Gordon D'Arcy urges Leo Cullen not to tamper with Leinster centres

EXCLUSIVEFormer Ireland legend Gordon D'Arcy has urged Leo Cullen not to tamper with the Leinster centres ahead of the semi-final with Northampton.

Jamie Osboure played first-centre and Robbie Henshaw second-centre for the Round of 16 and quarter-final wins over Leicester Tigers and La Rochelle respectively.

And while reports from the Leinster camp say IRFU centrally-contracted Garry Ringrose may be fit again, D'Arcy isn't for changing a winning partnership - not least as it would be a 'double' change, with Henshaw having to switch to first-centre.

“At the moment I would pick Jamie Osborne and Robbie Henshaw," says the 82-times capped former Ireland centre.

“That might seem a little harsh on Garry Ringrose, and it is, but there’s nothing to suggest that you would split them up at the moment.

Guinness PRO14, RDS, Dublin 20/12/2019 Leinster vs Ulster Eir Sports' Gordon D'Arcy ahead of the game Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Billy Stickland
(Image: ©INPHO/Billy Stickland)

“Jamie is quintessentially what a no12 would be in there, he offers a strong kicking game, that gain-line threat as well as that second five-eighth distributor.

"Not that Robbie Henshaw isn't similar but at the moment he is really comfortable in the no13 jersey and it would be hard to move him out of there.

“Through his injury lay-off, the onus is on Garry Ringrose to come back in and come up to that standard to force a decision for the coaches.”

Either way, Osbourne is ear-marked as a player for the future

Continues D'Arcy: “There’s a lot to be excited about Jamie, he gives something that not every player in the Irish outside backs have, a little bit of an air of unpredictability.

“In 12 to 24 months time we will be talking about him as one of the top rugby players in the world. “He is just an absolute Rolls Royce of a player, his decision-making with ball in hand, he’s 6ft 3ft, you can’t coach a guy to be big. “When you have a player like that who has all the skill-sets, rugby is simple, you catch the ball, you either pass, kick or run and he has all of that ability on the ball"

Elsewhere Cullen is expected to announce a team composed mainly of those who were not asked to travel to South Africa with two exceptions.

If Hugo Keenan is ruled out - and he is expected to be - Ciaran Frawley who played in the first game against Lions will come in at full back.

While in the continuing absence of James Ryan there is a choice between Ross Molony who was flown home after the Lions game and Jason Jenkins who played 77 minutes against Lions and 55 minutes against Stormers.

Ireland players celebrate with Ciaran Frawley after scoring a try
(Image: ©INPHO/Ben Brady)

Molony started the Last 16 game against Leicester; Jankins started the quarter-final against La Rochelle and, chasing a Springbok squad spot, specifically asked to play both games in South Africa.

Coincidentally both players are leaving Leinster at the end of the season, Molony for Bath, Jenkins for Sharks.#

Leinster (probable v Northampton): Frawley; Larmour, Henshaw, Osbourne, Lowe; R Byrne, Gibson-Park; Porter, Sheehan, Furlong, Baird, Molony/Jenkins, Doris, van der Flier, Conan