Leinster Make Eight Changes For Glasgow Trip
Ahead of the Captain’s Run this afternoon, Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has announced his team for Friday’s GUINNESS PRO12 game against Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun Stadium (kick-off 7.35pm).
This round 9 fixture was originally fixed for early December but a waterlogged pitch in Scotstoun led to a postponement only hours before kick-off.
There are eight changes to the Leinster side that accounted for the Ospreys last time out, with a welcome return from injury for Ireland international Dave Kearney while Academy back Joey Carbery is in line to make his debut from the bench.
Zane Kirchner lines out at full-back for his 12th start of the season, with Isa Nacewa captaining the province from the right wing and Kearney coming onto the left for his first appearance since injuring his shoulder in Ireland’s recent Six Nations clash against France.
In the centre, Leo Cullen has again gone with Ben Te’o and Garry Ringrose, while in the half-backs Luke McGrath and Cathal Marsh will start at nine and ten respectively.
In the pack it is a new front row combination with Peter Dooley, James Tracy and Tadhg Furlong packing down. Locks Mick Kearney and Hayden Triggs start together for only the second time this season.
Dominic Ryan starts at blindside flanker having won his 100th Leinster cap last time out against the Ospreys, with the try scorer from that same game, Dan Leavy, and Jordi Murphy completing the pack.
Among the replacements, Clontarf out-half Joey Carbery is in line to make his first appearance for the senior team having played for the Leinster ‘A’ team last weekend against London Welsh, scoring 14 points with the boot.
Leinster Rugby have also announced that 35,000 tickets have now been sold for the April 2 derby against Munster at the Aviva Stadium. Tickets for the interprovincial encounter are still available at leinsterrugby.ie/tickets.
LEINSTER (v Glasgow Warriors): Zane Kirchner; Isa Nacewa (capt), Garry Ringrose, Ben Te’o, Dave Kearney; Cathal Marsh, Luke McGrath; Peter Dooley, James Tracy, Tadhg Furlong, Mick Kearney, Hayden Triggs, Dominic Ryan, Dan Leavy, Jordi Murphy.
Replacements: Bryan Byrne, Jeremy Loughman, Michael Bent, Ross Molony, Peadar Timmins, Isaac Boss, Joey Carbery, Noel Reid.