Now we’re talking.
Rugby season is a month on the go now but the lads that flogged themselves into mid July are ready to return to action.
Of Ireland’s 11 British & Irish Lions that toured New Zealand this summer, nine are expected to line out for their provinces this weekend. Ulster are the only province suffering a Lions hangover, with Rory Best [hamstring] out until late October while Jared Payne hopes to return for the October 6 game against Connacht at Kingspan Stadium.
Starting with Leinster’s quintet, here are the nine Lions set to take to the pitch in Guinness PRO14 action:
LEINSTER: Robbie Henshaw, Johnny Sexton, Sean O’Brien, Tadhg Furlong and Jack McGrath
Henshaw was not expected to return from his pectoral muscle tear quite so soon but he has hit every recovery marker laid down for him and the Leinster coaching, and medical, staff have cleared him to play.
O’Brien told SportsJOE, last week, that he was content on missing the trip to South Africa if it meant he would be up to speed for the Edinburgh game. The province will hope to get the most from their five Lions for their upcoming fixture list of Edinburgh, Munster, Montpellier [all at home] and a tricky away trip to Glasgow on October 21.
Furlong returns to a Leinster team that has given a run to converted tight-head Andrew Porter in recent weeks while McGrath has plenty of loose-head competition. Sexton is, according to teammate Luke McGrath, raring to go after coming through his delayed preseason in good shape.
MUNSTER: Peter O’Mahony, CJ Stander and Conor Murray
We’re all for player welfare, and the IRFU manage their top stars well, but how dearly must Munster fans have wanted this trio lining out against Glasgow Warriors last Friday?
Rassie Erasmus confirmed that he expects to have all three of Munster’s Lions to call on this weekend. Stander was on the bench for the final two Tests of the series against New Zealand while Conor Murray featured in all three and cemented his place as a truly world-class scrum-half.
O’Mahony has not played a competitive match since captaining to Lions in the First Test against the hosts at Eden Park. He was good without being great in that game and he will be eager to get back out on the pitch to help drive Munster on and put himself back in contention for an Irish back row slot.
ULSTER: Iain Henderson
Featured off the bench in the convincing win over Dragons, last Friday, and will be hoping to start against Zebre this weekend. Big season coming up for Henderson as he seeks to nail down a permanent position in Ireland’s second row.
