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Jonathan Sexton will miss Leinster's clash with Montpellier. Morgan Treacy/INPHO
Absentees

No Sexton or O'Brien for Leinster's Champions Cup clash

Leo Cullen’s men are missing two big names ahead of their Champions Cup opener.

KEY PLAYERS JONATHAN Sexton and Sean O’Brien are unavailable for Leinster’s upcoming Champions Cup opener against Montpellier at the RDS Arena.

Sexton is suffering from a dead leg and so will play no part in tomorrow’s match, while O’Brien has not yet recovered from a calf issue picked up against Edinburgh.

There is good news elsewhere, however, as Isa Nacewa returns from injury to captain the side at centre.

The back three who featured against Munster are retained, with Joey Carbery at fullback along with Adam Byrne and Barry Daly at right and left-wing respectively.

Robbie Henshaw joins Nacewa in the centre, while Ross Byrne is in at outhalf for the injured Sexton and Luke McGrath keeps his place at scrum half.

There are no changes in the pack — Jack McGrath, James Tracy and Tadhg Furlong all start, with Devin Toner and Scott Fardy featuring in the second row.

Rhys Ruddock, Josh van der Flier and Jack Conan are also included, while Noel Reid has recovered from injury to take his place on the bench.

Meanwhile, the visitors will have to cope without New Zealand international Aaron Cruden.

According to L’Equipe, Cruden is likely to absent for several weeks with a torn quad.

The match kicks off at 1pm and will be shown live on Sky Sports.

Leinster:

15. Joey Carbery
14. Adam Byrne
13. Robbie Henshaw
12. Isa Nacewa (captain)
11. Barry Daly
10. Ross Byrne
9. Luke McGrath

1. Jack McGrath
2. James Tracy
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Devin Toner
5. Scott Fardy
6. Rhys Ruddock
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Jack Conan

Replacements

16. Seán Cronin
17. Cian Healy
18. Michael Bent
19. Ross Molony
20. Jordi Murphy
21. Jamison Gibson-Park
22. Noel Reid
23. Fergus McFadden

Montpellier

15. Jesse Mogg
14. Benjamin Fall
13. Joseph Tomane
12. Frans Steyn
11. Nemani Nadolo
10. Thomas Darmon
9. Ruan Pienaar

1. Mikheil Nariashvili
2. Bismarck Du Plessis
3. Antoine Guillamon
4. Jacques Du Plessis
5. Nicholaas Van Rensburg
6. Kelian Galletier
7. Yacouba Camara
8. Louis Picamoles

Replacements

16. Romain Ruffenach
17. Yvan Watremez
18. Davit Kubriashvili
19. Julien Delannoy
20. Wiaan Liebenberg
21. Benoit Paillaugue
22. Timoci Nagusa
23. Joffrey Michel

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