Cullen names entirely new Leinster XV for first home URC game after winless South Africa tour

Leo Cullen has made wholesale changes to his Leinster starting XV for Saturday’s United Rugby Championship home opener against Cardiff at the Laya Arena, naming an entirely different run-on side from the one beaten in Durban last weekend. The Irish province are winless after two successive defeats on their South African tour, falling to both the Lions and the Sharks.

With no survivors from the Durban starting line-up, Cullen has recalled a host of frontline internationals for their first URC appearances of the campaign. Hooker Dan Sheehan captains the side and is joined in the front row by loosehead Alex Usanov and tighthead Tadhg Furlong, while Joe McCarthy and James Ryan form a Test-experienced second row.

Jack Conan starts at No.8 alongside Max Deegan and Scott Penny in the back row. Behind the pack, Oliver Coffey is handed his first senior start at scrum-half, partnering Sam Prendergast at half-back. The midfield pairing of Jamie Osborne and Garry Ringrose returns, with Jimmy O’Brien and Joshua Kenny on the wings and Hugo Keenan at full-back.

The bench carries considerable depth, with Peter Dooley, Rónan Kelleher, Thomas Clarkson, Alan Spicer and Josh Ericson among the forward cover. Academy scrum-half Fintan Gunne, Caspar Gabriel and Robbie Henshaw provide backline reinforcement.

Leinster kicking coach Emmet Farrell spoke of the squad’s eagerness to perform at their revamped home ground. “We’ve all been talking about getting back to Laya Arena,” he said. “Obviously, the old RDS had some great nights and we’re looking forward to having some really big nights in Laya Arena.”

Leinster XV: Hugo Keenan; Joshua Kenny, Garry Ringrose, Jamie Osborne, Jimmy O’Brien; Sam Prendergast, Oliver Coffey; Alex Usanov, Dan Sheehan (capt), Tadhg Furlong, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan, Max Deegan, Scott Penny, Jack Conan.

Replacements: Rónan Kelleher, Peter Dooley, Thomas Clarkson, Alan Spicer, Josh Ericson, Fintan Gunne, Caspar Gabriel, Robbie Henshaw.