O'Brien ruled out with hamstring injury as Nacewa wins 50th European cap

Rhys Ruddock gets the nod ahead of Josh van der Flier in the back row.

Updated 12.44pm

SEAN O’BRIEN WILL miss Leinster’s Champions Cup semi-final against Clermont on Sunday in Lyon [KO 3pm Irish time, Sky Sports] after being ruled out with a hamstring injury.

Dan Leavy starts in the seven shirt, with Rhys Ruddock named on the blindside flank.

Sean O’Brien Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

Meanwhile, Leinster captain Isa Nacewa will win his 50th European cap for the province in Sunday’s semi-final.

Head coach Leo Cullen has opted for a similar team to the one that beat Wasps in the quarter-finals, although Fergus McFadden starts on the right wing, with Adam Byrne missing out on selection.

Leinster have confirmed that Byrne is fit, so the exciting wing will be hugely disappointed to miss out on even being involved in the match day squad, with Zane Kirchner instead covering the backline from the bench.

Sean Cronin, Josh van der Flier and Jamison Gibson-Park should provide some impact off the bench against Clermont, while Peter Dooley comes into the matchday squad in place of the suspended Cian Healy.

Meanwhile, Clermont have been boosted by the fitness of lock Sébastien Vahaamahina, hooker Benjamin Kayser and prop Davit Zirakashvili – all of whom were injury doubts for the semi-final.

Leinster:

15. Joey Carbery
14. Fergus McFadden
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Robbie Henshaw
11. Isa Nacewa (captain)
10. Johnny Sexton
9. Luke McGrath

1. Jack McGrath
2. Richardt Strauss
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Devin Toner
5. Hayden Triggs
6. Rhys Ruddock
7. Dan Leavy
8. Jack Conan

Replacements:

16. Seán Cronin
17. Peter Dooley
18. Michael Bent
19. Ross Molony
20. Josh van der Flier
21. Jamison Gibson-Park
22. Ross Byrne
23. Zane Kirchner

Clermont:

15. Scott Spedding
14. David Strettle
13. Aurelien Rougerie
12. Remi Lamerat
11. Nick Abendanon
10. Camille Lopez
9. Morgan Parra

1. Raphael Chaume
2. Benjamin Kayser
3. Davit Zirakashvili
4. Arthur Iturria
5. Sébastien Vahaamahina
6. Damien Chouly (captain)
7. Peceli Yato
8. Fritz Lee

Replacements:

16. John Ulugia
17. Etienne Falgoux
18. Aaron Jarvis
19. Paul Jedrasiak
20. Alexandre Lapandry
21. Ludovic Radosavljevic
22. Patricio Fernandez
23. Damien Penaud

Referee: Nigel Owens [WRU].

- This article was updated at 12.44pm to add the Clermont team and clarify that Adam Byrne was available for selection.

O'Brien ruled out with hamstring injury as Nacewa wins 50th European cap

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