Plenty of edge to Connacht-Leinster rivalry
LATEST RENEWAL: David Hawkshaw of Connacht scores his side's first try despite the tackle of Josh van der Flier of Leinster during the United Rugby Championship between Leinster and Connacht at RDS Arena in Dublin last January. Pic: Ben McShane/Sportsfile
The last time Leinster lost at the Sportsground, Connacht rubbed their noses in it when John Muldoon, playing the last of his 327 games for his native province, belted over a conversion in front of the posts to round off a 47-10 drubbing of Leo Cullen’s men.
Muldoon’s kick, his first and last in all the days soldiering in the Connacht back row, to convert their seventh try that day in April 2018 sent the capacity crowd of over 8,000 into raptures as they celebrated their biggest ever win over their neighbours.
But their showboating did not go down well with everyone in the visiting camp, and while they would be far too diplomatic to mention it publicly, it is known that it has since got a few airings inside Leinster walls.
Leinster have returned six times since to Galway, four in the league, once in the Rainbow Cup and once in the Champions Cup, and have won each time. They scored 50 points in one of those games, 45 and 42 in others, and on their last visit a year ago held Connacht scoreless.
Muldoon is back as a lineout and maul coach with Connacht after five years with Pat Lam in Bristol and he would have plenty of issues with Leinster from his own playing days to give the Pete Wilkins management team a healthy reservoir of grievances to fire up their men for this derby.
The team announcements have tipped the outcome in Connacht’s favour. They have gone with their strongest team, although Jack Carty misses out on his 200th appearance, with Mack Hansen returning from World Cup duty.
Leinster have rotated and only Robbie Henshaw, a key figure in the 2016 Pro12 win by a Connacht side skippered by Muldoon, survives from last weekend’s win over Munster.
Harry Byrne gets the nod at out-half in the absence of his injured older brother Ross, with Ciaran Frawley reverting to full-back despite his strong showing when he was drafted in early at half-back last weekend.
Ben Murphy partners Byrne at half-back and with both sides going with a 6/2 split on the bench, Leinster have some heavyweights in the returning Cian Healy, Tadhg Furling, Jack Conan and Will Connors to call upon.
This will be Jacques Nienaber’s first game as Leinster senior coach since guiding the Springboks to World Cup glory, while in the other camp former Wallaby Scott Fardy, now Connacht’s defence coach, will be facing Leinster for the first time since he departed in 2021 after four years playing with them.
Leinster assistant coach Robin McBryde said they know the task which faces them in Galway as they bid for their sixth league win in a row this season before turning their attentions to Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle next weekend.
“In fairness to Connacht, they have always been tricky, especially when we have played them away,” said McBryde. “They are very imaginative, creative around the lineouts.
"Obviously Scott Fardy has got inside knowledge of Leinster as well so they have always been very competitive at lineout time, aerially.
“The number of players they have picked up from Leinster have inside knowledge as well so with all that info it makes it very difficult for us when we head down there. I’ve never had an easy game down there and I don’t think it will be any different this weekend.
“When you go away to Africa as well it tends to gel everyone closer together so on their return they will be a very cohesive bunch and gunning for us with the ex-players looking to get the scalp and to prove ourselves.”
Connacht have not lost at the Sportsground in 2023 and are looking for their ninth successive win there.
They are boosted by the return of Hansen, with JJ Hanrahan selected at out-half and David Hawkshaw providing cover on a bench which sees Paul Boyle back from injury for his first action of the season, while on-loan scrum-half Michael McDonald could make his Connacht debut after his move from Ulster.
Head coach Wilkins, who is hoping to have their third World Cup player Bundee Aki back for the Champions Cup opener against Bordeaux Bègles next Friday, said there is a good atmosphere building up for this one.
“Leinster at The Sportsground is one of the marquee games you look forward to every season. You can feel the buzz of anticipation both among the squad and supporters, and with a sold-out crowd behind us it’ll be a fantastic occasion.
“We’re very aware of Leinster’s strengths and the challenge they’ll pose, but we’re also confident in our abilities and the gameplan we’ve put together.
"Mack’s return is a timely boost and it’s a 23 I think are well capable of a victory, while also taking into account the short turnaround into Champions Cup next Friday."
T O’Halloran; M Hansen, B Ralston, C Forde, D Kilgallen; JJ Hanrahan, C Blade (capt); P Dooley, D Heffernan, J Aungier; D Murray, O Dowling. C Prendergast, S Hurley-Langton, S Jansen. D Tierney-Martin, D Buckley, F Bealham, N Murray, P Boyle, M McDonald, D Hawkshaw, C Oliver.
C Frawley; R Russell, R Henshaw, C Ngatai, J Osborne; H Byrne, B Murphy; E Byrne, R Kelleher, M Ala’alatoa; R Baird, J Jenkins; M Deegan, S Penny (capt), J Culhane. L Barron, C Healy, T Furlong, R Molony, J Conan, C Foley, L Turner, W Connors.
Andrew Brace (IRFU).
