Ten changes to Leinster team to face Lions

The Leinster Rugby team, proudly sponsored by Bank of Ireland, to take on Emirates Lions in Round 6 of the BKT United Rugby Championship tomorrow at Aviva Stadium (KO: 5.15pm, live on RTÉ2 and Premier Sports 2) has been named by Head Coach Leo Cullen.

Three Academy players are included in the starting XV, with Andrew Osborne and Gus McCarthy keeping their places from last Saturday’s 33-12 win over Connacht and Hugh Cooney promoted from the bench after making his debut in Galway.

Cooney is joined in the centre by the returning Robbie Henshaw, who makes his first appearance of the season after recovering from injury in one of ten changes to the starting line up.

Hugo Keenan gets the nod at full-back once more as James Lowe returns to the starting team, with Osborne on the other wing.

Fresh off three impressive performances for Emerging Ireland in South Africa, Sam Prendergast has been handed the number ten jersey where he will be partnered by Luke McGrath at scrum-half.

McCarthy is joined in the front row by Michael Milne and Rabah Slimani, while Ryan Baird returns for his first start of the season alongside last week’s Player of the Match, RG Snyman.

Caelan Doris, who was recently named Irish captain for the upcoming autumn internationals, leads the team from number eight, while Max Deegan and Josh van der Flier offer support from the flanks.

Another of last week’s debutants keeps his place in the squad as first year Academy hooker Stephen Smyth is named among the replacements once more. He will be supported by experienced prop duo of Andrew Porter and Thomas Clarkson, who were both named in the Irish squad this week.

Brian Deeny and James Culhane round out the forward cover.

Bank of Ireland Player of the Month Charlie Tector is set for his first appearance since returning from South Africa with Emerging Ireland.

Ross Byrne will continue his run of being involved in every game so far this season if he is introduced to the action. On the other end of things, it will be a first competitive appearance of the season in blue for Cormac Foley if he comes off the bench tomorrow. Foley played in the pre-season friendly against Bordeaux-Begles and also played on the Emerging Ireland tour.

Leinster Rugby (caps in brackets):
15. Hugo Keenan (69)
14. Andrew Osborne (3)
13. Hugh Cooney (1)
12. Robbie Henshaw (92)
11. James Lowe (83)
10. Sam Prendergast (19)
9. Luke McGrath (215)

1. Michael Milne (44)
2. Gus McCarthy (5)
3. Rabah Slimani (3)
4. RG Snyman (3)
5. Ryan Baird (73)
6. Max Deegan (117)
7. Josh van der Flier (146)
8. Caelan Doris CAPTAIN (85)

Replacements:
16. Stephen Smyth (1)
17. Andrew Porter (125)
18. Thomas Clarkson (46)
19. Brian Deeny (26)
20. James Culhane (10)
21. Cormac Foley (20)
22. Ross Byrne (167)
23. Charlie Tector (10)

Referee: Craig Evans (WRU)