Garry Ringrose has overcome his shoulder troubles in time for the BKT United Rugby Championship semi-final against the Bulls in Pretoria. Ringrose joins Robbie Henshaw in the centre for Leo Cullen's side.
Jimmy O'Brien starts at fullback, with a wing duo of Jordan Larmour and James Lowe also starting. The backline is completed by a halfback duo of Ross Byrne and Jamison Gibson-Park.
In the front pack, the regular front-row trio of Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, and Tadhg Furlong start. Joe McCarthy and James Ryan provide cover in the second row, while the backrow of Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier, and Caelan Doris complete the side.
Among the replacements, Jack Conan returns after missing last weekend’s win, while Jamie Osborne moves to the bench following Ringrose’s return.
📥 | 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚!
Here is the #LeinsterRugby team to take on @BlueBullsRugby tomorrow afternoon in the #BKTURC Semi-Final.#BULvLEI #FromTheGroundUp pic.twitter.com/rwqRNa9d1m— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) June 14, 2024
Speaking ahead of the game, Leinster Rugby Assistant Coach Robin McBryde said the team are relishing the challenge of playing knockout rugby in South Africa. “It’s a different route we have taken this season. We failed to reach the final on previous occasions. We’re coming to a tough place, with a team full of internationals. You can react positively, to having to do things the hard way.”
The game takes place at 3pm Irish time, and is live on RTÉ1, Premier Sports 1 and RTÉ Radio 1).
Bulls: Willie Le Roux; Sergeal Peterson, David Kriel, Harold Vorster, Devon Williams; Johan Goosen, Embrose Papier; Gerhard Steenkamp, Johan Grobbelaar, Wilco Louw; Ruan Vermaak, Ruan Nortje (capt); Marco van Staden, Elrigh Louw, Cameron Hanekom
Replacements: Akker van der Merwe, Simphiwe Matanzima, Francois Klopper, Reinhardt Ludwig, Nizaam Carr, Keagan Johannes, Chris Smith, Cornel Smit
Leinster: Jimmy O'Brien; Jordan Larmour, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe; 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: Rónan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Michael Ala’alatoa, Ross Molony, Jack Conan, Luke McGrath, Ciarán Frawley, Jamie Osborne
