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12th April 2023
04:44pm BST
"It needs to be that turning point, now, for Leinster and for Ross Byrne," said Lindsay Peat. "He had one misplaced pass against Leicester, when he tried to get fancy, but, other than that, he was exceptional. He's building in confidence, week-in, week-out."With the 10 jersey debate now put to one side, and Ross Byrne stepping up to the challenge, it leaves two areas of team, selection debate. The shoulder injury sustained by Ryan Baird in that win over Leicester would suggest Ross Molony and Jason Jenkins will scrap it out to start in the second row beside James Ryan. The Leinster back row is a trickier one to nail down, and we will be waiting until later in the month to discover if Josh van der Flier [rolled ankle] is cleared to face Toulouse in the Champions Cup semi-final. On House of Rugby [LISTEN from 12:15 below], the panel discussed how Leinster's back row could look for the visit of the five-time European champs. [caption id="attachment_286344" align="aligncenter" width="1280"]
Leinster players, from left, Caelan Doris, Scott Penny and Ryan Baird. (Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile)[/caption]
"I'd put Doris back to six, for Toulouse," said Peat, before adding, "Sean O'Brien was up for media duty this week and said Ryan Baird's injury might not be as bad as expected and they actually hope to have him back for the semi final. "Scott Penny, well, what more can he do? He scored a try off the maul and was swatting Leicester players aside like they were small children... I think I'd leave him coming off the bench as more of an impact player. If Baird is back, play Doris at 7."Hennessy agreed that Doris could play just about anywhere in the Leinster XV and do a job. Toulouse will provide a sterner test than both Ulster and Leicester, so every team selection call will be mulled over. Penny looks to have jumped the back row queue and getting minutes in big end-of-season games could yet boost his Ireland World Cup prospects.
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