A last-minute setback faces Leinster ahead of their Champions Cup quarter-final showdown with La Rochelle, as fullback Hugo Keenan has been sidelined from the starting line-up. Ciarán Frawley will take up the fullback role whereas Harry Byrne has been included among the substitutes. Keenan, grappling with a hip injury, missed the concluding Six Nations game against Scotland. Despite a commendable performance against Leicester Tigers last week, he appears to have worsened his injury. Stay tuned to our live blog for all of today’s action, with the match commencing at 4.30.
The LEINSTER team comprises of Ciarán Frawley, Jordan Larmour, Robbie Henshaw, Jamie Osborne, James Lowe, Ross Byrne, Jamison Gibson-Park, Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Joe McCarthy, Jason Jenkins, Ryan Baird, Will Connors, and captain Caelan Doris. Rónan Kelleher, Michael Milne, Michael Ala’alatoa, Ross Molony, Jack Conan, Luke McGrath, Harry Byrne, Josh van der Flier will be the substitutes.
Stade Rochelais’ team includes Dillyn Leyds, Jack Nowell, UJ Seuteni, Jonathan Danty, Teddy Thomas, Antoine Hastoy, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Louis Penverne, Tolu Latu, Uini Atonio, Ultan Dillane, Will Skelton, Judicael Cancoriet, Levani Botia, and captain Grégory Alldritt. Their replacements will be Quentin Lespiaucq, Alexandre Kaddouri, Joel Sclavi, Thomas Lavault, Paul Boudehent, Yoan Tanga, Teddy Iribaren, Ihaia West.
The referee for the match will be Karl Dickson from the RFU.