Dear God, Leinster are throwing out the brightest and best here.
The Champions Cup returns on Friday and champions Leinster kick off their defence against English side Wasps at The RDS (7:45pm kick-off, BT Sport).
Leo Cullen and Stuart Lancaster have overseen a decent start to the Guinness PRO14 season, five wins from six, and are clearly determined to send out another statement.
Leinster’s starting XV has three big calls. To start, Scott Fardy is left on the bench, with Devin Toner and James Ryan in the second row.
Sean O’Brien has to settle for a place on the bench as the Leinster back row contains Dan Leavy (blindside), Josh van der Flier (openside) and Jack Conan at No.8.
The other big call sees Jordan Larmour and James Lowe starting on the respective right and left wings. That means Joe Tomane must ride the pine and hope to make an impact later in the game.
Elsewhere, Johnny Sexton returns to partner scrum-half Luke McGrath. Garry Ringrose missed the PRO14 win over Munster but he is also back, and partnering Robbie Henshaw in midfield.
LEINSTER
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. Dan Leavy
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Jack Conan
Replacements: James Tracy, Jack McGrath, Andrew Porter, Scott Fardy, Seán O’Brien, Nick McCarthy, Ross Byrne, Joe Tomane.
Wasps have also named their matchday squad for the contest, with Willie Le Roux, Juan De Jongh, Brad Shields and Lima Sopoaga their marqueé names.
🗞️ TEAM NEWS | @brad_shields, @LimaSopoaga and @wjjleroux are all back to start against @leinsterrugby on Friday night in the @ChampionsCup opener 👊
➡️ https://t.co/nklGrkIY1m pic.twitter.com/O4kEXnocOe
— Wasps Rugby (@WaspsRugby) October 11, 2018
LEINSTER vs. WASPS kicks off at 7:45pm on BT Sport, which is part of the eir Sport packgage.
