New front row for Leinster against the Bulls
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has named his team to take on the Bulls in the United Rugby Championship Grand Final at Croke Park on Friday.
There are three changes to the starting XV from the semifinal win over Stormers, with two switches in the front row and one in the backline.
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Tadhg Furlong and Jerry Cahir come into the side with Rónan Kelleher at hooker, while James Ryan and Joe McCarthy continue their partnership in the second row.
Caelan Doris captains the side from number eight once more as Josh van der Flier and Max Deegan complete an unchanged back row.
Tommy O’Brien – who was named Supporters’ Player of the Year and Men’s Player’s Player of the Year as well as picking up the Tackle of the Year prize at the Leinster Rugby Awards Ball – returns on the wing with James Lowe on the opposite side and Hugo Keenan at fullback.
Rieko Ioane and Jamie Osborne continue in the centres while Jamison Gibson-Park and Sam Prendergast renew their half-back partnership once more. Dan Sheehan returns to the matchday 23 as he takes his spot among the replacements alongside fellow front rows Alex Usanov and Thomas Clarkson.
Diarmuid Mangan and Jack Conan round off the forward cover, with Luke McGrath, Harry Byrne and Garry Ringrose once more providing the reinforcements for the backs.
Leinster: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Tommy O’Brien, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Jamie Osborne, 11 James Lowe, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Caelan Doris, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Max Deegan, 5 James Ryan, 4 Joe McCarthy, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Rónan Kelleher, 1 Jerry Cahir.
Replacements: 16 Dan Sheehan, 17 Alex Usanov, 18 Thomas Clarkson, 19 Diarmuid Mangan, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Luke McGrath, 22 Harry Byrne, 23 Garry Ringrose
Date: Friday, June 19
Venue: Croke Park, Dublin
Kick-off: 19.30 (20.30 SAST; 18.30 GMT)
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
Assistant referees: Adam Jones (Wales), Ben Breakspear (Wales)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Italy)
