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Leinster and Ulster name teams for Irish URC quarter-final

Leinster senior coach Jacques Nienaber speaks to his players during the United Rugby Championship match between Ulster and Leinster at Kingspan Stadium in Belfast. (Photo By Harry Murphy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Leinster and Ulster have both announced their teams for Saturday evening’s URC quarter-final clash at the Aviva Stadium.

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Leo Cullen and Jacques Nienaber’s men will be looking to settle a score after falling to 23-21 defeat against the Ulsterman just a few weeks ago in Belfast, and a 22-21 win over the European heavyweights at the RDS earlier this year.

James Ryan returns to captain the team, having last started in the Round 17 loss to Ulster. Jimmy O’Brien retains his place at full-back after scoring two tries against Connacht last week. Jordan Larmour and James Lowe complete the back-three.

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Robbie Henshaw and Jamie Osborne continue their centre partnership, while Ross Byrne and Jamison Gibson-Park form the half-back pairing.

The front row consists of Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, and Tadhg Furlong. Ryan is joined by Joe McCarthy in the second row. The back row features Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier, and Caelan Doris. Among the replacements, Sam Prendergast and Ciarán Frawley are named.

Ulster head coach Richie Murphy has also named his side for the quarter-final. Ireland hooker Rob Herring captains the team, with Eric O’Sullivan and Tom O’Toole in the front row.

Harry Sheridan and Cormac Izuchukwu are the locks. Matty Rea, marking his 100th Ulster appearance, starts at blindside flanker with David McCann and Nick Timoney completing the back row.

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John Cooney and Billy Burns form the half-back pairing. Jacob Stockdale and Mike Lowry are on the wings.

Stuart McCloskey, returning from injury, partners Will Addison in the centre, with Stewart Moore at full-back.

The replacements include Tom Stewart, Andy Warwick, Scott Wilson, Greg Jones, Dave Ewers, Nathan Doak, Ethan McIlroy, and Jude Postlethwaite.

Leinster Rugby: 15. Jimmy O’Brien, 14. Jordan Larmour, 13. Robbie Henshaw, 12. Jamie Osborne, 11. James Lowe, 10. Ross Byrne, 9. Jamison Gibson-Park; 1. Andrew Porter, 2. Dan Sheehan, 3. Tadhg Furlong, 4. Joe McCarthy, 5. James Ryan (Captain), 6. Ryan Baird, 7. Josh van der Flier, 8. Caelan Doris.

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Replacements: 16. Rónan Kelleher, 17. Cian Healy, 18. Michael Ala’alatoa, 19. Ross Molony, 20. Max Deegan, 21. Luke McGrath, 22. Sam Prendergast, 23. Ciarán Frawley.

Ulster Rugby:15. Stewart Moore, 14. Mike Lowry, 13. Will Addison, 12. Stuart McCloskey, 11. Jacob Stockdale, 10. Billy Burns, 9. John Cooney; 1. Eric O’Sullivan, 2. Rob Herring (Captain), 3. Tom O’Toole, 4. Harry Sheridan, 5. Cormac Izuchukwu, 6. Matty Rea, 7. David McCann, 8. Nick Timoney.

Replacements: 16. Tom Stewart, 17. Andy Warwick, 18. Scott Wilson, 19. Greg Jones, 20. Dave Ewers, 21. Nathan Doak, 22. Ethan McIlroy, 23. Jude Postlethwaite.

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Comments

1 Comment
T
Turlough 210 days ago

Two decent teams. Should be a cracker!

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f
fl 17 minutes ago
What is the future of rugby in 2025?

on the article "Why defensive aggressor Felix Jones will drive new-look England" I said:


"Look at the kick:pass ratio from England’s games under Borthwick:

Italy 20:100

Argentina 50:100

South Africa 53:100

Fiji 24:100

Samoa 22:100

Chile 12:100

Japan 25:100

Argentina 55:100

Fiji 30:100

Ireland 21:100

Wales 24:100

Wales 13:100

Ireland 26:100

France 22:100

Wales 26:100

Italy 23:100

Scotland 18:100

The average is 27:100

The average in games we have won is 28:100

The average in games we have lost is 26:100, but these averages are skewed by the fact that we have tended to kick less and pass more against worse sides

The average in games where we have beaten current top 10 sides is 35:100

The average in games where we have beaten current top 8 sides is 39:100

The average in games where we have beaten current top 7 sides is 53:100

The average in games where we have lost to teams currently ranked lower than us is 20:100"


on the article "Four talking points after England's narrowest-ever win over Italy" I said:


"Look at the kick:pass ratio from England’s last 8 games

Italy 20:100

Argentina 50:100

South Africa 53:100

Fiji 24:100

Samoa 22:100

Chile 12:100

Japan 25:100

Argentina 55:100

So (1) England spread it wide more yesterday than against anyone bar Chile, and (2) all of england’s best performances have been when we kick loads, and in every match where we kick loads we have had a good performance."


"In particular you're neglecting the impact of the type of D Felix Jones was trying to introduce, which demanded most of England's training energy at the time."


I'm not, actually, I'm hyper aware of that fact and of its impact. I think it is because of the defence that England's new attack faltered so much for the first three games, something you ignore when you try to judge England's attack in the six nations by taking an average of either the trys scored or the rucks completed over the whole tournament.


"International coaches don't just pick those styles like sweets from a sweet shop!"

Yeah, I know. England's defence wasn't exactly the same as SA's, but it was similar. England's attack did rely on turnovers more than the Irish system did, but it was still pretty similar to it, and then shifted to something similar-but-not-identitcal to the Labit/Nick Evans systems, which are themselves similar but not identical.

102 Go to comments
f
fl 1 hour ago
The Fergus Burke test and rugby's free market

"So who were these 6 teams and circumstances of Marcus's loses?"


so in the 2023 six nations, England lost both games where Marcus started at 10, which was the games against Scotland and France. The scotland game was poor, but spirited, and the french game was maybe the worst math england have played in almost 30 years. In all 3 games where Marcus didn't start England were pretty good.


The next game he started after that was the loss against Wales in the RWC warmups, which is one of only three games Borthwick has lost against teams currently ranked lower than england.


The next game he's started have been the last 7, so that's two wins against Japan, three losses against NZ, a loss to SA, and a loss to Australia (again, one of borthwicks only losses to teams ranked lower than england).


"I think I understand were you're coming from, and you make a good observation that the 10 has a fair bit to do with how fast a side can play (though what you said was a 'Marcus neutral' statement)"


no, it wasn't a marcus neutral statement.


"Fin could be, but as you've said with Marcus, that would require a lot of change elsewhere in the team 2 years out of a WC"


how? what? why? Fin could slot in easily; its Marcus who requires the team to change around him.


"Marcus will get a 6N to prove himself so to speak"


yes, the 2022 six nations, which was a disaster, just as its been a disaster every other time he's been given the reigns.

224 Go to comments
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