Aviva Restart Aug'20. Likely Teams.

With a bunch of Autumn internationals coming up, and only two game opportunities for our candidates to put themselves forward to Andy Farrell and hie team for selection (compared to 3 to 4 for Munster and anywhere between 4 and 7 for Leinster and Ulster) then I would expect all our international prospects to line out in both games over the next fortnight. Something like this perhaps:

Ulster game.
15 TOH, 14 Porch, 13 Farrell, 12 Aki, 11 Healy, 10 Carty, 9 Marmion, 1 McAllister, 2 Heff, 3 Bealham, 4 Thornbury, 5 Dillane, 6 SOB, 7 Butler, 8 Boyle.
16 Delahunt, 17 Buckley, 18 Robertson-McCoy, 19 Roux, 20 Oliver, 21 Blade, 22 C Fitzgerald, 23 Arnold.

For Munster pretty much the same 23 but with Roux to start and Dillane to bench, Aungier maybe to bench instead of Robertson-McCoy, Oliver to start at 7 with Butler to move to 6 and SOB to the bench, and Wootton at 14 with Porch moving to 11 for Healy.

Interesting to hear what people think. I think the injuries to Henderson, Ryan, and Beirne present a great opportunity to Thornbury to win his first cap this Autumn

If Roux were fit - which he isn't - he'd start ahead of Dillane and Thornbury. Gallagher will be lock cover, unless Friend decides he needs him at tight head lock in which case Dillane drops to the bench.

SOB injured too afaik so (Eoghan) Masterson at 6 most likely. 13 a toss up too but I reckon the 23 won't be far from what you've suggested.

I wasn't aware Roux was injured Salmson. That's a great pity. Given he's our best (indeed only) tight head lock I'd have loved to see him put Snyman in his place in the second game. Bad news re SOB (will he ever come back as the player with huge potential he once was) but if he's unavailable then I would see Butler move to 6, with Oliver at 7, and Masterson on the bench.

Wouldn't write off Niall Murray being involved. He says he's put on 12kg and is going well in training. With Roux out I could see him getting some game time during the interpros.

That would be great to see. Murray has potential. I see today's Indo has Healy, Dowling, and someone called Stephen Phipps (who he?) out injured. That gives Wootton his opportunity.

That would be Stephen Fitzgerald who is recovering from an ACL injury and isn't due back until October. The other player who is injured but not listed is our new Aussie 7s start, Ben O'Donnell, who is also recovering from a serious knee injury and hasn't arrived in Ireland yet.

Roux was listed as recovering from hand surgery in the only injury update given on July 24, it stated that he was due back in late August, so he might be available for the Munster match.