SEAN O’BRIEN WILL make his first Leinster appearance in nine months as a blindside in Sunday’s Champions Cup second round trip to Montpellier (1pm Sky Sports).

The 29-year-old suffered a serious hamstring injury during the Six Nations defeat to France this year, but came through a Leinster A fixture last weekend and will join Josh van der Flier and Jamie Heaslip in the back row.

The Tullow Tank is one of three fitness boosts for Leo Cullen’s men, with Jonathan Sexton and Mike McCarthy also returning to the starting XV.

Joey Carbery and Jamison Gibson-Park are the only backs named among the replacements.

Leinster

15. Rob Kearney
14. Zane Kirchner
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Robbie Henshaw
11. Isa Nacewa (C)
10. Jonathan Sexton
9. Luke McGrath

1. Cian Healy
2. James Tracy
3. Mike Ross
4. Devin Toner
5. Mike McCarthy
6. Sean O’Brien
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Jamie Heaslip

Replacements:

16. Sean Cronin
17. Jack McGrath
18. Michael Bent
19. Mick Kearney
20. Jordi Murphy
21. Dan Leavy
22. Jamison Gibson-Park
23. Joey Carbery

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