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Halfpenny has recovered from shoulder injury to start for Toulon. Dan Sheridan/INPHO

If you are an easily frightened Leinster fan, best not to look at Toulon's team for Sunday

Every galactico Leinster didn’t want to face is fit and ready to go.

RUMOURS OF LEIGH Halfpenny’s shoulder injury appear to have been greatly exaggerated as the Welsh dynamo has been selected at fullback in the Toulon team to face Leinster in the Champions Cup semi-final on Sunday.

Halfpenny’s selection means that Delon Armitage has been pushed to the wing, while Aussie flyer Drew Mitchell has been picked on the bench.

But worryingly for Leinster, Matt Giteau is at 12 and after a few weeks of good match practice, he should be close to his best form.

Bernard Laporte has gone with Freddie Michalak at out-half, and while the Frenchman was perfect off the tee against Wasps, his goal kicking isn’t always immaculate when the pressure is on.

And there is one other positive for Leinster, as supreme poacher Steffon Armitage is only named on the bench.

Toulon

15, Leigh Halfpenny

14. Delon Armitage

13. Mathieu Bastareaud

12. Matt Giteau

11. Bryan Habana

10. Frederic Michalak

9. Sebastien Tillous-Borde

1. Xavier Chiocci

2. Guilhem Guirado

3. Carl Hayman (c)

4. Bakkies Botha

5. Ali Williams

6. Juan Smith

7. Juan Fernandez Lobbe

8. Chris Masoe

Replacements: Jean-Charles Orioli, Alexandre Menini, Levan Chilachava, Steffon Armitage, Drew Mitchell, Rudi Wulf, Michael Claassens, Jocelino Suta

It was Sonny Bill v Dan and Richie in New Zealand earlier and the result wasn’t even close

Is this Leinster team good enough to slay Europe’s most formidable giant?

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32 Comments
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    Mute Chris Mcdonnell
    Favourite Chris Mcdonnell
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    May 18th 2015, 2:32 PM

    Even when on the bench he didn’t get game time. The coach doesn’t like or trust him. Saturday once again showed just how wrong O’connor has been all season

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    Mute Colin Webber
    Favourite Colin Webber
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    May 18th 2015, 6:24 PM

    O’Connor is just all wrong for Leinster.

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    Mute Mark Lawlor
    Favourite Mark Lawlor
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    May 18th 2015, 2:31 PM

    He has a very big chance next season with Leinster during the World Cup, midfield won’t be as competitive so he should get a good run of matches.

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    Mute Chris Mcdonnell
    Favourite Chris Mcdonnell
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    May 18th 2015, 6:56 PM

    Mark if Darcy doesn’t make the World Cup squad, he’ll play 12 with t’eo at 13. Then Madigan and sexton will be back so the midfield won’t be as easy to get into as you may think

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    Mute David Davidson
    Favourite David Davidson
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    May 18th 2015, 4:27 PM

    That pop pass from O’Brien

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    Mute Irish Underage Rugby
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    May 18th 2015, 2:54 PM

    Battle between him and Madigan for the 12 jersey next season.

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    Mute Cian Walker
    Favourite Cian Walker
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    May 19th 2015, 4:02 AM

    It’s always to easy to see who coaches ‘just like/don’t like’. When Gopperth played badly it was ignored whereas when Madigan played mediocre or even if Reid played well decisions went against them.

    It creates such a poisonous culture as some players start to feel entitled to spots and others feel it doesn’t matter how well they play they won’t get picked. Cody and Fergusson were masters at disregarding players identities and judging on match performance alone. MOC is such a stink manager.

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