Rugby Column Number 108: The Kildare Nationalist – February 20 2018

RUGBY

Byrne returns as Leinster move to the top of PRO14 table

By Daire Walsh

COURTESY of a 20-13 win against the Welsh outfit at the RDS on Saturday afternoon, Leinster moved to the summit of the Guinness PRO14 Conference B table ahead of Scarlets.

The Blues missed out on a chance to leapfrog last season’s PRO12 winners when they suffered a last-gasp defeat to Edinburgh eight days earlier, but they bounced back to record their 12th success of the current campaign.

Kill’s Adam Byrne made his long-awaited return from injury in the Edinburgh game as a late replacement, and for the first time in over three months, he was selected in Leinster’s starting line-up. The back-three of Byrne, Jordan Larmour (who made his international bow at home to Italy on the previous weekend) and James Lowe offered the hosts a strong attacking outlet, while an early injury set-back thrust the province’s latest debutant into the limelight.

Having sat out Leinster’s defeat to Edinburgh, Skerries native Ciaran Frawley replaced Rory O’Loughlin in midfield with just 13 minutes gone in the Ballsbridge arena. They had already fallen behind to a Johnny McNicholl try by the time of his arrival, before Lowe restored order to the proceedings with a brace of tries in the 18th and 34th minutes.

Neither of these efforts were converted, and thanks to Dan Jones’ earlier two-pointer, Leinster’s interval lead stood at 10-7. Though the foreign player rule has led to some selection complications for Leo Cullen and Stuart Lancaster, Lowe has made a seismic impact during his short time with the Blues.

His record of five tries from six appearances marks him out as one of the most effective wingers in the league, and he turned provider for Luke McGrath’s try straight after the restart. Leinster were trying to avenge their semi-final defeat to Scarlets in the same venue last May, and a Frawley bonus kick created an even greater distance between the sides.

Yet, the final outcome wasn’t yet placed beyond doubt, especially with Eadestown native Tadhg Beirne produced another eye-catching display for the visitors. Jones’ place-kick split the posts at the end of the third-quarter, setting up a barnstorming conclusion to a compelling contest.

A Frawley three-pointer made certain of Leinster’s latest triumph, but from the final kick of the play, Jones secured a losing bonus point for the Scarlets.

Leinster will be back in action this Friday at home to the Southern Kings, who are still searching for their maiden win in the northern hemisphere. Naas’ Jordan Duggan is expected to feature on the same evening for the Ireland U20s at nearby Donnybrook.

They host Wales in the first of three home international for Irish sides, with the meeting of Joe Schmidt and Warren Gatland’s respective teams at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday topping the bill. Joey Carbery and Fergus McFadden may well be in contention for selection, and a busy weekend will be completed by the Ireland Women’s showdown with their Welsh counterparts at Donnybrook on Sunday afternoon.

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