HEAD COACH LEO Cullen has named Jack McGrath as his captain ahead of Leinster’s highly-anticipated Stephen’s Day trip to Thomond Park to face Munster following a fortnight of European success for both sides (3.15pm).
Jordan Larmour makes his first senior start from full back with Barry Daly returning from an ankle injury to take his place on the right wing.
On the left wing new signing James Lowe makes just his second appearance following his two-try debut in Italy a few weeks ago.
Robbie Henshaw and Rory O’Loughlin, who started together against Munster back in October at the Aviva Stadium, are again paired in the centre, with Cullen selecting Jamison Gibson-Park and Ross Byrne at half back.
In the pack McGrath captains the side for the very first time. Making his 121st appearance in blue the St Mary’s club man is joined in the front row by fellow internationals James Tracy and Michael Bent.
In the second row Devin Toner and James Ryan will start with Jordi Murphy, Dan Leavy and Jack Conan completing the pack.
Leinster:
15. Jordan Larmour
14. Barry Daly
13. Rory O’Loughlin
12. Robbie Henshaw
11. James Lowe
10. Ross Byrne
9. Jamison Gibson-Park
1. Jack McGrath (captain)
2. James Tracy
3. Michael Bent
4. Devin Toner
5. James Ryan
6. Jordi Murphy
7. Dan Leavy
8. Jack Conan
Replacements:
16. Richardt Strauss
17. Ed Byrne
18. Tadhg Furlong
19. Mick Kearney
20. Josh van der Flier
21. Nick McCarthy
22. Cathal Marsh
23. Noel Reid
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Great call from Cullen to make Mc Grath captain. He has had a tough season and this is a big vote of confidence in him.
Really impressed with Cullen’s man management skills.
If Mc Grath could be more dynamic carrying ball it would really raise his game. For such a big guy he seems to go to ground a bit too easy.
@Oran Burns: Completely agree. I guess he’s just not that explosive a player. He always hits and sticks in scrums too. Rarely you’ll see him go after a TH
@Oran Burns: honestly think McGrath is suffering from being overplayed the last two or so seasons.
@Oran Burns: There’s not too many fast-twitch props around world-wide, never mind in Ireland. Cian Healy is an exception to the rule in that regard. I wouldn’t hold my breath in waiting for McGrath to become an explosive ball-carrier.
Jack McGrath’s strength is his strength endurance rather than his explosiveness. No amount of training is going to change his explosiveness at this stage of his career. That’s something that comes partly from genetics and partly from strength training in an athletes early teens.
Considering the 3 inter provincial games ahead and restrictions of players from the mother ship, this is a great selection with a great chance to see JL have a go
Very decent team! COYBIB
Surprising team given player welfare kicks in. Certainly a team capable of shredding the best. Here’s hoping.
Yet another shadow Leinster selection for a trip to Thomond. The pro14 will never be a success while this nonsense continues to happen. Frustrating that this league is such a secondary competition to the champions cup. It’s a wonder that the sponsors don’t walk away from it.
@Johnny A: It’s the player welfare system that the IRFU rightly have in place that determines team selection around this time of year.
Leinster have decided to rest most of their first team players under the system for this match and have the majority back for Connacht at home and Munster have decided to play most of their first team players for this clash and rest them most likely against Ulster away on New Year’s Day.
@Johnny A: This is arguably a much more exciting team than the experienced crew they used against Exeter. As much as I enjoy the trench warfare in those games, would you not prefer a more open game??
That is also Munster’s strongest team they could put out…
@Johnny A: it is nonsense to call that a shadow selection. You were waiting to say that and literally just didn’t check the team sheet. 2 Lions starting, half front liners, a couple of up and coming front liners like Jordan and Ryan. Silly, silly comment.
@Conor Paddington: seriously only 3 maybe 4 players in the first 15 if everyone was fit. This is a shadow side. It’s still a very good side.
It is also a very good test for the likes of Leavy , Byrne, Rory O, Daly and Larmour to test themselves against high quality opposition, majority of which are currently occupying places in the national team they aspire to achieve. So if they come up on top of them it bodes very well them for future potential national call ups. It’s also a good test for the likes of Scannell and Arnold to put their hands up for national recognition too.
@Johnny A: that’s a very strong team Leinster are putting out. Alot stronger than what i was expecting . Actually think we will win
@William Finnegan: would have rathered Ringrose got more game time
@Chris Mc: everyone is not and is never fully fit.
@Conor Paddington: how many Munster starters are on the treatment table? Methinks these lads are worried about what a settled, young Munster team will become over the next few years , whether they realize it or not.
@Chris Mc: Aside from scrum half (& given injuries at 10), I think the backline is as good as that from rhe Aviva (probably better with ball in hand). I am hopeful.
@Johnny A: it may be a shadow Leinster team but from 1 to 8 it’s chock a block with Irish internationals …
@Ian Verdon: player welfare is critical – no doubt. Its a shame that it makes a mockery of the pro14 on occasions like this. Whenever munster play leinster it should be the two strongest XVs. This fixture should be treasured instead of being treated with contempt and being undermined by player rotation. The league will never grow beyond its core constituency when its marquee rivalry is diluted to this extent. I dont know of any other pro league in world sport that devalues their key fixture in this way.
@Conor Paddington: you’d be giddy with excitement if Leinster picked their XV from their sub academy. The non diehards would prefer to see Tadgh Furlong instead of Michael Bent. There’s a captive audience of people on Stephen’s day that could be exposed to one of the best rivalries in world rugby but instead bogus player rotation rules the day and the front liners are sitting in the stands.
@Johnny A: they’re not bullshit, we ask a lot of Furlong. He can’t play every match. Anyway he’s coming off the bench. We don’t want him to be flogged come Paddy’s Day in Twickenham.
@Johnny A: I would rather rest the first team players in a league match(regardless of the opponent) than in the biggest club tournament in the northern hemisphere. We needed our strongest possible 23 in both games against Exeter as the closeness of both games proved. Both squads took a battering. Both Leinster and Munster will be in the semi’s in the league regardless of this result and giving the younger, fringe players a chance to prove themselves is essential to their growth and the growth of our squad and to the potential growth of the national teams selection pool. If we meet in the semis or hopefully the final I am sure both will but out their strongest 23’s available but for this game I am happy with the team selection tbh.
@Ian Verdon: as I said the rugby diehards have no issue with player rotation and maybe even enjoy it. But the competition itself will never move beyond its niche when even the biggest games can’t demand first string selections. The fixture should be moved to a weekend in the calendar when Leo Cullen feels he can put out his strongest side. The Pro14 should be an end in itself and not just preparatory fare for the champions league.
A so called weak team that’s still littered with internationals. The whole pack apart from Bent has recent international test matches either in the summer or November.
Easy game for munster should be walk in the park
@Aidan O: easy? I don’t think so. It’s going to be a good game and if it opens up the Leinster backline might just surprise you
@Aidan O: You’re dead right. They should just put their feet up and not even worry about it :)
Only 3 first team starters yet still very strong. Big bench and a fair amount of pace in the back line.
Lads, Lads…anyone who doesn’t think that’s a class Leinster team that is capable of beating Munster, hasn’t been following them this year. So many players that can determine a game Leavy, Conan, Ryan (top 3 forwards in Ireland at the moment) then a few “relative” newbies that have the X factor and score tries from anywhere -Lowe, O Loughlin, Lamour….this team excites me more than one with the normal Kearney’s, McFaddens, etc. shows the terrifying strength in depth. Only place we are relatively weak is front row with exception of McGrath who is world class. Very excited about this game and potential to show Munster the current divide in class when we beat them at home with this “weakened” side-roll on Tuesday.
1/3 of full squad from St Michaels again..it certainly wasn’t like that in my day!!!! There’s something good in the water on Ailesbury Road these days…Good luck to Leinster in Thomond…