LEINSTER HAVE NAMED James Ryan in their starting team for tomorrow’s Heineken Champions Cup pool clash with Benetton at Stadio di Monigo [KO 1pm Irish time, BT Sport].
The Ireland international has recovered from a calf injury to make his return, which will be welcomed by Ireland boss Andy Farrell with the Six Nations just two weeks away.
James Ryan is back. James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has made four changes to his starting XV, all of which come in the pack, as the eastern province look to secure the number one seeding for the quarter-finals with a victory in Italy.
Ryan comes into the second row in place of Scott Fardy – with the captaincy going to Luke McGrath as the Australian drops out of the matchday squad – while Sean Cronin starts at hooker in place of James Tracy, and Andrew Porter is named at tighthead instead of Tadhg Furlong.
The final change sees Caelan Doris introduced at number eight, with Max Deegan shifting to blindside and Rhys Ruddock dropping to the bench.
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Leinster’s backline is unchanged from last weekend’s win over Lyon, with Ross Byrne again lining out at number 10 as Johnny Sexton continues his rehabilitation of a knee injury.
Benetton’s team includes former Leinster, Connacht, and Munster out-half Ian Keatley.
Leinster:
15. Jordan Larmour
14. Dave Kearney
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Robbie Henshaw
11. James Lowe
10. Ross Byrne
9. Luke McGrath (captain)
1. Cian Healy
2. Sean Cronin
3. Andrew Porter
4. Devin Toner
5. James Ryan
6. Max Deegan
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Caelan Doris
Replacements:
16. James Tracy
17. Peter Dooley
18. Tadhg Furlong
19. Ross Molony
20. Rhys Ruddock
21. Jamison Gibson-Park
22. Ciarán Frawley
23. Rob Kearney
1. Federico Zani
2. Hame Faiva
3. Simone Ferrari
4. Alessandro Zanni
5. Eli Snyman
6. Marco Barbini (captain)
7. Braam Steyn
8. Toa Halafihi
Replacements:
16. Tomas Baravalle
17. Nicola Quaglio
18. Cherif Traore
19. Ira Herbst
20. Giovanni Pettinelli
21. Marco Lazzaroni
22. Antonio Rizzi
23. Tommaso Benvenuti
Referee: Karl Dickson [RFU].
Impressive debutant Garry Doyle joins Murray Kinsella and Gavan Casey to sift through Andy Farrell’s Six Nations squad selection, talk Ireland captaincy, and much more.
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Ryan back from injury as McGrath captains Leinster against Benetton
LEINSTER HAVE NAMED James Ryan in their starting team for tomorrow’s Heineken Champions Cup pool clash with Benetton at Stadio di Monigo [KO 1pm Irish time, BT Sport].
The Ireland international has recovered from a calf injury to make his return, which will be welcomed by Ireland boss Andy Farrell with the Six Nations just two weeks away.
Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has made four changes to his starting XV, all of which come in the pack, as the eastern province look to secure the number one seeding for the quarter-finals with a victory in Italy.
Ryan comes into the second row in place of Scott Fardy – with the captaincy going to Luke McGrath as the Australian drops out of the matchday squad – while Sean Cronin starts at hooker in place of James Tracy, and Andrew Porter is named at tighthead instead of Tadhg Furlong.
The final change sees Caelan Doris introduced at number eight, with Max Deegan shifting to blindside and Rhys Ruddock dropping to the bench.
Leinster’s backline is unchanged from last weekend’s win over Lyon, with Ross Byrne again lining out at number 10 as Johnny Sexton continues his rehabilitation of a knee injury.
Benetton’s team includes former Leinster, Connacht, and Munster out-half Ian Keatley.
Leinster:
15. Jordan Larmour
14. Dave Kearney
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Robbie Henshaw
11. James Lowe
10. Ross Byrne
9. Luke McGrath (captain)
1. Cian Healy
2. Sean Cronin
3. Andrew Porter
4. Devin Toner
5. James Ryan
6. Max Deegan
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Caelan Doris
Replacements:
16. James Tracy
17. Peter Dooley
18. Tadhg Furlong
19. Ross Molony
20. Rhys Ruddock
21. Jamison Gibson-Park
22. Ciarán Frawley
23. Rob Kearney
Benetton:
15. Jayden Hayward
14. Angelo Esposito
13. Luca Morisi
12. Marco Zanon
11. Monty Ioane
10. Ian Keatley
9. Tito Tebaldi
1. Federico Zani
2. Hame Faiva
3. Simone Ferrari
4. Alessandro Zanni
5. Eli Snyman
6. Marco Barbini (captain)
7. Braam Steyn
8. Toa Halafihi
Replacements:
16. Tomas Baravalle
17. Nicola Quaglio
18. Cherif Traore
19. Ira Herbst
20. Giovanni Pettinelli
21. Marco Lazzaroni
22. Antonio Rizzi
23. Tommaso Benvenuti
Referee: Karl Dickson [RFU].
Impressive debutant Garry Doyle joins Murray Kinsella and Gavan Casey to sift through Andy Farrell’s Six Nations squad selection, talk Ireland captaincy, and much more.
The42 Rugby Weekly / SoundCloud
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