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Sean O'Brien set to make his London Irish debut
By Online Editors
Sean O’Brien is finally set to make his London Irish debut ten months after his last appearance on a rugby pitch.
The back row last played when chosen for Leinster to start in their Heineken Champions Cup final defeat to Saracens last May in Newcastle.
He then went for hip surgery which ruled him out of Ireland’s World Cup campaign in Japan and left him recovering on the sidelines at his new Premiership club.
The two-time British and Irish Lions tourist is one of three changes from the London Irish side that lost at home to Wasps last weekend, Sekope Kepu and Ben Donnell also coming into the starting line-up.
Harry Elrington, Motu Matu’u and Sekope Kepu start in the front row with Adam Coleman alongside captain Franco van der Merwe. O’Brien and Ben Donnell are at blindside and openside flanker respectively with Fiji international Albert Tuisue at No8.
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Ben Meehan and Stephen Myler are the half-back pairing with Terrence Hepetema and Curtis Rona in the midfield. An all-academy back three of Ollie Hassell-Collins, Ben Loader and Tom Parton start together.
London Irish boss Declan Kidney is aware of the task facing his squad. “Sale are one of the form sides in the Gallagher Premiership having won four of their five Premiership matches since the turn of the year.
“They are a formidable opponent at home, but the squad have worked hard and are relishing the challenge.”
LONDON IRISH (vs Sale, Friday)
15 Tom Parton, 14 Ben Loader, 13 Curtis Rona, 12 Terrence Hepetema, 11 Ollie Hassell Collins, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Ben Meehan, 1 Harry Elrington, 2 Motu Matu’u, 3 Sekope Kepu, 4 Franco van der Merwe (capt), 5 Adam Coleman, 6 Seán O’Brien, 7 Ben Donnell 8 Albert Tuisue. Reps: 16 Saia Fainga’a, 17 Will Goodrick-Clarke, 18 Ollie Hoskins, 19 Steve Mafi, 20 Matt Rogerson, 21 Blair Cowan, 22 Nick Phipps, 23 Bryce Campbell.
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So was I right to infer that you assumed a 1:1 correspondence between points and places?
If so why were you so evasive about admitting that?
I don't have much of an opinion about how it should be done. It isn't my preferred system as I think there should be a significant number of teams who qualify directly as a result of their performance in the previous year's CC. But I think 6/5/5 or 6/6/4 would probably make the most sense as splits if they ever did go over to the UEFA model.
Go to commentsStopping the drop off out of high school has to be of highest priority - there is a lot of rugby played at high school level, but the pathways once they leave are not there. Provincial unions need support here from Rugby Canada to prop up that space.
Concussion is also an issue that has seen sports like ultimate frisbee gain ground. All competitions and clubs should integrate touch rugby teams into their pathways. Whenever clubs play XVs games, they should also be taking 20mins to play a competitive touch rugby game too.
Then take rugby branding and move it away from the fringe game that only crazy people play and make it an exercise-first sport that caters to everyone including people who don't want contact.
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