Predicted provincial XV’s ahead of new PRO14 season

Jack O'Toole

PRO14 and European champions Leinster will kick off their pre-season on Friday when they head to Montauban for the first of two pre-season friendlies before their season opener against the Cardiff Blues later this month.

Similarly, Munster will play London Irish and Exeter, Ulster will take on Gloucester and Wasps while Connacht will begin their tenure under Andy Friend when they take on Wasps at Dubarry Park in Athlone.

There has been a lot of player movement in the off-season at the provinces with Leinster welcoming Joe Tomane from Montpellier, Munster taking on Joey Carbery from Munster and Ulster capturing the short term services of Wallabies winger Henry Speight and the long term services of Jordi Murphy and Marty Moore.

Here we take a quick look at how each team could line-up in the new season and the list of players that they have acquired since the end of last season.

Leinster

IN: Joe Tomane

OUT:

Jordi Murphy to Ulster
Jamie Heaslip retired
Isa Nacewa retired
Richardt Strauss retired
Oisin Heffernan to Nottingham
Joey Carbery to Munster
Cathal Marsh released
Peadar Timmins released

Predicted Team

Bench: James Tracy, Jack McGrath, Andrew Porter, Devin Toner, Josh van der Flier, Jamison Gibson-Park, Ross Byrne, Fergus McFadden.

What’s changed: The addition of Joe Tomane shouldn’t change the starting XV with the Australian most likely to be used in a role off the bench and as cover during the international breaks when the province are routinely raided by the Irish national team.

The team should stay the same for the most part but the pending return of Ireland flankers Sean O’Brien, Josh van der Flier and Rhys Ruddock should complicate matters in both the backrow and second-row.

Leinster can go with any number of options in the backrow but assuming newly appointed vice-captain Rhys Ruddock starts, and is not vice-captain from the bench or further beyond, it should see Scott Fardy move to the second-row while Dan Leavy and Sean O’Brien should accompany him at openside and number eight respectively.

Munster

IN:

Tadhg Beirne from Scarlets
Mike Haley from Sale Sharks
Neil Cronin from Garryowen
Arno Botha from London Irish
Joey Carbery from Leinster

OUT:

Simon Zebo to Racing 92
Robin Copeland to Connacht
David Johnston to Ealing Trailfinders
Gerbrandt Grobler to Gloucester

Predicted Team

Bench: Rhys Marshall, James Cronin, Stephen Archer, Billy Holland, Jack O’Donoghue, Duncan Williams, Tyler Bleyendaal, Mike Haley

What’s changed: Ireland internationals Tadhg Beirne and Joey Carbery are the headline arrivals and should walk straight into the stating side while Chris Farrell should return at outside centre after suffering from a knee injury at the end of last season.

The loss of Simon Zebo to Racing is big and gives Johann van Graan a number of options at the back three with Andrew Conway adept at both full-back and wing.

Munster said at the end of last season that injured fly-half Tyler Bleyendaal should make a full recovery this season and he could move to inside centre when fit, but for the moment, given the uncertainty over his injury, we’ll keep Rory Scannell at second receiver.

Ulster

IN:

Marty Moore from Wasps
Jordi Murphy from Leinster
Will Addison from Sale Sharks
Alexander Thompson from Terenure
Billy Burns from Gloucester
Alan Bennie from Lansdowne
Henry Speight from Brumbies (short-term deal)

OUT:

Charles Piutau to Bristol Bears
Tommy Bowe retired
Callum Black to Worcester Warriors
Brett Herron to Jersey Reds
Paul Marshall retired
Callum Patterson to Cornish Pirates
Andrew Trimble retired
Stuart Olding to Brive
Jared Payne retired
Paddy Jackson to Perpignan
Robbie Diack released
Aaron Cairns released

Predicted Team

Bench: Rob Herring, Kyle McCall, Tom O’Toole, Kieran Treadwell, Sean Reidy, David Shanahan, Billy Burns, Rob Lyttle

What’s changed: Ulster have had somewhat of a firesale over the off-season with Tommy Bowe, Andrew Trimble, Paul Marshall and Jared Payne all retiring, Paddy Jackson, Stuart Olding and Charles Piutau all leaving and Robbie Diack being released.

They have brought in Henry Speight on a short term contract which should alleviate some of their backline stresses with Louis Ludik ruled out until at least November, while in the forwards the additions of Ireland internationals Marty Moore and Jordi Murphy, and the pending return of Marcell Coetzee, should beef up a much improved forward pack.

Connacht

IN:

Robin Copeland from Munster
Kyle Godwin from Brumbies
David Horwitz from Melbourne Rebels
Joe Maksymiw from Leicester Tigers
Jonny Murphy from Rotherham Titans
Sevu Reece from Waikato
Colby Fainga’a from Melbourne Rebels

OUT:

Jake Heenan to Bristol Bears
John Muldoon retired
Pita Ahki to Toulouse
Andrew Deegan to Western Force
Naulia Dawai to Otago
Cormac Brennan released
Denis Coulson released
Steve Crosbie released
Stacey Ili released
Pat O’Toole released
JP Cooney released
Andrew Browne released

Predicted Team

Bench: Shane Delahunt, Peter McCabe, Conor Carey, Gavin Thornbury, Eoin McKeon, Caolin Blade, Jack Carty, Cian Kelleher.

What’s Changed: Connacht may have lost long-time captain John Muldoon to retirement but they’ve added some strength to their backrow with the additions of Colby Fainga’a from the Rebels and Robin Copeland from Munster.

Jarrad Butler was their player’s player of the year last season and should retain his spot in the team, potentially at blindside, while the rest of the forward pack should remain unchanged.

Meanwhile in the backline Kyle Godwin and David Horwitz could push Jack Carty onto the bench while the rest of the backline should stay the same, although, new signing Sevu Reece could be one to watch out for.