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James Lowe celebrates as he crosses the line against Toulouse. Dan Sheridan/INPHO

Cronin and Lowe start, McGrath returns as Leinster unveil team chasing back-to-back Champions Cup glory

Saracens stand between Leinster and a fifth European title at St James’ Park tomorrow.

LEINSTER HEAD COACH Leo Cullen has selected both James Lowe and Scott Fardy to start tomorrow’s Heineken Champions Cup final against Saracens (kick-off, 17.00, Virgin Media, Channel 4, BT) with Jamison Gibson Park missing out with a knock.

The ‘three-into-two’ rule prevented the brilliant Kiwi wing Lowe from playing a part during last season’s European final win over Racing 92 in Bilbao, but he will hope to follow on his excellent showing against Toulouse in the semis.

Tadhg Furlong will make his 100th appearance for Leinster, packing down beside Sean Cronin. The hooker has shaken off the calf injury sustained at the Aviva Stadium against Toulouse, the Limerick man is level atop the try-scoring charts in this season’s tournament, with only Jacob Stockdale matching his six tries.

Sean Cronin Sean Cronin in training last month. Laszlo Geczo / INPHO Laszlo Geczo / INPHO / INPHO

On the bench, Ulster-bound prop Jack McGrath is included in the squad ahead of Ed Byrne, while Hugh O’Sullivan deputises Luke McGrath.

Jonathan Sexton will captain his side from out-half with Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose again bringing their international partnership to the European final.

Sean O’Brien will wear Leinster’s number 7 shirt for the last time in European competition.

Leinster (v Saracens, Heineken Champions Cup final 2019)

15. Rob Kearney
14. Jordan Larmour 
13. Garry Ringrose 
12. Robbie Henshaw 
11. James Lowe 
10. Johnny Sexton Captain
9. Luke McGrath 

1. Cian Healy 
2. Seán Cronin 
3. Tadhg Furlong 
4. Devin Toner 
5. James Ryan 
6. Scott Fardy 
7. Seán O’Brien 
8. Jack Conan 

Replacements

16. James Tracy 
17. Jack McGrath
18. Michael Bent 
19. Rhys Ruddock
20. Max Deegan 
21. Hugh O’Sullivan 
22. Ross Byrne 
23. Rory O’Loughlin 

Gavan Casey, Murray Kinsella and Bernard Jackman tee up Saturday’s Champions Cup final and look at the backroom problems in Munster.:


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    Mute Jim Demps
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    May 30th 2019, 4:40 PM

    Can’t wish anything but the best of luck in his retirement. Garrett took munster from an amateur club with an amateur ethos to one of the most recognisable and successful clubs and brands in the world. He can certainly look back on what he achieved with huge pride.

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    Mute Smiley
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    May 30th 2019, 4:51 PM

    @Jim Demps: Agree with his achievement taking us out of the amateur era. However he stayed too long in the role. The investment and structures today are behind all the other provinces.

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    Mute Aaron Tynan
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    May 30th 2019, 5:01 PM

    @Smiley: good to see him go! Been there way to long!! Imagine if someone was in that position in a normal business for that length of time… ridiculous

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    Mute JMG
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    May 30th 2019, 6:58 PM

    @Smiley: renovated thomond park and est. the UL training facility?

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    Mute PScald
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    May 31st 2019, 6:46 PM

    @Smiley: ah only one other province has a purpose build stadium. Have had more internationals in the last 20 years than 2 others combined. I’m not sure you know what you’re talking about

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    Mute Martin Quinn
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    May 31st 2019, 7:58 PM

    @Smiley:

    I believe the “NAME” was there before he came along “one of the most recognisable and successful clubs and brands in the Rugby World”.

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    Mute David Hughes
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    May 30th 2019, 4:36 PM

    Thank you GF for all the great days at Munster rugby

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    Mute PScald
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    May 30th 2019, 4:30 PM

    Disaster!! Fitzgerald sacked…by himself. Crisis at Minster as CEO sacks himself…
    sorry, im trying to write the indos headline…
    Good luck Garrett

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    Mute Jim Demps
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    May 30th 2019, 4:35 PM

    @PScald: I was thinking more along the lines of doubling down on the loss of identity followed by rumouring Barend Van Graan for the role in a further south Africanisation of the province while going on to say munster don’t develop any talent of their own and only poach lads from other places. Bloody turnip eaters.

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    Mute Rochelle
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    May 31st 2019, 12:13 PM

    @PScald: haha don’t give Ruaidhri O’Connor ideas!

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    Mute Treaty Bhoy
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    May 30th 2019, 6:11 PM

    Good riddance, in my opinion.

    He leaves a club who are now eight years without a trophy and are also heavily in debt, who are far behind the other provinces in producing players.

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    Mute k mcnamara
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    May 30th 2019, 6:42 PM

    @Treaty Bhoy: why do you do it ? still no answer ?

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    Mute Martin Quinn
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    May 31st 2019, 8:00 PM

    @k mcnamara:

    And why dou you do it ??

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    Mute Bungee Aky
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    May 30th 2019, 4:41 PM

    Clearly the IRFU have had enough of his Mis management. I can’t wait for tomorrows indo to get the real story, and then Monday’s one where they print all their apologies.

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    Mute Eddie Hekenui
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    May 30th 2019, 4:45 PM

    @Bungee Aky: The real story is he had major surgery last year and has been out of work recovering for the last year and isn’t capable of filling the job requirements anymore

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    Mute Eoin Murphy
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    May 30th 2019, 5:17 PM

    @Bungee Aky: you’re some troll

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    Mute Roberts Mel
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    May 30th 2019, 5:36 PM

    @Bungee Aky: how’s you kid bungee? Still in hospital? You been at many underage gaa games recently to send emails and call for prescriptions?

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    Mute Bungee Aky
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    May 30th 2019, 5:51 PM

    @Eoin Murphy: you have the sense of humour of a badly injured car crash victim.

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    Mute Bungee Aky
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    May 30th 2019, 5:51 PM

    @Roberts Mel: yes, no.

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    Mute Eoin Murphy
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    May 30th 2019, 6:25 PM

    @Bungee Aky: that’s original I’ll give you that

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    Mute Richard James
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    Jun 1st 2019, 4:14 AM

    @Bungee Aky: Nasty and totally uncalled for after the man’s health difficulties. I’d say ‘shame on you’ but you probably don’t understand the concept.

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    Mute Bungee Aky
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    May 30th 2019, 4:56 PM

    All Joking aside

    The FAI need to get someone of his calibre on board, experience of the amateur and professional game, strong governance, financial capabilities, contract negotiating, and all the other skills they are devoid of.

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    Mute Eoin Murphy
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    May 30th 2019, 5:17 PM

    @Bungee Aky: you just posted a big fat long comment on the chelsea arsenal live blog on how you’d watch the ‘odd European game’ but find “soccer” very boring. You clearly have no idea whatsoever with what your talking about and just copy what other posters (regardless of the fact they’re right) say. Don’t bother giving your opinion on football

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    Mute Bungee Aky
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    May 30th 2019, 5:50 PM

    @Eoin Murphy: who did I copy?

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    Mute Eoin Murphy
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    May 30th 2019, 6:24 PM

    @Bungee Aky: every comment on the john delaney article. It could be your own independent opinion but its so clear you just looked at them and jumped on the bandwagon

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    Mute Bungee Aky
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    May 30th 2019, 6:47 PM

    @Eoin Murphy: so it’s my own opinion now?

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    Mute Eoin Murphy
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    May 30th 2019, 10:03 PM

    @Bungee Aky: what im saying is you hark on about how “soccer” is so boring and then you give your opinion on something you clearly dont have a clue about, on a completely unrelated rugby article

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    Mute Cormac Ó Braonáin
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    May 30th 2019, 6:34 PM

    Fair dues to him, although he’s shown a severe lack of ambition over the last 10 years.

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    Mute Rochelle
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    May 31st 2019, 12:14 PM

    Best wishes to him, hope he recovers from his illness and enjoys his well earned retirement.

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    Mute John Hynes
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    May 31st 2019, 10:25 AM

    New CEO will have to get the Thomond PK financial monkey off Munsters back. Foregoing 10 years ticket income to part own a stadium was a strategic error. It meant Munster were down circa a million a year in the rugby spend compared to other provinces. Shades of Pairc Ui Caoimh.

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    Mute Locojoe
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    Jun 2nd 2019, 1:33 PM

    The best of luck to him. He did well ! However he did stay on to long. Maybe if he stepped out at the end of the Paul O Connell era his legacy might have been stronger?

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