United Rugby Championship: Leinster To March On To Another Semi-Final
United Rugby Championship: Leinster To March On To Another Semi-Final
Leinster Rugby hosts the Cell C Sharks in the United Rugby Championship quarterfinals on May 6th. Leinster will look to keep their unbeaten home run going.
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Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has made nine changes to his side who defeated Toulouse in the Heineken Champions Cup for their quarterfinal clash with the Cell C Sharks.
Having comfortably topped the regular season table with just one loss, Leinster will be looking to build on their hard work and maintain their march towards hosting two finals at the Aviva Stadium this season.
For the visitors, they will be all too aware that a loss in Dublin would not only end their season but also ensure that they are not playing in next season’s Champions Cup.
Team News
As touched upon, Cullen has heavily rotated his squad as he looks to manage his player’s minutes ahead of their Champions Cup final clash with La Rochelle in two weeks’ time.
Despite the changes, Cullen has named a side that is more than capable of producing a masterful performance.
Retaining a key spine of players such as Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Caelen Doris, Charlie Ngatai and Hugo Keenan, who all started last weekend’s semi-final.
Joining them in the starting line-up are a group of players who would almost certainly be starters in the majority of club sides around the world.
In the forward pack, Springbok Jason Jenkins and Irish international Ryan Baird form a dynamic and powerful second-row combination. Behind them, fellow Irish internationals Max Deegan and Scott Penny link up with Doris in the backrow.
For the visitors, there are two significant absentees in Springboks, Siya Kolisi and Eben Etzebeth. Joining the influential duo on the injured reserve is Springbok flyhalf Curwin Bosch who has been sublime this season.
Despite two of the best players in the game being unavailable, the Sharks still possess a team packed to the gills with quality.
In the front row, the international trio of Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi and Thomas Du Toit have been terrorising opposition scrums all season and thoroughly test the Leinster pack.
Behind the experienced front row, 20-year-old secondrow Corne Rahl is a surprise addition to the squad. Partnering the promising youngster is the experienced Gerbrandt Grobler, who knows Leinster intimately from his time with Munster.
Completing the pack is a fascinating backrow combination of James Venter, Vincent Tshituka and Sikhumbuzo Notshe all three of whom are strong ball carriers.
Whilst there is plenty of power in the pack, the backline has a sprinkling of world-class talent led by captain Lukhanyo Am. The Springbok outside centre is regarded as one of the very best players at his position in the world game and is joined by former Australian international Ben Tapuai.
Joining Am in the ranks of being regarded as one of the best is hi World Cup-winning teammate Makazole Mapimpi. One of the most lethal finishers in the game, Mapimpi is joined by a fellow Springbok finisher in the up-and-coming Aphelele Fassi.
Prediction
The biggest points spread this weekend according to the odds maker who have Leinster touted as 20-point favourites.
This seems a little rich given the quality of the Sharks but does not seem entirely out of the realms of possibility, given that was the margin the last time the two sides met as Leinster came away with a 54 – 34 win.
Speaking about his side’s chances, Gerbrandt Grobler said the Sharks were comfortable with the underdog tag: "No-one gives us a chance, and that's okay, we have a job to do and we believe in it, because if you don't believe it, you can't achieve it," he explained from the team's base in Dublin. "We have nothing to lose and we'll be throwing everything into it.
"What do you do, no-one gives you a chance, your back is against the wall, we'll be going for it; why not believe? Anything can happen on the day: the bounce of the ball, a decision that goes your way, we're going out there to give our best and enjoy ourselves."
Whilst the Sharks will certainly believe in their chances, it is tough to see Leinster losing at home, especially with the carrot of potentially having two finals at the Aviva Stadium this season.
The biggest difference between the two sides is the sheer quality of the players Leinster can call upon from the bench. Throw into the mix their shock loss at home to the Bulls in last season’s final, and Cullen’s men will be extra motivated to avoid another shock loss. Leinster by 15.
Line-Ups:
Leinster: Hugo Keenan, Jordan Larmour, Ciarán Frawley, Charlie Ngatai, Dave Kearney, Harry Byrne, Luke McGrath (CAPT), Michael Milne, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Ryan Baird, Jason Jenkins, Max Deegan, Scott Penny, Caelan Doris
Replacements: John McKee, Andrew Porter, Cian Healy, Joe McCarthy, Jack Conan, Jamison Gibson-Park, Ross Byrne, Liam Turner
Sharks: Aphelele Fassi, Marnus Potgieter, Lukhanyo Am (CAPT), Ben Tapuai, Makazole Mapimpi, Boeta Chamberlain, Grant Williams, Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi, Thomas du Toit, Corne Rahl, Gerbrandt Grobler, James Venter, Vincent Tshituka, Sikhumbuzo Notshe
Replacements:Fez Mbatha, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Carlu Sadie, Jeandre Labuschagne, Phepsi Buthelezi, Cameron Wright, Nevaldo Fleurs, Rohan Janse van Rensburg.