LEINSTER ARE FIRING ahead with their plans to travel to France tomorrow for their Champions Cup match against Montpellier.
With Covid striking both clubs, doubts about the fixture’s viability were high and even now, they have not completely disappeared. But as things stand, the game is scheduled to take place as planned, with Leo Cullen naming a much changed team for tomorrow’s game (kick off 8pm, BT Sport).
Hugo Keenan, Jordan Larmour, Garry Ringrose, Rhys Ruddock, Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier, Ross Molony and Tadhg Furlong all drop out of the side who defeated Bath so comfortably last week.
🔵 | Here's your #LeinsterRugby 2️⃣3️⃣ for tomorrow's clash with Montpellier. 💪
They join Johnny Sexton and Robbie Henshaw on the absentee list. However their replacements in the pack, Cian Healy – Andrew Porter switches back to tighthead to replace Furlong – James Ryan, Dan Leavy, Max Deegan and Jack Conan are experienced operators.
Advertisement
In the backs, only two players, Jamison Gibson-Park and James Lowe, can be considered first-choice players. However, full-back Jimmy O’Brien, wing Adam Byrne, centres Ciaran Frawley and Jamie Osborne aren’t shy of first-team experience. Out-half, Ross Byrne, plays more regularly for Leinster than Sexton in any case.
Leinster postponed their scheduled training session on Tuesday after a number of positive Covid-19 cases had been confirmed in their camp. However, after a full round of antigen and PCR testing at its UCD base, as well as advice from the IRFU and ECPR, they were cleared to travel.
It is not clear whether the changes were injury-related, as a result of illness or made for tactical reasons.
Vakh Abdaladze, Jack Dunne, Academy scrum-half Cormac Foley and Scott Penny, are all in line to play their first games in the Heineken Champions Cup should they be introduced at GGL Stadium. Osborne, the starting centre, is guaranteed his debut.
The Leinster Rugby squad and staff will leave Dublin airport tomorrow morning.
Leinster Rugby (caps in brackets):
15. Jimmy O’Brien (38)
14. Adam Byrne (60)
13. Jamie Osborne (9)
12. Ciarán Frawley (42)
11. James Lowe (57)
10. Ross Byrne (111)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (106)
1. Cian Healy (238)
2. Rónan Kelleher (30)
3. Andrew Porter (82)
4. Ryan Baird (34)
5. James Ryan (53) CAPTAIN
6. Max Deegan (71)
7. Dan Leavy (76)
8. Jack Conan (107)
Replacements:
16. Dan Sheehan (19)
17. Ed Byrne (75)
18. Vakh Abdaladze (14)
19. Devin Toner (271)
20. Jack Dunne (15)
21. Cormac Foley (1)
22. Tommy O’Brien (13)
23. Scott Penny (31)
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Close
32 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic.
Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy
here
before taking part.
Five players set for European debut as Leinster fire ahead with plans to travel to Montpellier
LAST UPDATE | 16 Dec 2021
LEINSTER ARE FIRING ahead with their plans to travel to France tomorrow for their Champions Cup match against Montpellier.
With Covid striking both clubs, doubts about the fixture’s viability were high and even now, they have not completely disappeared. But as things stand, the game is scheduled to take place as planned, with Leo Cullen naming a much changed team for tomorrow’s game (kick off 8pm, BT Sport).
Hugo Keenan, Jordan Larmour, Garry Ringrose, Rhys Ruddock, Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier, Ross Molony and Tadhg Furlong all drop out of the side who defeated Bath so comfortably last week.
They join Johnny Sexton and Robbie Henshaw on the absentee list. However their replacements in the pack, Cian Healy – Andrew Porter switches back to tighthead to replace Furlong – James Ryan, Dan Leavy, Max Deegan and Jack Conan are experienced operators.
In the backs, only two players, Jamison Gibson-Park and James Lowe, can be considered first-choice players. However, full-back Jimmy O’Brien, wing Adam Byrne, centres Ciaran Frawley and Jamie Osborne aren’t shy of first-team experience. Out-half, Ross Byrne, plays more regularly for Leinster than Sexton in any case.
Leinster postponed their scheduled training session on Tuesday after a number of positive Covid-19 cases had been confirmed in their camp. However, after a full round of antigen and PCR testing at its UCD base, as well as advice from the IRFU and ECPR, they were cleared to travel.
It is not clear whether the changes were injury-related, as a result of illness or made for tactical reasons.
Vakh Abdaladze, Jack Dunne, Academy scrum-half Cormac Foley and Scott Penny, are all in line to play their first games in the Heineken Champions Cup should they be introduced at GGL Stadium. Osborne, the starting centre, is guaranteed his debut.
The Leinster Rugby squad and staff will leave Dublin airport tomorrow morning.
Leinster Rugby (caps in brackets):
15. Jimmy O’Brien (38)
14. Adam Byrne (60)
13. Jamie Osborne (9)
12. Ciarán Frawley (42)
11. James Lowe (57)
10. Ross Byrne (111)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (106)
1. Cian Healy (238)
2. Rónan Kelleher (30)
3. Andrew Porter (82)
4. Ryan Baird (34)
5. James Ryan (53) CAPTAIN
6. Max Deegan (71)
7. Dan Leavy (76)
8. Jack Conan (107)
Replacements:
16. Dan Sheehan (19)
17. Ed Byrne (75)
18. Vakh Abdaladze (14)
19. Devin Toner (271)
20. Jack Dunne (15)
21. Cormac Foley (1)
22. Tommy O’Brien (13)
23. Scott Penny (31)
Referee: Wayne Barnes (RFU)
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Champions Cup Game on Leinster Montpellier