Latest news with #TommyO'Brien
Irish Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Leinster have point to prove as the doubters circle ahead of URC semi-final
Leinster will have to avoid the pressure-trap against Glasgow Warriors in the URC semi-final at The Aviva this afternoon. Notwithstanding, they lost last year's Champions Cup final in extra-time, lost this year's semi-final by three points and have lost three consecutive URC semi-finals by a point, a point and five respectively. But it is surely fair to suggest a squad with 12 Lions, three highly rated foreigners and another dozen chosen to tour with Ireland this summer have little to fear - but themselves. But that's not the full story as Leo Cullen finds himself dealing with the growing 'noises off' as much as what's happening centre stage. As for the main actors Hugo Keenan has pulled out with a calf-strain which sees Jimmy O'Brien move no15 and a fit-again Tommy O'Brien brought onto the right-wing while Scott Penny deputising for Josh van der Flier as he did for the last hour last week. Tommy O'Brien had been their in-form late-in-the-season back while spare a thought for Penny who was the glaring overlook when the Ireland squad was named midweek. Penny will hardly lack motivation. "To be honest I was more focussed on trying to prepare the group, no offence, Scott," said Cullen of a player who will be seeing 15 Leinster players touring this summer - and it would have been 17 but for Will Connors and Caelan Doris's injuries. "Scott has 86 appearances for Leinster and I hope he goes well, and he just needs to be ready and play well and focus on that. "Selection (for Ireland) is one of those things that are out of your control, injury is out of your control, those are the frustrating things about being a professional sportsman. "The only thing you can control is preparation and performance. If he plays well enough, hopefully he won't be too far away in the future." Meanwhile Cullen is for reminding the sceptics, growing day by day this week it seemed, that Leinster don't lose ALL their play-off/knockout games - they have won 14 of the last 17 played in Dublin in the last four seasons. "We've had positive play-off games where we've racked up big scores on dry days and conceded no points but it didn't ultimately help (win anything), do you know what I mean? So, you'd prefer, what, two 6-3 wins if it meant you were going to win semi-finals." But then knockout rugby is, by its nature, hard to predict. 'None of us know exactly what way it will unfold. That's the pressure of knock-out games and all the rest. 'I was looking at the Champions League final in the football and a lot of the pundits were saying that the other team were going to win, that lost. They got steamrollered in the end. "That's the beauty of sport isn't it? We think we might know what's going to happen but it's two teams going at it and we'll wait and see." Former Scotland captain and Premier Sport TV commentator John Barclay has been one for putting up a case for Warriors and, even then, he is worried about sounding 'daft'. 'There's a lot of talk about a vulnerability to Leinster after what Saints did to them in the Champions Cup but it feels a bit daft, given they finished top of the league, we may be losing sight of that," he says. 'There's a template of how to beat Leinster from the Scarlets and Northampton games, the key message being that Leinster are not unbeatable, but you have to be disruptive, really go after them. "There's lots to admire and learn from what the Scarlets did last weekend, they were brave, they attacked well and they didn't just sit back. 'If you are Leinster you are probably quite liking people writing you off as well. They topped the URC, got to the semi-finals of Europe. Yes there will be bits of their game they will be wanting to sharpen up – but I think they will also be pretty confident. The Scots need to be able to consistently shut Leinster's playmakers. 'For Glasgow, it's about disrupting the flow of the game that quality players like Jamison Gibson-Park, Jordie Barrett, James Lowe dictate, the guys that determine where and how they play the game. 'The up front battle will also be huge but how good will that contest be between the likes of Tom Jordan, Sione Tuipulotu and Jordie Barrett? "Tom Jordan will be even more motivated with the prospect that it could be his last game for the club.' Warriors finished fourth in the league-proper and come to the game as outsiders to make the final but they shouldn't be written off. Continues Barclay: "Glasgow are looking good, looking sharp and are peaking at the right time, I think they will be confident going over there. 'They dominated the Stormers up front last weekend which surprised a few people given the size of them, but the Warriors are so well coached now, they know how to do that. 'If you look at the coaching ticket that Glasgow have, the way they evolve and have a plan for every week, I think they'll be pretty comfortable in what they have to do as a team on Saturday. 'It's fascinating that a Glasgow team that can get beaten 52-0 points over there a few weeks ago and actually people say they have a reasonable chance." Leinster: Jimmy O'Brien, Tommy O'Brien, Jamie Osborne, Jordie Barrett, James Lowe, Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park, Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Thomas Clarkson, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan, Ryan Baird, Scott Penny, Jack Conan (CAPT) Replacements: Rónan Kelleher, Jack Boyle, Rabah Slimani, RG Snyman, Max Deegan, Luke McGrath, Ross Byrne, Ciarán Frawley Glasgow Warriors: Josh McKay, Kyle Steyn (CAPT), Sione Tuipulotu, Tom Jordan, Kyle Rowe, Adam Hastings, George Horne, Jamie Bhatti, Gregor Hiddleston, Fin Richardson, Alex Samuel, Scott Cummings, Euan Ferrie, Rory Darge, Henco Venter Replacements: Johnny Matthews, Rory Sutherland, Sam Talakai, Max Williamson, Jack Mann, Macenzzie Duncan, Stafford McDowall, Jamie Dobie Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
The 42
4 days ago
- Sport
- The 42
Three changes for Leinster as Keenan and van der Flier miss out
LEINSTER BOSS LEO Cullen has made three personnel changes to his team for tomorrow's URC semi-final against Glasgow at the Aviva Stadium [KO 2.45pm, RTÉ/Premier Sports]. Tommy O'Brien returns from a foot injury on the right wing, while Scott Penny comes in at openside for Josh van der Flier, who injured his hamstring against Scarlets last weekend, and Dan Sheehan comes in at hooker. Jimmy O'Brien moves from the wing to fullback in place of the absent Hugo Keenan. The injured Garry Ringrose remains sidelined, as do Caelan Doris, Tadhg Furlong, Robbie Henshaw, and Will Connors. Meanwhile, Glasgow head coach Franco Smith has made two personnel changes to his starting XV following last weekend's quarter-final win over the Stormers. Adam Hastings comes in at out-half, meaning Tom Jordan moves to midfield and Stafford McDowall drops to the bench, while Fin Richardson starts at tighthead prop. British and Irish Lions squad members Huw Jones and Zander Fagerson remain sidelined due to injury, but Sione Tuipulotu and Scott Cummings both start for Glasgow, who have gone for a 6/2 bench split. Advertisement Leinster: 15. Jimmy O'Brien 14. Tommy O'Brien 13. Jamie Osborne 12. Jordie Barrett 11. James Lowe 10. Sam Prendergast 9. Jamison Gibson-Park 1. Andrew Porter 2. Dan Sheehan 3. Thomas Clarkson 4. Joe McCarthy 5. James Ryan 6. Ryan Baird 7. Scott Penny 8. Jack Conan (captain) Replacements: 16. Rónan Kelleher 17. Jack Boyle 18. Rabah Slimani 19. RG Snyman 20. Max Deegan 21. Luke McGrath 22. Ross Byrne 23. Ciarán Frawley Glasgow: 15. Josh McKay 14. Kyle Steyn (captain) 13. Sione Tuipulotu 12. Tom Jordan 11. Kyle Rowe 10. Adam Hastings 9. George Horne 1. Jamie Bhatti 2. Gregor Hiddleston 3. Fin Richardson 4. Alex Samuel 5. Scott Cummings 6. Euan Ferrie 7. Rory Darge 8. Henco Venter Replacements: 16. Johnny Matthews 17. Rory Sutherland 18. Sam Talakai 19. Max Williamson 20. Jack Mann 21. Macenzzie Duncan 22. Stafford McDowall 23. Jamie Dobie Referee: Andrea Piardi [Italy].
Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Tommy O'Brien returns on the wing as Leinster make three changes for URC semi-final with Glasgow
Tommy O'Brien returns, but Josh van der Flier and Garry Ringrose remain absent as Leo Cullen makes three changes to the Leinster side for their URC semi-final against Glasgow (KO 2.45).
RTÉ News
4 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
No Hugo Keenan as Leinster make three changes for Glasgow
Hugo Keenan will miss Leinster's BKT United Rugby Championship semi-final against Glasgow Warriors on Saturday. The full-back, one of 12 Leinster players in the upcoming British and Irish Lions squad, hasn't been named in the matchday squad for Saturday's game at the Aviva Stadium due to a calf injury. Lions Josh van der Flier, Garry Ringrose and Tadhg Furlong had all previously been ruled out due to injury. Leo Cullen has made three changes to his side for what is their third meeting with Glasgow in the space of eight weeks. Dan Sheehan, Tommy O'Brien and Scott Penny all come into the side that started last week's quarter-final win against the Scarlets. Sheehan starts at hooker, with Rónan Kelleher dropping to the bench, partnering Andrew Porter and Thomas Clarkson in the front row, while Joe McCarthy and James Ryan continue at lock. Penny comes in at openside flanker, with Van der Flier sidelined with a hamstring issue, while Ryan Baird and captain Jack Conan complete the pack. Jamison Gibson-Park and Sam Prendergast go again behind the scrum, while the centre partnership of Jordie Barrett and Jamie Osborne is also unchanged. Tommy O'Brien (above) returns from a minor injury on the right wing, taking the place of Keenan, as Jimmy O'Brien moves to full-back and James Lowe starts on the left wing. Meanwhile, Glasgow have made two changes to their side from their 36-18 quarter-final win against the Stormers. The defending champions continue to be hampered by injury, with Lions squad members Huw Jones and Zander Fagerson both unavailable, as well as back rows Matt Fagerson, Jack Dempsey and Sione Vailanu. Fin Richardson comes in at tighthead prop, replacing Murphy Walker in an otherwise unchanged pack. The other change comes at out-half, where Adam Hastings starts at 10, allowing Tom Jordan move across to inside centre, where he partners Sione Tuipulotu. Stafford McDowall drops to the bench, where Franco Smith has gone for a 6:2 split of forwards and backs. Leinster: Jimmy O'Brien; Tommy O'Brien, Jamie Osborne, Jordie Barrett, James Lowe; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Thomas Clarkson; Joe McCarthy, James Ryan; Ryan Baird, Scott Pennny, Jack Conan (capt). Replacements: Rónan Kelleher, Jack Boyle, Rabah Slimani, RG Snyman, Max Deegan, Luke McGrath, Ross Byrne, Ciarán Frawley. Glasgow Warriors: Josh McKay, Kyle Steyn (capt), Sione Tuipulotu, Tom Jordan, Kyle Rowe; Adam Hastings, George Horne; Jamie Bhatti, George Hiddleston, Fin Richardson; Alex Samuel, Scott Cummings; Euan Ferrie, Rory Darge, Henco Venter
Irish Examiner
4 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Leo Cullen makes three changes to team for Glasgow Warriors URC semi-final
Head coach Leo Cullen has made three changes to his Leinster side for their URC semi-final clash against Glasgow Warriors on Saturday at the Aviva Stadium (Kick-off: 2.45pm, live on RTÉ2 and Premier Sports 1). Following on from last weekend's 33-21 win over Scarlets in the quarter-finals, Cullen has decided to shift Jimmy O'Brien to full-back as Tommy O'Brien comes in on the wing, while Scott Penny has been named at openside flanker and Dan Sheehan gets the nod at hooker Jack Conan captains the side yet ahain, with Ryan Baird taking the six shirt alongside Penny in the back row. Joe McCarthy and James Ryan continue their partnership in the engine room while Andrew Porter and Thomas Clarkson will line up either side of Sheehan in the scrum. Jamison Gibson-Park and Sam Prendergast are the halfbacks with Jamie Osborne and Jordie Barrett continuing in the centres. Having scored against Scarlets last weekend, James Lowe is again selected on the left wing and moves within two tries of equalling Shane Horgan's club record of 69 tries for Leinster. Leinster Senior Coach Jacques Nienaber said: "It's a privilege for any team to be involved in the knockout stages. "It's a privilege for us definitely to be testing ourselves against Glasgow this weekend, the reigning champions, who obviously understand how to play knockout games if you look at what they did last year. It's a privilege to test ourselves against a quality side like that." Rónan Kelleher is joined by Jack Boyle and Rabah Slimani on the bench, with Max Deegan and BKT URC Players' Player of the Season RG Snyman providing reinforcements in reserve. Luke McGrath and Ciarán Frawley are also named among the replacements alongside Ross Byrne, who will be making his final appearance at Aviva Stadium for Leinster ahead of his move to Gloucester this summer after a decade of service The 22-times capped Ireland international has scored 1,194 points in 184 appearances in blue to date and will hope to add to that total on Saturday. Glasgow Warriors Head Coach Franco Smith added: 'Leinster are the standard setters in this competition. "They finished top of the standings for a reason, and have consistently out-performed teams across the course of this season while showing their strength in depth. 'It is a challenge that we know we will need to be at our best to meet, and the players are focused on the task at hand. 'Training this week has been sharp and competitive, with every player working hard for each other to put this squad in the best possible position for tomorrow afternoon.' Leinster: Jimmy O'Brien, Tommy O'Brien, Jamie Osborne, Jordie Barrett, James Lowe, Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park, Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Thomas Clarkson, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan, Ryan Baird, Scott Penny, Jack Conan. Replacements: Rónan Kelleher, Jack Boyle, Rabah Slimani, RG Snyman, Max Deegan, Luke McGrath, Ross Byrne, Ciarán Frawley. Glasgow Warriors: Josh McKay, Kyle Steyn (CAPT), Sione Tuipulotu, Tom Jordan, Kyle Rowe, Adam Hastings, George Horne, Jamie Bhatti, Gregor Hiddleston, Fin Richardson, Alex Samuel, Scott Cummings, Euan Ferrie, Rory Darge, Henco Venter. Replacements: Johnny Matthews, Rory Sutherland, Sam Talakai, Max Williamson, Jack Mann, Macenzzie Duncan, Stafford McDowall, Jamie Dobie.
