Leinster team v Scarlets as Leo Cullen makes six changes for URC quarter-final
Leinster have made six changes for their URC quarter-final against Scarlets at the Aviva on Saturday afternoon.
James Lowe returns to the left-wing berth, Jamison Gibson-Park to scrum-half while the centre features Jamie Osborne at second-centre outside Jordie Barrett. The expected return of Tadhg Furlong hasn't materialised which means Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher and Joe McCarthy comprise the changes in the pack. Jimmy O'Brien will make his 100th appearance, Jack Conan captains the team once more from no8.James Ryan is partnered in the second-row by Joe McCarthy with Andrew Porter and Thomas Clarkson scrumming down either side of Rónan Kelleher at hooker.Dan Sheehan, Jack Boyle and Rabah Slimani offer the front row cover from the bench, with RG Snyman, Max Deegan and Scott Penny all named among the replacements. Luke McGrath and Ciarán Frawley complete the matchday 23.
Both Garry Ringrose (calf) and Tommy O'Brien (foot) and Tadhg Furlong (calf) were ruled out by injury, Robbie Henshaw (knee) is not expected to return before season-end, Leinster defeated Glasgow last time out a fortnight back and it was a slightly scrappy affair, a George Horne try getting the Scots back to within five points between the 56th and 78th minutes before a Ciaran Frawley penalty put the matter beyond contention.'It's got to be something of a reset because the last game against Glasgow, the stakes are a little bit higher and if we're good enough to win this week we'll get an opportunity to play next week," said Leinster Forwards Coach Robin McBryde."But it's important to remember it's one game at a time, this Scarlets side are cohesive unit.They'll be a tough nut and we're going to have to earn the right to be involved in the competition next week. "It will be tough and if we want to go any further than we have been in the last four years then we need to win on Saturday in order to give us an opportunity but we need to get it right on Saturday first.For Scarlet, wily scrum-half Garth Davies, 34 years-of-age and who has been at the club since 2007 misses out with injury, with Archie Hughes being asked to fill in.'But I think Archie has proven his worth over the last two games for us," Peel of the 22 year-old former Wales U20 international who comes in for only his second start of the season. "That's exciting for me. Archie coming on against the Lions, we were in a tough spot when he came on and it was a big, big, big game for him. Against the Sharks as well, he showed he's got the quality. It bodes well for the future.'We've spoken a lot about Archie in the last two years and he's taken his time this season; we are seeing some steady growth in his game and in the last couple of games he has been excellent for us.'The task for the Welsh club is to piggy-back on the April 26, 35-22, win at Parc y Scarlets.Continues Peel: 'There is no doubt it is a big task, as I said, one of the biggest in club rugby to go to Dublin. "We won't shy away from it, understanding the challenge is a big thing and knowing we have to be at our very, very best to push them and that is what we need to aim for. "We are confident in our own ability, all we can do is look at ourselves and give our best account. "It is going to be a great occasion, it is not about chasing four or five points, it is knockout rugby and it is all on the day."There is also an imbalance in the number of frontline internationals available to the two clubs but Peel is for backing a young side and players such as Blair Murray, Ellis Mee and Josh Macleod who is in his second year as skipper.'As much as Leinster have some star, world-class names in their group, we have some pretty good players in ours, the strength of the group is big for us and we are going to have to give it the best we can. "A few weeks ago we spoke about Blair as a potential Lions bolter, for him to come in and do the work he has done, he is young, full of energy and his season speaks for itself. 'Ellis and Macs are two young men who have come in, Macs a local boy, Ellis from Nottingham, and both have been outstanding. "Ellis has probably gone under the radar recently with Blair getting the headlines, but the work he has done has been outstanding and there is a lot more to come from him. "Macs has got that X factor, I am delighted he has his first tour with Wales, he deserves it and is one for the future. All three are nowhere near where they are going to end up."It is no surprise Scarlets are the least fancied of the four away quarter-finalists to cause an upset - a massive 20/1 to win the tie."We are going to have to be brave and we are going to have to be accurate. A slip in concentration and they can hurt you. That is the respect everyone has for Leinster.'You can't sit on your heels against Leinster, they are too good a team, we are not going there to soak up pressure and see what happens. "We have to play the Scarlets way and put our stamp on the game. That is the reality of it.'
Leinster v Scarlets, Aviva Stadium, Dublin, 3pm, Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU, 22nd league game) Live on: RTÉ, BBC Wales, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tvLeinster: 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 FrawleyScarlets: Blair Murray, Tom Rogers, Joe Roberts, Johnny Williams, Ellis Mee, Sam Costelow, Arhie Hughes, Alec Hepburn, Ryan Elias, Henry Thomas, Alex Craig, Sam Lousi, Vaea Fifita, Josh Macleod (CAPT), Taine PlumtreeReplacements: Marnus van der Merwe, Kemsley Mathias, Sam Wainwright, Dan Davis, Jarrod Taylor, Efan Jones, Ioan Lloyd, Macs Page
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The 42
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The 42 The 42 is the home of quality journalism for passionate Irish sports fans, bringing you closer to the stories that matter through insightful analysis and sharp sportswriting. Leinster 33 Scarlets 21 LEINSTER BEAT Scarelets 33-21 in the URC quarter-final match at the Aviva Stadium today. James Lowe, Jamison Gibson-Park, Jamie Osborne and Hugo Keenan got the tries for Leo Cullen's side in a scrappy last-eight clash. The 42 Subscribers can read the full match report here (€) The 42′s award-winning team produces original content that you won't find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women's sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Try The 42 for Just €1 Limited-time offer for new subscribers Unlock every article and every podcast The only place to read Murray Kinsella, Gavin Cooney, Declan Bogue & more Specialist analysis that makes sense of the action Weekly fan-favourite rugby, football and GAA podcasts Unmissable sportswriting and features that you won't find anywhere else Get Your €1 Trial Now Advertisement
The 42
an hour ago
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Leinster take their time to see off Scarlets in scrappy quarter-final
Leinster 33 Scarlets 21 AS KICK-OFF APPROACHED at Aviva Stadium this URC quarter-final was struggling to generate a big-match feel. By the time full time arrived, Leinster were simply happy to have come through what threatened to become an uncomfortable afternoon. Leinster are back in the URC semi-finals thanks to a four-try win – the Leinster tries coming from James Lowe, Jamison Gibson-Park, Jamie Osborne and Hugo Keenan – but Scarlets had their say in this strange, often scrappy last eight clash. The streets surrounding the Aviva Stadium were unusually quiet in the hours before kick-off and in the early stages the contest itself almost had a pre-season feel to it. The official attendance was 12,879 – not a shockingly low number, but certainly one that got lost inside an almost 52,000 capacity stadium. The reasons were multiple – a Bank Holiday weekend, a limited DART service, the widely-held expectation that this would be plain sailing for Leinster. None of which really matters, the bottom line being Leinster booked their passage into next weekend's semi-finals and can look forward to a home clash with Glasgow Warriors. Initially, this game had looked to be heading toward a comprehensive Leinster win. The opening 10 minutes was all Leinster, and in that time they struck for two tries from Lowe and Gibson-Park. Lowe's try, four minutes in, was sharp and accurate and sourced in the winger's booming kick into the Scarlets half. Leinster built territory and Sam Prendergast swung a sweet pass out the back before Keenan and Ryan Baird added touches, surviving a couple of Scarlets' half-blocks, with Lowe going over in an acre of space in the corner. Prendergast's first shot at the posts sailed well wide. Gibson-Park added the second in the ninth minute, benefitting from Jack Conan's linebreak off a short Lowe pass. This time Prendergast tapped over the extra two from close range. It looked ominous for the Scarlets, but the Welsh side held their nerve. Leinster continued to enjoy most of the possession but a cutting edge was missing. After that strong start the province added just one Prendergast penalty across the next 30 minutes. Instead of kicking on, elements of their play broke down – overthrowing a lineout in the Scarlets 22, Prendergast failing to find touch with a free kick. Scarlets were spirited and scrappy and capitalised on the few opportunities that landed in their hands. The first, 20 minutes in, saw the visitors take full advantage of their first meaningful attack – using a lineout to sweep to the left and score through Tom Rogers, the winger released by Sam Costelow's excellent hands. Costelow stepped up to add the conversion as Leinster rued some questionable defending. Their second try arrived on the stroke of half-time, Leinster getting turned from one tryline to the other. Leinster were pumping at the Scarlets line and their third try looked inevitable. Then it all crumbled – Gibson-Park's pass hitting Prendergast but spilling from the out-half's hands. Ellis Mee snapped onto the loose ball and got his boot to it before Osborne could smother the fire. Mee's second kick pushed the ball infront of fullback Blair Murray, who had Jordie Barrett biting at his heels. Murray's two short kicks kept the ball in his control as he arched away from the All Blacks to dive on the ball and score. Advertisement Scarlets' Blair Murray and Leinster's Jordie Barrett chase the ball. Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO After a quick TMO check, the grounding was deemed good and Costelow's conversion made it a one-point game at half-time. The teams retreated as the heavens opened, soaking a crowd fully contained within the lower tiers of the ground. The downpour ended as the second half got off a to slow, cagey start. Five minutes in, Prendergast cut Scarlets open by sending a smart chip over the top for Osborne to score, despite a somewhat unconvincing TMO check. Prendergast's conversion moved Leinster eight clear. Scarlets had a chance to hit back immediately – Leinster going off feet, Costelow smacking his shot wide to the right. Leinster kept prodding. Dan Sheehan, sprung from the bench, went rampaging down the wing off a short lineout. After Sheehan bounced a defender Leinster moved the ball right to left, with Osborne sending Lowe hunting in the corner. Lowe was swallowed up by Scarlets but a penalty followed as front-rower Alec Hepburn saw yellow. Leinster went again but the attack broke down as the ball was knocked-on. Jimmy O'Brien is tackled by Sam Costelow. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo The pressure was building and moments later Leinster had their fourth, with Sheehan again the catalyst. His charge and block on Archie Hughes put Leinster back on the offensive, with RG Snyman grinding out some extra yards before Prendergast and Barrett combined to send Keenan racing through. Prendergast should have scored the conversion, but for the first time in a long time, Leinster were looking comfortable again, 13 up heading into the final quarter. Both coaches turned to their benches as Prendergast added another penalty. Entering the final 10, Scarlets sparked back into life – Ioan Llyod producing a nice delayed pass, with Vaea Fifita and Marnus van der Merwe using clever hands before Johnny Williams crossed, with Lloyd converting to leave his team chasing a nine-point game. The Scarlets still had hope, but were damaged by the loss of Fifita moments later – the backrower yellow-carded following high contact on Keenan. Prendergast kicked the penalty and Leinster had the finish line in sight. Leinster scorers: Tries: Lowe, Gibson-Park, Osborne, Keenan. Penalties: Prendergast [3/3] Conversion: Prendergasts [2/4] Scarlets scorers: Tries: Rogers, Murray, Williams Penalty: Costelow [0/1] Conversions: Costelow [2/2], Lloyd [1/1]. LEINSTER: Hugo Keenan (Ciarán Frawley, 74) Jimmy O'Brien, Jamie Osborne, Jordie Barrett, James Lowe; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park (Luke McGrath, 66); Andrew Porter (Jack Boyle, 66), Rónan Kelleher (Dan Sheehan, 47), Thomas Clarkson (Rabah Slimani, 58); Joe McCarthy, James Ryan (RG Snyman, 47); Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier (Scott Penny, 29), Jack Conan (capt) (Max Deegan, 67). SCARLETS: Blair Murray; Tom Rogers (Macs Page, 64), Joe Roberts, Johnny Williams, Ellis Mee; Sam Costelow (Ioan Lloyd, 58), Archie Hughes (Efan Jones, 74); Alec Hepburn, Ryan Elias (Marnus van der Merwe, 51), Henry Thomas (Sam Wainwright, 64); Alex Craig (Kemsley Mathias, 57), Sam Lousi; Vaea Fifita, Josh Macleod (capt) (Dan Davis, 74), Taine Plumtree. Yellow cards: Alec Hepburn 55, Fifita 73 Attendance: 12,879 Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU)
