The GUINNESS PRO12 semi-finals get underway tonight with an all-Irish affair at a packed RDS where four-time champions Leinster host the 2005/06 winners Ulster.
GUINNESS PRO12 SEMI-FINAL: Friday, May 20
LEINSTER (1st) v ULSTER (4th), the RDS, 7.45pm (live Sky Sports 3 HD/TG4/BBC 2 Northern Ireland)
Team News: There is only one change to the Leinster team from their bonus point win over Benetton Treviso, as Rob Kearney has failed to recover sufficiently from his ankle injury that forced him off during the first half.
As a result, Luke Fitzgerald returns to the left wing with Isa Nacewa captaining the side from full-back. With Fitzgerald starting on the left, that also means a switch for Dave Kearney who now slots in on the right wing.
Ben Te’o and Garry Ringrose are Leinster’s centre pairing for the 12th time this season as Te’o starts for his last time at the RDS before his summer move to Worcester Warriors.
Eoin Reddan and Jonathan Sexton start together at half-back in what will be Sexton’s 125th appearance for his home province. The St. Mary’s College clubman has scored 1110 points to date and is in second place on the all time point scorers list (Felipe Contepomi is top with 1225).
Jack McGrath, Richardt Strauss and Mike Ross are once again selected to start in the front row. Hooker Strauss scored two tries last time out and tonight’s play-off fixture will mark his 130th Leinster cap.
Behind them Devin Toner and Mick Kearney will combine in the second row with Rhys Ruddock, Jordi Murphy and Jamie Heaslip completing the pack.
There are a few changes on the bench with Jack Conan returning from injury for his first game since February, while Ian Madigan and Zane Kirchner are also back into the mix with Madigan also playing his last game at the RDS before moving to Bordeaux Bègles in France. Should he be involved, Wexford man Tadhg Furlong will win his 50th cap for Leinster off the bench.
With the game sold out and with three other events on in the RDS this evening, supporters are encouraged to use public transport where possible as parking will be limited in and around the ground.
Meanwhile, as part of an unchanged Ulster squad, it will be a special occasion for Chris Henry, who will win his 150th cap for his home province, after being named at openside flanker. The 31-year-old made his Ulster debut in the 21-10 Heineken Cup win over Harlequins back in January 2009 and has scored nine tries to date.
Henry will be joined in the back row by Iain Henderson and Sean Reidy for his landmark appearance. Captain Rory Best, Callum Black and Ricky Lutton will form the front row, with second rows Peter Browneand Franco van der Merwe completing the pack.
Ruan Pienaar and Paddy Jackson are again named at half back, with Stuart McCloskey and Luke Marshall due to line up in midfield. Craig Gilroy, Andrew Trimble and Jared Payne are selected together in the back-three.
Rob Herring, Kyle McCall, Andrew Warwick, Robbie Diack and Roger Wilson provide strong cover for the forwards off the bench, while the Ireland-capped trio of Paul Marshall, Stuart Olding and Darren Cave are also included in the matchday 23.
LEINSTER: Isa Nacewa (capt); Dave Kearney, Garry Ringrose, Ben Te’o, Luke Fitzgerald; Jonathan Sexton, Eoin Reddan; Jack McGrath, Richardt Strauss, Mike Ross, Devin Toner, Mick Kearney, Rhys Ruddock, Jordi Murphy, Jamie Heaslip.
Replacements: Sean Cronin, Peter Dooley, Tadhg Furlong, Ross Molony, Jack Conan, Luke McGrath, Ian Madigan, Zane Kirchner.
ULSTER: Jared Payne; Andrew Trimble, Luke Marshall, Stuart McCloskey, Craig Gilroy; Paddy Jackson, Ruan Pienaar; Callum Black, Rory Best (capt), Ricky Lutton, Peter Browne, Franco van der Merwe, Iain Henderson, Chris Henry, Sean Reidy.
Replacements: Rob Herring, Kyle McCall, Andrew Warwick, Robbie Diack, Roger Wilson, Paul Marshall, Stuart Olding, Darren Cave.
Referee: Ian Davies (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Ben Whitehouse, Sean Brickell (both Wales)
Television Match Official: Jon Mason (Wales)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Leinster to win: 8/13; Draw: 17/1; Ulster to win: 7/5
Pre-Match Quotes: Isa Nacewa (Leinster) – “Ulster are on form – 18 tries in the last four games alone. They’re playing a pretty exciting brand of rugby as well. After being on a hiding up in Kingspan a couple of weeks ago we don’t need too much motivation going into this one.
“As a whole back-line we took a lot of learnings out of that game. We just need to be better. We had to look back on that game and prepare this week. Being in play-off footy there’s no second chances. It’s been a good week.
“We’ve looked at each day of training and preparing for this game. We’re just lucky to be back and playing another 80 minutes of footy when other teams are on holidays. Just to be here and soak up the moment is exciting enough.”
Ruan Pienaar (Ulster) – “I think doing the basics well will be the key. In the past we’ve gone down to Leinster and a few soft mistakes have cost us. They were able to build scoreboard pressure and we ended up chasing the game.
“When you’re chasing the scoreboard against a team like Leinster, that’s when more mistakes start to creep in. So we need to make sure we do all the basics well, discipline wise, being accurate with the plays in front of us, and making sure we take chances when we get them. Otherwise a team like Leinster will punish you.
“We’re really excited to still be involved at this stage of the competition, we had to work hard to get here. We’ve been under pressure to get wins in each of our last four games so I think mentally and physically we are in a good place.
“We’ve probably played our best rugby in the past month so hopefully when the pressure comes on again this Friday we’ll still be able to operate and perform well.”
Top Scorers – 2015/16 GUINNESS PRO12: Leinster – Points: Isa Nacewa 91; Tries: Isa Nacewa 8; Ulster – Points: Paddy Jackson 136; Tries: Craig Gilroy 8
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Friday, May 2, 2014 – Ulster 20 Leinster 22, Ravenhill
Saturday, May 17, 2014 – Semi-final – Leinster 13 Ulster 9, the RDS
Saturday, January 3, 2015 – Leinster 24 Ulster 11, the RDS
Friday, April 24, 2015 – Ulster 26 Leinster 10, Kingspan Stadium
Friday, November 27, 2015 – Leinster 8 Ulster 3, the RDS
Saturday, April 30, 2016 – Ulster 30 Leinster 6, Kingspan Stadium
MATCH FACTS:
– The RDS will host its sixth GUINNESS PRO12 play-off match in the last seven years
– Leinster’s only defeat in their last four fixtures was 30-6 to Ulster in Belfast in round 21
– The Leinstermen have not been defeated in the PRO12 at the RDS since the Newport Gwent Dragons were the visitors in 2015
– Leinster’s record in PRO12 play-offs (including the Celtic League semi-finals) is a perfect played six, won six
– Ulster have won their last four PRO12 matches since their reversal at Glasgow Warriors on March 25
– The Ulstermen have won just one of their six previous play-offs/semi-finals in the tournament: 28-17 at home to the Scarlets in 2013
– The last four regular season PRO12 meetings between the two provincial rivals have all been won by the home side on the day
– The two sides have met on six previous occasions in the knockout stages of all competitions with the only time that Ulster avoided defeat being a 23-all draw (AET) in the quarter-final of the Celtic Cup in 2003 with Ulster progressing to the semi-final having scored more tries
– Ulster’s only victory in 12 previous visits to the RDS was 22-18 in the PRO12 in March 2013
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