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Leinster are in the European Cup semi-final for the first time since 2012. Colm O'Neill/INPHO

Is this Leinster team good enough to slay Europe's most formidable giant?

Matt O’Connor has made one change to the 23 from the squad that faced Bath.

MATT O’CONNOR HAS gone for a familiar line-up as Leinster face their biggest game of the season this Sunday in the Champions Cup semi-final against Toulon in Marseille.

Some pundits discussed the possibility of a 10/12/13 combination of Ian Madigan, Gordon D’Arcy and Ben Te’o but the only change to the matchday 23 that faced Bath is second row Ben Marshall coming in for Tom Denton on the bench.

Leinster were beaten by the two-time European champions at the quarter-final stage last year but importantly, they have Sean O’Brien at openside this time around. And amazingly, this will only be the Carlow Cannonball’s third start of the season for his province.

Jamie Heaslip continues to captain the side from number eight while Mike McCarthy once again starts at second row, after the news this week that Australian import Kane Douglas’ season is over.

The game kicks off on Sunday in Marseille at 15.15.

Leinster

15. Rob Kearney
14. Fergus McFadden
13. Ben Te’o
12. Ian Madigan
11. Luke Fitzgerald
10. Jimmy Gopperth
9. Isaac Boss
1. Cian Healy
2. Sean Cronin
3. Mike Ross
4. Devin Toner
5. Mike McCarthy
6. Jordi Murphy
7. Sean O’Brien
8. Jamie Heaslip CAPTAIN

16. Richardt Strauss
17. Jack McGrath
18. Marty Moore
19. Ben Marshall
20. Dominic Ryan
21. Eoin Reddan
22. Gordon D’Arcy
23. Zane Kirchner

Fitzgerald: Toulon game will be best indicator of what Leinster are about

Leinster can exploit Toulon’s defensive weaknesses – Shane Horgan

Author
Will Slattery
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