Leinster load up bench for Champions Cup final as Leo Cullen opts for 6/2 split with stars in reserve
Josh van der Flier will start the game on the bench for Leinster.
Will Connors has been recalled to the Leinster team for tomorrow’s Champions Cup final against Toulouse at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
As reported in today's Irish Independent, Leo Cullen has opted for a 6/2 split on the bench, with fit-again co-captain James Ryan having to make do with a place as one of six forwards among the replacements.
Connors will return to the back-row in place of Josh van der Flier, as Jason Jenkins edges Ryan and Ross Molony, who misses out entirely.
Hugo Keenan starts at full-back, as James Lowe and Jordan Larmour keep their spots on the wing, with the latter having seen off stiff competition from Jimmy O’Brien, who like Molony, is unlucky to miss out on the match-day squad.
Leinster team named for Champions Cup final
O’Brien took part in Leinster’s captain’s run this morning, as did Ryan’s fellow co-captain Garry Ringrose, but neither Ireland back will feature in London tomorrow.
Ringrose’s absence means Jamie Osborne continues in midfield alongside Robbie Henshaw, with Jamison Gibson-Park and Ross Byrne renewing their half-back partnership.
The familiar Ireland front-row of Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong are in situ, as Jenkins links up with Joe McCarthy in the second-row.
Ryan Baird and Caelan Doris, who continues as captain, are in the back-row with Connors.
Cullen has a strong bench to call upon, with the six forwards including Rónan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Michael Ala'alatoa, Ryan, Jack Conan and Van der Flier, while scrum-half Luke McGrath and the versatile Ciarán Frawley will provide backline cover.
Meanwhile, Toulouse have opted to keep France full-back Thomas Ramos on the bench, with Scotland's Blair Kinghorn getting the nod instead.
Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack start, while former Ireland international and Toulouse legend Trevor Brennan's son Josh earns a spot among the replacements.
Leinster: H Keenan; J Larmour, R Henshaw, J Osborne, J Lowe; R Byrne, J Gibson-Park; A Porter, D Sheehan, T Furlong; J McCarthy, J Jenkins; R Baird, W Connors, C Doris (capt).
Reps: R Kelleher, C Healy, M Ala'alatoa, J Ryan, J Conan, L McGrath, C Frawley, J van der Flier.
Toulouse – B Kinghorn; JC Mallia, P Costes, P Ahki, M Lebel; R Ntamack, A Dupont (capt); C Baille, P Mauvaka, D Aldegheri; T Flament, E Meafou; J Willis, F Cros, A Roumat.
Reps: J Marchand, R Neti, J Merkler, R Arnold, J Brennan, P Graou, S Chocobares, T Ramos.
