ULSTER AND LEINSTER have named their teams for tomorrow’s URC derby in Kingspan Stadium [KO 7.35pm, Premier Sports/TG4], with James Ryan and Hugo Keenan both returning to the Leinster starting team.
It will be Ryan’s first appearance in three months – and first for Leinster since January – after rupturing his bicep during Ireland’s Six Nations campaign.
Keenan has been struggling with a hip injury, and last played in Leinster’s Champions Cup round of 16 defeat of Leicester Tiger in early April.
There is no place in the Leinster matchday squad for Garry Ringrose, who continues to rehab a shoulder injury.
Ulster will be captained by Alan O’Conor, who lines out alongside Kieran Treadwell in the second row.
Tom O’Toole returns at tighthead for Ulster, with Rob Herring and Eric O’Sullivan also named in the front row.
An unchanged back row sees Cormac Izuchukwu continue at blindside flanker, with David McCann at openside and Nick Timoney at number eight.
Ethan McIlroy starts at fullback with Jacob Stockdale and Mike Lowry on the wings.
Stuart McCloskey and Will Addison start in midfield, with John Cooney and Billy Burns the starting half-backs.
Keenan starts at fullback for Leinster, with Tommy O’Brien and Rob Russell on the wings.
Jimmy O’Brien moves to centre, where he is partnered by Charlie Ngatai.
Harry Byrne takes over from older brother Ross at out-half, with Cormac Foley named at scrum-half.
Cian Healy, Rónan Kelleher and Michael Ala’alatoa start in the front row, while Ryan returns to captain the team alongside Brian Deeny in the second row.
Jack Conan starts at number eight with Max Deegan and Will Connors completing the Leinster backrow.
Ulster:
15. Ethan McIlroy
14. Mike Lowry
13. Will Addison
12. Stuart McCloskey
11. Jacob Stockdale
10. Billy Burns
9 John Cooney
1. Eric O’Sullivan
2. Rob Herring
3. Tom O’Toole
4. Kieran Treadwell
5. Alan O’Connor (capt)
6. Cormac Izuchukwu
7. David McCann
8. Nick Timoney
Replacements:
16. Tom Stewart
17. Andy Warwick
18. Scott Wilson
19. Harry Sheridan
20. Matty Rea
21. Nathan Doak
22. Stewart Moore
23. Jude Postlethwaite
Leinster:
15. Hugo Keenan
14. Tommy O’Brien
13. Jimmy O’Brien
12. Charlie Ngatai
11. Rob Russell
10. Harry Byrne
9. Cormac Foley
1. Cian Healy
2. Rónan Kelleher
3. Michael Ala’alatoa
4. James Ryan (capt)
5. Brian Deeny
6. Max Deegan
7. Will Connors
8. Jack Conan
Replacements:
16. John McKee
17. Michael Milne
18. Thomas Clarkson
19. Ross Molony
20. Scott Penny
21. Luke McGrath
22. Sam Prendergast
23. Ben Brownlee
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR)
Keenan and Ryan back is massive!
@Oran Burns: Gives them a chance to prove their fitness before the Toulouse game. Overall it’s a second string Leinster team. That might bite them in the ass as it did against Munster in the URC semi-final last year.
@TL55: the one thing about munster magnificent league title win last season was it was done away from home and as such didn’t allow munster to really cash in on that run. Cullen is really gambling with this team and the chance of home knock out games could disappear if they fall short up in ulster. If munster claim first or second spot they will cash in and really have a massive shout at retaining the title.
@chris mcdonnell: we all know that next week is what matters to Leinster. They’ll more than back themselves anywhere against anyone in the URC. Ulster will be fired up as always, can’t be risking the irreplaceables like the front row, or Gibson-Park in that context. All it takes is something stupid like a head knock and they’d be out of the final
Even though Leinster’s backs are mainly second choice they have serious speed. Indeed maybe overall faster than the first choice players. In fairness Ulster have class backs as well but I believe if Leinster get fast ball the two O’Briens and Keenan will cause Ulster serious problems.
@Tom Reilly: Russell has enough pace to burn on the outside as well, and Ngatai should be able to get go forward ball. It actually looks like quite a well balanced backline in attack on the face of it.
Expect Ryan and Keenan will each only play c. 50 mins at which point Brownlee will likely come on at 13 (O’Brien to 15) which could cause some problems in decence
Good team but don’t like the bench. We need 5 points tomo to hope we get top spot + a few need some gametime pre the final, McCarthy and Lowe won’t have played since the NH match. My Bench would have been:
16. John McKee
17. Michael Milne
18. Thomas Clarkson
19. McCarthy
20. Baird
21. Luke McGrath
22. Frawley (give him more minutes at 15 in case he’s needed)
23. Lowe
@Andrew Slazenger: McCarthy took a knock at the end of the Northampton game and it’s first season as a full starter for both Ireland and Leinster, I wouldn’t be worried about his minutes.
Lowe is always carefully managed because of his arthritis
@Andrew Slazenger: great to have those 2 back but frawley needs game time at 10 because if Ross does a Ross and plays hide ans seek in the final again Leo will need to make that change.
Saying that Leo didn’t change him last year and again v Northampton closed his eyes and crossed his fingers that we would win in spite of Ross going missing
@chris mcdonnell: Chris you have been pulled up numerous times about making snidey remarks about Ross Byrne. Try and be a better person
@Diarmuid O’Rourke: it’s hard when no matter how poor he is Leo won’t swap him. It’s another champions Cup at stake and we are blindly going to the same space as we did last season. If the Northampton game wasn’t an eye-opener I’m not sure what is.
@teuO6nLS: Yes true but the point about making sure we win the game still stands. Gosh I didn’t know about Lowe’s arthritis!
@chris mcdonnell: watched the NH game a couple of times and genuinely didn’t think he had a bad game (apart from the missed kicks)
Was a team issue rather than an individual.
@Oran Burns: Even at that, Leinster were very good for 55 / 60 mins. Whilst that’s not good enough at this level, it has to been taken into perspective. If Byrne lands his kicks in that game, we are 24 points in front rather than 16 and I think the tactics would not have become so cautious. Calls for Frawley in that instance are laughable as he is a 70% kicker at best.
A week too soon for Ringrose….
@Andrew Martin Farrell: for about the twelfth week running
Welcome back, big Cheese
HAIL
Should be a good game, great opportunity for Harry to get on Leos radar for the European Final.
I think Ulster could nick this if they come in all fired up, lack of experience in certain positions could undo Leinster
@Owen ODonoghue: bookies have it 50:50, an Ulster win thought would be massive as it looks like a lot of teams in playoff chase could drop points this weekend. Connacht/Stormers, Edinburgh, Bulls/Benneton, Lions.
I expect Ulster to have at least parity at scrum time