2 weeks Ago By Vincent Whelan
LEINSTER host Ulster tonight at the Aviva Stadium in the URC at the end of a bombshell week in Belfield.First, the IRFU announced that the percentage provinces must pay for centrally contracted players was to be increased from 30 to 40.In reality, it is a Leinster tax, as the province has 11 of the 14 centrally contracted players, with the funds to be used by Ulster, Munster and Connacht for player development.
But if that move looked to be about levelling up Leinster’s rivals, Leo Cullen’s side then pulled off a coup with the announcement that All Black centre Rieko Ioane would be signing for next season.He is the second All Black to take his sabbatical — the NZRU allow players to take a season abroad before returning to the international fold — with Leinster after Jordie Barrett during this campaign.Here’s everything you need to know about how to catch this evening’s URC inter-pro derby:What TV channel is Leinster vs Ulster on?The match will be shown live on TG4 and Premier Sports 1.
So everyone south of the border will have the free streaming option provided by the TG4 Player.For Ulster-based fans, you can rely on URCtv. Kick-off from Lansdowne Road will be at 7.
35pm.What are the odds?Leinster are almost unbackable favourites at 1/20 while the visitors are 11/1 outsiders.A draw is set at 40/1 while the handicap is +/-19 points.
Leinster: Jamie Osborne; Tommy O’Brien, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, Jimmy O’Brien; Ciarán Frawley, Luke McGrath; Jack Boyle, Gus McCarthy, Thomas Clarkson; Joe McCarthy, Diarmuid Mangan; Alex Soroka, Scott Penny, James Culhane Replacements: Dan Sheehan, Andrew Porter, Tadhg Furlong, RG Snyman, Max Deegan, Fintan Gunne, Sam Prendergast, Liam TurnerUlster: Michael Lowry; Zac Ward, Jude Postlethwaite, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale; Jack Murphy, Nathan Doak;Andrew Warwick, Rob Herring, Tom O’Toole; Alan O’Connor (capt), Cormac Izuchukwu; James McNabney, Nick Timoney, David McCannReplacements: Tom Stewart, Callum Reid, Scott Wilson, Matthew Dalton, Kieran Treadwell, John Cooney, Stewart Moore, Matty Rea.Elsewhere, the Ireland women’s team have been handed a timely boost after Edel McMahon was deemed fit to start in the Six Nations tomorrow against Wales.The Connacht star comes into the side as captain in place of Erin King, who suffered a knee injury against England and is set to miss the World Cup later this year.
Scott Bemand has made five changes to his side, with Test debutant Siobhán McCarthy, Ruth Campbell, Enya Breen and Molly Scuffil-McCabe selected.Ireland are third in the table behind leaders England and France, with winless Wales bottom.IRELAND: S Flood, A McGann, A Dalton, E Breen, AL Costigan, D O’Brien, M Scuffil-McCabe, S McCarthy, N Jones, L Djougang, R Campbell, D Wall, B Hogan, E McMahon, A Wafer.
Robbie Henshaw received his 50th European cap after last week’s 52-0 Champions Cup quarter-final rout of Glasgow WarriorsReps: C Moloney, S McGrath, C Haney, F Tuite, C Boles, E Lane, E Higgins, V Elmes Kinlan..
