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Rugby

27th May 2016

Leinster rocked with injury blow on eve of Guinness PRO12 final

Able deputy though

Patrick McCarry

Leinster go into the Guinness PRO12 final without one of their best ever players.

Leo Cullen has been able to call back Rob Kearney to the Leinster team after he missed the semi-final win over Ulster.

Unfortunately, Isa Nacewa misses out after playing a huge role in that last four win. The Kiwi injured his ankle at the RDS and has not recovered in time to make the squad.

Devin Toner also misses out on the final, against Connacht, so former Ireland U20 Ross Molony steps up.

LEINSTER: Rob Kearney; Dave Kearney, Garry Ringrose, Ben Te’o, Luke Fitzgerald, Johnny Sexton, Eoin Reddan; Jack McGrath, Richard Strauss, Mike Ross; Ross Molony, Mick Kearney; Rhys Ruddock, Jordi Murphy, Jamie Heaslip (c)

Replacements: Sean Cronin, Peter Dooley, Tadhg Furlong, Hayden Triggs, Jack Conan, Luke McGrath, Ian Madigan, Zane Kirchner.

Jake Heenan celebrates after the game 7/5/2016

Connacht are able to name an unchanged team for the first time all season.

Pat Lam has gone with the same XV that beat Glasgow Warriors 16-11 in their semi-final. That means Ronan Loughney and Finlay Bealham start in the front row while Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw are in midfield one last time… until they play there for Ireland.

CONNACHT: Tiernan O’Halloran; Niyi Adeolokun, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, Matt Healy, AJ MacGinty, Kieran Marmion; Ronan Loughney, Tom McCartney, Finlay Bealham; Ultan Dillane, Aly Muldowney; Eoin McKeon, Jake Heenan, John Muldoon (c)

Replacements:  Dave Heffernan, JP Cooney, Rodney Ah You, Andrew Browne, Sean O’Brien, John Cooney, Shane O’Leary, Peter Robb.

The FootballJOE quiz: Were you paying attention? – episode 10