LEINSTER WILL BE without Robbie Henshaw due to injury for their Champions Cup semi-final against Toulouse at the Aviva Stadium tomorrow (KO 3pm – live on RTÉ 2, BT Sport 3).
The province were already without fly-half Johnny Sexton and winger James Lowe.
James Ryan captains the team, with last season’s EPCR Player of the Year Josh van der Flier set to win his 50th Champions Cup cap.
Hugo Keenan starts at full-back, with Jordan Larmour and Jimmy O’Brien named on the wings.
Charlie Ngatai returns from injury. The New Zealand international makes his first appearance since early January, and he joins Garry Ringrose in the centre.
Ross Byrne and Jamison Gibson-Park continue their partnership at half-back.
The front five remains unchanged from the Quarter-Final win over Leicester Tigers.
Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong make up the front row, with Ross Molony and Ryan in the second row.
𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒐 I 𝑫𝒆𝒎𝒊-𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍𝒆 I #LEINST 📋
— Stade Toulousain (@StadeToulousain) April 28, 2023
Découvrez le XV de départ pour la demie de samedi 💥
Tous avec le Stade ❤️🔥#ToulouseIsRed🔴 pic.twitter.com/nup2ivXlzk
After missing the Heineken Champions Cup Quarter-Final, van der Flier returns to the back row where he is joined by Caelan Doris and Jack Conan.
On the bench, Cian Healy is in line to earn his 262nd Leinster cap and will move into outright second place on Leinster’s all-time record cap holder list, behind Devin Toner on 280.
Leinster:
- 15. Hugo Keenan
- 14. Jordan Larmour
- 13. Garry Ringrose
- 12. Charlie Ngatai
- 11. Jimmy O’Brien
- 10. Ross Byrne
- 9. Jamison Gibson-Park
- 1. Andrew Porter
- 2. Dan Sheehan
- 3. Tadhg Furlong
- 4. Ross Molony
- 5. James Ryan (capt)
- 6. Caelan Doris
- 7. Josh van der Flier
- 8. Jack Conan
Replacements:
- 16. John McKee
- 17. Cian Healy
- 18. Michael Ala’alatoa
- 19. Jason Jenkins
- 20. Ryan Baird
- 21. Luke McGrath
- 22. Harry Byrne
- 23. Ciarán Frawley
Toulouse
- 15. Thomas Ramos
- 14. Juan Cruz Mallía
- 13. Pierre-Louis Barassi
- 12. Pita Ahki
- 11. Matthis Lebel
- 10. Romain Ntamack
- 9. Antoine Dupont (capt)
- 1. Cyril Baille
- 2. Peato Mauvaka
- 3. Dorian Aldegheri
- 4. Richie Arnold
- 5. Emmanuel Meafou
- 6. Jack Willis
- 7. Thibaud Flament
- 8. Francois Cros.
Replacements:
- 16. Julien Marchand
- 17. Rodrigue Neti
- 18. David Ainu’u
- 19. Alexandre Roumat
- 20. Rynhardt Elstadt
- 21. Alban Placines
- 22. Paul Graou
- 23. Arthur Retiere.
Referee: Wayne Barnes (RFU)
Well he pretty much got hit by a car in the Wales game and was 100% in minutes !! He could get over anything in 48 hours !!
And if I remember correctly, the car is a write-off.
Hopefully if won’t spread through the camp.
I can’t believe they’re out camping in this weather! Mad stuff!
In BOD we trust
Too much partying with Seanie Fitz Bod???
http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/seanie-fitzpatrick-anglo-irish-went-2671143
http://www.contactmusic.com/photo/sean-fitzpatrick-brian-odriscoll-testimonial-dinner_3932733
I’m sure Bod will recover- he’s seen worse. Great to see Donnacha back in camp and driving up the standards. Sounds like Schmidt has everyone playing for the collective.
Can’t remember Ireland ever being able to lose a match and have such an outstanding points difference that the championship was still on.
This, and Cole’s absence makes me quitely confident.
Roll on that flight on friday. Twickers here we come.
Who starts instead of O’Driscoll. Candidates are Marshall (a 12), Henshaw (Inexperienced / better fullback) Cave (untried) McFadden (better for sub role / better winger), Bowe (not fully fit / untried). I assume McFadden as cover last week is the likely call. Not sure if there is any outstanding candidate for this game but Cave as a natural 13 nearly gets my vote. When Payne becomes eligible in autumn he leapfrogs them all. Hopefully O’driscoll recovers because without him an edgy win will become a narrow loss
If BOD out has to be Cave at 13, im a big Henshaw fan but he better suited to FB and his best performances for Connacht has been there
I’d agree with you on Cave. He’s a natural 13 who is in great form. If you can’t get in scoring the way he has been provincially this year, then you’re forever doomed.
That said, I’d also like to see Madigan go in the centre. I continue to believe that might be his way to break in.
Cave is injured.
Cat amongst the pigeons here but I would think there’s a real chance of Darcy to 13 and Marshall at 12.
There’s a few options, joe had used Darcy at 13 before, pushing Marshall to 12.
He could go for any of henshaw, cave or McFadden and of course joe being joe there’s always the option he has up his sleeve.
If we can manage without PoC on the morning if a game then we can do the same without bod with a weeks notice.
Big difference between England and Scotland though Chris. I’d prefer to have BoD there before any one else. Defensive ability if no other reason. I think it would upset the team a bit too.
Who’s Bug?
And this is the start of the mind games.. Latest score = 1-0 to schmidt
Darcy to 13 and Luke Marshall at 12 if BOD isn’t fit? If I remember correctly Darcy made his debut in Paris in 2004 at 13 when BOD was injured
Trimble can cover outside centre, McFadden to the wing Henshaw to the bench.
It will be Henshaw if BO D is out, good game to try him out. If your good enough your old enough as they say
Odriscolls vertigo playing up again me thinks.
Does anyone here know where the Ireland rugby team usually train? I know that Leinster and Munster have their own facilities at the University College grounds and the Ireland football team uses Malahide’s facilities at Ganon Park. Anyone?
Who’s bug?