What a way to kick off the Guinness PRO14 season.
Leinster begin the defence of their PRO14 title at the Cardiff Arms Park (7:35pm Friday, live on eir Sport) and they have named a team with nine internationals.
Leo Cullen and Stuart Lancaster are able to call on Rhys Ruddock, Adam Byrne, Luke McGrath and former Wallabies star Joe Tomane for the season opener and they are obviously gunning for a fast start. Also in the starting XV are outhalf Ross Byrne and Dave Kearney at fullback, while Tomane partners Rory O’Loughlin in midfield.
Tomane will have the company of another former Australia international, Scott Fardy, in Leinster’s team while their back row features prospects Josh Murphy and Caelan Doris.
With Conor Murray facing a spell on the sidelines, Friday’s game will give Luke McGrath to show the Ireland management team what they were missing when they left the scrum-half out of the summer touring squad for Australia.
Tight-head Andrew Porter is the only player in the Leinster 23 that was on tour Down Under during the summer. He is joined on the bench by the likes of Fergus McFadden, Noel Reid and Max Deegan.
LEINSTER (provincial caps in brackets)
15. Dave Kearney (122)
14. Adam Byrne (38)
13. Rory O’Loughlin (42)
12. Joe Tomane (0)
11. Barry Daly (27)10. Ross Byrne (49)
9. Luke McGrath (95)1. Peter Dooley (47)
2. James Tracy (66)
3. Michael Bent (106)4. Ross Molony (64)
5. Scott Fardy (22)6. Josh Murphy (9)
7. Rhys Ruddock (142) CAPTAIN
8. Caelan Doris (1)Replacements: Bryan Byrne, Ed Byrne, Andrew Porter, Mick Kearney, Max Deegan, Jamison Gibson-Park, Noel Reid, Fergus McFadden.
Leinster’s PRO14 opener against Cardiff Blues will be broadcast free to air on eir Sport and on their social media channels, and YouTube on Friday night (7:35pm kick-off)
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