InterPros - "A" Championship

phog

The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) is delighted to announce the return of the ‘A’ Interprovincial Men’s Championship which will kick off next month.

The times and dates of the opening three rounds of the Championship before Christmas have been confirmed, with a similar points-scoring system as used in the URC. A Championship winner will be declared after the final round of matches in May and the IRFU will be commissioning a legacy trophy to mark the 150th anniversary celebrations.

IRFU 150 Interprovincial ‘A’ Championship Fixtures:

Saturday, 16th November:

Connacht Eagles v Leinster ‘A’ (Creggs RFC, 1pm)

Friday, 22nd November:

Ulster ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles (Ballymacaran Park, 3pm),

Leinster ‘A’ v Munster ‘A’ (Lakelands, 5pm)

Friday, 29th November:

Munster ‘A’ v Ulster ‘A’ (New Ormond Park, 3pm)

Friday, 20th December:

Ulster ‘A’ v Munster ‘A’ (tbc, 3pm)

Saturday, 21st December:

Leinster ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles (Ollie Campbell Park, 2pm)

Weekend of 28/29 December:

Connacht Eagles v Ulster ‘A’ (tbc),

Munster ‘A’ v Leinster ‘A’ (tbc)

Weekend of 9/10 May:

Connacht Eagles v Munster ‘A’ (tbc),

Leinster ‘A’ v Ulster ‘A’ (tbc)

Weekend of 16/17 May:

Munster ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles (tbc),

Ulster ‘A’ v Leinster ‘A’ (tbc)

phog

Connacht v Leinster tomorrow

https://twitter.com/connachtrugby/status/1857361436453851335?t=m9a5rvXFmrDqCKXR1oEJZQ&s=19

Hey_Ho_Lets_Go_3

CONNACHT EAGLES MATCHDAY 23 VS LEINSTER 'A'

1. Shane Jennings
2. Chay Mullins
3. Byron Ralston
4. John Devine
5. John Porch
6. Seán Naughton
7. Colm Reilly
8. Jordan Duggan
9. Eoin de Buitléar (C)
10. Fiachna Barrett
11. David O'Connor
12. Oisín Dowling
13. Bobby Power(u20)
14. Oisín McCormack
15. Éanna McCarthy(u20)
16. Adam McBurney
17. Billy Bohan(u20)
18. Temi Lasisi
19. Charlie Keane(u19)
20. Seán O'Brien
21. Tomás Farthing(u20)
22. Daniel Hawkshaw
23. Shane Mallon
24. James Nicholson
25. Andrew Smith

phog

The Leinster Team

https://twitter.com/leinsterrugby/status/1857394144320081944?t=GGVm40Bm3Z-9rXMbKzrK_Q&s=19

FtD v2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122842187#Comment_122842187

Some bold selections in there - really looking forward to seeing Fiachna Barrett as a big crash ball 10.

Garfin

Jennings at loosehead great call he's a destructive scrumager

Podge_irl

https://www.connachtrugby.ie/news/watch-live-connacht-eagles-v-leinster-a/bp3206/

Can watch the match here for anyone who wants. But 7 flipping euro!? Are they mad?

FtD v2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122846659#Comment_122846659

Meh, it’s basically close to the price of a pint now. There’s obviously a cost to putting this on, and the stream seems good quality. Don’t have a massive issue with it. Would love to see more of it .

FtD v2

Late change for Connacht - Dave O’Connor out, Eanna McCarthy up into the row, Sean O’Brien in at 8.

Jerseys are annoying similar.

Podge_irl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122846669#Comment_122846669

I mean, I got outraged then paid for it anyway so more fool me really.

They could do with putting the camera up on a ladder…

FtD v2

Try for Leinster (John McKee), driving maul after a lineout in the corner (Leinster had gotten penalty in midfield for that new blocking rule on the kick chase i think).

Harry Byrne added the extras. 7-0 Leinster after 4 mins.

FtD v2

Some nice attacking play from Leinster there - Harry Byrne will a well weighted chip over the top which Turner gathers, before linking up with Fintan Gunne for a big line break.

Leinster score another try through Ruben Moloney after good hands from the backs (following a lineout in the corner again).

FtD v2

Harry slots the conversion again, 14-0 after 9 mins.

FtD v2

Eanna McCarthy held up to the right of the Leinster posts, good tackle from Diarmuid Mangan. Connacht had a few penalties in a row to get the field position.

FtD v2

Half time, still 14-0 Leinster. Second quarter was poor. Connacht probably shaded it in terms of possession and territory, but Leinster came closest to scoring again (held up just on half time).

Referee probably being a bit too picky and blowing up too much too early for a game like this IMO.

Best players so far have been Will Connors, Harry Byrne and Fintan Gunne for Leinster. Eanna McCarthy & Eoin de Buitlear somewhat prominent for Connacht.

FtD v2

Good try for Connacht early in the second half - Billy Bohan on with a break in midfield, links up with Eanna McCarthy (who has been good) and he finds Ralston who runs in under the posts. Naughton adds the extras.

14-7.

Connacht have made a lot of changes (Bohan, McBurney, Lasisi, Smith and a few others). Leinster’s only change is Max Deegan on for Brian Deeny (who was down hurt a few times in the first half).

Edit: It was Oisin Dowling, not Eanna McCarthy with the try assist.

typhoony

Andrew Smith on also, mind boggling that he's not been involved with Connachtvl this season

FtD v2

Connacht have been the better side in the second half so far, but Leinster’s set piece on top (line out excellent so far) and scrum winning penalties too.

FtD v2

Leinster scrum (with Milne, McKee and McGuire) dominant in the scrum. All three gone now for Usanov, Smyth & Smyth.

FtD v2

Try for Usanov within a minute or so of coming on - after sustained pressure on Connacht line. Ralston probably lucky the try was scored as it looked he’d had a deliberate knock on just before it.

21-7 Leinster after 62 mins (clock is hard to judge as it isn’t stopping for ref stoppages).

FtD v2

Ruben Moloney has been impressive. Ref has blown for every little infringement around the ruck, but ignored some punchy clear outs and Moloney being taken out in the air.

Osborne and Deegan just butchered a certain try. Leinster look well on top the last 10 mins or so.

FtD v2

Andrew Osborne tacks on the BP try for Leinster. Not long left. 28-7.

FtD v2

Game over - 28-7. Score line flatters Leinster, but set piece was decisive and Leinster’s defence largely very good.

Will Connors probably the most influential player on the field, but Harry Byrne, Liam Turner, Conor O’Tighearnaigh, Fintan Gunne and Ruben Moloney were all good for Leinster. For Connacht Oisin Dowling, Sean O’Brien and James Nicholson (off the bench) prob the stand outs (though admittedly I was less focused on Connacht.

The stream was excellent quality with good, informed commentary.

lonester99

Fintan Gunne hype needs to die, falls into all the same traps as Mcgrath and looks like a Mcgrath 2.0. Error prone at the base, below average slow inaccurate pass, decent sniping game but fundamentals of scrumhalf play not there at all.

Usanov is a man going places, took his try well.

Smyth needs to get a hold of his throwing game if he wants a career.

Connors showing his class, different level of physicality then everyone on the pitch as youd expect.

Culhane needs to start putting his mark on games like this, thought he'd be more impressive then he has been this season.

Great to see Molony back from injury on the flank.

Brownlee will be under some serious pressure from Moynihan whos been outplaying him at AIL level all season, needs to start showing something.

Some nice play from Osbourne, still slipping off needless tackles at times and needs to get that out of his game.

kita99

I think that phsicality difference was too huge between both team especially 2 and 3 rows of the pack. Connacht did many good tackles. So they didn't concede so many tries that I expected before this match because of brave challenges. It looked that some of them have had too little experience of serious rugby matches. (4.Mccarthy and 6.Power are amature player even not be in academy squads). Thinking it, I think that they did well.

typhoony

Adam La Grue has been rewarded for his performances for Terenure with a spot on the bench for the game against Munster A

Locke_Lamora

Leinster v Munster game being streamed here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iF8X-Mk7_Q4

phog

Ulster v Connacht Team sheets

https://twitter.com/UlsterRugby/status/1859567776966266937?t=GGjK40d2NAw_FjujMuGFzw&s=19

https://twitter.com/connachtrugby/status/1859565680242065843?t=hW_15W1qYOXcQqln3LW-6w&s=19

phog

Leinster v Munster (free entry tomorrow)

https://twitter.com/leinsterrugby/status/1859235910904131703?t=L72HVkmR9tZQQSc62DyP1Q&s=19

https://twitter.com/Munsterrugby/status/1859572245619740822?t=5CynuxJuLM7B6KEMBgYYmw&s=19

Paul Smeenus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122865516#Comment_122865516

A lot to like about that Ulster team - the only real established player is Matty Rea (albeit McNabney is getting there). Genuinely is an 'A' team.

Glad to see Reuben Crothers back from surgery and Lukas Kenny back from injury. Curious (and pretty uncertain) about Sexton at FB. Is it enshrined in law that every potentially dangerous winger has to be tried at FB at some stage?

FtD v2

Some interesting selections across the board - this is a great initiative to have these games back and to be giving gametime to young players and squad players during this window.

Hubert Gilvarry on the bench for Munster is interesting - he's a scrum half from Sligo who was in the Connacht Academy but dropped out, and has been playing on the wing in the AIL for Young Munster this season, and scoring plenty of tries (including a hat trick against City of Armagh last weekend).

Leinster have named a more rotated side this weekend - with some of the more experienced guys who were there last weekend (Liam Turner, Ross Byrne, Max Deegan, Brian Deeny, Will Connors, Michael Milne) not present.

This week's selection includes quite a few U20s in the starting team who aren't in the academy (Connor Fahy at 13, Ciaran Mangan on the wing, Mahon Ronan on the bench) and an U19 (Charlie Molony) on the bench alongside Adam la Grue, who's been playing well in the AIL for Terenure the last few seasons.

Wegians89

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122865618#Comment_122865618

Any idea if ulster are streaming this?

Podge_irl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122865871#Comment_122865871

This is going very differently from what I expected. Leinster very much on top and 17-7 at the half.

typhoony

Harry Byrne has been awful

Brief_Lives

non stop handling errors from Munster, so frustrating to watch.

Lineout and scrum not happening.l

adios Kyriacou

Clegg

Really impressed by Usanov. Has kicked on since last seasons U20 Six Nations. Looked very good for Emerging Ireland as well.

Whomever had the idea to convert him from the back row to a loose head deserves as raise.

Blackheath

how was he scrummaging (Usanov)

realhorrorshow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122871232#Comment_122871232

Very well I thought. Seemed to have the upper hand on Foxe in particular.

conquestscarer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122871232#Comment_122871232

Excellent. Probably the best part of his performance.

ingo1984

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122871266#Comment_122871266

whilst he was getting alot of success in the scrum, a better ref would have identified he was scrummaging illegally and despite foxe communicating this to the referee and linesman, they seemed to let him away with it. but I suppose, you chance your arm to see what you can get away with.

ingo1984

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122871114#Comment_122871114

sean Cronin is the academy forwards coach.

Ben Bailey

Final score Leinster 22-07 Munster

4 tries to 1.

lonester99

was connacht - ulster streamed anywhere?

typhoony

Don't think so, also the match changed venues due to the weather

Brief_Lives

Then he needs to up the fines from training.

Thomas Ahern is usually dependable on all aspects but he was making silly mistakes as well. So using that as a baseline, there is a wholelot of upskilling needed all over the pitch.

Paul Smeenus

Connacht absolutely minced Ulster, bit disappointing but unsurprising given the team selection. Hopefully it stands the young bucks in good stead further down the line

FtD v2

Really good result for a very young Leinster side. Didn’t get to see it, but believe Connor Fahy, Aitzol King and John McKee had good outings, along with Usanov as mentioned here.

Anyone else stand out?

realhorrorshow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122873801#Comment_122873801

I would add McGuire and O'Tighernaigh to that, the former came on very early as Smyth was injured. He didn't get enough touches to make a huge impact, but I thought Reuben Moloney showed enough for me to pick him out as a prospect of note.

Munster were dreadful I thought, looked heavy legged to a man. If I wasn't already familiar with their players I don't think I'd be able to pick any out as a prospect based on that.

Thought both starting scrum halves were very poor, given their relative experience. Patterson does have the excuse of a torrid recent injury record, I'm sure he'll improve with time.

Edit: would also note that Mahon, Corrigan, and Aaron O'Brien were all very physical in the latter stages, especially considering they're all u20. Hadn't heard much of O'Brien previously but he seems to have a bit about him.

typhoony

Ruben Moloney was good and won't be far off getting URC games this season. I noticed Niall Smyth had to go off with a shoulder injury, hope that doesn't put him out of the u20 6 nations. If there's any damage they can take a few months to fully recover.

conquestscarer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122874135#Comment_122874135

Corrigan looks like he would be a great 6 at pro level. Has great size and is very aggressive in the tackle.

realhorrorshow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122881693#Comment_122881693

Agreed, his pre contact footwork is very good too.