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Ireland get Autumn Nations Cup boost as rising star named on Leinster bench
By Online Editors
Ireland will get a potential Autumn Nations Cup boost with rising second row star Ryan Baird named on the Leinster bench to face Edinburgh.
Baird is returning from an adductor injury to take his place on the bench. Baird has enjoyed a rapid rise through the ranks after he burst onto the scene last season with standout performances for Leinster in the Guinness PRO14. Baird had been named in Andy Farrell's end of season Six Nations squad but was replaced by Connachts Ultan Dillane after the St Michael's College product picked up the aforementioned injury playing for Leinster.
Baird had been tipped to debut for Ireland this Autumn, and his appearance on Leinster's replacement list signal a belated re-call to Ireland Autumn Nations Cup squad.
Rhys Ruddock captains the side again from Number 8, after back-to-back Guinness Player of the Match performances. He will be joined in the back row by Dan Leavy who makes his first start since March 2019 when he also started against Edinburgh Rugby and fetcher Scott Penny.
There are also three players from the Leinster Rugby Academy in the match day 23. It's as you were last week in the back three with Jimmy O'Brien at full back, Cian Kelleher on the right wing and Dave Kearney on the left wing.
It's a new centre pairing though with both Tommy O'Brien and Rory O'Loughlin missing out through injury so Ciarán Frawley is joined by Academy back Liam Turner in the centre. Luke McGrath and Harry Byrne are again in the half backs together.
In the pack it's a front row of Peter Dooley, James Tracy and Michael Bent, while in the second row Devin Toner is joined by Scott Fardy.
Leinster Rugby:
15. Jimmy O’Brien (22)
14. Cian Kelleher (17)
13. Liam Turner (2)
12. Ciarán Frawley (28)
11. Dave Kearney (152)
10. Harry Byrne (14)
9. Luke McGrath (132)
1. Peter Dooley (79)
2. James Tracy (114)
3. Michael Bent (145)
4. Devin Toner (252)
5. Scott Fardy (65)
6. Dan Leavy (66)
7. Scott Penny (17)
8. Rhys Ruddock (178) CAPTAIN
16. Dan Sheehan (3)
17. Michael Milne (12)
18. Ciarán Parker (2)
19. Ross Molony (100)
20. Josh Murphy (36)
21. Hugh O’Sullivan (23)
22. David Hawkshaw (2)
23. Ryan Baird (12)
Referee: Craig Evans (WRU)
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Latest Comments
There is this thing going around against Siya Kolisi where they don't want him to be known as the best national captain ever, so they strike him down in ratings permanently whenever they can. They want McCaw and reckons he is the best captain ever. I disagree.
Just like they refuse to see SA as the best team and some have even said that should the Boks win a third WC in a row, they will still not be the best team ever. Even if they win every game between now and the WC. That is some serious hate coming SA's way.
Everyone forget how the McCaw AB's intimidated refs, was always on the wrong side, played on the ground etc. Things they would never have gotten away with today. They may have a better win ratio, but SA build depth, not caring about rank inbetween WC's until this year.
They weren't as bad inbetween as people claim, because non e of their losses was big ones and they almost never faced the strongest Bok team outside of the WC, allowing countries like France and Ireland to rise to the top unopposed.
Rassie is still at it, building more depth, getting more young stars into the fold. By the time he leaves (I hope never) he will leave a very strong Bok side for the next 15- 20 years. Not everyone will play for 20 years, but each year Rassie acknowledge the young stars and get them involved and ready for international rugby.
Not everyone will make it to the WC, but those 51/52 players will compete for those spots for the WC. They will deliver their best. The future of the Boks is in very safe hands. The only thing that bothers me is Rassie's health. If he can overcome it, rugby looks dark for the rest of the rugby world. He is already the greatest coach in WR history. By the time he retires, he will be the biggest legend any sport has ever seen
Go to commentsWas it? I just brought it up in some of my posts to rub it in that the AB last year nearly put 100 on a top 6N side lol
I agree to be honest. The biggest key to me that they might be jadded was none of them had mom performances, or even as good as their last three games.
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