Leinster expect RG Snyman's big-match nous to count against Northampton
Leinster
look good for the weekend against Northampton in the semi-finals of the
Champions Cup
.
RG Snyman
is back fit, while
Ryan Baird
had no reaction to his injury when he played against Scarlets at the weekend in the
United Rugby Championship
.
James Ryan
won't make it back in time but Leinster's second defeat of the season in Wales on Saturday, well, that may not be such a terrible thing.
It will be a different team that faces the Premiership side to the one that lined out in Parc Y Scarlets, so the dynamics will significantly change. The international players are available, with Snyman and perhaps Jordie Barrett in the squad as Leinster prepare for a repeat of last year's penultimate stage.
While Leinster were perplexed with the disconnected performance and result with Scarlets, assistant coach Robin McBryde believes the loss has 'put everybody back on their toes'.
'You think you've covered all bases ... after a performance like that there's lessons for everybody,' he said. 'The first thing we did was look at ourselves as coaches, with regards to how we prepared the team and what didn't we get right.
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'In the long run, hopefully we can reap the benefit of that shot across the bows and make sure everybody doesn't get ahead of themselves, that they've got everything where it should be for this weekend.'
What may concern the frontrow, most likely Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong, is that the referee for the game at the Aviva Stadium is Frenchman Pierre Brousset. Once the youngest referee in the Top 14, Brousset caused Leinster to do some head scratching in the way he managed the scrum when they played against both Bristol and Harlequins.
Despite Harlequins losing 62-0 at Croke Park in the Round of 16 match, Leinster lost nine of the 11 scrums awarded in that game.
'We had a conversation after the Bristol game because it wasn't a great advert for rugby and for scrums,' said McBryde.
'We had a good conversation after that one, against Quins as well ... Rabah's [Slimani] fallen foul of some of his decisions and in all of the other games during the year Rabah's proved a good weapon for us from a scrummaging point of view.
'We just need to make sure we're seeing the same pictures as Pierre is seeing.'
Slimani, along with Barrett and Snyman, have combined to make a tremendous impact since they arrived as Leinster's overseas players.
Snyman's offloads and lineout work and Barrett's ability to help the team play have been pivotal in Leinster's success so far. For Springbok Snyman and All Black Barrett, their World Cup medals and big Test match experience should prove invaluable.
'[Snyman] is a big-game player, all three of them really, they bring that level of experience with them, that level of composure, and in your interviews with RG I'm sure you've seen he's so easy to talk to,' said McBryde.
'He talks to you as coaches the same as he would with a fellow player, so those connections are very easy to make and that benefits the whole environment. We've seen the benefit that the youngsters get from being alongside them, playing with them and training with them, bouncing ideas off each other.
'I'm not saying that untruthfully or anything, I'm being 100 per cent genuine. A lot of these players will be better for having the experience of playing alongside them, the IP [Intellectual Property] that they've got, all of these players.'
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Irish Examiner
43 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
Questions linger as Leinster go to the well yet again
Perception is everything. As of Friday afternoon, Leinster had 'only' sold 15,000 tickets for this BKT URC semi-final against Glasgow Warriors at the Aviva Stadium. This on the back of a crowd under 13,000 for last week's quarter-final at the same venue. Here, goes the theory, is proof positive of a hangover among fans who had their heart set on a Champions Cup final date in Cardiff and only to be denied by that sensational Northampton Saints performance. Here, too, is claimed evidence of a general fatigue among a paying public that has been forking out money for home knockout game after knockout game across two competitions for donkey's years, and with no reward at the end of it since 2021. So, some context. The hope is that Leinster will play in front of in and around 19,000 punters in Ballsbridge this time. That would be their second biggest URC playoff attendance in the six they have played since the new tournament succeeded the PRO14. The one bigger crowd was for Munster's win in 2023. 'It's an improvement on previous years,' said Leo Cullen who has urged supporters to get behind the team while recognising wider economic forces at play. 'I don't know if anyone saw Crusaders against Reds this morning, in terms of the crowd, it looked brutal.' Debate this as we may, the scoreboard provides figures that brook no argument. Win here and Leinster will be 80 minutes from a first trophy in four years and a chance to dilute the opprobrium that has come their way lately. They go out for this one without four of the dozen players named in Andy Farrell's British and Irish Lions squad in May. Hugo Keenan, like Garry Ringrose and Tadhg Furlong, has picked up a calf injury while Josh van der Flier's issue is a hamstring. None are said to be long-term issues – there is certainly no sense of their touring spots being at risk - but Leinster were already without longer-term absentees in captain Caelan Doris, Robbie Henshaw and Will Connors. Even a squad like theirs will suffer for all that. Glasgow have their own holes to fill with the Fagerson brothers, Zander and Matt, unavailable, as well as Jack Dempsey, key centre Huw Jones and half-a-dozen others, but they look re-energised for their last eight defeat of the Stormers. Cullen has noted the visitors' decision to bring in Adam Hastings, a ten noted for his kicking game, which, allied to a weather forecast that promises some heavy rain, could point to a tactical, cagey affair if there is no early and clear separation on the board. The Warriors outscored the Stormers by five tries to two in Scotsoun eight days ago despite having less possession and only 35% territory, and Cullen noted their ability to 'push boundaries' with the concession of 16 penalties against just four. Leinster didn't come out of their own quarter-final, against the Scarlets in Dublin, with anything like the same bounce - quite the opposite - but they did show signs of adapting their approach to the vagaries of knockout rugby. Time and again we have seen the province look to turn the screw by kicking penalties to the corner so it was notable how Sam Prendergast opted to keep the scoreboard ticking over with penalties on 36, 66 and 74 minutes. The head coach also touched on the need to 'adapt' if the game gets sticky down the stretch. To play the referee, the opposition and the conditions. And to ignore all the noise that has built up around the team and the club in recent weeks. Not just the hand-wringing over that Saints loss and recent form, but the prospect of that Lions tour down the road for so many of their number, and the Ireland tour to Georgia and Portugal for another dozen of them. Leinster are still double-digit favourites with some odd makers, but this feels closer than that. Glasgow are the reigning champions, after all, and they lifted the trophy last year on the back of a semi-final win in Ireland and a decider eked out in South Africa. For all that, the focus here must be on Leinster. Is there still heart and momentum enough in them to shake off the torpor of the last month and claim a home final seven days down the road against the Bulls or the Sharks? That is the question. 'There is a genuine excitement about it, playing again,' said Cullen in his missive for the troops. 'We know the stakes are high. It's great. Where would you want to be at this time of year? What else would you want to be doing?' LEINSTER: J O'Brien, T O'Brien, J Osborne, J Barrett, J Lowe, S Prendergast, J Gibson-Park, A Porter, D Sheehan, T Clarkson, J McCarthy, J Ryan, R Baird, S Penny, J Conan. Replacements: R Kelleher, J Boyle, R Slimani, RG Snyman, M Deegan, L McGrath, R Byrne, C Frawley. GLASGOW WARRIORS: J McKay, K Steyn, S Tuipulotu, T Jordan, K Rowe, A Hastings, G Horne, J Bhatti, G Hiddleston, F Richardson, A Samuel, S Cummings, E Ferrie, R Darge, H Venter. Replacements: J Matthews, R Sutherland, S Talakai, M Williamson, J Mann, M Duncan, S McDowall, J Dobie. Referee: A Piardi (FIR).
The 42
an hour ago
- The 42
'It was crazy to be out on the pitch': Liverpool title celebrations and Limerick hurling glories
DAVID BREEN MAPS out his recent tour of sporting arenas. Last night was at the Aviva Stadium, a chance to catch up on the progress of the Ireland soccer side he worked with as a physio last year, his time overlapping the interim reign of John O'Shea and the start of the Heimir Hallgrímsson era. Tonight he'll be at the Gaelic Grounds, the pitch he was acquainted with in his Limerick hurling days, just a kilometre away from his club base in Caherdavin with Na Piarsaigh. Rewind back two weeks to another venue. Anfield on Premier League trophy presentation day. The first time Liverpool got to share title celebrations with their fans in 35 years after the Covid-disruption of 2020. Breen linked up with the club last November, starting a role as first team rehabilitation physio. The outburst of vivid colour and deafening noise and wild joy a fortnight ago set him back. Having a front-row view on the pitch for those couple of hours after the draw with Crystal Palace, created memories that will always linger. Liverpool players celebrate their Premier League title win. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo 'The atmosphere at Anfield is is pretty special regardless, but when you're there when they win the league and lift the trophy, you're just seeing the energy around the place and the emotion. 'It was crazy to be out on the pitch and celebrating. It's something that you'd watch on TV and then you're in the middle of it. It's surreal. 'The way in which the league was won against Spurs, with four games left, it was a real long build up to lifting the trophy after the Palace game. 'So it almost felt like the excitement built even more. 'When you experience it, you're pretty sure you'll never ever experience anything like this again.' Breen was mainly a Celtic fans growing up, a connection that hardened when he spent time studying in Scotland. Stepping into the working world as a physio afforded him opportunities with an array of sporting sides, rugby a dominant theme. He worked with the Leinster Academy for a couple of years, Tadhg Furlong a housemate for a while. By April 2017 he was in England with Wasps and returning home to face Leinster in a Champions Cup quarter-final. Different roles followed since the summer of 2020, time in the Manchester City academy, a couple of years back in Limerick with the Munster rugby setup, a year with Harlequins in the English Premiership, and then Liverpool. His latest sporting adventure commands more interest from friends back home. Advertisement 'I've plenty of mates that are Liverpool fans and let's just say a lot more people got in touch since I've been with Liverpool than getting tickets to some of the rugby clubs I worked for! 'Obviously the club is global and the support back in Ireland for Liverpool is crazy. You do get a sense of walking into the place that it's such a historic club, all the players that have played there, they're on the wall. You're looking at the trophies that have been won and you can just tell it's a winning club that that goes about its business in the right way.' David Breen with the Premier League trophy. Breen's day to day is spent with those stuck on the treatment table for extended periods of time. He's dealing with players operating at a stratosphere of fame, but their application remains laser-focused. 'Like any any top team players, they set their own standards and are role models in the squad. Younger players will look up to older players that have achieved a lot in their careers and they see their prep and good habits, and that spreads throughout the throughout the squad. 'The physio group is split between the rehab side, dealing with the players that have short or long term injuries, and then guys that are on the medical performance side and they travel to most of the games. 'So I tend to do a lot of the rehab with the longer term injuries, that's been my role in a few different clubs. You work around the team schedule, so whenever the team is playing, if it's playing on a Monday or if it's playing on a Sunday, you kind of map out your week from there.' It's a different world but there have been enough Irish connections dotted around Anfield and Melwood to help him settle in. 'Caoimhin (Kelleher) and Conor (Bradley), I got on well with with those two lads in particular, so it was nice to suppose celebrate with boys that you're close to in the squad. Conor Bradley is is a really, really top fella, like he's a great lad. 'I would have known Caoimhin from from the Republic of Ireland squad before coming into the club. Caoimh has moved on now this week to Brentford. He's an immensely talented player and he's a huge character as well. He's a fella that was very much loved by staff and players, whatever dressing room he goes into, he'll bring that with him, and I'd just wish him all the best with it. 'Then we've got some staff as well like Conall Murtagh (head of physical performance) is Northern Ireland, Chris Black's (lead S&C coach) from Northern Ireland, Clare Farrell (lead performance nutritionist) is from Longford. I would have worked with Clare in Munster. 'You do definitely get the sense that there's a strong kind of Irish connection in the club there and there's a lot of love for Irish people I think in Liverpool.' David Breen with Conor Bradley and Caomihin Kelleher afer Liverpool's title win. In a past life his focus was on the pitch rather than the physio table. Years hurling at the elite level of county and club games with Limerick and Na Piarsaigh. When Breen joined the club, Kelleher spread word of that sporting prowess in the dressing room. 'Caoimhin had told a couple of the lads, and then Andy Robertson was one guy in particular that really jumped onto the whole kind of hurling thing. He's always had plenty interest in it. 'Guys would be aware of hurling without majority of them haven't actually probably seen a game. We brought in the in the hurleys one day, myself and Caoimhin, and and had a few pucks and a few of the other staff had a go as well after training.' There is a contrast between the time Breen spent hurling for Limerick and the current Shannonside crew. When he takes his seat this evening, his mind will wander back to the last Limerick-Cork Munster hurling final at the venue. Breen started wing-forward on the 2013 afternoon when Limerick closed a 17-year spell of hurt and frustration. 'It was very different for us. It really just felt like a watershed moment, you were able to just get over the line and and it was it was like our All-Ireland in many ways.' Limerick's Donal O'Grady lifts the cup after the 2013 Munster hurling final. Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO / INPHO Memories of that showdown? 'Probably missing a goal in the first half,' laughs Breen. 'The other memories were just how hot it was. 'It was just intensely hot and we were doing our warm up and people were packed into the stadium. 'I know that that's the norm now that there's no empty seats left anywhere, but I think in 2012, 13, there wasn't many games where every seat was taken. So just the energy and the intensity from the crowd just in the buildup to the game stands out. 'In the warm up we couldn't get more vaseline on the forehead or the eyebrows and just towels out trying to rinse the sweat off the grip. 'And then just obviously the noise of the place. That's probably the first game where where you're screaming at a guy that's 15 metres away and he can't hear you. 'It felt like we were on it from early doors againt Cork that day. The biggest thing for us and for the crowd and for everyone is that we were able to see it through. There's plenty of times prior to 2013 where you've been on it and you just can't get over the line. 'It was all moral victories and all nearly stories but that day we did see it through. Fellas came off the bench and finished the job. The pitch invasion then was pretty legendary stuff.' Stephen Walsh, Seanie Tobin, David Breen and Thomas Ryan in the dressing room after the 2013 Munster final. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO If that achievement was isolated, the relentlessness of the present Limerick group in gobbling up trophies stands out. He has some insight to the group through four Na Piarsaigh club-mates, players he combined with for 2016 All-Ireland club glory in Croke Park – Shane Dowling, Mike and Peter Casey, and William O'Donoghue. Wear his physio and hurling hats, he is struck by the resilience of the Casey brothers who have persisted after a series of shattering injury setbacks. 'I think that's the modern day GAA player now. They have to take big injuries on the chin and like they're so professional too that there's no reason (not to come back). I mean, you get a big injury, you have surgery, you rehab it, you might have to write it off that season, but you look to the next season. It's very much a professional mindset in terms of how guys deal with injuries now and how they deal with setbacks. 'That was a really big injury that that Peter picked up, probably in the most public of forums really, but, he's done his ACL, he did his ankle last year, he'll have that kind of confidence that he can deal with big injuries like that and he can get back. Same with his with his older brother Mike. 'I think all of that Limerick squad seem seemed pretty mentally strong, they're able to handle handle big injuries and hats off to the medical team inside there. They've had their fair share of big one big injuries like that over the last few years and they've dealt with them very admirably.' On the sideline is another familiar figure. His link with Paul Kinnerk stretches back years to their school days. He has watched his friend become one of the greatest coaches operating in Irish sport over the last 15 years. Read Next Related Reads 'It was a whole new world for me': Limerick-Cork Munster final memories 50 years on 'That narrative has been debunked now' - Limerick boss hits back at end of an era talk Pat Ryan: 'Some of our own people writing off Limerick. Are they off their game?' ***** Paul Kinnerk Coaching Honours List All-Ireland senior – 2013, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023. – 2013, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023. All-Ireland U21 – 2012, 2013, 2014. – 2012, 2013, 2014. Munster senior – 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. – 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. Munster U21 – 2012, 2013, 2014. – 2012, 2013, 2014. Munster minor – 2010, 2011. – 2010, 2011. National League – 2016, 2019, 2020, 2023. ***** 'It just goes to show his quality and talent. My close group of friends would know Paul just from growing up with him and being a close friend, but we know how intense he is, about anything really that he puts his mind to. 'Obviously since since finishing his own kind of playing days in football, he's really just gone all in around his PhD and and his coaching, as well as obviously his family, but he is really passionate about the coaching and he's a fierce competitor as well. Limerick head coach Paul Kinnerk. Tom Maher / INPHO Tom Maher / INPHO / INPHO 'He does not like to lose. I think you have to be that way if you're going to be put your mind to anything and if you're going to be passionate about something. We've been with Paul through thick and thin, those experiences of winning and having big highs, but also he's had had games that they've lost as well, where they haven't won championships and and and he's absolutely devastated. 'He really goes all in on it and I think any player that's worked with him or being coached by him would be the first to say that. He gives everything to it.' The energy and effort has blended together to power Limerick to the cusp of seven-in-a-row in Munster. Breen saw enough demoralising days to appreciate the uncharted waters they now sail in. And yet he's grateful to have sampled a Munster final day in the winners' enclosure. There'll be reminders in tonight's participants. Horgan, Harnedy and Lehane still in the attacking mix for Cork, while Dowling, Hannon and Quaid endure in Limerick colours. And there's an appreciation as well for the Cork man guiding the Limerick fortunes 11 years ago. 'John Allen was a real standout manager for me in my years of playing county. He went against the grain on a lot of things. He had the courage of his own convictions. I was just delighted on that day, in that year, his approach towards training, his approach towards team selection and things paid off for him. 'It would have been easy to come under pressure or feel that you have to toe the line with people's thoughts are that you should play a different team or players shouldn't play in this position. 'I was delighted for John Allen that day as much as anything else.' ***** * Check out the latest episode of The42′s GAA Weekly podcast here
Irish Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Kildare v Meath LIVE stream for All-Ireland Minor Football Championship final
All-Ireland minor glory awaits for either Kildare or Meath as they clash in the All-Ireland Minor Football Championship Level 2 final. TG4 are broadcasting the game live on the TG4 Sport YouTube channel, which you can watch right here. The game throws in at 4:15pm at O'Connor Park.. Kildare grabbed two late goals last time the the sides faced each other in the Leinster round robin in April, to win by 3-14 to 2-15. They remained undefeated in the round robin before coming out on top against Armagh in the semi-finals. Meath came through Donegal last time out in what was a bit of a drubbing, with a 6-11 to 0-12 victory seeing them reach the final. The all-Leinster final will see either Kildare retain the Minor tier 2 title, or Meath take the glory in Croker.
