Categories: Leinster Main News Provincial URC

All Change For Leinster Ahead Of Glasgow Trip

Kildare native Will Connors is pictured during the Leinster squad's training session at UCD on Monday ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has made a full 15 personnel changes for Saturday’s GUINNESS PRO14 showdown with Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun Stadium (kick-off 7.35pm).

Hugo Keenan, Adam Byrne and Cian Kelleher are the back three selected by Cullen for the seventh round trip to their Conference A rivals and, of course, the beaten finalists in last season’s Championship.

In the centre Westmeath man Conor O’Brien is joined by Kildare native Jimmy O’Brien, while Ross Byrne, who has scored 48 points in the PRO14 so far this year, and Jamison Gibson-Park swap in at half-back.

Peter Dooley, James Tracy, who made his 100th appearance last week in Lyon, and Michael Bent pack down together in a freshened-up front row, with Ross Molony selected as captain from the second row where he is joined by Devin Toner.

The title holders’ starting XV is completed by Josh Murphy, Will Connors and Caelan Doris. Among the replacements there is a first senior involvement of the season for Academy lock Oisin Dowling, and Fergus McFadden makes a welcome return from an elbow injury.

The 23-year-old Connors commented: “We know what sort of game Glasgow are going to bring to us. Some of the individual stats when they came to the RDS last year were crazy. We’re expecting a fast game.

“They’re going to be physical. We’re going to have to really up our game on Saturday night. We’re going to have to match them in every aspect of it. We’re looking forward to it.

“Glasgow are coming off quite a good start to the European campaign so they’re really going to be going after it. We need to match that 100%. Our physicality needs to be there. We need to play on top of them and that’s kinda where we’re preparing this week.”

LEINSTER (v Glasgow Warriors): Hugo Keenan; Adam Byrne, Jimmy O’Brien, Conor O’Brien, Cian Kelleher; Ross Byrne, Jamison Gibson-Park; Peter Dooley, James Tracy, Michael Bent, Ross Molony (capt), Devin Toner, Josh Murphy, Will Connors, Caelan Doris.

Replacements: Bryan Byrne, Ed Byrne, Jack Aungier, Oisin Dowling, Scott Penny, Hugh O’Sullivan, Ciaran Frawley, Fergus McFadden.