Leinster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread XII (The Byrne Supremacy)

If Ross Byrne gets through the Champions Cup game(s) unscathed then I'd absolutely send Harry and Frawley to South Africa.

Leinster are currently 1/16 to beat Ulster and I'd be surprised if Leicester would be given much more of a chance.

Fair points.

It certainly would go against most of the selection policies that have been in place with debutants normally deputising more experienced players against the Zebres and the Dragons

But this tour is not usual business. Last season Leinster clearly saw this as a development opportunity. They even sent half their coaching staff and their more experienced players home in the second week to focus on the first team despite going up against the Stormers who were laden with RWC winners and experienced players.

There is a possibility they'll look to do this again perhaps with an experience 10 playing the first fixture only.

But I just worry for Harry and Frawley. Neither of them have shown a good injury profile and both are players we can't really do without in the big games coming up

The one thing more than anything that Harry Byrne and Ciaran Frawley need right now is a run of games and minutes on the pitch and Leinster can't be picky. Harry only has five starts to his name this year and Frawley four. Holding them back and reducing their game time benefits nobody. Outside of a Ross injury, I can't see how we don't send them both down to South Africa for some minutes (perhaps starting one game and on the bench for the other).

The Sexton news is very shítty news but to be fair, outside of maybe a Heineken Cup Final appearance (should we get there), I would have said Ross would be starting most if not all games for us the rest of this season (where available). Sexton was getting wrapped in cotton wool by the IRFU one way or the other. I more feel bad for him that he might not get the send off he deserves from the supporters.

I would say he looked anything but fine walking off in the England game. He looked very sore and by his own admission was drilling for information about how much time he could potentially miss. I think he knew himself how bad it was.

It will be a real pity if he misses out on the European Final should we get there. Definitely would have been a fitting to finish his Leinster career there.

Looks like Leinster vs Ulster is heading towards a sell out.

Doubt he will reverse his decision

I wouldn't worry too much based on the December game. We were rattled by the red card and conceded three tries in the next 15 minutes. But the manner in which we regrouped and turned the game from that point is more pertinent to my mind.

We had the Ulster scrum on wheels in that opening period which is why I'd like us to go as strong up front as possible for this one particularly with Moore absent for them.

The 23 they sent to Dublin will be largely very similar to what they'll send this weekend with a few changes between the bench and starting side (Vermeulen, Stockdale and TOT were on the bench) so we should largely know what's coming. I'd be happy to ditch any pretty rugby and look to try nd take Ulster on at their own game where they're so good i.e. the maul.

If all the RTTP players are absent, I'd like us to go with JOB, Larmour, Henshaw, Frawley, Lowe, Byrne, JGP, Conan, VDF, Baird, Ryan, Jenkins, Furlong, Sheehan and Healy with a bench of McKee, Porter, Ala'alatoa, Molony, Penny, McGrath, Byrne and Kearney

Would be a decent boost to just get one of Keenan or Ringrose back to allow us rejig things a bit and give us some additional defensive solidity. I'd be fairly hopeful on one of them given they were both training yesterday (Ringrose looking fairly involved by photos) but no sign of Doris.

Anyone know if it’s possible to watch the game at the weekend from Australia?

It's crazy the way Ulster fell off a cliff after that match v Leinster. They're back onside now and are going well. I think it will be a close affair. They also have continuity and I think a low disruption.

I don't expect Ringrose or Keenan. I thought Ngati would be back. So if not, Frawley will start. On Ngati, it's not his fault he's injured but it's crap timing.