WRAP OF A WRAP
Similar Leinster result to the previous weekend meant a similar Harpin wrap pod only this time it was Tom Coleman & Rich Mifsud providing the concise, commendable coverage on Sunday evening.
ICYMI click here to check it out on Spotify or you’ll also find us on Apple and most major platforms.
FRONT FIVE
BRIDGING THE GAP
PROVINCIAL TARIFF
A LOAN IT STANDS
FLAWED STRUCTURE
URC ON GEORGIA’S MIND
HARPIN ON…LEINSTER’S BEST IMPORTS
Here’s the lead-in question :
“After Jordie Barrett’s out of this world display for Leinster at the Aviva Stadium on Friday evening, I thought for this week’s bonus topic we could take a look back at some of our top imports over the years. I have asked the lads to choose two of their favourites each and I might even chip in with one of my own when they’re done. We’re going to kick things off with Rich, on whom have you chosen to harp?”
LEINSTER SQUAD UPDATE
Thought I was being super efficient having my predicted lineup done straight after the injury report came out but then the Milne/Barron news broke so I had to have another crack. Still think we’ll have a decent 23 for the visit of the Ulstermen on Saturday.
HARPIN’ POSSIBLE MATCHDAY 23 V ULSTER
15 H McErlean 14 J Osborne 13 H Cooney 12 C Tector 11 J O’Brien 10 C Frawley 9 F Gunne
1 J Boyle 2 G McCarthy 3 T Clarkson 4 D Mangan 5 B Deeny 6 A Soroka 7 W Connors 8 J Culhane
16 J McKee 17 M Milne 18 R Maguire 19 A Spicer 20 S Penny 21 C Foley 22 R Byrne 23 A Osborne
caveat : I have no “ITK” a la Thornley
OFFICIAL UPDATE posted Monday
AVAILABLE FOR SELECTION:
Rónan Kelleher: came through the game at the weekend with no issues following his return from a neck injury.
FURTHER ASSESSMENT REQUIRED:
Jack Conan: will be further assessed this week for a minor shoulder injury and a final decision will be made on his involvement later this week.
Ryan Baird: will be further assessed this week for a minor calf injury and a final decision will be made on his involvement later this week.
Paddy McCarthy, Rob Russell and Will Connors: will all step up their respective rehabilitation programmes and a final decision will be made on their involvement later this week.
NO FURTHER UPDATES ON:
Jordan Larmour and James Ryan
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.
This week’s Troll Patrol detainee claims to be a Leinster fan and his post touches on a topic I’m planning to cover for my Broken Play article on Substack this Saturday morning so stay tuned…
Women’s Six Nations
Irish Shield
Interprovincial A Championship
Connacht Eagles 7-28 Leinster ‘A’
Ulster ‘A’ 14-40 Connacht Eagles
Leinster ‘A’ 22-7 Munster ‘A’
Munster ‘A’ 50-33 Ulster ‘A’
Ulster ‘A’ 26-14 Munster ‘A’
Munster ‘A’ 12-47 Leinster ‘A’
Leinster ‘A’ 26-21 Connacht Eagles
Date TBD : Connacht Eagles v Ulster ‘A’
Weekend of 9/10 May:
Connacht Eagles v Munster ‘A’ (tbc)
Leinster ‘A’ v Ulster ‘A’ (tbc)
Weekend of 16/17 May:
Munster ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles (tbc)
Ulster ‘A’ v Leinster ‘A’ (tbc)
All Ireland Leagues
WOMEN’S AIL
MEN’S AIL 1A
MEN’S AIL 1B
Challenge Cup
QUARTERFINALS
EDINBURGH 34-26 BULLS
CONNACHT 40-43 RACING 92
OSPREYS 18-20 LYON
BATH 61-26 GLOUCESTER
SEMIFINALS
SAT MAY 3
EDINBURGH V BULLS
SUN MAY 4
LYON V RACING 92
Premiership
🔝🐱🐴
ProD2
Super Rugby Pacific
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NEW PLAYOFF FORMAT – ONLY TOP SIX QUALIFY
Qualifying finals – 1 v 6, 2 v 5, 3 v 4 with the top-ranked team hosting
Semi-Finals – three qualifying winners plus highest ranked loser: Teams re-ranked with 1 v 4 and 2 v 3
Final – top-ranked semi-final winner hosts the other semi-final winner.
RWC2027 QUALIFIERS
The RWC2027 tournament has expanded to 24 nations so with four extra spots up for grabs it makes for a fascinating qualifying process.
Rather than post the latest results and fixtures here however, I’d like to defer to the excellent work of frequent Harpin’ contributor Ciarán Duffy who has been keeping close tabs on the qualifying process over at his own site Post to Post Sport.
Follow this link to see how the Road to Australia is progressing..
Japan League One
Major League Rugby
Harpin Prediction League
This is the 4th season of our Superbru prediction league among Harpin’ pod contributors.
Kristian is the reigning champion, but the real competition is in avoiding finishing last, which means you must wear The Jersey of Shame. I had to wear it the first year, while Keego has had the honour the past two seasons.
As you can see our resident stats expert Rugby Kino is leading the way with room to spare but down at the foot of the table, an impressive couple of rounds has seen Keego move of the bottom for the first time in two years.
We’ve also added a Cup (or Mug) competition to make things interesting, and after this weekend we’ll know who gets to join some guy named Jeff in next week’s final, with Tom and Conor going head to head for the privilege.
NEXT BATCH OF HARPIN’
Thu 17th
Throwback Thursday on our Substack
Fri 18th
Preview show with Keego
Harpin spot on Dublin South FM after 5pm news
Sat 19th
Leave comments on LEIvULS after the FT whistle on our Facebook page
Sun 20th
Our wrap pod featuring Ciarán Duffy & David Cordial
HARPIN' ON RUGBY 