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Baird returns to Leinster starting XV as Leavy swaps flanks
By Online Editors
Ireland prospect Ryan Baird is set for his first start for Leinster since recovering from injury, as he is named in Leo Cullen's side to take on Cardiff Blues. Baird came off the bench against Edinburgh but now starts for the first time since recovering from an adductor injury.
Baird is joined by Ross Molony in the engine room.
Former Ireland standout Dan Leavy is also hoping to play his way back into Ireland contention. Leavy was Ireland's starting back row in the 2019 Guinness Six Nations before a brutal knee injury ruled him out of the game for 18 months.
Leavy suffered the injury during Leinster’s 21-18 Champions Cup quarter-final victory over Ulster in March, 2019 after coming off the bench in the second half, and it ruled him out of Ireland Rugby World Cup in Japan.
Leavy moves across to openside to accommodate Josh Murphy, who comes in at blindside flanker. Rhys Ruddock again captains the side from number eight.
Cullen has selected four players from the Leinster Rugby Academy in his match day 23 and in his XV, has selected the same back line that accounted for Edinburgh on Monday evening. As a result it's a back three of Jimmy O'Brien, Cian Kelleher and Dave Kearney with Ciarán Frawley and Academy back Liam Turner in the centre.
Luke McGrath and Harry Byrne are the half backs.
In the pack there are a number of changes in the second row and the back row but the front row of Peter Dooley, James Tracy and Michael Bent start once again.
LEINSTER RUGBY
15. Jimmy O’Brien (23)
14. Cian Kelleher (18)
13. Liam Turner (3)
12. Ciarán Frawley (29)
11. Dave Kearney (153)
10. Harry Byrne (15)
9. Luke McGrath (133)
1. Peter Dooley (80)
2. James Tracy (115)
3. Michael Bent (146)
4. Ross Molony (101)
5. Ryan Baird (13)
6. Josh Murphy (37)
7. Dan Leavy (67)
8. Rhys Ruddock (179) CAPTAIN
16. Dan Sheehan (4)
17. Michael Milne (13)
18. Tom Clarkson (3)
19. Devin Toner (253)
20. Jack Dunne (9)
21. Rowan Osborne (5)
22. Michael Silvester (1)
23. Scott Penny (18)
Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)
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Latest Comments
Think we have to accept we have been on the slide for a while now.Still interesting to see the repeated media pieces about the myth of the ABs slipping-I would say slipped past tense.In part don’t we have to give credit for the improvement of other nations particularly Ireland?Isnt that good for the game?Are we beginning to feel the impact of losing the Boks from Super rugby and maybe soon TRC?I would agree we are also ran right now so will be interesting to see how we progress-assuming we do!Isnt that part of sport though to be in improvement mode?Back to the stats though I think the Boks were under 60% leading into 2019?Now with the focus on the RWC does it matter so much what you are doing between tournaments?You just get through your group(remembering the ABs qualified 2nd in 2023)and then you have 3 matches to win the thing.
Go to commentsThe ABs have more than enough back line guys so don’t see issue there. Just the balance at center and feel time for Rieko to sit out.Forwards- balance still not right. Front row ok but miss Codie. But still ok. Locks- you now need to start s a tall timber at middle of lineout- Darry is the right guy. Then move Sititi to 8, move Ardie to 7 and then move Vaai to blindside. He can become the closest to PSdT . Then have proper bench as this is not a demotion but key to dominating last 30 minutes- Patrick, Ofa etc are golden here. Get the balance right between starters and finishers
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