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Leinster were set to switch Ryan Baird's position for Munster derby

Leinster's Ryan Baird.(Photo By Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Leinster were set to switch up the position of highly rated second row Ryan Baird for their now postponed clash against Munster, which was set to go ahead this St Stephen’s Day at Thomond Park.

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The game was cancelled after a questionable PCR result for at least one Leinster player had to be investigated. With the investigation set to take longer than three days, the PRO14 decided to postpone the match completely.

Despite this, Leinster released the team that would have played Munster, in a match that would see one of the sides lose their unbeaten record in this season’s competition.

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Something’s got to give:

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Something’s got to give:

Rather interestingly, Leo Cullen and Stuart Lancaster were set to trial Baird out of position at six. Although he’s typically been playing in the engine room for the blues, his raw athleticism and ball carrying ability had drawn some to the conclusion that he could be a good option on the blindside, in the mould of South Africa’s Pieter Steph du Toit. Playing blindside against Munster in the cauldron of Thomond Park certainly would have made for a fascinating and robust experiment of his skills in the position.

The 6’6, 112kg forward would have been part of an all-St. Michael’s College back row unit alongside Scott Penny and Dan Leavy. Although injury stopped him being capped by Ireland, Baird’s very much seen as a future Ireland international after a break-out season in 2019/20.

At just 21-years-old, the future looks bright for the Dubliner, which ever positions he plays.

Ireland nine Luke McGrath was to captain the side for the visit to Limerick while academy back Max O’Reilly would have made his debut from fullback. A native of Wicklow, 20-year-old O’Reilly is in year one of the Leinster Rugby Academy and is a former pupil of St. Gerard’s School in Bray.

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THE LEINSTER TEAM FOR MUNSTER:
15. Max O’Reilly
14. Cian Kelleher
13. Rory O’Loughlin
12. Ciarán Frawley
11. Dave Kearney
10. Ross Byrne
9. Luke McGrath CAPTAIN
1. Peter Dooley
2. James Tracy
3. Michael Bent
4. Devin Toner
5. Ross Molony
6. Ryan Baird
7. Scott Penny
8. Dan Leavy

16. Seán Cronin
17. Ed Byrne
18. Tom Clarkson
19. Josh Murphy
20. Will Connors
21. Hugh O’Sullivan
22. TBC
23. TBC

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J
JW 1 hour ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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