You'd love to have been a fly on the wall when Benetton head coach Marco Bortolami got a first look at the Leinster team sheet this week.
After a draw and a defeat in their first two games, the Italians have made a slow start to the BKT United Rugby Championship, after what was an impressive campaign last season.
Two bonus-point wins from two games have Leinster in their usual pace-setting position, but a week out from their big Croke Park date with Munster, Leo Cullen has decided to bring the heavy cargo to Italy.
The starting line-up contains 14 Ireland internationals, while the odd one out is double World Cup-winning Springbok RG Snyman. Somehow, James Ryan, Robbie Henshaw and Jordie Barrett will have to factor into the squad later this season.
It’s a rare sight to see Leinster so locked and loaded for a URC away trip to Italy.
Of this week’s starting XV, only three were involved when the province last went to Stadio Monigo in March 2022; Jimmy O’Brien, Jamie Osborne and Joe McCarthy, the latter of whom was playing just his third game for the province.
Looking back on that team sheet is an illustration of how much has changed at Leinster in two and a half years. Of the starting line-up that day, Peter Dooley has moved to Connacht, Ross Molony has gone to Bath, while Sean Cronin and Rhys Ruddock have both retired. Of the eight replacements that day, Cormac Foley is the only one still playing for the province.
The pressure is on Cullen (above) to deliver this season after three trophyless campaigns, and although the province have picked up maximum points from their opening two games, this afternoon’s team selection is an indication that the season really starts today.
Two selections immediately draw the eye.
The second row partnership of Joe McCarthy and RG Snyman has the potential to be the best club lock pairing in world rugby, although Munster fans could make the case that Tadhg Beirne and Jean Kleyn are right up there too.
McCarthy was just a pup on his previous visit to Trevisio two and a half years ago, and the 23-year-old is living up to the hype that surrounded him when he broke into the side in 2022.
The second row played 27 games last season, 11 of which were for Ireland, while he started every game in Ireland’s Six Nations campaign, as well as the Test series against South Africa last summer.
While Rabah Slimani and Jordie Barrett – who arrives in December – are big names in their own right, the star signing is undoubtedly Snyman, who travelled up the M7 to Dublin this summer after four injury riddled seasons at Munster where he could play just 20 games.
A foot injury while on duty with the Springboks saw him miss some time in pre-season, but he’s made a timely return for his debut in Italy this afternoon, before what one would assume will be a first home game against his former side at Croke Park next week.
When he was available for Munster, he almost always made them a better team, and his ability to bring the ball into contact and offload is even more valuable than his considerable size, which Leinster will be hoping to take advantage of.
The other notable selection comes at out-half, where Ciarán Frawley is rewarded for his patience with a start in the ten shirt. The 26-year-old has been used as a multi-tool by Cullen over recent seasons, but with Ireland head coach Andy Farrell clearly preferring to use him at out-half, he’s now been handed a rare opportunity to start in that position as part of a first-choice side.
It’s worth noting that while Benetton are still seeking a first win of the season, Bortlolami has also been able to restock his line-up with plenty of his internationals.
Tommaso Menoncello, the 2024 Player of the Six Nations, comes back into the side for his first game of the season, and joins Malakai Fekitoa in an exciting centre partnership, while Niccolo Cannone and captain Michele Lamaro bulk up their pack, with Lorenzo Cannone also available off the bench.
The reality for Leinster is that whatever happens for this week, next week or the week after, they won’t be judged until trophies are handed out next summer.
To compliment their first-choice starting side, there’s enough talent and experience on the bench in the form of Ryan Baird (above), Scott Penny and Ross Byrne which should be able to see out the job in Treviso. Additionally, the province’s fans have been excited by the early outings of former Ireland U20 scrum-half Fintan Gunne.
For others, this season is an opportunity to plant their flag in the squad. Michael Milne has featured sporadically in big games for the province in recent seasons, but with Cian Healy more-or-less confirming his retirement plans last week, the 25-year-old loosehead has an opportunity to cement himself as Andrew Porter’s back-up long term and will be expected to step up.
Similarly, Thomas Clarkson and Brian Deeny – both 24 – are moving to a stage of their careers where they should see a lot of gametime. Returning to that 2022 Leinster side that last visited Treviso, Leo Cullen could call on the likes of Ross Molony, Michael Ala’alatoa, Rhys Ruddock and Devin Toner; veterans who could get the job done week-in and week-out, particularly in the Six Nations window when other stars were unavailable.
The time is now for that next crop to fill that void.
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