Six Ireland internationals have been named in a youthful Leinster match 23 for Saturday’s opening-round URC clash against the Lions at Ellis Park.
Winger Tommy O’Brien, flank Max Deegan, lock Ryan Baird, prop Andrew Porter and hooker Gus McCarthy all start for the champions, while flyhalf Harry Byrne is among the replacements.
They provide valuable experience, with 11 of the match 23 having made 13 senior appearances or fewer.
Academy fullback Todd Lawlor will make his Leinster debut in Johannesburg after impressing in a pre-season friendly against Zebre, while first-year academy forward Dylan McNeice could make his first appearance from the bench.
Deegan captains the visitors from blindside flank, with Scott Penny at openside and academy prospect Josh Ericson making his first start at No 8.
Baird partners Conor O’Tighearnaigh in the second row, while Porter has been selected at tighthead prop rather than his usual loosehead position. McCarthy starts at hooker and Alex Usanov wears the No 1 jersey.
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Highly rated Austrian-born flyhalf Caspar Gabriel will make his first Leinster start in just his second senior appearance, combining with Fintan Gunne at halfback.
Charlie Tector and Hugh Cooney form the midfield combination, with O’Brien and Andrew Osborne on the wings.
Former Connacht prop Peter Dooley could make his first appearance since returning to Leinster during the off-season after being named on the bench.
LEINSTER – 15 Todd Lawlor, 14 Tommy O’Brien, 13 Hugh Cooney, 12 Charlie Tector, 11 Andrew Osborne, 10 Caspar Gabriel, 9 Fintan Gunne, 8 Josh Ericson, 7 Scott Penny, 6 Max Deegan (c), 5 Conor O’Tighearnaigh, 4 Ryan Baird, 3 Andrew Porter, 2 Gus McCarthy, 1 Alex Usanov.
Bench: 16 Stephen Smyth, 17 Peter Dooley, 18 Niall Smyth, 19 Brian Deeney, 20 Dylan McNeice, 21 Oliver Coffey, 22 Harry Byrne, 23 Ciarán Mangan.
Photo: Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images
The post Leinster balance youth and nous appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Six Ireland internationals have been named in a youthful Leinster match 23 for Saturday’s opening-round URC clash against the Lions at Ellis Park.
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