Leinster Head Coach Leo Cullen has revealed the lineup for their RDS clash against the Sale Sharks in the Investec Champions Cup this evening.
Making his Champions Cup debut, Thomas Clarkson joins the front row alongside hooker Dan Sheehan and prop Andrew Porter.
In the second row, Leinster lock Jason Jenkins secures a starting position, forming a formidable partnership with James Ryan. The back row sees a final adjustment, with Josh van der Flier stepping in alongside Ryan Baird and Caelan Doris.
The back-three stays unchanged from the previous weekend's victorious performance in La Rochelle. Hugo Keenan anchors the full-back position, with try-scorer Jordan Larmour and Jimmy O'Brien securing the wings. In the centre, Garry Ringrose partners with Robbie Henshaw, while Ciarán Frawley takes on the fly-half role for his inaugural appearance in European competition.
🔟 | Ciarán Frawley will wear the number 10 jersey tomorrow for his first European start of the year. 👊#FromTheGroundUp #LEIvSAL pic.twitter.com/0pssLP1WEl
— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) December 15, 2023
On the bench, the replacements include promising half-backs Ben Murphy and Sam Prendergast, both set to make their Champions Cup debuts. Murphy, who was part of last week's squad in France, also earns a starting position.
Speaking in anticipation of the game, Leinster Assistant Coach Andrew Goodman remarked, “Sale have a clear DNA of how they play. I’ve enjoyed watching them. They have some nice strike plays with some dangerous backs. We’re excited to go up against them at home.”
Kick-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., and the match will be broadcast live on RTÉ2, TNT Sports 1, and Newstalk.
Leinster Starting XV:
Hugo Keenan - Full-back
Jordan Larmour - Right Wing
Garry Ringrose CO-CAPTAIN - Outside Centre Robbie Henshaw - Inside Centre
Jimmy O’Brien - Left Wing
Ciarán Frawley, Fly-Half Jamison Gibson-Park, Scrumhalf
Andrew Porter - Loosehead Prop Dan Sheehan - Hooker Thomas Clarkson, Tighthead Prop
Jason Jenkins - Second Row James Ryan CO-CAPTAIN, Second Row
Ryan Baird - Blindside Flanker Josh van der Flier - Openside Flanker Caelan Doris - Number Eight
Replacements:
Rónan Kelleher, Replacement Hooker Cian Healy, Replacement Loosehead Prop Michael Ala'alatoa, Replacement Tighthead Prop Joe McCarthy, Replacement Second Row Jack Conan, Replacement Blindside Flanker Ben Murphy, Replacement Scrum-Half Sam Prendergast, Replacement Fly-Half Charlie Ngatai, Replacement Centre
Referee: Pierre Brousset (FFR)
