Minor changes on the eastern front
Ahead of his team’s final Champions Cup pool encounter, against Wasps, Matt O’Connor has largely kept faith with the Leinster XV that filleted Castres last weekend. The only changes are Dominic Ryan [in at blindside for Jack Conan] and Kane Douglas coming into the second row in place of Mike McCarthy.
The Australian has been fortunate to select from a squad that has been relatively settled since the turn of the year. There had been teasing, optimistic talk of a return for either Cian Healy or Sean O’Brien, on Monday, but those hopes were dashed 24 hours later. Instead, Michael Bent will continue at loose-head while Jordi Murphy shall, once again, don the No.7 jersey in the Leinster back row.
A win over Wasps at the Ricoh Arena, in Coventry, will guarantee Leinster a home quarter-final, while a losing bonus point will see them into the knock-out stages.
LEINSTER XV (v Wasps): R. Kearney; McFadden, Fitzgerald, Madigan, D. Kearney; Gopperth, Reddan; Bent, Cronin, Moore; Toner, Douglas; Ryan, Murphy, Heaslip (c).
Replacements: Strauss, Hagan, Furlong, McCarthy, Conan, I Boss, D’Arcy, Fanning.
Ulster, meanwhile, named Iain Henderson in their second row for their Champions Cup finalé, this season, at home to Leicester Tigers. The 22-year-old was named in Ireland’s extended Six Nations squad, on Thursday, and will be hoping to gain match fitness following hip surgery, last year, and an extended spell on the sidelines. Luke Marshall, who has recovered from a recent concussion, is named inside centre.
ULSTER XV (v Leicester): J Payne; T Bowe, D Cave, L Marshall, C Gilroy; I Humphreys, R Pienaar; C Black, R Best (c), W Herbst; A O’Connor, F Van der Merwe; I Henderson, M McComish, R Wilson.
Munster have neglected to promote youth for their final Champions Cup clash with Sale Sharks. Anthony Foley has selected an experienced side and given his players an opportunity to avenge their defeat to Saracens last week.
MUNSTER XV (v Sale): Zebo; Conway, Earls, Hurley, R. O’Mahony; Keatley, Williams; Cronin,Casey, Botha; Foley, O’Connell; Dave O’Callaghan, O’Donnell, O’Mahony (c).
‘And what of Connacht?!’ we hear you ask. Well, Mils Muliaina has been bestowed with the the captaincy for their away day with La Rochelle. It will be the first time in Connacht’s history that an All Black will lead them out. The midfield department is sparse so Pat Lam has plumped for Conor Finn and Danie Poolman as his respective inside and outside centres.
CONNACHT XV (v La Rochelle): M Muliaina (c), D Leader, D Poolman, C Finn, M Healy; J Carty, K Marmion; R Louhgney, T McCartney, N White; Q Roux, A Browne; E McKeon, W Faloon, G Naoupu.
