Robbie Henshaw will make his Leinster debut in tomorrow’s Pro12 clash with Munster at the Aviva and forms an exciting centre partnership with Garry Ringrose.
The 23-year-old who joined Leinster in the summer has 22 caps for Ireland and is returning from a shoulder injury picked up on the Ireland tour to South Africa in the summer.
Nice easy start for Henshaw pic.twitter.com/uwjlTU7G6J
— Gavin Cummiskey (@Cumoski) October 7, 2016
Elsewhere, Rob Kearney comes back from a knee injury sustained against Glasgow Warriors to take up his place at full back with Rory O’Loughlin on the right wing for his first home start and with captain Isa Nacewa on the left.
Luke McGrath comes back into the starting 15 with Johnny Sexton outside him after his Man of the Match performance last weekend.
In the pack it’s a new front row with Irish internationals Cian Healy, Sean Cronin and Tadhg Furlong packing down.
Devin Toner is partnered in the second row by Cork native and former Munster player Ian Nagle who makes his first home appearance for Leinster.
In the back row Rhys Ruddock starts at blindside flanker with Jordi Murphy at open side.
As part of 5 changes, @peterom6 back as captain tomorrow
— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) October 7, 2016
Full team details | https://t.co/lPvKgAi0tJ#LEIvMUN pic.twitter.com/zCsgoP1utG
Back row Peter O’Mahony has been included in the Munster team which he will captain.
Rory Scannell partners Keith Earls in the centre, while Ronan O’Mahony is on the wing.
Two positional switches in the pack see Donnacha Ryan move to 4, partnered by Billy Holland who reverts to the second row.
Ticket sales have gone over the 39,000 mark with tickets still on sale and with a Ticketmaster van positioned on Lansdowne Road on match day from 11.00am.
Leinster v Munster Saturday October 8 at the Aviva Stadium – kick-off 2.05pm.
Leinster team: Rob Kearney, Rory O’Loughlin, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, Isa Nacewa – captain, Johnny Sexton, Luke McGrath; Cian Healy, Sean Cronin, Tadhg Furlong, Devin Toner, Ian Nagle, Rhys Ruddock, Jordi Murphy, Jamie Heaslip.
Replacements: James Tracy, Jack McGrath, Mike Ross, Ross Molony, Dan Leavy, Jamison Gibson-Park, Joey Carbery, Noel Reid.
Munster team: Simon Zebo, Darren Sweetnam, Keith Earls, Rory Scannell, Ronan O’Mahony; Tyler Bleyendaal, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell, John Ryan, Donnacha Ryan, Billy Holland, Peter O’Mahony – captain, Tommy O’Donnell, CJ Stander.
Replacements: Duncan Casey, James Cronin, Stephen Archer, Robin Copeland, Jack O’Donoghue, Duncan Williams, Ian Keatley, Jaco Taute.
