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Sexton on the bench as Leinster make 4 changes for Gloucester

15 Dec 2022

Jonathan Sexton of Leinster during the United Rugby Championship match between Leinster and Cell C Sharks at RDS Arena in Dublin. (Photo By Harry Murphy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Head coach Leo Cullen has made four changes to the Leinster starting team for the visit of Gloucester to the RDS this weekend in the Champions Cup.

Eleven of the team who started last weekend’s bonus point win over Racing 92 are named to start, with Luke McGrath, Rónan Kelleher, Ross Molony and Jack Conan coming into the line-up.

Ireland veteran Jonny Sexton – who is returning from injury – has been named on the bench, with Ross Bryne once again taking the reins at flyhalf. Sexton is joined on the bench by exciting Ireland attacking weapon Jordan Larmour, who is also returning from injury.

Meanwhile George Skivington has made thirteen changes to the starting XV that beat Bordeaux at Kingsholm last week, suggesting that the Cherry and Whites might be viewing the fixture as something of a foregone conclusion.

There are a number of heavy hitters in the form of Albert Tuisue and Jake Polledri, but there are also a host of less experienced.

This will be the first competitive meeting between the sides since 21 October 2006, where Leinster Rugby beat the Cherry and whites 37-20 at Lansdowne Road.

In August 2016, Leinster met Gloucester once again in a pre-season game at Tallaght Stadium. It was a tight affair, with Leinster just coming out on top 26-24.

LEINSTER TEAM:
15. Hugo Keenan
14. Jimmy O’Brien
13. Garry Ringrose (109) CAPTAIN
12. Charlie Ngatai
11. James Lowe
10. Ross Byrne
9. Luke McGrath
1. Andrew Porter
2. Rónan Kelleher
3. Michael Ala’alatoa
4. Ross Molony
5. James Ryan
6. Caelan Doris
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Jack Conan

REPLACEMENTS:
16. Dan Sheehan
17. Ed Byrne
18. Cian Healy
19. Joe McCarthy
20. Max Deegan
21. Jamison Gibson-Park
22. Johnny Sexton
23. Jordan Larmour

GLOUCESTER TEAM:
15. Lloyd Evans
14. Alex Hearle
13. Giorgi Kveseladze
12. Billy Twelvetrees
11. Jake Morris
10. George Barton
9. Ben Meehan (C)
1. Harry Elrington
2. Henry Walker
3. Ciaran Knight
4. Freddie Thomas
5. Arthur Clark
6. Jake Polledri
7. Jack Clement
8. Albert Tuisue

REPLACEMENTS:
16. Seb Blake
17. Alex Seville
18. Kirill Gotovtsev
19. Alex Craig
20. Harry Taylor
21. Charlie Chapman
22. Seb Atkinson
23. Kyle Moyle

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Comments on RugbyPass

JW 15 minutes ago

How the Lions will heap pressure upon Australia's million-dollar man

I can’t remember if he was a really early on signing, or if he came at a point where they were possibly getting stalled on other big names they wanted? Not even big names, just former rugby players, and that’s why they put in so much? Can’t imagine McLennan had much more in the bank to get the names Jones wanted (though it’s mostly a backended contract right). But yes, worth a game on the talent alone, I think the marketing will be a bonus failsafe.

Could have been such a better outcome from willing to splash the cash and hire back what you could have billed as the worlds best coach. Just needed to make him Director (wouldn’t leave him long in that role as he’d destory things though) rather than booting Deans. Imagine getting a few leaguies in a year after a solid WC were they could have again been lucky to squek through to the late stages.

86 Go to comments

CO 19 minutes ago

Are other All Blacks better suited to number six than Tupou Vaa'i?

Some Bok supporters might argue in vain but Vaa’i is the model that superseded the previous model known as the Pieter-Steph du Toit.

Hansen's pack got beaten to a pulp in 2019 by the English pack and it would've made zero difference who started at six.

Believing that Scooter starting at six was because they lost that semifinal ignores the reality that Hansen had overstayed his welcome as head coach and having effectively lost the Lions tour and become besotted with SBW should've been fired in 2017 and replaced with any one of Rennie, Schmidt or Joseph.

Both Nonu and Kaino should've been in that 2019 squad. Proven world cup final starters.

Frizzell is never getting the six jersey, he had a shocker of a world cup final and is yesterday's man dining out on one good performance against the Bok B team at Mt Smart. Frizzell is a myth.

The Allblacks current pack needs to bulk up due to it having a lot of small back rowers and no, Finau is not good enough to start, he's not direct enough or punishing enough.

The Allblacks need to stop anointing Sititi as the greatest thing since sliced bread, he's done very little this year, Christian is looking very solid at eight and seven is Saveas best spot to keep Christian starting.

Rassie is using loosies at hooker and so should the Allblacks. Playing Vaa’i at six isn't three locks, it's ensuring size to counter the other tier one packs and Vaa'i is fantastic at six.

Kirifi is okay but again hasn't done much and is too little, Lakai and Kirifi shouldn't be in the squad together.

123 Go to comments

dw 20 minutes ago

How the Lions will heap pressure upon Australia's million-dollar man

Not having played much in the backs, would it be easier to shift him to 12? Physically he’s well equipped and I assume less decision making? Great read either way. Shame he didn’t get a whole super rugby season to practise his position

86 Go to comments

fl 34 minutes ago

'Future is very, very bright': Junior Boks boss on superstar compared to Dupont

I look forward to you denying making this claim!

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Ken Behren 37 minutes ago

Johnny Sexton responds to Pete Samu accusation levelled at Lions

Poor form Lions. Very poor form

1 Go to comments

BA 40 minutes ago

World Rugby clarify Springboks' controversial kick-off gambit

When u kick the ball into touch from start / restart u can take a lineout u know that right? he tried to force a scrum because he was banking on a higher % chance of winning a scrum infringement than winning kickoff, and he can experiment because ultimately he knew they would win

25 Go to comments

Koro Teeps 41 minutes ago

'Can we all stop moaning about the Lions, please?'

Great article. I flew from NZ to Sydney for the Tahs game and it was a bloody good weekend. A real credit to both the Lions and Australian supporters for creating such a good atmosphere during the free light rail ride from Central to Allianz, during the game and at the pub afterwards.

1 Go to comments

AD 42 minutes ago

How the Lions will heap pressure upon Australia's million-dollar man

Sure, it’ll be hard Nick, but worth the gamble

86 Go to comments

AD 43 minutes ago

How the Lions will heap pressure upon Australia's million-dollar man

Agree

86 Go to comments

BA 46 minutes ago

World Rugby clarify Springboks' controversial kick-off gambit

A message they already knew? Seems strange ….it probaly had more to do with a higher % chance of getting the ball from an Italian scrum infringement than the % chance of getting the ball from winning the kickoff and ultimately confidence to take chances as they would win

25 Go to comments

Hellhound 49 minutes ago

'Future is very, very bright': Junior Boks boss on superstar compared to Dupont

With Ackerman working with the junior Boks and now the new Bulls coach, who knows? Maybe he will become a Bull

6 Go to comments

BA 54 minutes ago

World Rugby clarify Springboks' controversial kick-off gambit

You can take a lineout after kick off goes out on the full u know that don’t u?

25 Go to comments

Hellhound 57 minutes ago

'Prove the depth': Sky pundit on ABs' motivation against France

I think it's a good thing the AB's test their current depth. It's not as strong as it should be. Given time and experience, they will be. Time is running short to the WC and there isn't much time left to get the best out of the players and find some depth. The AB's have many quality players, but club rugby is just not the same as International rugby. Sometimes the form doesn't carry over to the international stage and they need time to fix that. I believe that they will. The Boks and France have the most depth, but depth isn't what is going to make you win. It's how you play on the day. Teams quality is so much closer than ever before.

2 Go to comments

BA 1 hour ago

Rieko Ioane out with injury as All Blacks forced to make changes

They don’t want Finau to have the safety net of another lock, he has to show he can go there and do a adequate job if needed ( plus Razor hands are probably tied with squad size match fees financiall constraints) finishing with 3 essentially opensides is something they might like to see too and can be very effective

8 Go to comments

JW 1 hour ago

How the Lions will heap pressure upon Australia's million-dollar man

As far as cleanout at rucks go, it the man from the outside who has most momentum that close to the GL, so yes JAS’s man. Once Harry offloads right, JAS has the angle, Fraser doesn’t.

I assume you’re talking about the one where he comes flying in from out of the picture? It’s not a very good camera angle but he’s about as deep as I’d expect him to be.

Maybe you’re just used to see a flatter picture, one where the coach wants his 13 to be closer to the line, and therefor closer to support?

I could even imagine there would be valid room for a criticism where JAS might be sitting deeper out of habit than he should be.

Agree on the first clip. The prop goes off his feet illegally but Schmidt needs to get his team popping off the ground in those situations. Otherwise you will turn over the ball 99% of the team in that example.

I don’t see how that has anything to do with his position in the team/on the field though.

86 Go to comments

JW 1 hour ago

How the Lions will heap pressure upon Australia's million-dollar man

JAS looked composed and cohesive on all those reads

86 Go to comments

PR 1 hour ago

World Rugby clarify Springboks' controversial kick-off gambit

Exactly right. It’s a point a lot of people have missed with this saga. It’s not the action - it’s the message behind the action.

25 Go to comments

BA 1 hour ago

Rieko Ioane out with injury as All Blacks forced to make changes