HARRY BYRNE HAS been named at out-half in a strong Leinster team for tomorrow’s Champions Cup meeting with Leicester Tigers at Welford Road [KO 3.15pm, TNT Sports].
Byrne starts as Ciarán Frawley misses out after suffering a back injury during last Saturday’s defeat of Stade Francais at Aviva Stadium.
The return of co-captain James Ryan in the second row is the only other change from the starting XV that lined out in Dublin last weekend.
Hugo Keenan continues at fullback with Jordan Larmour and James Lowe on the wings.
Co-captain Garry Ringrose partners Robbie Henshaw in midfield with Byrne joined by Jamison Gibson-Park in the half-backs.
Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong start in the front row with Ryan named alongside Joe McCarthy in the second row.
Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier and Caelan Doris start in the back row.
Ross Molony returns to the Leinster bench and is set for his first apperance since the New Year’s Day defeat to Ulster. With Frawley not included in the matchday 23, 20-year-old Sam Prendergast provides out-half cover.
Leinster are already qualified for the knock-out rounds of the Champions Cup but are looking to secure home advantage in the round of 16. Just one match point in defeat tomorrow would be enough to ensure Leo Cullen’s side top Pool 4 and have home advantage in the round of 16 at least.
The Tigers and Stormers are both on nine points in Pool 4.
Leicester Tigers:
- 15 Freddie Steward
- 14 Harry Simmons
- 13 Matt Scott
- 12 Dan Kelly
- 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins
- 10 Handré Pollard
- 9 Tom Whiteley
- 1 James Cronin
- 2 Julián Montoya (capt)
- 3 Joe Heyes
- 4 Harry Wells
- 5 Ollie Chessum
- 6 Hanro Liebenberg
- 7 Tommy Reffell
- 8 Jasper Wiese
Replacements:
- 16 Archie Vanes
- 17 Francois van Wyk
- 18 Will Hurd
- 19 Sam Carter
- 20 Kyle Hatherell
- 21 Ben Youngs
- 22 Jamie Shillcock
- 23 Solomone Kata
Leinster:
- 15. Hugo Keenan
- 14. Jordan Larmour
- 13. Garry Ringrose (co-capt)
- 12. Robbie Henshaw
- 11. James Lowe
- 10. Harry Byrne
- 9. Jamison Gibson-Park
- 1. Andrew Porter
- 2. Dan Sheehan
- 3. Tadhg Furlong
- 4. Joe McCarthy
- 5. James Ryan (co-capt)
- 6. Ryan Baird
- 7. Josh van der Flier
- 8. Caelan Doris
Replacements:
- 16. Rónan Kelleher
- 17. Cian Healy
- 18. Michael Ala’alatoa
- 19. Ross Molony
- 20. Jack Conan
- 21. Luke McGrath
- 22. Sam Prendergast
- 23. Tommy O’Brien
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR)
