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Leinster name 5 returning Ireland players in XV for Dragons
By Ian Cameron
Leinster are set to field a formidable lineup against the Dragons RFC in Round 4 of the BKT United Rugby Championship on Sunday at Rodney Parade, with head coach Leo Cullen naming five returning Ireland Rugby World Cup players in the squad.
Dan Sheehan will lead the team for the first time, anchoring a side featuring the firepower of Andy Farrell's World Cup squad.
Ciarán Frawley assumes the full-back position, while Tommy O’Brien and Jimmy O’Brien, both veterans of the recent Rugby World Cup Quarter-Final, take their places on the wings.
In the midfield, Jamie Osborne and Charlie Ngatai provide stability, with the experienced Ross Byrne returning at fly-half. The scrum-half duties will be handled by Leinster Academy's Ben Murphy, making his starting debut.
Up front, the front row is composed of Jack Boyle, Sheehan, and Thomas Clarkson. Sheehan, a Lansdowne FC club man, captains the side, marking his first appearance in Leinster blue this season.
The second row sees the return of Joe McCarthy and Jason Jenkins and they're joined in the back row by Ryan Baird, Will Connors and James Culhane.
On the bench, Samoa captain Michael Ala’alatoa eyes his 50th Leinster cap as a replacement.
LEINSTER TEAM:
15. Ciarán Frawley
14. Tommy O’Brien
13. Jamie Osborne
12. Charlie Ngatai
11. Jimmy O’Brien
10. Ross Byrne
9. Ben Murphy
1. Jack Boyle
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Thomas Clarkson
4. Joe McCarthy
5. Jason Jenkins
6. Ryan Baird
7. Will Connors
8. James Culhane
REPLACEMENTS:
16. Lee Barron
17. Paddy McCarthy
18. Michael Ala’alatoa
19. Max Deegan
20. Scott Penny
21. Cormac Foley
22. Harry Byrne
23. Rob Russell
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Latest Comments
I reckon it may be Jordan at 10 and Nohamba at 9, both players have played together alot and both have been on the Radar for a long time. After Pollard got injured in 2022 with Elton sidelined on a path of self destruction Erasmus and Nienaber indicated that the other options in the country at the time were thin but that Jordan and Manie were the 2 they were looking at. In the end Frans steyn played flyhalf, Willemse slotted in there on the end of year with Libbok as back up. Jordan was right there in the thinking back then so expect him to take the Jersey either as the starter.
Go to commentsHaha did he always say it in a sarcastic teacher sort of manor or was it the petulant English snob sort of wail?
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