side alongside Scott Penny and Max Deegan in the back row.
Ireland and Lions hooker Rónan Kelleher, who is returning from injury, partners Ed Byrne and Michael Ala'alatoa in the front row, with Ross Molony and Jenkins partnering up for the first time in the engine room.
Luke McGrath and Ross Byrne make up the half-backs with Ngatai joining newly promoted academy product Jamie Osborne in the centres.
There's also a return for Dave Kearney who back from a long-term injury. He's named on the left wing with academy duo Rob Russell and Max O'Reilly making up the back-three unit. Will Connors also returns from injury, on the Leinster bench.
LEINSTER TEAM:
15. Max O'Reilly
14. Rob Russell
13. Jamie Osborne
12. Charlie Ngatai
11. Dave Kearney
10. Ross Byrne
9. Luke McGrath
1. Ed Byrne
2. Rónan Kelleher
3. Michael Ala'alatoa
4. Ross Molony
5. Jason Jenkins
6. Rhys Ruddock CAPTAIN
7. Scott Penny
8. Max Deegan
REPLACEMENTS:
16. John McKee
17. Michael Milne
18. Vakhtang Abdaladze
19. Brian Deeny
20. Alex Soroka
21. Nick McCarthy
22. Ciarán Frawley
23. Will Connors
Referee - Ben Blain (SRU - 21st competition game)
Latest Comments
In the fine tradition of Irish rugby, Leinster cheat well and for some reason only known to whoever referees them, they are allowed to get away with it every single game. If teams have not got the physicality up front to stop them getting the ball, they will win every single game. They take out players beyond the ruck and often hold them on the ground. Those that are beyond the ruck and therefore offside, hover there to cause distraction but also to join the next ruck from the side thereby stopping the jackal. The lineout prior to the second try on Saturday. 3 Leinster players left the lineout before the ball was thrown and were driving the maul as soon as the player hit the ground and thereby getting that valuable momentum. They scrummage illegally, with the looshead turning in to stop the opposing tighthead from pushing straight and making it uncomfortable for the hooker. The tighthead takes a step and tries to get his opposite loosehead to drop the bind. Flankers often ‘move up’ and actually bind on the prop and not remain bound to the second row. It does cause chaos and is done quickly and efficiently so that referees are blinded by the illegal tactics. I am surprised opposition coaches when they meet referees before games don’t mention it. I am also surprised that they do not go to the referees group and ask them to look at the tactics used and referee them properly. If they are the better team and win, fair play but a lot of their momentum is gained illegally and therefore it is not a level playing field.
Go to commentsI’d be fascinated to see what other candidates you all might have for the Lions captaincy role. Let me know, below 👍
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