Hugo Keenan, Andrew Porter, and Robbie Henshaw have all successfully recovered from their respective injuries and have been included in Leinster’s starting lineup for the upcoming Champions Cup match against the Leicester Tigers on Saturday. Keenan is back as the fullback after missing the last Six Nations match for Ireland due to a hip injury. Henshaw took a blow during their win against the Bulls, but has followed the necessary return-to-play guidelines and Porter, who had been dealing with a shoulder injury, is ready to start in the front row along with Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong.
Nonetheless, Jimmy O’Brien, Luke McGrath, Garry Ringrose, and Charlie Ngatai have been left out of the 23-man squad as they all need more medical evaluations, according to a recent injury report released on Monday. With Ringrose unable to play, Jamie Osborne is set to start for the first time since the victory over Gloucester last year and will join Henshaw in the centre. As part of the reshuffling, Ross Byrne beat his brother, Harry Byrne, and Ciaran Frawley to secure the starting outhalf spot. His partner at halfback is Jamison Gibson-Park.
Jordan Larmour has been moved from fullback to the wing to make room for Keenan’s return, while James Lowe completes the back-three line-up. Ross Molony and Joe McCarthy continue as the lock pair, Caelan Doris steps in for Jack Conan at number eight, forming a back row that includes Josh van der Flier and Ryan Baird.
Ben Murphy, Harry Byrne, and Ciarán Frawley are named as substitutes, along with Rónan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Michael Ala’alatoa, Jason Jenkins, and Conan providing the reserves for the forwards.
Leicester will be without George Martin and Ollie Chessum, integral parts of the English squad that defeated Ireland in the Six Nations. Also missing is Tommy Reffell, a key Welsh player who led in turnovers during the same tournament.
Head coach Dan McKellar has an international pool of players at his disposal, which includes Handré Pollard from South Africa taking the outhalf position. His fellow South African, Jasper Wiese, joins in at the eighth number, along with Dan Cole and Argentinean Julian Montoya, adding strength to the forward line. In the backthree, England’s Freddie Steward fills a wing spot, while Dan Kelly, a former Ireland U20 international, will be playing in the centre.
Leinster’s push to the top was reportedly influenced by Leicester. The Leinster team includes players H Keenan, J Larmour, R Henshaw, J Osborne, J Lowe, R Byrne, J Gibson-Park, A Porter, D Sheehan, T Furlong, R Molony, J McCarthy, R Baird, J van der Flier, and C Doris. R Kelleher, C Healy, M Ala’alatoa, J Jenkins, J Conan, B Murphy, H Byrne, and C Frawley are among the replacements.
The Leicester Tigers team features players such as J Shillock, F Steward, D Kelly, S Kata, O Hassell-Collins, H Pollard, J van Poortvliet, J Cronin, J Montoya (capt), D Cole, H Wells, K Hatherell, H Liebenberg, O Cracknell, and J Wiese. The replacements include C Clare, F van Wyk, W Hurd, F Carnduff, E Ilione, T Whiteley, P Cokanasiga, and M Brown.
Meanwhile, Munster welcomes back RG Snyman and Simon Zebo for their upcoming match against Northampton on Sunday. They are the only fresh additions to the team that triumphed over Cardiff last week, as Sean O’Brien and Tom Ahern shift from the opening XV to the bench.
In his 100th appearance for the province, Tadhg Beirne leads the team and pairs up with Snyman in the secondrow, while Peter O’Mahony, John Hodnett, and Gavin Coombes form the backrow trio behind them. Jeremy Loughman commences as loosehead with Stephen Archer and Niall Scannell kicking off alongside him in the frontrow.
Craig Casey and Jack Crowley are yet again the halfback duo, with Alex Nankivell and Antoine Frisch – who has recently expressed his preference to compete for France rather than Ireland – maintaining their places at centre. The back three is completed by Zebo, Shane Daly and Mike Haley.
The front row reserves are represented by Eoghan Clarke, Josh Wycherley and Ryan, with Ahern and Alex Kendellen also positioned on the bench. Conor Murray has recently committed to a further year at the province and, along with Joey Carbery and Seán O’Brien, contributes to the backline substitutes.
Northampton will have to manage without the services of England international George Furbank at fullback, while Alex Mitchell, who has not represented the Saints since the Six Nations due to a wrist injury, is included on the bench. Courtney Lawes, who states his intention to leave the club this summer for Brive, will start in a back row also featuring England international Lewis Ludlam.
The line-up has exciting youngster Ollie Sleightholme on the wing, with Fin Smith at outhalf and England centre Fraser Dingwall at 13.
The Northampton Saints squad welcomes J Ramm; T Freeman, F Dingwall, B Odendaal, O Sleightholme; F Smith, T James; E Iyogun, C Langdon, T Davison; A Moon, A Coles; C Lawes, L Ludlam (capt), S Graham with the replacements being S Matavesi, A Waller, P Hill, T Mayanavanua, A Scott-Young, J Augustus, A Mitchell, G Hendy.
Meanwhile, the Munster team includes M Haley; S Zebo, A Frisch, A Nankivell, S Daly; J Crowley, C Casey; J Loughman, N Scannell, S Archer; T Beirne (capt), RG Snyman; P O’Mahony, J Hodnett, G Coombe with E Clarke, J Wycherley, J Ryan, T Ahern, A Kendellen, C Murray, J Carbery, S O’Brien named as the replacements.