DAN SHEEHAN CAPTAINS Leinster on his first appearance this season, as the province take on the Stormers in the URC on Saturday at the Aviva Stadium (KO: 5pm, TG4 and Premier Sports 1).
Sheehan has been out since July, when he suffered an ACL injury during Irelandโs first test against South Africa.
๐ ๐๐ค๐ค๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ค'๐จ ๐๐๐๐ ...
โ Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) January 24, 2025
๐ Here is the Leinster team to take on @THESTORMERS in our @URCOfficial clash at Aviva Stadium tomorrow! #LEIvSTO #NeverLessThanEverything pic.twitter.com/OX5Sfx62e8
Henry McErlean is also set for his first outing of the campaign at full-back, with Paddy McCarthy hoping to come off the bench for his first minutes of the season.
James Lowe also makes a return from injury to take his place in a Leinster team for the first time since October and Will Connors has been named among the replacements after recovering from a hamstring injury.
โโAcademy duo McErlean and Andrew Osborne complete the back three.
With a combined total of nearly 400 Leinster appearances under their belts, Ross Byrne and Luke McGrath provide experience in the half-back positions.
Jordie Barrett retains his place at 12 following last Saturdayโs 47-21 win over Bath in the Champions Cup and he is partnered in the centre by Liam Turner.
In the pack, Rabah Slimani and Max Deegan keep their places in the starting XV, although the latter shifts over from flanker to No 8.
Jack Boyle joins Slimani and Sheehan in the front row, with RG Snyman and Brian Deeny offering the support from the second row. Alex Soroka and Scott Penny have been named on the flanks.
John McKee and Rory McGuire join Paddy McCarthy in offering front row reinforcements while Diarmuid Mangan and James Culhane take their place among the replacements.
Our team to take on Leinster in the @Vodacom #URC at the Aviva on Saturday night โ๏ธ
โ DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) January 24, 2025
๐ข Team announcement https://t.co/43txTUBMsw#LEIvSTO #iamastormer pic.twitter.com/WCtGJKwPWs
Will Connors returns from his injury layoff to complete a 6:2 split on the Leinster bench, with Cormac Foley and Charlie Tector providing the backline cover.
Due to travel disruptions as a result of Storm รowyn, Eoghan Cross has been appointed as referee for this game to replace Andrea Piardi.
Leinster:
15. Henry McErlean
14. Andrew Osborne
13. Liam Turner
12. Jordie Barrett
11. James Lowe
10. Ross Byrne
9. Luke McGrath
1. Jack Boyle
2. Dan Sheehan (Capt)
3. Rabah Slimani
4. RG Snyman
5. Brian Deeny
6. Alex Soroka
7. Scott Penny
8. Max Deegan
Replacements:
16. John McKee
17. Paddy McCarthy
18. Rory McGuire
19. Diarmuid Mangan
20. James Culhane
21. Will Connors
22. Cormac Foley
23. Charlie Tector
Ref: Eoghan Cross (IRFU)
Oh boo hoo. Sad story
Its okay stevie thereโs plenty that donโt belive in you
Nice to see the $cum fans are still around
Why are the English obsessed with this captain rubbish,who cares 11 players on a pitch,something on your sleeve makes no difference whatsoever
@tom Ryan exactly! ooh i have a big C on my arm so now you have to listen to me :( as if when hes not the captain he just shuts up and kicks a ball
England may actually do well in this tournament. The pressure seems to at an all time low, the media circus isnโt quiet in full swing and the squad seems a lot more casual than previous tournaments, especially under Capello in 2010
Yep I gotta say theyโve finally learned about being humble, and it actually makes them kind of (dare I say it) likeable.
Adrian just a tad too farโฆ. How shall I put itโฆ. Not as unbearable to listen to
Probably because youโre one of the most overrated players to ever step onto a diving soccerball pitch.
Stupid comment
What are u talking about Barry
England look reasonably capable up front. Itโs at the back against the first decent opposition that they are going to be found out.
Excuses excuses
Gerrard is massively overrated!
Poor Steven !!
Too caught up in an armband! Should be honoured just to play for his country. Very self centred IMO.
What a great judge of players fabio was
And there I was thinking Capello didnโt have a clue !! Silly me