Leinster Rugby vs Cell C Sharks
URC Quarter-final
Aviva Stadium, Dublin,
Saturday, 6th May 2023, 17:00

TV: Live: RTE2/ Premier Sports

Any tickets going????

Leinster did the business last week against Toulouse and now they're looking forward to taking on La Rochelle in the final. The players have talked about how they're looking forward to taking on LR in front of an Aviva stadium full of passionate Leinster fans.

Well that remains to be seen as the EPCR only reserved a pathetically small amount of tickets for fans of both finalists so at the moment many of the fans that have been there all season won't be going. Some will say "tough luck, you should have bought the tickets when they were on general sale last year". However, paying 150 euro for two matches on the chance you might want to go to them isn't feasible for everyone in the current financial climate. In the six finals Leinster were previously in, getting tickets was never an issue and often there were plenty of spare tickets going on the day. This is going to be tough but best of luck everyone!

Back to the game itself and once again, the Leinster pack were just that bit better than Toulouse. Toulouse were under pressure and their discipline collapsed and Leinster took advantage ruthlessly. There was some whinging in the French media that the great friend of Irish rugby Wayne Barnes had favoured Leinster, but Toulouse were second best on and off the field. The decision to move Antoine Dupont from his best position so early in the game was barmy and they got what they deserved. La Rochelle will be a much tougher proposition though but more of them in the next few weeks.

First up is an URC quarter-final against the Sharks. When the Sharks visited the RDS earlier in the season it was one of the games of the season. Both teams went at each other hammer and tongs and though Leinster ultimately pulled away in the last quarter, it was an exhilarating contest. The Sharks are the great conundrum of the South African teams. They have by far the most Springbok internationals in their squad of the four teams but they are somehow less than the sum of the parts and constantly underachieve. Last season they didn't make it past the quarter-finals and this season they finished eighth in the table. They were 22-3 up against Munster in their final game but blew it and ended up being lucky to draw. This means they won't qualify for next season's Champions Cup unless they actually win the URC which looks a tall over.

The Sharks pack are without their massively influential Springbok superstars Siya Kolisi and Eben Etzebeth. Second row Etzebeth is replaced by 20 year old Corne'Rahl, who starts alongside Grobler. In the absence of Kolisi in the back-row, James Venter makes the step-up from the Sharks Currie Cup squad, and he joins Springbok capped Vincent Tshituka and number eight Sikhumbuzo Notshe. While they're missing some key players, the Sharks can still call on Ox Nche and Bongi Mbonambi in the front-row alongside Thomas du Toit.

They're also impacted by injury in the backs, where they are missing their starting halfbacks Jaden Hendrikse and Curwin Bosch. But again, there's still serious quality on show in Makazole Mapimpi and Lukhanyo Am. Their fullback Fassi also scored a brace of tries in the RDS last time out.

Leinster have named much changed squad for the match, with only six of the starters from last week retained. That said, it's still a strong team with plenty of talent.

In the front-row the only change is Michael Milne, who starts at loosehead alongside Sheenan and Furlong, with Andrew Porter dropping to the bench. For Milne this is a just reward after his strong showings in South Africa last month. The only other player retained in the pack is Caelan Doris in the backrow. He moves from blindside to number eight alongside Deegan and Penny. In the second row, Ryan Baird makes his first start since returning from injury off the bench last week and he's partnered by Jason Jenkins.

It's a similar story in the backline, with only Keenan, Larmour and Ngatai retained from last weeks victory over Toulouse. In the half-backs there's a new pairing of Harry Bryne and Luke McGrath who captains the team from number nine. In the centres, Ciaran Frawley comes in to start at outside centre alongside Charlie Ngatai. Frawley is much more familiar with the inside centre role, so facing off against Lukhanyo Am in the thirteen channel will be a massive challenge. If he can keep Am under wraps, he'll further enhance his reputation as a high quality utility back. In the back three the only change is Dave Kearney who replaces Jimmy O'Brien on the left wing.

Though Leinster have made some changes it's still a team with plenty of talent. Once they take the Sharks seriously they should have enough to progress to the semi-finals.

by Jim O'Connor, © 2023-05-12