Hosting Scottish side Edinburgh, Leinster are back at the RDS for their first GUINNESS PRO12 home fixture since early January as they continue their pursuit of a home semi-final.
GUINNESS PRO12: Friday, February 17
LEINSTER (3rd) v EDINBURGH (9th), the RDS, 7.35pm (live TG4/BBC ALBA)
Team News: Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has made eight changes to the team that will take on Edinburgh in the GUINNESS PRO12 at the RDS tonight.
With the second-placed Ospreys hosting table toppers Munster on Saturday, tonight’s game is a massive opportunity for third-placed Leinster as they look to keep the pressure on the PRO12 pacesetters.
With a number of Ireland players available to Cullen they have been drafted in from the start, while others only back from injury last weekend against Benetton Treviso are also given the chance to impress. In total, there are 11 internationals in the Leinster starting line-up.
On the occasion of his 80th provincial cap, Zane Kirchner continues at full-back with Dave Kearney again selected on the wing having scored tries 20 and 21 of his Leinster career in his comeback game last week against Treviso. However, with UCD’s Barry Daly coming in on the left wing, it means a shift across to the right wing for Kearney.
Noel Reid and Rory O’Loughlin will continue in the centre but it is a new combination at half-back. Ireland internationals Luke McGrath and Joey Carbery will don the number 9 and 10 jerseys respectively in what will be Carbery’s first start since injuring his ankle away to Northampton Saints in December.
Prop Peter Dooley retains his starting jersey from last week with James Tracy coming in at hooker having come off the bench for Ireland against Italy last Saturday. Mike Ross starts at tighthead having played nearly 30 minutes off the bench against Treviso in his return from a hamstring injury.
There is a new-look second row with Ross Molony and Mike McCarthy partnering each other, while Dominic Ryan and Jack Conan have been retained at blindside flanker and number 8 respectively, with Josh van der Flier coming in at openside.
Tickets for the Leinster v Edinburgh clash are still on sale from Ticketmaster. Tickets will also be available from the ticket office at the Anglesea Road entrance from 6pm tonight.
Meanwhile, after a successful stint with the Scotland Sevens team, Glenn Bryce returns to start at full-back in one of five personnel changes for Edinburgh. He replaces Blair Kinghorn who reverts to the bench.
Sam Hidalgo-Clyne is named in the number 9 jersey and will be partnered by Duncan Weir, who returns from Scotland national team duty to take up the stand-off berth. Neil Cochrane is set to pack down at hooker, while Cornell du Preez comes into the side to start at number 8.
Tom Brown, who announced he has extended his time with the Scottish capital club for a further two seasons, continues on the left wing, joining Damien Hoyland and Bryce in the back-three. Phil Burleigh and Chris Dean continue as the centre partnership outside Weir and Hidalgo-Clyne.
Jack Cosgrove and Murray McCallum start at loosehead and tighthead prop respectively, completing the front row alongside captain Cochrane.
Jamie Ritchie – a late call-up into last week’s matchday squad for last week’s 24-18 defeat at Ulster – is named on the openside flank, with Magnus Bradbury moving to the blindside to accommodate the inclusion of du Preez in the back row.
LEINSTER: Zane Kirchner; Dave Kearney, Rory O’Loughlin, Noel Reid, Barry Daly; Joey Carbery, Luke McGrath; Peter Dooley, James Tracy, Mike Ross, Ross Molony, Mike McCarthy, Dominic Ryan, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan.
Replacements: Bryan Byrne, Andrew Porter, Michael Bent, Mick Kearney, Dan Leavy, Jamison Gibson Park, Ross Byrne, Adam Byrne.
EDINBURGH: Glenn Bryce; Damien Hoyland, Chris Dean, Phil Burleigh, Tom Brown; Duncan Weir, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne; Jack Cosgrove, Neil Cochrane (capt), Murray McCallum, Fraser McKenzie, Ben Toolis, Magnus Bradbury, Jamie Ritchie, Cornell du Preez.
Replacements: George Turner, Derrick Appiah, Nick Beavon, Grant Gilchrist, Lewis Carmichael, Nathan Fowles, Jason Tovey, Blair Kinghorn.
Referee: Ian Davies (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Simon Rees (Wales), Leo Colgan (Ireland)
Television Match Official: Neil Hennessy (Wales)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Leinster to win: 1/10; Draw: 30/1; Edinburgh to win: 6/1
Pre-Match Quotes: Leo Cullen (Leinster) – “It’s unbelievably congested at the top (of the GUINNESS PRO12). It’s so important to maximise every single point, particularly when we’re at home, and hopefully we’ll have a big crowd at the RDS (tonight).
“There’s no international rugby on so it’s a great opportunity for people to come out and support the team. Friday night at the RDS, hopefully it’ll be a cracking occasion.
“Guys are pushing hard. It’s been competitive in training which is pleasing. We haven’t had a huge amount of prep time this week but in the couple of weeks prior to that it’s been very competitive.
“The likes of Luke (McGrath), Jack Conan, James Tracy, Dan Leavy, those four guys have been in and out of both environments (Leinster and Ireland). Those guys know that if they play well they will be in or around (the Ireland squad)…so the moral of the story is ‘play well tonight fellas’.
“There’ll definitely be people watching this game that will want to see what they’re about, not just coaches here. Those guys are in the shop window and it is important for them to realise there’s constantly eyes on them. If you play well here, there’s a good chance you’ll get picked somewhere else. There are so many big games coming up.”
Duncan Hodge (Edinburgh) – “We’re back on the road and know Leinster are a tough team to overcome, especially on their home patch.
“As a squad, we’ve learned a lot from last week’s match against Ulster and will look to take the positives from an encouraging second half display into this week’s game.
“The players showed a lot of character and resolve last week in overcoming the challenges of what was a high-tempo and physical encounter. Those involved (tomorrow) will need to show a similar tenacity and perform for the full 80 minutes if we’re to challenge the home side.”
Top Scorers – 2016/17 GUINNESS PRO12: Leinster – Points: Isa Nacewa 78; Tries: Adam Byrne, Rory O’Loughlin 6 each; Edinburgh – Points: Duncan Weir 69; Tries: Magnus Bradbury 5
2016/17 TEAM FORM: Leinster – Played 14, Won 11, Lost 3, 51 Points; W 20-8 v Benetton Treviso (home), L 33-25 v Glasgow Warriors (away), W 33-20 v Edinburgh (away), W 31-19 v Ospreys (home), W 16-13 v Cardiff Blues (away), W 25-14 v Munster (home), W 24-13 v Connacht (home), W 33-10 v Zebre (away), L 38-29 v Scarlets (away), W 28-15 v Newport Gwent Dragons (home), L 29-17 v Munster (away), W 22-7 v Ulster (home), W 70-6 v Zebre (home), W 40-14 v Benetton Treviso (away); Edinburgh – Played 14, Won 4, Lost 10, 20 Points; L 34-16 v Cardiff Blues (away), W 20-9 v Scarlets (home), L 33-20 v Leinster (home), L 28-14 v Munster (away), L 28-15 v Connacht (away), W 45-10 v Benetton Treviso (home), L 19-14 v Zebre (home), W 28-17 v Ulster (home), L 27-19 v Newport Gwent Dragons (away), L 31-22 v Ospreys (away), L 25-12 v Glasgow Warriors (home), W 24-19 v Zebre (away), L 10-9 v Munster (home), L 24-18 v Ulster (away)
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Saturday, May 10, 2014 – Leinster 15 Edinburgh 13, the RDS
Friday, October 31, 2014 – Leinster 33 Edinburgh 8, the RDS
Saturday, May 16, 2015 – Edinburgh 23 Leinster 36, BT Murrayfield
Friday, September 4, 2015 – Edinburgh 16 Leinster 9, Meggetland
Friday, April 15, 2016 – Leinster 30 Edinburgh 23, the RDS
Friday, September 16, 2016 – Edinburgh 20 Leinster 33, BT Murrayfield
MATCH FACTS:
– Leinster are unbeaten in their last five matches since their 29-17 reversal at Munster in the GUINNESS PRO12 on December 26
– The Leinstermen have won their last 18 home games since their 20-16 defeat by Toulon at the Aviva Stadium in December 2015
– Edinburgh have slipped to two straight defeats in the PRO12, both to Irish provinces, Ulster and Munster
– Edinburgh have not been victorious in Ireland since a trip to Connacht in January 2015
– Leinster have lost just one of their last six encounters with Edinburgh (16-9 at Meggetland in September 2015), while the last time Edinburgh were victorious in Dublin was at Donnybrook in November 2005
This website uses cookies.
Read More