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James Ryan and Hugo Keenan start as Leinster change 13 for Ulster

Hugo Keenan during Leinster rugby squad training at UCD in Dublin. (Photo By Harry Murphy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Leinster have decided to rest many of their frontline players to take on Ulster on Saturday at the Kingspan Stadium, with one eye on the Investec Champions Cup next weekend.

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Following their recent 61-14 win over the Ospreys, many of Leinster’s and Ireland’s regulars have been left out of the trip to Belfast to face an Ulster side that are scrapping to improve their league position ahead of the play-offs.

Hooker Ronan Kelleher and winger Jimmy O’Brien are the two that have kept hold of their starting place, although the latter has moved into the centres.

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Head coach Leo Cullen has been boosted by the return of some big names a week before facing Toulouse at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with James Ryan and Hugo Keenan both returning to the starting XV.

Ryan has been out since the Guinness Six Nations with a bicep injury, while Keenan has had a persistent hip complaint. They will be looking to force their way into the reckoning for the European showdown.

Fixture
United Rugby Championship
Ulster
23 - 21
Full-time
Leinster
All Stats and Data

“They are building in confidence with their results and performances in recent weeks,” assistant coach Andrew Goodman said of Ulster.

“My experience of these games is that they are usually one-score matches. There will be plenty of pressure moments, and we need to come out on top of them.

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“Ulster are desperate to win, and we are too. We want to stay in those top positions in the URC. It’s a massive week for us as a club.”

Leinster XV
15. Hugo Keenan (64)
14. Tommy O’Brien (32)
13. Jimmy O’Brien (77)
12. Charlie Ngatai (24)
11. Rob Russell (30)
10. Harry Byrne (66)
9. Cormac Foley (18) 1. Cian Healy (275)
2. Rónan Kelleher (59)
3. Michael Ala’alatoa (67)
4. James Ryan (79) CAPTAIN
5. Brian Deeny (16)
6. Max Deegan (110)
7. Will Connors (47)
8. Jack Conan (143)

Replacements
16. John McKee (26)
17. Michael Milne (38)
18. Thomas Clarkson (38)
19. Ross Molony (179)
20. Scott Penny (69)
21. Luke McGrath (207)
22. Sam Prendergast (15)
23. Ben Brownlee (8)

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1 Comment
T
Turlough 171 days ago

This has the makings of a good match. That’s Leinster’s second team but its a good one (stronger than the teams in SA recently). Ulster are really turning a page.
Ryan back is huge, and Keenan too. This could be a cracker.

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O
Oh no, not him again? 1 hour ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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