Newbridge College face Blackrock in today's Leinster Rugby Cup semi-final

Newbridge College face Blackrock in Leinster Rugby Cup semi-final in Energia Park at 3pm today.

Long established as the pre-tournament favourites, Blackrock were able to overcome a serious challenge from St Michael’s in the first round.

Their Dublin rivals showed how you can put the Williamstown school in a bind as long as you have the skill-set and the game plan to go with it.

Newbridge could do a lot worse than take a peek at how St Michael’s pushed ‘Rock to the brink in the 25-20 thriller.

Last November, their Juniors unseated Blackrock in surprisingly convincing fashion in the delayed 2021 Cup final after sharing the 2020 Senior Cup title with Clongowes Wood College.

The Kildare school is not the biggest in terms of hulking forwards. But, it might just be big and able enough to truly compete up-front.

The front row of Finn Mahon, Mark Masterson and Patrick Stapleton has already dealt with an even bigger assignment than ‘Rock in handling the weight of Belvedere (17-10) in the quarter-final.

The locks Max Barry and Shane Treacy will run, hit and hustle all afternoon long.

Captain Kieran Kelly is a no-nonsense, gritty flanker in a cohesive back row with Ronan McGroary and Sam Fitzgibbon.

From there, they do have the athleticism and the footballing ability to stretch the best defences.

Scrum-half Tadhg Brophy was instrumental in taking down Belvo’ through his sharp and incisive decision-making. The battle with Coffey will be a real treat.

It may be asking too much of their 2021 Junior Cup winning golden triangle of out-half Paddy Taylor, Todd Lawlor and Ciaran Mangan to be the sharpest points to their attack.

But, they don’t have to do it all. They just have to perform in their roles as centres John Collins and Tom Waters man the midfield and Callum Bolton covers the backfield at 15 in what is a fascinating match-up.

Newbridge College:
15. Callum Bolton
14. Todd Lawlor
13. John Collins
12. Tom Waters
11. Ciarán Mangan
10. Tom Bohan
9. Tadhg Brophy

1. Finn Mahon
2. Mark Masterson
3. Patrick Stapleton
4. Max Barry
5. Shane Treacy
6. Kieran Kelly – Captain
7. Ronán McGroary
8. Sam Fitzgibbon

Replacements:
16. Oliver Udell
17. Denis Downing
18. Billy Bohan
19. Sam Watson
20. Shane Davitt
21. Diarmuid Enright
22. Adam Larkin Smithers
23. Michael Collins

Blackrock College:
15. Ruben Moloney
14. Charlie Molony
13. Hugh Cooney
12. Luke Kritzinger
11. Eoghan Walsh
10. Zach Quirke
9. Oliver Coffey

1. Max Holmes
2. Gus McCarthy – Captain
3. Paddy McCarthy
4. Tom Brigg
5. Alex Mullan
6. Liam Molony
7. Inigo Cruise-O’Brien
8. Kevin Jackson

Replacements:
16. Mikey Yarr
17. Tom O’Riordan
18. Andreas Andersson
19. Conor Tonge
20. Jack Angulo
21. Will Fitzgerald
22. Conor O’Shaughnessy
23. Maxim Aschenbrenner