Joe Schmidt could justifiably select Ireland XV of all Leinster players next month

– Baz & Andrew’s House of Rugby, Together with GUINNESS –

“It’s frightening to imagine how good this Leinster side can be.”

Last week it was Wasps. The week before it was Munster. This week it is Toulouse’s turn.

Like Floyd Mayweather in the latter half of his 50-0 professional career, Leinster are telling us how dangerous their next opponents are going to be – how this one will be the real test – only to go out and get another win.

Sometimes it is ‘Pretty Boy’ and sometimes it is ‘Money’ but, whatever the style, Leinster get the win. In meaningful competition, Leo Cullen’s men have not lost since their May 2017 Guinness PRO12 shock against eventual champions Scarlets.

On Baz & Andrew’s House of Rugby, Barry Murphy and Andrew Trimble marvelled at the sheer class of Leinster’s current crop. Murphy, a former Munster star, went so far as to claim (from 14:00 below) Joe Schmidt would be justified if he were to go into November’s Guinness Series with a starting XV made up of Leinster players.

The Ireland team that defeated England at Twickenham to clinch the Grand Slam with seven Leinster players, but they are in such a good run of form – and with partnerships clearly thriving – that Murphy could see that number grow next month.

BARRY: The foot-work, the vision and the speed from Furlong (for Luke McGrath’s secomd try against Wasps). It just shows where Leinster are at that all across the field they’ve got players that can play like that.

ANDREW: It’s frightening to imagine how good this Leinster side can be, potentially. They’re just head and shoulders above everyone else in the competition. Saracens were okay. Like, they did an okay job up in Glasgow. It’s not an easy place to go, but still. But no-one is anywhere near Leinster at the minute.

BARRY: But for Joe Schmidt as well, how can he… he’s not going to… how can he ignore anyone that was on the pitch the other night? Going into the November internationals and World Cup, like, we’d such a bolter with James Ryan last year and how much he came on in 12 months. You’ve got (Jack) Conan this year, (Josh) van der Flier and even (Rhys) Ruddock in the back row was unbelievable. Luke McGrath, Ringrose, Larmour… where does it end?

ANDREW: I wish they were less likeable as well. Like the Leinster brand, I’m going uugghhh those guys, they’re all good lads! That’s the thing; that’s the annoying thing.

Looking at the current Leinster squad, this is an Ireland match-day 23 made up entirely of boys in blue.

An All-Leinster Irish XV

Cian Healy
Sean Cronin
Tadhg Furlong

Devin Toner
James Ryan

Dan Leavy
Josh van der Flier
Sean O’Brien

Luke McGrath
Johnny Sexton

Jordan Larmour
Robbie Henshaw
Garry Ringrose
Fergus McFadden

Rob Kearney

Replacements: James Tracy, Jack McGrath, Andrew Porter, Rhys Ruddock, Jack Conan, Nick McCarthy, Ross Byrne, Adam Byrne.

That side could give most sides in world rugby an almighty rattle, and would back their chances against the very best.

It will be interesting to see how many Leinster faces feature in the Guinness Series squad when it is named later this month.