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Jordie Barrett starts as Leinster make 6 changes for Glasgow Warriors
By Ian Cameron
Leinster have named their team to face Glasgow Warriors in Friday night’s Investec Champions Cup quarter-final at the Aviva Stadium, with Jordie Barrett set to start and six personnel changes made to the XV that defeated Harlequins 62-0 in the previous round.
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Barrett moves into the starting side at inside centre, partnering Garry Ringrose as Robbie Henshaw prepares to win his 100th Leinster cap off the pine.
Barrett’s inclusion is one of two changes to the backline that started against Harlequins. His move into the midfield sees Henshaw rotate out after seven consecutive European starts. Tommy O’Brien will make his first European start for the province, joining a back three that includes Hugo Keenan and James Lowe, with Jamie Osborne missing out.
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Head coach Leo Cullen has retained the second-row pairing of Joe McCarthy and RG Snyman, but rotates the front row with Cian Healy, Rónan Kelleher and Tadhg Furlong coming in.
Jack Conan captains the team from No.8, alongside last week’s Player of the Match Josh van der Flier and Max Deegan – who returns to the starting lineup.
Sam Prendergast and Jamison Gibson-Park continue at half-back. Henshaw, Ross Byrne and Luke McGrath provide cover from the bench, while Diarmuid Mangan could make his European debut if introduced.
The academy player’s inclusion maintains Leinster’s season-long streak of featuring at least one academy graduate in every matchday squad.
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Dan Sheehan, Andrew Porter and Rabah Slimani all drop to the bench after starting in the front row last time out. Caelan Doris also moves to the replacements as Cullen looks to manage his resources in the back row.
Leinster are aiming to reach the semi-finals for the fifth time on the bounce.
English referee Luke Pearce is on whistle duty.
LEINSTER:
15. Hugo Keenan
14. Tommy O’Brien
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Jordie Barrett
11. James Lowe
10. Sam Prendergast
9. Jamison Gibson-Park
1. Cian Healy
2. Rónan Kelleher
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Joe McCarthy
5. RG Snyman
6. Max Deegan
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Jack Conan (captain)
REPLACEMENTS:
16. Dan Sheehan
17. Andrew Porter
18. Rabah Slimani
19. Diarmuid Mangan
20. Caelan Doris
21. Luke McGrath
22. Ross Byrne
23. Robbie Henshaw
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I don’t even care about the Starting 15. Scroll down to the bench.
Something needs to go wrong for Leinster to lose this one.
wow that bench is gonna have an impact at least 3 shoo ins for the lions tour on the bench
Its only a 6 day turnaround so makes sense to rotate front row. The starting front row will be fresh and eager. The backline is arguably stronger than versus Harlequins. Tommy O’Brien is a great defender too. Glasgow’s chance is to score a lot early, before they tire. Leinster will want to force them into a suffocating contest. A real test for Leinster’s defence, and Glasgow’s attack!
That’s another very strong team, the rotations partly based on the 6 day turnaround. The attack was mush improved last day but Barrett creates space for those around him and expect Ringrose and Prendergast to be put in space by Barrett’s world class play.
Healy, Kelleher and Furlong used to be the Irish front row and they will be frothing to go while starting them will give the current Leinster no1s Porter, Slimani and Sheehan the 30 minute impact role after the full match 6 days ago. Doris and Mangan complete a very strong replacement front 5 and Barrett on the pitch allows a variety of options incase of injury with McGrath, Byrne and Henshaw in reserve.
Hopefully a bigger audience will see the tackling machine that is Tommy O’Brien in action.
I expect Leinster to win but this will be a proper match, with Leinster’s stronger match day squad capitalizing especially after a 6 day turnaround (hopefully).