Nacewa, D’Arcy And Bent Included In Leinster Line-Up
Isa Nacewa has been handed his first start since returning to Leinster, featuring at full-back against Moseley RFC at Donnybrook on Friday (kick-off 7.30pm). Head coach Leo Cullen has made ten changes to the team that won away to Ulster last weekend.
Once again it is a mixture of youth and experience with three Academy players selected from the start in Adam Byrne, Peter Dooley and Peadar Timmins, while internationals Isa Nacewa, Gordon D’Arcy, Michael Bent, Mike McCarthy and Kevin McLaughlin are also selected in the starting line-up.
Nacewa starts at full-back in one of four changes to the back-line as Clontarf’s Mick McGrath comes in on the left wing with the aforementioned Adam Byrne retaining his place on the right after his try-scoring performance against Ulster.
It is a new centre partnership as D’Arcy joins Colm O’Shea in midfield, but it is as you were in the half-backs with Luke McGrath selected at scrum half and Cathal Marsh outside him at number 10.
There are a further six changes in the pack with only prop Dooley and second row Tom Denton retained from the side that lined out in Belfast. Dooley starts again at loosehead with Aaron Dundon at hooker and Bent at tighthead. Denton is joined in the second row by McCarthy.
An all-new back row is lead by captain McLaughlin at blindside flanker. The St. Mary’s College clubman makes his first appearance since the 21-11 win over Connacht at the RDS last December. A shoulder injury picked up early in the second half of that game effectively ruled him out for the rest of the season.
Dan Leavy, another try scorer from last week’s pre-season opener, starts at openside flanker while fellow former Ireland Under-20 international Timmins packs down at number 8.
The replacements will be selected from the following list of players – Bryan Byrne, Jamie Hagan, Royce Burke Flynn, Ross Molony, Dominic Ryan, Isaac Boss, Ross Byrne, Fergus McFadden, Tadhg Beirne, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan, Darragh Fanning, Noel Reid, Ben Te’o and Billy Dardis.
Tickets for the Leinster v Moseley game (starting at €;5 for children and €;10 for adults) are still on sale – click here for more information. Please note that tickets for the terrace can be bought at the gate on the night but stand tickets must be purchased in advance.
LEINSTER (v Moseley): Isa Nacewa; Adam Byrne, Colm O’Shea, Gordon D’Arcy, Mick McGrath; Cathal Marsh, Luke McGrath; Peter Dooley, Aaron Dundon, Michael Bent, Tom Denton, Mike McCarthy, Kevin McLaughlin (capt), Dan Leavy, Peadar Timmins.
Replacements (from): Bryan Byrne, Jamie Hagan, Royce Burke Flynn, Ross Molony, Dominic Ryan, Isaac Boss, Ross Byrne, Fergus McFadden, Tadhg Beirne, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan, Darragh Fanning, Noel Reid, Ben Te’o, Billy Dardis.