Carbery set for first Leinster appearance in seven years as Cullen names six changes for Clermont

Joey Carbery will end a seven-year absence from Leinster colours when he takes his place on the bench for Saturday’s Investec Champions Cup opening-round fixture against Clermont Auvergne at Stade Marcel-Michelin. The fly-half rejoined the province during the summer from Bordeaux Bèglès and has not played for Leinster since 2018.

Head coach Leo Cullen has made six changes to the starting XV that defeated Cardiff 29-5 in the URC last weekend. Dan Sheehan retains the captaincy from hooker, with Ireland props Andrew Porter and Tadhg Furlong coming into the front row. Joe McCarthy and James Ryan are kept together in the second row.

The back row has been reshuffled, with Ryan Baird and Josh van der Flier joining Jack Conan, who starts at number eight for a second successive match. Fintan Gunne is selected at scrum-half alongside Sam Prendergast at ten, while Robbie Henshaw returns to the midfield to partner Garry Ringrose.

Hugo Keenan continues at full-back, with Tommy O’Brien and Jimmy O’Brien named on the wings.

Carbery’s inclusion on the bench is the headline selection of the matchday 23. Academy scrum-half Oliver Coffey and Jamie Osborne provide additional backline cover, while Rónan Kelleher, Alex Usanov and Thomas Clarkson make up the replacement front row. Conor O’Tighearnaigh and Scott Penny complete the squad.

Leinster: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Jimmy O’Brien, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 Tommy O’Brien; 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Fintan Gunne; 1 Andrew Porter, 2 Dan Sheehan (c), 3 Tadhg Furlong, 4 Joe McCarthy, 5 James Ryan, 6 Ryan Baird, 7 Josh van der Flier, 8 Jack Conan.

Replacements: 16 Rónan Kelleher, 17 Alex Usanov, 18 Thomas Clarkson, 19 Conor O’Tighearnaigh, 20 Scott Penny, 21 Oliver Coffey, 22 Joey Carbery, 23 Jamie Osborne.