The leaders of the Gallagher Premiership and the United Rugby Championship meet in a seismic encounter with a much-coveted Heineken Champions Cup semi-final place on the line.
HEINEKEN CHAMPIONS CUP QUARTER-FINAL: Saturday, May 7
LEICESTER TIGERS v LEINSTER, Mattioli Woods Welford Road, 5.30pm (live BT Sport 2/beIN Sports/highlights Virgin Media Two)
Team News: James Ryan and Ronan Kelleher both feature in the Leinster team for this evening’s Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final against Leicester Tigers at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
After time out due to a head injury sustained during Ireland’s Six Nations campaign, second row Ryan makes a timely return for his first appearance for the province since October.
Hooker Kelleher is back from a shoulder injury, while Andrew Porter, Tadhg Furlong and Ross Molony complete the tight five. Ryan is the only change to the side that won 56-20 at home to Connacht in the last round.
Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier and Jack Conan continue together in the back row, with captain Jonathan Sexton and Jamison Gibson-Park reunited at half-back after Leinster’s frontliners were largely rested for the two-match tour of South Africa.
James Lowe, the Champions Cup’s leading try scorer this season with eight tries, combines again with full-back Hugo Keenan and Jimmy O’Brien in the back-three.
Making his 98th Leinster appearance, Garry Ringrose lines out alongside Robbie Henshaw in midfield for what will be the province’s first European meeting with Leicester since their 2011 quarter-final win.
Sexton and Cian Healy, who is on the bench this weekend, are the only two survivors from that game. Current head coach Leo Cullen and retiring lock Devin Toner were also part of the matchday squad.
Of Cullen’s current crop, 21-year-old Academy second row Joe McCarthy is in line for his European debut should he be brought on off the bench. Out-half Ross Byrne is just a single point off 800 points for Leinster.
Dan Sheehan, experienced loosehead Healy, Michael Ala’alatoa, Rhys Ruddock, Luke McGrath and Tommy O’Brien are also among the replacements.
Looking forward to returning to Welford Road where he played for Leicester between 2005 and 2007, Cullen said: “It’s about bringing the right level of intensity and being able to impose our own game. We have an understanding of the type of game that Leicester bring.
“They try to squeeze you so it is making sure that we don’t get too frustrated with some of that because we know they are going to kick a lot and they will try to be aggressive around the breakdown area.
“So, it’s making sure that we get our own detail right because the interpretation of the referee is so key and around the ruck area in particular.
“Some of those calls, I often think there are supporters sitting in the stands wondering what way the arm is going to go with some of those calls, so it is the interpretation of those calls and our guys figuring it out very early in the game.
“We touched on the set piece battle and it’s about making sure we are on top in all of those areas of the game. We have an experienced front row, and an experienced pack at this point in time.”
He added: “Leicester, if you look through their squad now, they’ve such good quality homegrown talent, international players – as in English international players – but then added to that is maybe a dozen players who have played for other international teams.
“So, the quality that they have sprinkled across their squad is huge. It’s going to be a massive test for us because the model is slightly different, we bring through more local guys and homegrown guys.
“We’re lucky that a lot of guys have gone on and progressed to representing Ireland in recent seasons, hopefully we can draw on some of the experiences they’ve had this season and maybe in previous seasons as well.”
Meanwhile, England prop Ellis Genge, who packs down with Julián Montoya and Dan Cole, will lead Leicester Tigers for the club’s first Champions Cup quarter-final appearance in six years.
In the only change to the team from Tigers’ last outing, Ollie Chessum returns to the second row alongside Calum Green, while vice-captain Hanro Liebenberg, Tommy Reffell and Jasper Wiese are the loose forwards trio.
Experienced England half-backs George Ford and Ben Youngs will steer a back-line which includes Argentinian centre Matías Moroni and veteran winger Chris Ashton, the Champions Cup’s all-time top try scorer with 40.
Former Saracens regular Richard Wigglesworth, Freddie Burns, older brother of Ireland international Billy, and Fijian giant Nemani Nadolo are the replacement backs.
LEICESTER TIGERS: Freddie Steward; Chris Ashton, Matías Moroni, Guy Porter, Harry Potter; George Ford, Ben Youngs; Ellis Genge (capt), Julián Montoya, Dan Cole, Ollie Chessum, Calum Green, Hanro Liebenberg, Tommy Reffell, Jasper Wiese.
Replacements: Nic Dolly, James Whitcombe, Joe Heyes, Harry Wells, George Martin, Richard Wigglesworth, Freddie Burns, Nemani Nadolo.
LEINSTER: Hugo Keenan; Jimmy O’Brien, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe; Jonathan Sexton (capt), Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong, Ross Molony, James Ryan, Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan.
Replacements: Dan Sheehan, Cian Healy, Michael Ala’alatoa, Joe McCarthy, Rhys Ruddock, Luke McGrath, Ross Byrne, Tommy O’Brien.
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistant Referees: Thomas Charabas, Laurent Cardona (both France)
Television Match Official: Philippe Bonhoure (France)
Pre-Match Quotes: Stuart Lancaster (Leinster) – “Leicester are probably international quality in every position in my opinion. It’s not dissimilar from our team. They have got a lot of experienced players.
“It’s going to be one of the special European games for sure. They have done amazingly well this season. They have only lost four games, which is a great testament to how well Steve Borthwick has coached and improved the team from last season.
“They’ve still got the ability to play with width and challenge defences in different ways. You don’t score the points they did against Bristol (56) without that.
“One of Leicester’s strengths is that they have won a lot of games in the last five to 10 minutes. We have got to have patience and intent in our armoury. This is definitely the highest challenge we have faced this season.”
Steve Borthwick (Leicester Tigers) – “Leinster are a very good side, with world-class players throughout their squad who have a great understanding of one another and the way they play.
“This is a group that have been together a long time, played a lot of rugby together for Leinster and, most of them, at international level with Ireland.
“It will be an incredible challenge, but what a great opportunity for us against a team of their quality and what a great test.”
Current Form – Leicester Tigers – (Gallagher Premiership): Won 34-19 v Exeter Chiefs (home), Won 33-26 v Gloucester (away), Won 13-12 v Saracens (home), Won 21-16 v London Irish (away), Won 48-3 v Worcester Warriors (away), Won 19-11 v Sale Sharks (home), Won 55-26 v Northampton Saints (away), Won 40-23 v Bath (home); (Premiership Rugby Cup): Won 32-23 v Sale Sharks (home), Won 55-7 v Wasps (away); (Gallagher Premiership): Won 16-14 v Harlequins (home); (Heineken Champions Cup): Won 16-13 v Bordeaux Bègles (away), Won 29-23 v Connacht (home); (Gallagher Premiership): Won 28-26 v Bristol Bears (away), Won 31-0 v Newcastle Falcons (home), Lost 16-13 v Wasps (away); (Heineken Champions Cup): Won 29-28 v Connacht (away), Match cancelled & result awarded to Leicester Tigers (28-0) v Bordeaux Bègles (home); (Gallagher Premiership): Lost 35-26 v Sale Sharks (away), Won 36-16 v Worcester Warriors (home), Won 35-20 v Northampton Saints (home), Won 24-20 v Bath (away), Won 35-23 v Gloucester (home), Lost 34-27 v Saracens (away), Won 47-28 v London Irish (home); (Premiership Rugby Cup): Lost 36-28 v Newcastle Falcons (away); (Gallagher Premiership): Won 22-17 v Exeter Chiefs (away); (Premiership Rugby Cup): Won 41-26 v London Irish (home); (Heineken Champions Cup round of 16): Won 29-10 v Clermont Auvergne (away), Won 27-17 v Clermont Auvergne (home); (Gallagher Premiership): Lost 26-20 v Harlequins (away); (Premiership Rugby Cup semi-final): Lost 59-20 v London Irish (away); (Gallagher Premiership): Won 56-26 v Bristol Bears (home)
Leinster – (United Rugby Championship): Won 31-3 v Vodacom Bulls (home), Won 7-6 v Dragons (away), Won 43-7 v Zebre Parma (home), Won 50-15 v Scarlets (home), Won 31-15 v Glasgow Warriors (away), Lost 20-10 v Ulster (home), Won 47-19 v Connacht (home); (Heineken Champions Cup): Won 45-20 v Bath (home), Match cancelled & result awarded to Montpellier (28-0) v Montpellier (away), Won 89-7 v Montpellier (home), Won 64-7 v Bath (away); (United Rugby Championship): Lost 29-27 v Cardiff Rugby (away), Won 26-7 v Edinburgh (home), Won 29-7 v Ospreys (home), Won 21-13 v Emirates Lions (home), Won 61-17 v Benetton Rugby (away), Lost 18-13 v Ulster (away), Won 45-8 v Connacht (away), Won 34-19 v Munster (away); (Heineken Champions Cup round of 16): Won 26-21 v Connacht (away), Won 56-20 v Connacht (home); (United Rugby Championship): Lost 28-23 v Cell C Sharks (away), Lost 20-13 v DHL Stormers (away)
Top Scorers – 2021/22 Heineken Champions Cup: Leicester Tigers – Points: George Ford 20; Tries: Hosea Saumaki 3; Leinster – Points: Jonathan Sexton, Ross Byrne, James Lowe 40 each; Tries: James Lowe 8
Previous European Meetings: 11
Saturday, April 9, 2011 – Quarter-final – Leinster 17 Leicester Tigers 10, Aviva Stadium
Saturday, May 23, 2009 – Final – Leinster 19 Leicester Tigers 16, Murrayfield
Saturday, January 19, 2008 – Pool 6 – Leicester Tigers 25 Leinster 9, Welford Road
Saturday, November 10, 2007 – Pool 6 – Leinster 22 Leicester Tigers 9, the RDS
Saturday, April 2, 2005 – Quarter-final – Leinster 13 Leicester Tigers 29, Lansdowne Road
Sunday, January 27, 2002 – Quarter-final – Leicester Tigers 29 Leinster 18, Welford Road
Saturday, January 15, 2000 – Pool 1 – Leicester Tigers 10 Leinster 32, Welford Road
Friday, November 19, 1999 – Pool 1 – Leinster 27 Leicester Tigers 20, Donnybrook
Saturday, September 27, 1997 – Pool A – Leicester Tigers 47 Leinster 22, Welford Road
Friday, September 12, 1997 – Pool A – Leinster 16 Leicester Tigers 9, Donnybrook
Wednesday, October 16, 1996 – Pool B – Leinster 10 Leicester Tigers 27, Lansdowne Road
Match Facts –
– While Leinster have won six of their previous 11 Heineken Champions Cup matches against Leicester Tigers, including a victory in the 2009 final (19-16), they have won just one of their four matches at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, losing the other three
– Leicester have won three of their last four knockout fixtures in the Champions Cup after previously losing four in a row. They have not conceded 20-plus points in any game during that period
– Leicester have won their last two fixtures against Irish opposition in the Champions Cup after previously losing four in a row. Two of their last three games against Irish sides have been decided by a single point
– Leinster have won five of their last six quarter-final fixtures in the Champions Cup, including their most recent, which came away against Premiership opposition (34-22 against Exeter Chiefs last season)
– Leinster have won their last seven away games in England in the Champions Cup, by an average margin of 23 points, after winning none of the previous four (drew 1 and lost 3)
– They recorded their biggest away win in the competition during their last trip to England, 64-7 against Bath in January this year
– No team have attempted more kicks from open play in this season’s Champions Cup than Leicester (204). Consequently, they have also made more kicking metres than any other side in this season’s competition (6,884)
– Of the teams remaining in this season’s tournament, no side have scored more points in the last 20 minutes of games than Leinster (59) or Leicester (47). Additionally, only Racing 92 (3) have conceded fewer points in the final quarter of matches this season than Leicester (10)
– No side have scored more tries originating from lineouts in this season’s Champions Cup than Leinster (18) or Leicester (13), with 68% of Leicester’s tries this season having come from a lineout, the highest ratio of any side in the competition
– Leicester’s Tommy Reffell is one of just three players to make 70-plus tackles in the Champions Cup this season (76)
– Leinster hooker Ronan Kelleher is one of just four players to make 30-plus tackles without missing in the competition this season (34/34)
– Leinster winger James Lowe is the top try scorer in the Champions Cup this season (8), while his team-mates Hugo Keenan, Jamison Gibson-Park and Ross Byrne have made the joint most try assists this campaign
European Cup Records:
Leicester Tigers –
2018/19: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
2017/18: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
2016/17: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
2015/16: Reached the semi-finals
2014/15: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
2013/14: Reached the quarter-finals
2012/13: Reached the quarter-finals
2011/12: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
2010/11: Reached the quarter-finals
2009/10: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
2008/09: Runners-up
2007/08: Failed to qualify from Pool 6
2006/07: Runners-up
2005/06: Reached the quarter-finals
2004/05: Reached the semi-finals
2003/04: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
2002/03: Reached the quarter-finals
2001/02: Champions
2000/01: Champions
1999/00: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
1997/98: Reached the quarter-finals
1996/97: Runners-up
Leinster –
2020/21: Reached the semi-finals
2019/20: Reached the quarter-finals
2018/19: Runners-up
2017/18: Champions
2016/17: Reached the semi-finals
2015/16: Failed to qualify from Pool 5
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