Leinster v Scarlets live score updates from the URC quarter-final
Afternoon everyone, and a warm welcome to our live blog for this URC quarter-final clash between Leinster and Scarlets here at the Aviva Stadium.
A place in the semi final against either the Glasgow Warriors is at stake for the winner here, with Leinster chasing some much-coveted silverware.
Leinster are rewarded with first seeding, having beaten the Warriors 13-5 last time out.
The Scarlets squeaked through into the post season by one point from fellow Welsh side Cardiff, with their loss to the Sharks in their previous match putting them in jeopardy of losing out on a spot in the playoffs.
Just under 45 minutes to go now until kick off at the Aviva, and here's the teams for you.
Leinster: Hugo Keenan, Jimmy O'Brien, Jamie Osborne, Jordie Barrett, James Lowe, Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park, Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher, Thomas Clarkson, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan, Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan (CAPT)
Replacements: Dan Sheehan, Jack Boyle, Rabah Slimani, RG Snyman, Max Deegan, Scott Penny, Luke McGrath, Ciarán Frawley
Scarlets: Blair Murray, Tom Rogers, Joe Roberts, Johnny Williams, Ellis Mee, Sam Costelow, Archie Hughes, Alec Hepburn, Ryan Elias, Henry Thomas, Alex Craig, Sam Lousi, Vaea Fifita, Josh Macleod (CAPT), Taine Plumtree
Replacements: Marnus van der Merwe, Kemsley Mathias, Sam Wainwright, Dan Davis, Jarrod Taylor, Efan Jones, Ioan Lloyd, Macs Page
Welcome once again!
Despite the Scarlets having beaten Leo Cullen's side the last time they played in April, the odds indicate Leinster as clear favourites.
Llanelli saw the Scarlets defeat Leinster 35-22 last time they met.
Indeed, the handicap line is at 24 points, which suggests a drubbing may be on the cards.
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The 42
4 hours ago
- The 42
Lancaster is the biggest appointment Connacht have ever made
PAT LAM CAME to Connacht with a strong reputation in 2013, but there's no doubt that Stuart Lancaster is the highest-profile coaching appointed the Irish province has ever made. Lancaster will join after his adventure with Racing 92 in the French Top 14 came to an unhappy and early end, yet his credentials remain impressive. The 55-year-old was recently in the mix for the Australia job, only for the Aussie union to opt for Les Kiss – another man with strong connections to Irish rugby – to succeed Joe Schmidt next year. It was clear that Lancaster was looking to land another top-end job and so, when his name was floated as the possible next Connacht head coach, it initially seemed somewhat unlikely. Someone like Lancaster doesn't come cheap and it appeared that he might be holding out for a role with a bigger club if not a national team. That's why today's announcement from Connacht and the IRFU came as such a pleasant surprise, especially for the western province's fans. They have just endured a frustrating season in which they finished 13th in the URC and exited the Challenge Cup at the quarter-final stage. Former head coach Pete Wilkins had left after an initial period on sick leave and there was uncertainty about next season's coaching ticket. Now, Connacht fans can look to the future with optimism. The province's brand-new training centre is up and running, the redevelopment of Dexcom Stadium will be completed in January, there is lots of exciting talent in the playing squad, and Lancaster seems like the ideal man to help those players fulfil their potential. Advertisement Indeed, this seems like a snug fit for both parties. When Lancaster came in as England head coach and Leinster senior coach, both sides were at fairly low ebbs. He improved their players, energised the organisations, and simply made them better teams. Stuart Lancaster at the Sportsground in 2018. Inpho / Billy Stickland Inpho / Billy Stickland / Billy Stickland He wasn't able to do that at Racing 92. Before moving to France, Lancaster acknowledged that adapting to an entirely new culture would be his biggest challenge and that's probably where he came up short. Foreign coaches need to learn excellent French to thrive in the Top 14 and Lancaster seemingly didn't. It's a cut-throat place. Now, he is back on more familiar ground and will surely be more motivated than ever to prove that class is permanent. The Englishman is a pure coach in that he is obsessed with helping players to improve their skills. Nearly everyone he worked with in Leinster speaks highly of his ability in this regard. His endless enthusiasm for and love of rugby are infectious, and he has the technical and tactical mastery to encourage progress in individuals and the team. There are no doubts whatsoever about his rugby acumen, with the only question marks being around the non-rugby stuff. That's why it seems ideal that Connacht are also bringing in their new general manager of performance, the experienced Billy Millard. His role is wide-ranging and wasn't intended to be directly as part of the senior coaching ticket, but Millard should be able to remove some off-field work such as contracting and succession planning from Lancaster's plate. Every head coach needs that kind of support away from the pitch, but make no mistake – Lancaster will be the boss in Connacht. Unlike in Leinster, where Leo Cullen was head coach, Lancaster's word on all rugby matters will be final in Connacht. He will take control of Connacht's defence, but it would be a surprise if he doesn't also have major input on their attack, even if Rod Seib is coming in from Australia to take on that role. Lancaster has strong ideas on attack, defence, kicking, and pretty much everything else. It is exciting to see how Lancaster's Connacht look. That he has a full pre-season working with the squad is ideal. The province has prided itself on easy-on-the-eye attacking play for a long time and their new head coach has always favoured a skilful and free-flowing approach with the ball. Lancaster has always come across as someone who enjoys a challenging project and that's what he has in Connacht. They have always been underdogs, but there are promising raw materials for him to work with as he joins on a two-year deal. The foundations have been laid off the pitch and young players like Hugh Gavin and Matthew Devine will be delighted to get the chance to work under Lancaster. The same is true of the most experienced men in Connacht's squad, the likes of Jack Carty and Bundee Aki. Lancaster helped many of Leinster's senior players to get better during his seven years in Dublin. He also impressed lots of coaches within the province by sharing his knowledge through coaching courses or the video seminars he held during the pandemic. Most people Lancaster meets are left impressed by his knowledge of the game. Lancaster had a difficult time with Racing 92. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO This is a big coup for Connacht but also for the IRFU, who directly employ the head coaches of the four provinces. The union's performance director, David Humphreys, was right to call this 'a real statement of intent' for Connacht and a 'huge boost' for all of Irish rugby. The IRFU wants and needs all of its provinces to be delivering as many players as possible to the national squad. So while someone like Lancaster comes at a price, his track record suggests that IRFU mission will be strengthened. And for Lancaster, a contract with Connacht that runs until 2027 could leave him in the frame to become Ireland head coach if Andy Farrell leaves after the next World Cup. He evidently wants another crack at international rugby. That's some way down the line. For now, Connacht have landed a serious rugby coach who should make them better.
Extra.ie
4 hours ago
- Extra.ie
Ireland's World Cup hopes just got a massive boost
Irish rugby is in a strange place at the moment. The national side has fallen off where it was a couple of years ago, appearing uncertain in style and selection and with core players looking like their best years may be behind them. Finlay Bealham and Peter O'Mahony celebrate victory over New Zealand on the 2022 tour where Ireland made history with a series win. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile Between November 2021 and November 2023, it is no exaggeration to say that Ireland were setting the standards in world rugby and the rest were following. They have been caught. Lions selection notwithstanding, the likes of Jamison Gibson-Park, Bundee Aki, James Lowe and Tadhg Furlong (battling persistent injury issues) have not been as effective as in the past and, with all headed for their mid-30s, it creates considerable doubt around Ireland's prospects of ending their quarter-final curse at Australia 2027. Ireland stars Bundee Aki, James Lowe and Jamison Gibson-Park are now well into their mid-30s. INPHO/Dan Sheridan Added to this have been the struggles at provincial level. Ulster, Munster and Connacht are in the doldrums while Leinster, despite intoxicating resources, are lacking clear direction and seem riddled by insecurity. The good news is: there is time to put it right. The next World Cup is still over two years away and Ireland has had enough of being top of the pile midway between tournaments only to flop when it actually matters. Stuart Lancaster had a difficult time as head Coach of Racing 92. Pic: Getty Images So, the news that Stuart Lancaster is to take over Connacht rugby could not have come at a better time. Though he never sought it, Lancaster has become something of a messiah within the game here, a wisdom-dispensing guru with the ability to elevate the ordinary to the exceptional. Casual observers might see the 55-year-old's move from senior coach at Leinster, one of Europe's elite sides for more than a decade, to head coach at Top14 strugglers Racing 92 to Connacht as something of a downward spiral – it is far from it. Leinster's Senior Coach Stuart Lancaster and Head Coach Leo Cullen enjoyed huge success. Pic: INPHO/Dan Sheridan True, the western province has traditionally lagged behind the 'big three' of Leinster, Munster and Ulster but Pat Lam (and to a lesser extent Andy Friend) proved that, with the right man in charge, Connacht can have a serious impact. And Lancaster is the right man. Not only a superb on-field coach and tactician, the Englishman also has a proven record of creating the right culture. That includes his time with England, which is often dismissed because of how it ended at the 2015 World Cup but prior to that, Lancaster had forged an excellent environment out of the ashes of ill-discipline at the 2011 World Cup. Connacht's former head coach Pat Lam and Bundee Aki with the Pro12 trophy in 2016. Pic:INPHO/James Crombie When Leo Cullen brought him to Leinster in 2016, they were in a poor state after the tricky Matt O'Connor reign and, freed from front of house scrutiny by Cullen, Lancaster transformed the Blues into a trophy-winning machine. He will not have the resources to the do the same with Connacht but he is guaranteed to get them humming again. However, it is the wider context that makes this development so encouraging. The likes of Josh van der Flier developed hugely under Lancaster at Leinster. Pic: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile Lancaster's influence during his 2016-2023 spell with Leinster had far-reaching repercussions. The players who came through under his tutelage brought world-class quality onto the interna-tional stage and, when Ireland also began to mirror the style of play fostered by Lancaster at Leinster, they really hit their straps. When Ireland were excelling in that 2021-23 period, Lancaster's fingerprints were over all of it. If there is Connacht talent that can help the national cause, Lancaster will develop it and his presence alone will attract better players out west. Cian Prendergast is one of Connacht's brightest talents. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile With only four professional franchises, the IRFU need all of them funnelling a steady stream of quality options onto the national stage and that has not been the case for Munster, Ulster or Connacht in recent seasons. Lancaster will be embraced and adored by the defiantly optimistic Connacht faithful and his style of expansive, have a crack, 'comfortable in chaos' rugby suits the mentality out west and was something Lam and Friend tapped into successfully. It is unclear how much an influence IRFU high performance director David Humphreys had in this appointment but it had to be signed off on and there is no doubt Irish rugby stands to benefit hugely from it. IRFU Performance Director David Humphreys. Pic: INPHO/Ben Brady Lancaster's arrival may make some in the unconvincing Ireland coaching roles shift uneasily in their seats because he is a lot of voltage on the Irish rugby ticket and, depending on how he goes with Connacht, there may be a desire to bring him onboard for the World Cup. But if that is what needs to happen, so be it. Forty years of World Cup failure means everything is on the table and no-one is safe, or ruled out. It is going to be fascinating to see how this all plays out, but one thing is certain – having Stuart Lancaster back in the Irish system is a massive step in the right direction.
RTÉ News
4 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Leinster losses 'history' for Glasgow, insists assistant coach Nigel Carolan
Glasgow assistant coach Nigel Carolan believes his side have rediscovered their "ruthless" streak in good time to try to defend their United Rugby Championship title. The Warriors entered the play-offs having lost four of their previous five matches in all competitions, including an alarming 33-7 defeat at Benetton. But Franco Smith's side banished any concerns about their form when they romped to a five-try 36-18 victory at home to Stormers in Friday's quarter-final to set up a semi-final trip against Leinster at Aviva Stadium this Saturday. "I definitely think there's a template there (from Friday) that we try and play to," said Carolan. "I think what we showed was really good ambition, some good accuracy. We scored some cracking tries, even though we didn't have a massive amount of the ball. "But I think what it did show is when we did get chances, we were pretty ruthless and that's what you need this time of the season, as you approach the quarter-finals and semi-finals. "Every opportunity counts and it's important that you take those chances when they come about." Glasgow must find a way to redress the balance against a Leinster side who hammered them 52-0 in the Champions Cup in April before defeating them 13-5 in the final league match last month. Carolan is adamant his side have banished any lingering effects from the heavy European defeat in Dublin two months ago. "I think it's history now," he said. "We've played them since, and I think what we turned up with the last time we played them is a bit more us. And I think what we saw on Friday night against the Stormers was more us again. "I think we're building nicely. I think we've definitely got a bit of the mojo back from where we were. I think it was probably the Leicester game (a 43-19 win on 5 April) when we last sort of played like that. I think it's important that we got into this weekend on the back of a good performance last Friday and there's a lot of confidence we can take from it." Carolan reported that Scotland forwards Matt Fagerson, Jack Dempsey and Zander Fagerson are all progressing well in their recovery from injuries but unlikely to be ready for Saturday. He is hopeful that centre Huw Jones will be fit to return in Dublin after missing the Stormers game with an Achilles issue. "Huw is on track at the moment to be ready," said Carolan. "Obviously we pulled him last week for precautionary reasons, but he's shaping up really well. We'll just have to see how he progresses through the week."
