Leinster are in the Champions Cup semi-finals and will face Northampton Saints in Croke Park on Saturday May 4^th. They reached the last 4 after dismantling La Rochelle in The Aviva Stadium. That result did the necessary to dispel any myths surrounding the current Leinster squad. They did that without Hugo Keenan, Garry Ringrose, James Ryan and Charlie Ngatai all of whom missed out through injury.

That tells you that the squad is brimming with quality. They will now want to go one step further than the past few seasons and beat an in form Northampton Saints side who dispatched Munster and The Bulls in recent weeks. Leo Cullen and Jacques Nienaber have dovetailed wonderfully in recent months since the South African’s arrival after the RWC.

Leinster are in pole position to put a 5^th star on the famed blue jersey even though Northampton, Harlequins and Toulouse will have plenty to say on that matter over the May bank holiday weekend. Leinster will travel to SA for a two week trip in the URC and will most likely mix and match the squad that will go on tour. In previous seasons they have used it as a breathing ground for the new generation who are in and around the squad on a yearly basis.

They lead the URC and have cushion going into the two games and as I mention there will be plenty of young talent given the chance to shine with a small number of senior guys who may require game time coming into the crunch period of this season.

15 years on from defeating Munster in Croke Park 25-6 in the last European semi-final to be played at the home of the GAA, Leinster won’t face Irish opposition this time round  instead they will play a Phil Dowson coached Northampton Saints side who are playing some quality rugby domestically and in Europe.

Croke Park is in use as the Aviva Stadium is now out of bounds until after the Europa League final which is being staged in Dublin. Leinster will have a few weeks to see can they sell Croker out like they did with the Aviva in recent years in European action.

It will be tricky to get a full house I feel as the opposition isn’t an Irish side although it is a European semi-final and plenty of casual rugby and sports fans may make the trip to see what Croke Park is like to host another sporting event. I was there in 2009 to see the previous semi-final and although Munster were beaten on the day it was still an occasion to be savoured and remembered.

Plenty has been spoken in the last couple of weeks regarding Croke Park as a venue for a rugby game give the pitch dimensions and how far back the crowd will find itself and that comes from an ex Leinster player who played that afternoon in 09, Luke Fitzgerald. Leinster were stuck really once the Aviva was ruled out of the equation and given that Croker will be free on that weekend it was a no brainer….

It will be another special occasion for all involved with Leinster Rugby, both playing staff and backroom staff. It is not that often that the gates at Jones Road are thrown open and Leinster will want to make sure that this trip to GAA HQ will be as memorable as it was in 2009.

Leinster, Connacht and Ulster all advanced this weekend in the last 16 of The Champions Cup and in the case of both Connacht and Ulster in the Challenge Cup.  Munster exited after a ten point loss 24-14 at the hands of Northampton Saints. For three of the Irish provinces they will prepare for last 8 ties in Europe, For Munster it is a case of injury and illness happening at the wrong time of yet another season.

That of course will form part of the conversation over the next 2 weeks for Munster who will now have extra time to prepare for two URC games in late April in South Africa. It is another last 16 exit for Munster since the round came into existence a few seasons ago. Graham Rowntree and his coaches have to now try and pick up a deflated squad for the last few weeks of the season.

 The futures of Antoine Frisch and Peter O Mahony will also need to be sorted and decisions communicated to the fans, add to that the talk surrounding both Mike Haley and Simon Zebo. Munster are in a state of flux like Ulster and will need to tie up certain questions and deals either way while trying to keep the URC campaign on an even keel.

A tough few weeks ahead for the men in red after another defeat in Europe. Only scrapping in back in January probably didn’t help the cause but like to lotto if you’re not in you can’t win !! A lack of experienced players and power killed Munster yesterday seeing Stephen Archer being asked to go the full 80 when Northampton were able to switch over to a fresh set of three new front row players certainly didn’t help the cause.

Munster have to be questioned why they let Keynan Knox take up another playing opportunity with Roman Salanoa on the long term injury list leaving Mark Donnelly and Ronan Fox who is in the academy to back up the two other senior tightheads in the squad currently.

At loosehead the same can be said with James Cronin being let go to play in France and now playing weekly with Leicester Tigers. Some of those decisions will need to be rightly questioned because Munster are again looking in from the outside in Europe.

Injuries to key men in the front row and second row saw RG Syman, Jean Kleyn, Edwin Edogbo ruled out and in the front row, injury and suspension saw Dave Kilcoyne, John Ryan and Oli Jager ruled out.

No team can lose 6 players like that and not be affected, they will now need to focus fully on the final weeks of the URC to see can they defend the crown won in dramatic fashion last May.

For Leinster, Ulster and Connacht it is full steam ahead for games vs La Rochelle in Dublin for Leinster with La Rochelle is Cork for the next few days. Connacht will face Benetton in Italy and Ulster are on the road to face Clermont Auvergne.

I mentioned last week, I felt all 4 teams might sneak wins, my head said in all honesty that Leinster might be the only ones with a W in the bag by Sunday but both Ulster and Connacht can now look to European quarter finals admittedly on the road but with a bit of luck we might see more than one Irish team into the last 4 in Europe and who knows what might happen then…..

It’s Champions Cup last 16 weekend and that will see all four provinces out with Leinster and Munster playing in the Champions Cup with Ulster and Connacht in Challenge Cup action. Leinster entertain Leicester Tigers in Dublin and Munster face Northampton Saints again in this year’s Champions Cup.

Ulster will play Montpellier while Connacht will take on Pau in the Challenge Cup, All four sides will face tricky games with Leinster the mostly likely Irish side to take victory on current form. Munster will know they will need to dig very deep and now with John Ryan suspended after his sighting after foul play last weekend. They will find it tough with Darragh Mc Sweeney or Kieran Ryan to now back up Stephen Archer on the tight head side of the scrum.

Here’s hoping RG Synman will have recovered from the illness that kept him out of last weekend’s game against Cardiff. Munster will look to other experienced players now and will need to gain at least parity at scrum time to stand any hope of beating an in form Northampton. Top of the Premiership and scoring tries for fun, Northampton will fancy their chances of reaching another Champions Cup quarter final. It will take a lot of good fortune and more than “boot, bite and bollock” to see Munster through the next few weeks.

Munster have their backs to the wall and will come out swinging but have they the ability to produce the knockout blow, that’s the big question, only time will tell of course.

Leinster could be without a number of key players but the strength in depth of their squad will help alleviate those injury worries. Home advantage will help the Leinster cause even though Leinster went to La Rochelle in the group phase and found a win in a tight contest. They will have home comforts in the quarter finals if they navigate Leicester on Saturday evening. Time for Leinster to pull out a big European performance to help advance their title credentials.

Ulster dropped into the Challenge Cup and with Richie Murphy in interim charge until the end of the season and there short tour of South Africa in the League now over they can focus on trying to put into practice any lessons learned from 2 weeks in South Africa. Plenty of off field activity since January has Ulster in a state of flux on and off the field. No better time than this weekend in Montpellier to steady the ship and pull off an unexpected win in France.

For Connacht, the season is slowing grinding to a close but like Ulster they can use a trip to Pau in the Challenge Cup to breathe fire and life back into an ailing campaign. They will have Finlay Bealham and Bundee Aki back and have shown previously in this season they can play rugby and can pull off a result when all logical thinking suggests otherwise. Time then for another big performance and maybe just maybe they could do the business and nick a win on the road…

It’s the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup last 16 and while it seems likely on current form that only 1 Irish side will do the business, all 4 will be hell bent on doing what they can to cause more than one shock this weekend…  

Ireland will take on Wales on Saturday in round 3 of the 6 Nations looking to maintain the winning start that has seen them on top of the table on 10 points. They will play Wales at 2.15pm in Dublin. Ireland may be without Hugo Keenan who has been a near ever present during Andy Farrell’s time in charge.

If he isn’t fit to play on Saturday, the smart money will see Ciaran Frawley in the 15 jersey with Jack Crowley continuing his time in Ireland’s 10 shirt. It will be interesting to see how the 23 will look when it is announced on Thursday at 2pm. Ireland will want to push on from week 2 where they defeated Italy 36-0.

Wales for their part will be looking for a first win of the campaign and will come to Dublin with nothing to lose and plenty to gain and are again of course under the care of Warren Gatland but unlike his previous tenure this period will be about building a squad and squad depth capable of competing over the next few years.

Welsh rugby is under the cosh at the moment and the WRU will want to see there national side put in strong showings to round off this year’s tournament. They will know a win is unlikely on Saturday but not impossible.

That will make them a sticky proposition on Saturday but the way Ireland have started this year you have to think they will guard against that complacency and look to put in another statement type performance from the off.

Ireland will have to make a few changes but it looks as if they will selected from a settled wider squad and that will help with disruption. Tom Ahern and Oli Jager will look to push on this week for inclusion in the 23 after solid performances this past weekend for Munster against the Scarlets.

Ireland will revert back to a 5/3 split on the bench one thinks and that will leave scope for the bench selections. Will Conor Murray come in for Craig Casey with Jamison Gibson Park likely to come back in to partner Jack Crowley. Some interesting calls but calls that Farrell isn’t afraid to make.

Wales with look to youth again on Saturday and while that may not reap immediate reward it is defiantly the long game for Ieuan Evans and the much maligned WRU board. They will know they are in the territory of kicking on if they can summon a strong performance to see can they knock Ireland off kilter and see where that will leave them at the end of the 80 minutes on Saturday.

I will select the 23 I think we will see on Saturday :

15 Ciaran Frawley

14 Calvin Nash

13 Robbie Henshaw

12 Bundee Aki

11 James Lowe

10 Jack Crowley

9 Jamison Gibson Park

8 Caelan Doris

7 Josh Van Der Flier

6 Peter O Mahony

5 Tadgh Beirne

4 Joe Mc Carthy  

3 Tadgh Furlong

2 Dan Sheehan

1 Cian Healy

–

16 Ronan Kelleher

17 Andrew Porter

18 Finlay Bealham

19 Ryan Baird

20 Tom Ahern

21 Conor Murray

22 Garry Ringrose

23 Jordan Larmour

I was at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday to see Ireland defeat Italy 36-0. The talk of the atmosphere needs to be brought up again. I know as I have seen in recent years the talk of the poor atmosphere generated at Irish rugby internationals as even with the performances of recent times of the Republic of Ireland the atmosphere generated is still very good.

I saw first-hand the issues again that a number of ex Irish internationals speak of and it needs to be urgently addressed. Of course it won’t be but something needs to be done. The constant in and out is a pain to get “refreshments” needs to be stopped and this is not just because this author is a non-drinker but I spent a share of my time moving to allow people who of course are full of apologises to come in and out.

It is clear in the emails to remind you to have your phone fully charged for access to match tickets etc in the days leading to the game that you are advised to “please remain seated until a break in play” now I understand that people will get caught short and you are also allowed to do as you please as you paid for the ticket.

This is the crux of the problem, rugby supporters are allowed alcohol unlike football fans for example who are not allowed alcohol in there seat but this needs to seriously considered by the IRFU or at least tell people drink to your hearts content on the concourse outside but once you are in, you are in and barring a toilet break no constant in and out…

It causes friction as I saw on Sunday and have seen previously, people get annoyed and then things can get heated. It won’t take much to come to some sort of compromise which will really need to be looked at.

I know it is a sport event with many people paying good money to attend and they should be allowed do as they see fit but people need to use some sort of cop on and I know too that a certain section are trying to impress clients they may have invited to the game but there are still genuine fans that would like to watch the actual game at not spend periods having to duck and weave to see the pitch or in most cases the screen.

The atmosphere was poor on Sunday and that is down to the above and also large sections of so called “fans” could not really care what is actually happening on the field of play. It isn’t just an alcohol related problem. I know these things won’t be looked into but the IRFU would do well to look into certain aspects of the overall match day experience inside the ground as the experience outside is enjoyable….

South Africa will have some fresh faces in their coaches box for the summer test series with two new coaches coming into the set up to support to now full time head coach Johan ”Rassie” Erasmus with Jerry Flannery and Tony Brown joining up to replace Felix Jones who is now the England defence coach and Jacques Nieneber who is now with Leinster alongside Leo Cullen for the next two years at least.

Flannery and Tony Brown have signed on until the end of the 2027 RWC which will be in Australia in 3 a half years’ time. Jerry Flannery has recently been with Harlequins and Tony Brown has spent time with Japan at the recent World Cup in France.

Both men will look to add something new to South Africa although what you can add to a double World Cup winning squad is questionable but I suppose a third straight RWC title is the aim along with a few Rugby Championships between now and 2027 wouldn’t go a miss…

Duane Vermuelan will take up a role within SA Rugby and work with Erasmus and his now completed coaching ticket to set the course and stall out for the next few years.

The director of Rugby role will be made redundant but you can be sure SA Rugby won’t forget it if the right person becomes available and they see fit to re-introduce the role. Erasmus will report direct to the SA chief executive from now on.

From an Irish perspective it will be interesting to see how Mr Flannery can work his mind to stop Ireland in two games in July in SA. Munster as an organisation will see a large number of coaches that held varying roles over the past 10 to 12 years with the club in new positions in the International game.

Flannery with SA, Jones with England, Jason Holland is with Scott Robertson in NZ and as has been suggested Stephen Larkham could yet feature in an Australian coaches box with Joe Schmidt. So as the 6 Nations head to round 2 a number of other sides are getting themselves geared for action later in 2024….

Ireland began their 2024 Six Nations by beating France in Marseille last Friday evening winning 38-17. It was a strong performance that of course was not perfect but I feel you’ll never really get that perfect performance even in victory. Ireland went into last Friday not knowing what was ahead after defeat to New Zealand last October at the RWC in a tight tussle 29-28.

With the dawn of a new campaign means it is time to put to bed any ill feelings of previous games. Of course as we all know It was the first time since November 2009 barring injury that Ireland were without Jonathan Sexton with Munster’s Jack Crowley given his chance to start a 6 nations game for the first time !! Over the course of the 80 minutes he showed he can handle the pressure and that bodes well for the rest of this Championship.

Ireland started well and led 17-10 at the break and one feels that lead could have been more and that will mean that Andy Farrell will look for more from his charges this week leading to a home game against Italy on Sunday at 3pm.

Italy lost 27-24 in Rome last weekend to England and they will know they had a real opportunity to get that elusive win over England but Gonzalo Quesada and his coaches will have been heartened by the finish of the game with Italy finishing with a flourish with Monty Ioane crossing for a well-earned try late on that Tommaso Allen converted.

Italy come to Dublin buoyed by that strong finish but Ireland have their own agenda and will look to push on after the victory in France. As is always the case what type of team Andy Farrell selects will be interesting to watch. A few changes will be expected but wholesale change is not the order of the day.

Trying to build new combinations might just see Craig Casey come in to partner Munster team mate Jack Crowley or Ciaran Frawley may get his chance to come in steer the ship from the beginning having seen game time from the bench late on last weekend. My money would be on Craig Casey coming in with Jamison Gibson Park or Conor Murray on the bench along with Frawley.

Continuity is very important so I would expect minimal changes with rotation in the front row, Cian Healy in with Andrew Porter dropping to the bench or Jeremy Loughman coming onto the bench in support of Healy. Ireland do need to develop the next generation of young props and that is ironic as I name Cian Healy and the ripe old age of 36 in place of Andrew Porter but that is simply the job of others to push ahead of Healy at Leinster and by others in the other three provinces.

Ireland may look to a different centre partnership for the game but we shall see as the talk is that Garry Ringrose will again miss out through injury but it is a chance to find another outside centre to try and challenge Ringrose in the short to medium term….

I will now select my 23 to face Italy in the first of three home fixtures in this Championship…

15 Ciaran Frawley

14 Calvin Nash

13 Robbie Henshaw

12 Bundee Aki

11 James Lowe

10 Jack Crowley

9 Craig Casey

8 Caelan Doris

7 Nick Timoney

6 Peter O Mahony

5 James Ryan

4 Joe Mc Carthy

3 Finlay Bealham

2 Dan Sheehan

1 Cian Healy

–

16 Ronan Kelleher

17 Jeremy Loughman

18 Tom O Toole

19 Tadgh Beirne

20 Ryan Baird

21 Jamison Gibson Park

22 Stuart Mc Closkey

23 Jordan Larmour