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The Champions Cup final team Brian O’Driscoll wants Leinster to pick

Leinster's Will Connors (left) with Jordan Larmour (Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Brian O’Driscoll has recommended Leinster make three changes to their XV for this Saturday’s Investec Champions Cup final versus Toulouse in London from the side chosen for their semi-final win over Northampton – including the benching of Josh van der Flier, the 2022 World Rugby player of the year.

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The Irish province defeated the Saints at Croke Park 20-17 on May 4 and with Leo Cullen set to confirm his cup final team at noon on Friday, Irish legend O’Driscoll has told RugbyPass the names he wants to see included on that teamsheet.

Hugo Keenan, James Ryan, and Will Connors made their comebacks in last Saturday’s United Rugby Championship loss to Ulster from various recent injuries and O’Driscoll believes they should now all be named in the XV to face Toulouse in the Champions final at Tottenham.

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Keenan had a knee problem since the early April round-of-16 win over Leicester. Ryan was out with a ruptured bicep sustained in a “freak” training ground injury with Ireland in the lead-up to their early March Guinness Six Nations loss to England. Meanwhile, Connors was a late withdrawal from this month’s league win over Ospreys, crying off on a precautionary basis.

O’Driscoll suggested that Leinster would be best served to take on their French rivals with Keenan replacing Ciaran Frawley at full-back, Ryan taking over from Ross Molony at lock and Connors getting the openside nod ahead of van der Flier following the semi-final against Northampton.

Fixture
Investec Champions Cup
Leinster
22 - 31
Full-time
Toulouse
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Asked if Ryan should start in the engine room, O’Driscoll explained: “Yes, he starts. He does because of what he does. You look at the importance of losing him in the final last year when he came off (versus La Rochelle).

“I just think there is a comfort that comes with someone who has been around a long time. He has maybe not the physicality but he has a little bit of a nasty edge to him that I just fancy if he is fit and the engine is good enough I think you’d want him on for 55, 60 minutes as a starter for sure.”

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So name your ideal XV. “Front row picks itself (Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, and Tadhg Furlong). There is your second row (Ryan with Joe McCarthy). I think you might see Will Connors at seven just because of a bigger physical pack; it worked really well against La Rochelle (in the quarter-final).

“I know Josh won’t love that but the luxury of having him come on with 35 minutes to go, you know, playing the game that he can bring, I just think that chop game will be important to Leinster.

“I watched back the semi-final last year (versus Toulouse) and (Jack) Conan was so good, but taking (Caelan) Doris out of eight and putting him to six just doesn’t make sense to his game, so I think Doris will play eight and (Ryan) Baird will play six.

“Half-backs pick themselves (Jamison Gibson-Park and Ross Byrne). Centres will be (Jamie) Osborne and (Robbie) Henshaw, provided (Garry) Ringrose isn’t fit.

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“And then I think you have got to stay with (Jordan) Larmour and (James) Lowe on the wings with Hugo Keenan at full-back. I just don’t know if Jimmy O’Brien has done enough since returning from injury yet to displace Jordan.”

Leinster defeated Toulouse 41-22 in last year’s semi-final in Dublin 12 months after beating them 40-17 in another semi-final fixture at the same Aviva Stadium.

  • Watch Leinster vs Toulouse in the Investec Champions Cup final, exclusively live on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+ from 1:30pm on Saturday. For more info visit tntsports.com
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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours 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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