James Ryan will lead Leinster in the absence of Johnny Sexton as Leo Cullen has brought in seven new faces to the starting XV that lost to La Rochelle in the build up to Leinster’s URC quarter-final at home to Glasgow Warriors.
Ross Byrne replaces Sexton at outhalf with younger brother Harry coming onto the bench. Elsewhere in the backline, Hugo Keenan and James Lowe drop out of the backthree as Rory O’Loughlin and Jordan Larmour come in on the wings, Jimmy O’Brien slides across to replace Keenan at fullback. Robbie Henshaw drops to the bench, swapping places with Ciarán Frawley who partners Garry Ringrose in midfield.
Jamison Gibson-Park keeps his place at scrumhalf in a half-back partnership with Byrne.
As expected, Rónan Kelleher misses out after picking up a shoulder injury early in the Champions Cup final defeat. Dan Sheehan replaces him in an otherwise unchanged frontrow featuring Andrew Porter and Tadhg Furlong. Joe McCarthy is promoted from the Marseill bench at the expense of Ross Molony to partner skipper Ryan, while the only change in the backrow sees Ryan Baird replace Jack Conan as Caelan Doris shifts to number eight.
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With Sheehan now in the starting line-up, Sean Cronin provides hooker cover among the replacements.
Leinster will be looking to bounce back from that late defeat to Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle. Arthur Retiere’s last-minute try denied them a chance to secure the European title, meaning this URC playoff run is their sole chance for silverware this season.
As the top seeds, if Leinster see off Glasgow they will have a home draw all the way to the final, should they get there.
Leinster: Jimmy O’Brien; Jordan Larmour, Garry Ringrose, Ciarán Frawley, Rory O’Loughlin; Ross Byrne, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong; Joe McCarthy, James Ryan (capt); Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris.
Replacements: Sean Cronin, Cian Healy, Michael Ala’alatoa, Ross Molony, Jack Conan, Luke McGrath, Harry Byrne, Robbie Henshaw.
