FORMER ULSTER SCRUM-HALF Isaac Boss is in line to become the first player to win 100 caps with two provinces when he lines out for Leinster against the Warriors in Glasgow tomorrow evening in the opening round of the Guinness PRO12.
After 108 appearances for Ulster, it was against this weekend’s opposition that Boss made his debut for Leinster in September 2010, playing the full 80 minutes and scoring a try. He went on to play 28 more times that season scoring a further three PRO12 tries before picking up a Heineken Cup medal winners’ medal against Northampton.
This weekend he lines out in the familiar number nine jersey, with Jimmy Gopperth outside at ten.
In the pack, Sean Cronin makes a welcome return after undergoing surgery earlier in the summer, with international colleagues Cian Healy and Mike Ross either side.
In the second row, Ben Marshall starts his first PRO12 game since February 2013; Mike McCarthy starting his second season with the two-time defending champions beside him.
Having led the team out last weekend in Tallaght Stadium, Sean O’Brien is once again selected to captain the side from the base of the scrum with Dominic Ryan and Shane Jennings getting the nod at six and seven.
Noel Reid (who in the end didn’t play against Ulster) and Brendan Macken start in the centre, hoping to take their end of season B&I Cup form with them into the Guinness PRO12. St Mary’s Darragh Fanning starts on the left wing with Fergus McFadden again selected on the right.
Zane Kirchner who scored five tries in his debut season, starts at full back.
Kick-of tomorrow is 5.15
LEINSTER
15. Zane Kirchner
14. Fergus McFadden
13. Brendan Macken
12. Noel Reid
11. Darragh Fanning
10. Jimmy Gopperth
9. Isaac Boss
1. Cian Healy
2. Sean Cronin
3. Mike Ross
4. Ben Marshall
5. Mike McCarthy
6. Dominic Ryan
7. Shane Jennings
8. Sean O’Brien – Captain
BENCH
16. Bryan Byrne
17. Jack McGrath
18. Tadhg Furlong
19. Tom Denton
20. Kevin McLaughlin
21. Luke McGrath
22. Ian Madigan
23. Mick McGrath
