Rugby Daily | Double injury blow for Leinster ahead of Ulster showdown, Andy Dunne's Dupont hot take...
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Off the Ball, GAA. They lied to us, telling us that we would have a pitch, and then they lied to us about saying that they'd line it out, and to try and keep us there. They tried to keep us there on the false pretenses. You'd be very disappointed in that. Join in the obsession. Subscribe now at offtheball.com forward slash join. Off the Ball's Rugby Daily.
With Bank of Ireland, a proud sponsor of Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster Rugby. Never stop competing. You're very welcome to Tuesday's Rugby Daily. I'm Cameron Hill. Now coming up for you today, how Hugo Keenan's sensational return from injury is driving Leinster's impressive start to the business end of the season. Ireland gear up for the visit of Italy in the Women's Six Nations this weekend and Welsh Rugby Union set out their stall at a tense EGM in Cardiff. First up today, Leinster have confirmed that Ryan Baird and Alex Usinov are both ruled out of Friday's URC Interpro Derby away to Ulster. Baird was limping before he came off in the second half of their quarter-final triumph over Sail Sharks in the Investec Champions Cup on Saturday evening.
Assistant coach Tyler Blayndall didn't give any further indication as to the nature of Baird's issue yesterday. Usunov's first Champions Cup start lasted only five minutes before he was forced off with an ankle problem. That further deepens the injury crisis at Loosehead for head coach Leo Cullen, with Andrew Porter a doubt for this week's trip to Belfast as well. The availability of Josh van der Vlier and Caelan Dorris will be determined later in the week. Now Saturday's first-half performance against Sale was once again dogged by knock-ons and unforced errors, and Blayendale feels the amount of squad rotation the province have done this season has prevented them from fully clicking an attack.
Yeah, I think the lack of continuity so far in the season has definitely hampered that, but whether the guys are playing or not, having them on the training pitch and getting their consistent messaging, we're just working on our game, whether the players are selected or not selected, we're just nailing down on what we do well. And, you know, we weren't accurate on the weekend, especially in point scoring kind of positions, but like you say, I think the attack's definitely clicking more. We're looking threatening off the counter-attack, the turnover attack. We're able to apply pressure with ball in hand and then we just need to be more accurate, especially at those critical times. I think we're just leading teams off the hook the last few weeks.
Baird was one of a number of players that marked strong performances with a try on Saturday. Dan Sheehan also scored and was named player of the match. while Hugo Keenan got on the score sheet as well. That means he's scored a try in each of his games since returning from two separate injury layoffs this season. The dream team of Andy Dunne and Gerry Thornley joined Owen Shahan for Monday Night Rugby. They feel Keenan's excellence under the high ball gave Leinster a platform to see off a tricky sale outfit.
Three tries in a row came from Hugo Keenan claiming high balls.
What impact does Hugo Keenan's return have on Leinster's performance?
One in defence and two from going forward. I was thinking about it, Andy. When you've got a full-back like that on your team, he must spread. It must be like having Schmeichel in goal or something. Do you know what I mean? It just spreads through the whole team, doesn't it?
Absolutely. I think the goalkeeper analogy is a very appropriate one. You do. Your team has an elevated sense of power, I think, actually. You're less vulnerable. I think what... One of the amazing things he also does is this ability to shuttle run 70 or 80 meters, and he never looks tired. There's certain people who look tired. Like, Tygburn is incredibly fit, but he looks shattered as soon as the game kicks off. Hugo Keenan never, ever looks tired. He just glides. Like, he does 70-meter shuttles nonstop.
Who is ruled out of the Leinster vs. Ulster match and why?
It's phenomenal what he can do in terms of his work rate. And then that scale just in the air and the under...
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–3:02
2
What impact does Hugo Keenan's return have on Leinster's performance?
3:02–3:44
3
Who is ruled out of the Leinster vs. Ulster match and why?
3:44–6:31
4
What challenges are Leinster facing with their current injuries?
6:31–7:54
5
How did Leinster's squad rotation affect their recent match performance?
7:54–11:01
Speakers
4 identifiedMore from OTB Rugby
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