Leinster Welcome Back Leavy, Luke McGrath And Tomane
Captain Rhys Ruddock and returning flanker Dan Leavy will form two-thirds of Leinster's back row when they line out against Edinburgh on Friday night ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne
Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has made 10 personnel changes and two positional switches to the team for Friday’s GUINNESS PRO14 match against Edinburgh at BT Murrayfield (kick-off 7.35pm).
There is a welcome return for a number of players who have been out with injury for the last few months as the Rhys Ruddock-led Leinster side, who have already guaranteed a home semi-final as Conference B table toppers, look to get back up and running in the Championship after a few weeks off.
Skerries youngster Ciaran Frawley comes in at full-back for his first start in the number 15 jersey, with Fergus McFadden moving to the right wing and Barry Daly stationed on the left. Joining Noel Reid in the centre is Joe Tomane who makes his first start since injuring his hamstring in November against the Isuzu Southern Kings.
Luke McGrath, who last featured against Toulouse in January’s Heineken Champions Cup win at the RDS, is back from a knee injury to take his place at scrum half alongside Ross Byrne, the province’s top points scorer in the PRO14 this season with 86 points from 11 appearances.
Ed Byrne, the recent man-of-the-match in the home game against the Kings, and Sean Cronin join forces with Michael Bent in the front row, Josh Murphy links up with Mick Kearney in the engine room, and Dan Leavy, who has recovered from a calf injury, bolsters a back row which is anchored by Max Deegan at number 8.
Fit-again scrum half Nick McCarthy is the fourth player coming back from injury, as the 23-year-old is selected for the first time since damaging his right foot in November. He is part of a replacements bench which includes Ireland front rowers Jack McGrath and Andrew Porter, as well as recent Leinster debutants Jack Dunne and Oisin Dowling.
LEINSTER (v Edinburgh): Ciaran Frawley; Fergus McFadden, Noel Reid, Joe Tomane, Barry Daly; Ross Byrne, Luke McGrath; Ed Byrne, Sean Cronin, Michael Bent, Josh Murphy, Mick Kearney, Rhys Ruddock (capt), Dan Leavy, Max Deegan.
Replacements: Bryan Byrne, Jack McGrath, Andrew Porter, Jack Dunne, Oisin Dowling, Nick McCarthy, Jimmy O’Brien, Conor O’Brien.