Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has decided to make five changes to his starting XV for his side’s Champions Cup game with the Northampton Saints at the Aviva Stadium tomorrow at 17 15.
Following last weekend’s impressive 43-16 victory away to the Saints Cullen was left with a couple of injuries that have forced his hand, with captain Johnny Sexton and Ronan Kelleher suffering with knee and hand injuries respectively are replaced by Ross Byrne and James Tracy.
Elsewhere in the pack Tadhg Furlong makes a return to the front-row, while Scott Fardy starts the game as captain, while the only other change sees Luke McGrath come in to partner Byrne in the half-backs.
With those changes it means that in the front-row Cian Healy is the only one retained from last weekend and is joined by Tracy and Furlong, with Fardy slotting into the second-row alongside James Ryan.
There are no changes to the back-row as Rhys Ruddock lines-up as blindside-flanker, with Josh van der Flier at openside and Caelan Doris continues at No 8.
As mentioned above it’s McGrath and Byrne at scrum-half and fly-half respectively, and they have Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose outside them in the midfield pairing.
It’s also an unchanged back-three with James Lowe on the left-wing, Dave Kearney on the right and Jordan Larmour finishes up the XV from full-back.
Cullen has plenty of experience to call upon from the bench if needed with the likes of Andrew Porter, Devin Toner, Jamison Gibson-Park and Rob Kearney among the replacements.
Speaking ahead of the game centre Ringrose, who has been in brilliant form since returning from the Rugby World Cup, knows how big the game is and knows that some of the squad played in the same fixture back in 2013 when Leinster lost and will want to right that wrong.
“Some of the guys were involved in the 2013 loss to Saints at the Aviva. That will serve as a reminder this week,” he said.
Leinster know that a win would put them in pole position to not only make the knock-out stages but finish as winners of Pool 1. A fourth win from four in the competition would be perfect for the boys in blue, however, they will be all too aware that Northampton will want revenge after last week’s trashing and will be tough opponents.
Check Out the Full 23-Man Squad Below.
Starting XV:
15. Jordan Larmour (42)
14. Dave Kearney (142)
13. Garry Ringrose (68)
12. Robbie Henshaw (40)
11. James Lowe (37)
10. Ross Byrne (80)
9. Luke McGrath (117)
1. Cian Healy (212)
2. James Tracy (102)
3. Tadhg Furlong (104)
4. Scott Fardy (51) (c)
5. James Ryan (34)
6. Rhys Ruddock (165)
7. Josh van der Flier (76)
8. Calean Doris (24)
Replacements:
16. Bryan Byrne (44)
17. Ed Byrne (49)
18. Andrew Porter (57)
19. Devin Toner (240)
20. Max Deegan (55)
21. Jamison Gibson-Park (80)
22. Ciarán Frawley (16)
23. Rob Kearney (213)
