THE LEINSTER team to face Vodacom Bulls on Saturday at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa sees five changes from the side that defeated Emirates Lions.
The Round 18 encounter of the BKT United Rugby Championship kicks off at 3pm Irish time and is live on TG4, Premier Sports, and URC TV.
Ed Byrne captains the team while the backline remains unchanged from the win in Johannesburg, with Chris Cosgrave, Dave Kearney and Tommy O’Brien all starting.
Ben Brownlee links up with Liam Turner in the centre, while Sam Prendergast and Nick McCarthy form a half-back partnership again.
There are three changes in the front row – Tadgh McElroy starts at hooker for the first time, and he is joined by Byrne and Thomas Clarkson.
Alex Soroka has been handed a first start of the season alongside Brian Deeny in the front row while James Culhane will make his first start in the backrow alongside Will Connors and Max Deegan.
Debutants-in-waiting Liam Molony and Conor O’Tighearnaigh are named among the replacements, while Temi Lasisi could make his first appearance of the season.
Leinster Rugby:
- 15. Chris Cosgrave
- 14. Tommy O’Brien
- 13. Liam Turner
- 12. Ben Brownlee
- 11. Dave Kearney
- 10. Sam Prendergast
- 9. Nick McCarthy
- 1. Ed Byrne
- 2. Tadgh McElroy
- 3. Thomas Clarkson
- 4. Alex Soroka
- 5. Brian Deeny
- 6. James Culhane
- 7. Will Connors
- 8. Max Deegan
Replacements:
- 16. Lee Barron
- 17. Michael Milne
- 18. Temi Lasisi
- 19. Conor O’Tighearnaigh
- 20. Liam Molony
- 21. Ben Murphy
- 22. Charlie Tector
- 23. Rob Russell
I thought he retired
@The Debater: they did a big montage video in the stadium after he was knocked out of the Aus Open where all the big players wished him luck in his retirement. Awkward enough.
I’ve huge respect for this fella.
Loses 10 grand slam finals to the big three and still kept going.
Was stuck in the corridor in his school in Dunblane while his teacher was shooting pupils.
Thought enough of his country to attend 2 olympics where he won Gold twice.
(No Zika virus excuses there).
Won two Wimbledon’s with all the pressure that went with that.
If he was Irish we would love him.
He’s a fair one.
love his guts.
Didn’t whinge about the Zika virus either.
Went to Rio and won his second Gold.
Two Wimbledon, Davis cup winning captain. U.S open champion..
Ex world number one.
all this while losing eight slam finals to the big three.
Some tenacity to stay going.
If he was Irish we’d love him.