Leinster have a few notable starters and returning Rugby World Cup players in their line-up as they look to avenge last month’s 25-14 defeat to the Scarlets, the current GUINNESS PRO12 pacesetters.
GUINNESS PRO12: Friday, November 6
LEINSTER (4th) v SCARLETS (1st), the RDS, 7.35pm (live TG4/BBC 2 Wales)
Team News: Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has named a completely new starting line-up from the one that beat Benetton Treviso last Sunday. There are first senior starts for Lansdowne’s Cian Kelleher on the left wing and for UCD’s James Tracy at hooker.
A number of internationals who were away during the recent Rugby World Cup also return for Cullen’s men. Full-back Rob Kearney starts for the province for the first time this season have played four games during the World Cup, scoring three tries in the process.
He is joined in the back-three by fellow returnee Zane Kirchner, who was part of the South Africa squad that secured a third placed finish at England 2015. Kelleher, on the left wing, has made three appearances this season from the bench having made his debut during last season’s game away to Edinburgh.
Noel Reid and Garry Ringrose form a new-look centre partnership. Reid has played in all of Leinster’s games to date this season, notching up 430 minutes in the PRO12. This is the first time that Ringrose will be outside him from the start. The 20-year-old has scored one try in four starts to date and was man-of-the-match against Glasgow Warriors.
Two Ireland internationals combine at half-back where Isaac Boss starts and Ian Madigan comes in for his seasonal bow in the number 10 jersey.
A completely new pack sees Tracy make his first start at hooker. The 24-year-old has made all of his six appearances to date from the bench, including a try-scoring cameo away to the Scarlets. Cian Healy is to Tracy’s left, with the returning Mike Ross making his first appearance of the season at tighthead.
Tom Denton and Devin Toner pack down together in the second row, while Dominic Ryan is joined by returning internationals Sean O’Brien and Jamie Heaslip in the back row. Heaslip will captain the side from the base of the scrum as he wins his 203rd cap for Leinster.
Ticket sales have gone over the 13,500 mark. Leinster v Scarlets tickets are still available at leinsterrugby.ie, or on matchday from the ticket office which is open from 6.05pm.
Meanwhile, Scotland international John Barlcay captains the Scarlets in tonight’s huge round 7 clash as Ken Owens makes way in the starting line-up for Emyr Phillips.
Gareth Owen, Michael Tagicakibau and Aaron Shingler all return from injury, with Gareth Davies back for his first start over the season after a successful Rugby World Cup campaign.
Newcomers Maselino Paulino and Michael Collins are named on the replacements bench, hoping to make an impact on their debuts for the high-flying Welsh outfit.
LEINSTER: Rob Kearney; Zane Kirchner, Garry Ringrose, Noel Reid, Cian Kelleher; Ian Madigan, Isaac Boss; Cian Healy, James Tracy, Mike Ross, Devin Toner, Tom Denton, Dominic Ryan, Sean O’Brien, Jamie Heaslip (capt).
Replacements: Bryan Byrne, Jack McGrath, Martin Moore, Hayden Triggs, Dan Leavy, Luke McGrath, Jonathan Sexton, Ben Te’o.
SCARLETS: Aled Thomas; Tom Williams, Gareth Owen, Hadleigh Parkes, Michael Tagicakibau; Dan Jones, Gareth Davies; Rob Evans, Emyr Phillips, Peter Edwards, Jake Ball, Lewis Rawlins, Aaron Shingler, James Davies, John Barclay (capt).
Replacements: Ken Owens, Dylan Evans, Will Taylor, Tom Price, Maselino Paulino, Aled Davies, Michael Collins, Harry Robinson.
Referee: Leighton Hodges (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Leo Colgan, Olly Hodges (both Ireland)
Television Match Official: Seamus Flannery (Ireland)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Leinster to win: 1/5; Draw: 20/1; Scarlets to win: 7/2
Pre-Match Quotes: Devin Toner (Leinster) – “We had a good couple of days off and then we were back in here last week. You’ve got so many new plays and new calls to get your head around that you don’t really think of it (the World Cup).
“We’ll obviously get together and go through the video at Christmas. I’ll have eventually watched it by then! We’ve got so much on our plate now that we can’t really dwell on it to be honest.
“I’ve got more important things on my mind. We’ve got an important block of games coming up and that’s where my focus is. Everyone is really enjoying getting back into the swing of things. Training has been short and sharp. We know exactly how long we’re going to be on the field and what we’re going to be doing.
“The lads have done pretty well. To get three wins from five and one losing bonus point, that’s pretty good for a relatively young and inexperienced team. I think that experience will start developing in the next couple of weeks.”
Wayne Pivac (Scarlets) – “We’ve won the first six and we’re happy with where we’re sitting in the PRO12 table. It’s very early days but success breeds success and the confidence is growing with each victory
“We’re building a good camaraderie within the group. Don’t underestimate a team that is working well together and enjoying each other’s company and how that transforms into a good team performance. We’ll be going out there trying to give it our best shot.”
Top Scorers – 2015/16 GUINNESS PRO12: Leinster – Points: Isa Nacewa 44; Tries: Isa Nacewa 4; Scarlets – Points: Steve Shingler 31; Tries: James Davies 4
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Saturday, February 23, 2013 – Leinster 32 Scarlets 5, the RDS
Friday, September 6, 2013 – Scarlets 19 Leinster 42, Parc y Scarlets
Saturday, November 30, 2013 – Leinster 36 Scarlets 19, the RDS
Saturday, September 13, 2014 – Leinster 42 Scarlets 12, the RDS
Sunday, March 7, 2015 – Scarlets 23 Leinster 13, Parc y Scarlets
Friday, October 16, 2015 – Scarlets 25 Leinster 14, Parc y Scarlets
MATCH FACTS:
– Leinster’s 27-3 victory in Treviso last Sunday lifted them into the play-off zone for the first time since February
– The Irish province have lost only one home game in any competition in the last 13 months: 16-14 to the Dragons at the RDS in the GUINNESS PRO12 on February 15
– The Scarlets have won their last ten PRO12 matches (a Welsh record) since Edinburgh beat them at Parc y Scarlets in March
– The Scarlets have not beaten an Irish province on their own soil since defeating Connacht 24-21 in Galway in November 2013
– The last four fixtures between the two teams have all been won by the home side on the day, while the Scarlets’ only victory in Dublin since the Welsh region were formed in 2003 came at the RDS in October 2007
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