Henshaw To Make His Leinster Debut In Interpro Clash

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has announced his team to take on Munster in round 6 of the GUINNESS PRO12 at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 2.05pm).

Ticket sales have gone over the 39,000 mark, with tickets still on sale from www.leinsterrugby.ie/tickets and with a Ticketmaster van positioned on Lansdowne Road on match day from 11am.

There are 11 changes in total to the Leinster team that accounted for Cardiff Blues last Saturday, with a number of internationals coming back into the fold and a first start in Leinster colours for Westmeath native Robbie Henshaw. 

Rob Kearney comes back from a knee injury sustained in the round 2 game against Glasgow Warriors to take his place at full-back. Rory O’Loughlin is stationed on the right wing for his first home start with captain Isa Nacewa on the left.

Garry Ringrose returns to don the number 13 jersey having missed the trip to Cardiff, and Henshaw makes his debut beside him at inside centre. The 23-year-old, who joined Leinster in the summer, has 22 caps for Ireland and is returning from a shoulder injury picked up during June’s summer tour to South Africa. 

Luke McGrath comes back into the starting line-up at scrum half, with Jonathan Sexton outside him after his man-of-the-match performance in the Welsh capital last weekend.

In the pack, there is a new front row with Ireland internationals Cian Healy, Sean Cronin and Tadhg Furlong packing down together. Devin Toner is partnered in the second row by Cork native and former Munster player Ian Nagle who makes his first home appearance for Leinster. 

Rhys Ruddock starts at blindside flanker with Jordi Murphy at openside, while number 8 Jamie Heaslip will make his 221st appearance for Leinster. He will equal Leo Cullen’s 221 in moving into joint-second place on the all-time appearance table. Gordon D’Arcy is still the province’s most-capped player with 261 appearances.

LEINSTER (v Munster): Rob Kearney; Rory O’Loughlin, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, Isa Nacewa (capt); Jonathan Sexton, Luke McGrath; Cian Healy, Sean Cronin, Tadhg Furlong, Devin Toner, Ian Nagle, Rhys Ruddock, Jordi Murphy, Jamie Heaslip.

Replacements: James Tracy, Jack McGrath, Mike Ross, Ross Molony, Dan Leavy, Jamison Gibson Park, Joey Carbery, Noel Reid.