Carbery Returns As Leinster Make Six Changes For Montpellier Clash

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has announced his team to play Montpellier at the Altrad Stadium in their final Champions Cup pool game on Saturday (kick-off 2pm local time/1pm Irish time).

With Leinster guaranteed to top Pool 3 and gain a home quarter-final, there are six changes to the starting XV from last weekend’s 55-19 victory over Glasgow Warriors, while there is also a welcome return from injury for Joey Carbery on the bench.

Rob Kearney comes back in at full-back, with Jordan Larmour, who was called up to the Ireland Six Nations squad this week, moving to the right wing. James Lowe is again selected on the left wing having scored a try on his European debut on Glasgow.

Captain Isa Nacewa is joined by Athlone man Robbie Henshaw in an unchanged centre pairing, but there is a new half-back pairing in Ross Byrne, who will make his 12th start of the season, and Jamison Gibson-Park. Luke McGrath drops to the bench while Leo Cullen confirmed that Jonathan Sexton is fit and available for selection but will not make the trip to France.

In the pack, Cian Healy rejoins fellow Ireland internationals Sean Cronin and Tadhg Furlong in the front row, and James Ryan will partner Devin Toner for his second Champions Cup start of the season in only his 10th appearance for Leinster. The 21-year-old’s other start was also against Montpellier at the RDS in October.

Dan Leavy starts this weekend at blindside flanker with Josh van der Flier, who is set for his 60th Leinster cap, and number 8 Jack Conan completing the pack.

The aforementioned Carbery, who has recovered from a broken wrist, is selected on the bench and is back for his first Leinster involvement since starting at full-back against Glasgow Warriors in round 2 of the Champions Cup.

LEINSTER (v Montpellier): Rob Kearney; Jordan Larmour, Robbie Henshaw, Isa Nacewa (capt), James Lowe; Ross Byrne, Jamison Gibson-Park; Cian Healy, Sean Cronin, Tadhg Furlong, Devin Toner, James Ryan, Dan Leavy, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan.

Replacements: Bryan Byrne, Jack McGrath, Andrew Porter, Ross Molony, Jordi Murphy, Luke McGrath, Joey Carbery, Fergus McFadden.