Leinster are determined to finish their Champions Cup pool in a positive manner, with some of their brightest young talents given a chance to shine against Bath at the RDS.
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS CUP – POOL 5: Saturday, January 16
LEINSTER (4th) v BATH (3rd), the RDS, 5.30pm (live Sky Sports 3 HD/beIN Sports/RTÉ Radio 1/highlights TG4)
Team News: The selected Leinster team is very much a mix of youth and experience with six players – Garry Ringrose, Luke McGrath, Peter Dooley, James Tracy, Tadhg Furlong and Ross Molony – making their first European starts. Three of them are still in the Leinster Academy and Dooley and Molony will be making their full European debuts.
Zane Kirchner, the 31-times capped Springbok comes in at full-back, with Isa Nacewa captaining Leinster from the right wing and Dave Kearney, who scored two tries last weekend against the Ospreys, on the left.
In the centre Ben Te’o and Ringrose are once again selected having performed well together in the recent interprovincial victory over Connacht, while Luke McGrath makes his first European start at scrum half in what will be his 38th cap for the province, alongside Ian Madigan.
It is a new-look front row with Dooley, Tracy and Furlong starting for the first time in the Champions Cup. Similarly to McGrath, Furlong has 39 Leinster caps to his name to date, but Saturday will be his first European start having come off the bench in six European games up until now, scoring one try against Castres Olympique last season.
Mike McCarthy is joined by Molony in the second row, while in the back row Rhys Ruddock starts at blindside flanker, with Josh van der Flier at openside. Jordi Murphy completes the pack from number 8.
With 14,500 tickets sold, tickets for the Leinster v Bath fixture are still on sale from leinsterrugby.ie and from the ticket office on matchday from 4pm.
The Leinster Rugby Student Pass is also available for this weekend’s match with student tickets as low as €;10 – all you have to do is sign up at leinsterrugbystudentpass.com to get matchday specials for all our home games!
Finally, the Leinster Rugby App Random Rewards are also available for the Bath game – make sure to download the App and check your emails to see if you were one of the lucky ones selected to be in with a chance of winning free Leinster loot…but be quick…if you get that email, redeem as soon as possible as it is first come, first served!
Meanwhile, Bath boss Mike Ford have named an unchanged starting line-up to face Leinster in Dublin, sticking with the side that picked up a losing bonus point away to Toulon.
In the backs, Anthony Watson continues at full-back, with Matt Banahan and Semesa Rokoduguni once again starting out wide on the wings. Chris Cook and George Ford are retained at half-back and fresh from lining out against Mathieu Bastareaud and Ma’a Nonu in the south of France, Kyle Eastmond and Jonathan Joseph fill the centre berths once more.
Max Lahiff, Rob Webber and David Wilson are named together in the front row, while captain Stuart Hooper partners Dominic Day in the second row, and the back row once again consists of Matt Garvey, Francois Louw and number 8 Leroy Houston.
LEINSTER: Zane Kirchner; Isa Nacewa (capt), Garry Ringrose, Ben Te’o, Dave Kearney; Ian Madigan, Luke McGrath; Peter Dooley, James Tracy, Tadhg Furlong, Ross Molony, Mike McCarthy, Rhys Ruddock, Josh van der Flier, Jordi Murphy.
Replacements: Sean Cronin, Jack McGrath, Martin Moore, Tom Denton, Sean O’Brien, Eoin Reddan, Jonathan Sexton, Noel Reid.
BATH: Anthony Watson; Semesa Rokoduguni, Jonathan Joseph, Kyle Eastmond, Matt Banahan; George Ford, Chris Cook; Max Lahiff, Rob Webber, David Wilson, Stuart Hooper (capt), Dominic Day, Matt Garvey, Francois Louw, Leroy Houston.
Replacements: Ross Batty, Nick Auterac, Henry Thomas, Charlie Ewels, David Denton, Jonathan Evans, Rhys Priestland, Tom Homer.
Referee: Pascal Gauzere (France)
Assistant Referees: Malcolm Chalon, Jean-Luc Rebollal (both France)
Television Match Official: Eric Gonthier (France)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Leinster to win: 8/5; Draw: 17/1; Bath to win: 8/15
Pre-Match Quotes: Kurt McQuilkin (Leinster) – “It’s about even more than that (avoiding fifth consecutive defeat)…to gain some sort of momentum. We want to keep that momentum up. We want to keep that going but obviously Europe you are playing quality sides.
“It’s another big test for us this weekend and we are really looking forward to the challenge. It’s as tough as it’s going to be. We’re motivated, we want to keep performing. We just want to keep that momentum rolling. Yeah it’s a dead rubber but we want to perform for our supporters at home against a top side in Bath.
“Even though this is a dead rubber you cherish these matches, these quality teams coming and playing in your back yard.
“It’s still a huge challenge and something we are looking forward to. Definitely we’ll get out there and give it out level best and try and put on a performance for our loyal supporters out there.
“Watching Bath perform against Toulon (last weekend) we know exactly what they are going to bring, so it will be another rugged, physical encounter. We’re obviously going to have to be aware of their pace out in the wider channels. Its going to be a huge challenge.
“It’s a case for us now of finishing out this European pool. Finishing it on a good note, and then stepping up for what will be a very big game also against the Dragons in a couple of weeks.
“There’s no intention of putting out any second-rate side. We are going to put out the best team available to us, the best team we think can do a job for us this weekend.”
Mike Ford (Bath) – “We have nine points and two matches left to play. We can still qualify, but we have to win our last two games. We had the edge and we showed heart and the will to win against Toulon so it was gutting to lose.”
Current Form – Leinster – (GUINNESS PRO12): Lost 16-9 away to Edinburgh; Won 23-15 at home to Cardiff Blues; Won 37-13 at home to Newport Gwent Dragons; Lost 25-14 away to the Scarlets; Won 23-18 at home to Glasgow Warriors; Won 27-3 away to Benetton Treviso; Won 19-15 at home to the Scarlets; (European Champions Cup): Lost 33-6 away to Wasps; Lost 19-16 away to Bath; (GUINNESS PRO12): Won 8-3 at home to Ulster; (European Champions Cup): Lost 24-9 away to Toulon; Lost 20-16 at home to Toulon; (GUINNESS PRO12): Won 24-7 away to Munster; Won 13-0 at home to Connacht; Won 22-9 away to the Ospreys
Bath – (Aviva Premiership): Won 19-17 at home to Exeter Chiefs; Lost 16-9 away to Wasps; Lost 38-28 at home to Harlequins; Won 45-14 away to London Irish; (European Champions Cup): Won 19-16 at home to Leinster; (Aviva Premiership): Lost 21-11 away to Leicester Tigers; Lost 13-11 at home to Northampton Saints; (European Champions Cup): Won 25-23 away to Wasps; Lost 36-10 at home to Wasps; (Aviva Premiership): Won 21-14 at home to Worcester Warriors; Lost 19-14 away to Newcastle Falcons; (European Champions Cup): Lost 12-9 away to Toulon
Top Scorers – 2015/16 European Champions Cup: Leinster – Points: Jonathan Sexton 37; Tries: Josh van der Flier 1; Bath – Points: George Ford 38; Tries: Anthony Watson, Jonathan Joseph, Matt Banahan, Semesa Rokoduguni 1 each
Previous European Meetings: 8
Sunday, November 21, 2015 – Pool 5 – Bath 19 Leinster 16, Recreation Ground
Saturday, April 4, 2015 – Quarter-final – Leinster 18 Bath 15, Aviva Stadium
Saturday, December 17, 2011 – Pool 3 – Leinster 52 Bath 27, Aviva Stadium
Sunday, December 11, 2011 – Pool 3 – Bath 13 Leinster 18, Recreation Ground
Sunday, January 22, 2006 – Pool 5 – Bath 23 Leinster 35, Recreation Ground
Saturday, October 22, 2005 – Pool 5 – Leinster 19 Bath 22, the RDS
Saturday, January 8, 2005 – Pool 2 – Bath 23 Leinster 27, Recreation Ground
Saturday, October 30, 2004 – Pool 2 – Leinster 30 Bath 11, Lansdowne Road
Match Facts –
– Including last year’s semi-final defeat to Toulon, Leinster have now lost five Champions Cup games on the bounce, their worst ever run of form in the competition
– If Leinster lose this game it will be the first time they have lost three home fixtures in a row in the competition
– Bath have lost six of seven away games against Irish opposition in this competition, three of those defeats have come at the hands of Leinster
– This will be the ninth time these two teams have faced off, the Irish province having won six of the previous eight encounters (L2)
European Cup Records:
Leinster –
2014/15: Reached the semi-finals
2013/14: Reached the quarter-finals
2012/13: Failed to qualify from Pool 5
2011/12: Champions
2010/11: Champions
2009/10: Reached the semi-finals
2008/09: Champions
2007/08: Failed to qualify from Pool 6
2006/07: Reached the quarter-finals
2005/06: Reached the semi-finals
2004/05: Reached the quarter-finals
2003/04: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
2002/03: Reached the semi-finals
2001/02: Reached the quarter-finals
2000/01: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
1999/00: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
1998/99: Failed to qualify from Pool A
1997/98: Failed to qualify from Pool A
1996/97: Failed to qualify from Pool B
1995/96: Reached the semi-finals
Bath –
2014/15: Reached the quarter-finals
2011/12: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
2010/11: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
2009/10: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
2008/09: Reached the quarter-finals
2005/06: Reached the semi-finals
2004/05: Failed to qualify from Pool 2
2001/02: Reached the quarter-finals
2000/01: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
1999/00: Failed to qualify from Pool 2
1997/98: Champions
1996/97: Reached the quarter-finals
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