WRAP OF A WRAP
Tom Coleman & Rich Mifsud were my contributors this week and they did their usual sterling work going back over Leinster’s win over the Lions last Saturday.
ICYMI click here to check it out on Spotify or you’ll also find it on Apple and most major platforms.
FRONT FIVE
A selection of eye-catching egg-chasing quotes & links from around the rugby media landscape
Rowntree delivered Munster’s first trophy in 12 years when he concluded his first season in charge
Graham Rowntree departs as Munster head coach
Simon Lewis – Irish Examiner
…the 27-year-old has returned to full training and, having been rested for the 64-19 win against Japan last weekend, is back in the frame.
Leinster-bound Jordie Barrett set to face future teammates with comeback
Rory Keane – Extra.ie
“I don’t want to be one of those players who just wins loads of caps. I want to be part of winning teams. That has always been my motivation.”
Maro Itoje on the Lions, leadership and politics: ‘I’ll return to No 10 one way or another’
Harry Latham-Coyle – The Independent (UK)
“Remember, while it is part of a sporting spectacle, the haka is a cultural taonga, treasure, gifted to NZRU to perform respectfully, which they do now.”
England prop’s call to ‘bin’ the All Blacks’ haka doesn’t go down well in NZ
Rachel Moore and Karanama Ruru – Stuff.co.nz
CLICKBAIT OF THE WEEK
Sinckler…whose command of French appears to be a work in progress…accepted his punishment and walked off the field.
“Blatant racism” – Kyle Sinckler got yellow card for foul play by teammate
Ruck.co.uk
HARPIN ON…IRELAND’S NOVEMBER OPPOSITION
Bonus chat from our latest wrap pod recording where the panel looks at Ireland’s 4 opponents in the Autumn Nations Series.
LEINSTER SQUAD UPDATE
HARPIN’ BEST LEINSTER 23
Keenan, Ringrose, Henshaw, J Osborne, Lowe, Frawley, Gibson-Park
Porter, Kelleher, Furlong, McCarthy, Ryan, Baird, van der Flier, Doris (c)
Barron, Healy, Slimani, Snyman, Conan, Foley, Prendergast, Barrett
Caveat : I have no “ITK”
With no injury report this week I thought I’d have a crack at selecting an ideal matchday 23 for Leinster if the Champions Cup were now, and all players were fit (bar the long term Dan Sheehan). Damn it ain’t easy!!! But I did want to make a point of leaving both Snyman and Barrett on the bench, not that I’ve anything against either, far from it, rather to highlight just how good the team can look without them. In the centre, our defensive standards have been so good this season I see no reason to throw Jordie Barrett in just yet, and as for RG I feel that when it came down to him or Ryan the South African would be better suited to an impact role. But the fact remains there are host of “toss up” calls all over the park, like Jimmy O’Brien for example although I like the idea of starting Ringer on the wing, but that’s just me.
TROLL PATROL
Now it’s time for Troll Patrol where we ‘detain’ a social media commentator and charge them with gaslightery and general online mayhem.
To be clear, not all of our Troll Patrol examples are necessarily bad or at least totally mean-spirited, it can often be both trolling and decent banter and this offering from Graham Love falls squarely into that category. I can totally see the benefit in a Scottish observer fanning the flames of the Leinster/Munster when they see the chance! Graham is definitely worth a follow if you’re not doing so already.
All Ireland Leagues
WOMEN’S AIL
MEN’S AIL
Premiership
🔝🐱🐴
ProD2
Harpin Prediction League
THIS SEASON THE HPL IS ADDING A NEW KNOCKOUT COMPETITION
CALLED “THE HARPIN MUG”
(BECAUSE THE PRIZE IS AN ACTUAL MUG SO WE COULDN’T CALL IT A ‘CUP’)
THE SEEDINGS ARE DETERMINED BY THE STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 6
AND YOU CAN SEE THE FULL BRACKET BELOW
THE FIRST KNOCKOUT CONTEST WILL BE DAVID V KRISTIAN
PLAYED ACROSS THEIR PREDICTIONS MADE FOR URC ROUND 7
NEXT BATCH OF HARPIN’
Sunday – Pod recording, “All provincial panel” looking ahead to Autumn Nations Series
HARPIN' ON RUGBY 