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European finalists Leinster name entirely changed XV for URC derby
By Liam Heagney
Fresh from beating Toulouse last Saturday in Dublin, Heineken Champions Cup finalists Leinster have named an entirely different starting XV to face Munster in this Saturday’s URC derby. None of the 15 players who took the field as starters in last weekend’s semi-final have been chosen and only three European replacements have been included - Ciaran Frawley and Joe McCarthy as starters with Cian Healy again named on the bench.
Looking ahead to next weekend’s Champions Cup final versus La Rochelle in Marseille, the selections that generate most interest against Munster are the return to fitness of back three player Jordan Larmour, who is chosen at full-back, and second row Ryan Baird.
In contrast to the Leinster overhaul, Munster will run out at the Aviva with eleven of the same starters that lost out to Toulouse a fortnight ago in a Champions Cup quarter-final that was decided on a penalty shootout. Skipper Peter O’Mahony, Stephen Archer, Simon Zebo and Damian de Allende are the four names missing from their teamsheet on this occasion.
The loss of Zebo is offset by the return of Andrew Conway from a knee injury for his first Munster appearance since January. Illness, meanwhile, has denied prop Archer from becoming his province’s second most capped player of all time. Munster had touted earlier this week that Archer was poised for his 248th appearance, moving him ahead of Billy Holland on the province’s all-time list with only Donncha O’Callaghan on 268 left to catch.
Victory is a must for Munster in their last game of the regulation league season. Leinster have sewn up first place heading into the quarter-finals but Munster in second could tumble down the URC rankings as they are level on 56 points with the Sharks and Stormers. Ulster are a point behind while the sixth-place Bulls are on 53 points.
LEINSTER: 15. Jordan Larmour; 14. Rob Russell, 13. Jamie Osborne, 12. Ciarán Frawley, 11. Rory O'Loughlin; 10. Harry Byrne, 9. Cormac Foley; 1. Ed Byrne (capt), 2. Sean Cronin, 3. Thomas Clarkson, 4. Joe McCarthy, 5. Josh Murphy, 6. Ryan Baird, 7. Scott Penny, 8. Max Deegan. Reps: 16. John McKee, 17. Peter Dooley, 18. Cian Healy, 19. Devin Toner, 20. Alex Soroka, 21. Ben Murphy, 22. David Hawkshaw, 23. Adam Byrne.
MUNSTER: 15. Mike Haley; 14. Andrew Conway, 13. Chris Farrell, 12. Dan Goggin, 11. Keith Earls; 10. Joey Carbery, 9. Conor Murray; 1. Josh Wycherley, 2. Niall Scannell, 3. John Ryan, 4. Jean Kleyn, 5. Thomas Ahern, 6. Fineen Wycherley, 7. Alex Kendellen, 8. Jack O'Donoghue (capt). Reps: 16. Diarmuid Barron, 17. Jeremy Loughman, 18. Keynan Knox, 19. Jason Jenkins, 20. Jack Daly, 21. Craig Casey, 22. Ben Healy, 23. Rory Scannell.
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Latest Comments
"It wasn’t bad enough probably for me to go down in the way that I did"
Isn't that the definition of taking a dive?
No complaints from me there was foul play and a yellow card for Mitchell was a fair call from the ref but he shouldn't be saying i didn't dive and then contradicting himself like that
Go to commentsRefs make mistakes and they make 50/50 decisions that people don't like. Everyone knows that. And if we're aiming for a world in which people can't discuss those decisions then we're being idiotic.
But there is a big difference between questioning a decision and questioning the integrity of a referee. I don't mind a player or coach saying that they disagree with a Busby decision about Barrett, for example. In fact I am fine if they want to go and produce a tape and a commentary about it. Refs are in the public eye just as much as players are, and it's cool for people to analyze their performances IMV.
What's not OK is to say that they are biased, have hidden agendas, or intentionally favor certain teams or individuals. Nor is it great to call into question their competence, notwithstanding the obvious fact that some refs are more talented and/or experienced than others. Stick to discussing what they did, not who they are or what there intentions may be.
Also, while I think it should be fine (and not penalized) for a player or coach to disagree with certain decisions, I would observe that great teams don't blame "uncontrollables" for their losses and failures. As a player Hansen should treat refereeing the same as the bounce of the ball, the weather or injuries in the team. Uncontrollables are part of the challenge, regardless of how fair you think they are in any particular case.
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