Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has named his squad for his side’s Champions Cup opening game against Benetton at the RDS tomorrow at 15 15.
The Irish province have been able to welcome back a host of international stars with the likes of Garry Ringrose, Johnny Sexton, James Ryan and Josh van der Flier in the starting line-up.
It’s an exciting front-row with Cian Healy linking up with youngster Ronan Kelleher and fellow Irish international Andrew Porter, while and come in to the engine-room.
In the back-row is at blindside-flanker Rhys Ruddock, with van der Flier at openside and Calean Dorius concludes the forwards from No 8.
In the backs Luke McGrath opens up at scrum-half, pairing up Sexton with who starts at fly-half and captains the side, and they have Ringrose and Joe Tomane outside them in the centre partnership.
The back-three consists of James Lowe on the left-wing, with Dave Kearney on the right and Jordan Larmour completes the XV from full-back.
There is experience on the bench too, with the likes of Michael Bent, Scott Fardy, Jamison Gibson-Park and Ross Byrne among the replacements for Cullen to call upon.
Speaking ahead of the game Irish back-rower Ruddock has warned his side that Benetton won’t be scared of facing the boys in blue in the RDS, despite it being a fortress for them.
“I don’t think they’ll fear coming to the RDS after the last two years. Beating us two years ago and the draw we managed to scrape against them last year as well. A huge challenge to come and we need to make sure we’re creating moments like that again,” he said.
Leinster head into the game after an impressive start to the season, winning all six of their opening games in the PRO14, including victory away to their opponents, seeing them sit at the top of Conference A. However, Benetton will want to upset the favourites and put themselves in contention to progress from the pool meaning Leinster will need to be at their best.
Check Out the Full 23-Man Squad Below.
Starting XV:
15. Jordan Larmour
14. Dave Kearney
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Joe Tomane
11. James Lowe
10. Johnny Sexton ©
9. Luke McGrath
1. Cian Healy
2. Ronan Kelleher
3. Andrew Porter
4. Devin Toner
5. James Ryan
6. Rhys Ruddock
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Caelan Doris
Replacements:
James Tracy, Peter Dooley, Michael Bent, Scott Fardy, Max Deegan, Jamison Gibson-Park, Ross Byrne, Rory O’Loughlin
