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Leinster out-half Ross Byrne. Matteo Ciambelli/INPHO

Ross Byrne starts and Hugo Keenan returns in Leinster team to face Leicester Tigers

Leo Cullen’s side take on the Tigers at Aviva Stadium tomorrow.

ROSS BYRNE HAS won the battle to start at out-half in Leinster’s Champions Cup round of 16 meeting with Leicester Tigers at Aviva Stadium tomorrow [KO 8pm, RTÉ/TNT Sports].

Byrne’s younger brother, Harry, is named on the bench following an impressive showing in the URC win over the Bulls last weekend.

Leinster are strong favourites to advance against the Tigers, with Leo Cullen naming 13 Ireland internationals in his starting XV.

Garry Ringrose misses out through injury, while Ciarán Frawley returns on the Leinster bench.

Hugo Keenan is also back following a hip injury, starting at fullback as Jordan Larmour shifts to the wing. James Lowe completes the back three.

Robbie Henshaw and Jamie Osborne continue their midfield partnership, with Ross Byrne and Jamison Gibson-Park starting in the half-backs.

Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong form an all-Ireland front row, lining out together for the first time since returning from the Six Nations, with Ross Molony and Joe McCarthy in the second row.

Caelan Doris captains the team at number eight, with Ryan Baird and Josh van der Flier also named in the back row.

Rónan Kelleher, Cian Healy and Michael Ala’alatoa provide front row cover off the bench, with Jason Jenkins and Jack Conan also named among the replacements.

Ben Murphy is the replacement scrum-half, with Harry Byrne and Ciarán Frawley completing the matchday 23.

England international George Martin and Wales star Tommy Reffell miss out for Leicester Tigers. 

38,000 tickets have been sold for tomorrow’s game in Dublin.

Leinster:

  • 15. Hugo Keenan
  • 14. Jordan Larmour
  • 13. Robbie Henshaw
  • 12. Jamie Osborne
  • 11. James Lowe
  • 10. Ross Byrne
  • 9. Jamison Gibson-Park
  • 1. Andrew Porter
  • 2. Dan Sheehan
  • 3. Tadhg Furlong
  • 4. Ross Molony
  • 5. Joe McCarthy
  • 6. Ryan Baird
  • 7. Josh van der Flier
  • 8. Caelan Doris (capt)

Replacements:

  • 16. Rónan Kelleher
  • 17. Cian Healy
  • 18. Michael Ala’alatoa
  • 19. Jason Jenkins
  • 20. Jack Conan
  • 21. Ben Murphy
  • 22. Harry Byrne
  • 23. Ciarán Frawley  

Leicester Tigers:

  • 15. Jamie Shillcock
  • 14. Freddie Steward
  • 13. Dan Kelly
  • 12. Solomone Kata
  • 11. Ollie Hassell-Collins
  • 10. Handré Pollard
  • 9. Jack van Poortvliet
  • 1. James Cronin
  • 2. Julián Montoya (capt)
  • 3. Dan Cole
  • 4. Harry Wells
  • 5. Kyle Hatherell
  • 6. Hanro Liebenberg
  • 7. Olly Cracknell
  • 8: Jasper Wiese

Replacements:

  • 16: Charlie Clare
  • 17: Francois van Wyk
  • 18: Will Hurd
  • 19: Finn Carnduff 
  • 20: Emeka Ilione
  • 21: Tom Whiteley
  • 22: Phil Cokanasiga
  • 23: Mike Brown

Referee: Pierre Brousset (FFR)

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