Leinster have named as strong a side as possible for their Champions Cup semi-final with Toulouse at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday at 15 15.
Johnny Sexton has returned following time out with an injury and captains the team from fly-half.
Cian Healy, Sean Cronin and Tadhg Furlong begin the game in the front-row, while Devin Toner and James Ryan pair up in the second-row in what is an outstanding front five.
Rhys Ruddock is at six, Sean O’Brien at seven and Jack Conan is at No 8 to make up the remainder of the pack.
Luke McGrath is back at scrum-half to partner Sexton, while Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose team up in the centre.
James Lowe starts on the left-wing, Jordan Larmour on the right, and Rob Kearney will open the game at full-back in what is a star-studded XV.
The bench is full of talent to call upon too if needed. James Tracy, Ed Byrne and Michael Bent are the front-row replacements, with Scott Fardy and Max Deegan covering the rest of the pack. Fardy’s inclusion coupled with Lowe starting means that Jamison Gibson-Park misses out. In his place is Hugh O’Sullivan, who is joined by Ross Byrne and Rory O’Loughlin among the replacements.
ICYMI: Here is your #LeinsterRugby team for the Heineken #ChampionsCup semi-final at @AVIVAStadium on Sunday. #LEIvTOU #JoinTheRoar pic.twitter.com/6kfYF8cZmZ
— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) April 19, 2024
Scrum-half McGrath is expecting a huge game and has been impressed by Toulouse since their second of two previous meetings this season, he admitted while speaking to the Irish Times.
“Toulouse have improved as well. That quarter-final in Racing was incredibly impressive, the way they handled the red card, bringing [Sébastien] Bézy on [at scrumhalf], moving [Antoine] Dupont to ‘10’. They’re a class outfit so, it’s going to be a great challenge,” he said.
Toulouse will head into the game in a
confident mood as they hope to dethrone the reigning champions in their own
backyard.
Clement Castres, Peato Mauvaka and Charlie
Faumuina are the front-three, with Richie Arnold and Richie Gray at four and
five respectively.
Rynhard Elstadt is at blindside flanker,
with Joe Tekori at openside and Jerome Kaino taking the No 8 shirt.
It’s an exciting back-line too as Sebastien
Bezy and Antoine Dupont pair up in the half-backs, with Pita Ahki and Sofiane
Guitoune outside them in the centre pairing.
The electric Cheslin Kolbe is at 11, with
Yoann Huget at 14 and Thomas Ramos occupying the 15 jersey.
The visitors have plenty of talent on the bench with the likes of Cyril Baille, Romain Ntamack and Maxime Medard among the replacements ready to put in a shift when called upon.
Both sides are at their strongest possible
and that has led to some interesting individual fights across the pitch.
Key
Battles:
James Ryan vs Richie Gray = This is one of
the most exciting aspects of the game, two of the best locks around going head-to-head.
Both are immense at the break-down, and leaders for their respective sides.
Whoever comes out on top here will put their team on the front foot and could
send their side through to the final.
Jack Conan vs Jerome Kaino = Here is a
chance for Jack Conan to continue his rise to the top as he faces one of the best
in the business. Conan put in a man of the match performance in the quarter-finals
against Ulster and will need a similar performance to keep Kaino at bay. On the
other hand, Kaino will need to keep an eye out for Conan’s ability to pick and
go. This will be a seriously physical clash and these two will be key to it.
James Lowe vs Cheslin Kolbe = Yes they may
be on opposite wings but they are the two sides biggest threats going forward. Lowe
will face veteran Huget on his wing while Kolbe comes up against the dancing
feet of Larmour. Not only will these two need to be at their best going forward
but will need to be solid defensively. You can’t take your eye off either one
for a second or they will tear your team apart and if the pair get going we
could witness greatness on the flanks.
As both these sides look to add a record fifth
European title to their name the stakes couldn’t be higher and with all the
cards laid we seem set for a cracker on Sunday.
