Rugby

Tadhg Furlong and Jack Conan in Leinster team to face Scarlets

Johnny Sexton will captain the side for the clash at the RDS

Leinster’s Tadhg Furlong during training. Photo: Ryan Byrne/Inpho

Gerry Thornley's face
Gerry Thornley
Fri Oct 15 2021 - 12:35

United Rugby Championship: Leinster v Scarlets

Kick-off: 5.15pm, Saturday. Venue: RDS. On TV: Live on TG4 and Premier Sport.

As expected, Tadhg Furlong and Jack Conan make their seasonal re-appearances in a strong, much-changed Leinster line-up for their fourth round URC fixture against the Scarlets at the RDS.

Whereas Furlong and Conan start, after playing every minute of the Lions’ test series in South Africa, Robbie Henshaw’s return has been put back until next week’s game away to Glasgow.

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Furlong and Conan are among 13 changes form the starting XV compared to last week’s 43-7 win over Zebre, with only Ciarán Frawley and Jordan Larmour retained at centre and on the wing.

Andrew Porter has another outing at loosehead and Rónan Kelleher makes his first start of the season after his appearance off the bench last week. James Ryan and Ross Molony renew their second-row partnership, while Caelan Doris is selected at blindside and Josh van der Flier is at openside for the third game this season.

At half back, Jamison Gibson-Park is partnered by captain Johnny Sexton, and Garry Ringrose returns at outside centre, as do James Lowe and Hugo Keenan in the back three. A potent looking bench features the experience of Cian Healy, Rhys Ruddock, Luke McGrath and Ross Byrne, as well as Dan Sheahan, Michael Ala’alatoa, Ryan Baird and Jimmy O’Brien.

Capacity at the RDS Arena will again be capped at 75 per cent and only a handful of tickets remain.

Leinster: Hugo Keenan; Jordan Larmour, Garry Ringrose, Ciarán Frawley, James Lowe; Johnny Sexton (C), Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong; Ross Molony, James Ryan; Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan.

Replacements: Dan Sheehan, Cian Healy, Michael Ala'alatoa, Ryan Baird, Rhys Ruddock, Luke McGrath, Ross Byrne, Jimmy O'Brien.

URC