O’Brien To Lead Leinster In Interpro Clash
The Leinster team to face Ulster in the Bank of Ireland pre-season friendly at Tallaght Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 4pm) has been announced with Sean O'Brien captaining the side from number 8.
The Leinster team to face Ulster in the Bank of Ireland pre-season friendly at Tallaght Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 4pm) has been announced with Sean O’Brien captaining the side from number 8.
Sean O’Brien is one of 12 players to make their season’s bow in Tallaght with only three players retained from the team that started away to Northampton last weekend.
Head coach Matt O’Connor is looking to give as many players as possible game-time ahead of Saturday week’s visit to Glasgow Warriors in the opening round of the GUINNESS PRO12.
Young Clontarf hooker Bryan Byrne starts for the second week in a row but he has over 230 Leinster caps either side of him with Cian Healy and Mike Ross starting at loosehead and tighthead prop respectively.
Kevin McLaughlin and Mike McCarthy start in the second row with again a blend of youth and experience in the back row. The 21-year-old Jack Conan, who made one PRO12 appearance last season away to Cardiff, starts at blindside flanker with Shane Jennings at openside. O’Brien completes the pack.
In the backs, last week’s captain Jimmy Gopperth is selected at out-half with Luke McGrath donning the number 9 jersey.
Darragh Fanning is retained on the left wing with Fergus McFadden on the right, while Zane Kirchner takes the number 15 jersey.
Noel Reid and Brendan Macken start together in the centre, hoping to link up and repeat some of the impressive rugby that was shown in last season’s British & Irish Cup final.
Leinster will be bringing a large playing contingent with them on the day and substitutions will be confirmed at the venue on Saturday.
Tickets to Leinster v Ulster are still available at www.leinsterrugby.ie/tickets and they will also be available from a Ticketmaster van outside the venue, with kick-off at 4pm.
Parking for the game will be available in the Square Shopping Centre and free for anyone attending the game on Level Three. Please have your match ticket ready for inspection to avail of this offer.
LEINSTER (v Ulster): Zane Kirchner; Fergus McFadden, Brendan Macken, Noel Reid, Darragh Fanning; Jimmy Gopperth, Luke McGrath; Cian Healy, Bryan Byrne, Mike Ross, Kevin McLaughlin, Mike McCarthy, Jack Conan, Shane Jennings, Sean O’Brien (capt).
Replacements: to be confirmed.