Sheehan shifts to No.8 and Prendergast absent as Leinster reshuffle for Munster derby

Captain Dan Sheehan will start at No.8 for the first time in his professional career when Leinster host Munster in a URC interprovincial derby at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, with head coach Leo Cullen forced into four changes from the side that beat Clermont ASM 48-23 in France last weekend.

Sheehan’s positional switch has been necessitated by a mounting back-row injury crisis. Specialist No.8 Caelan Doris was already sidelined before Jack Conan joined him on the treatment table, leaving Cullen with little choice but to repurpose his captain.

The more eyebrow-raising omission, however, is Sam Prendergast. The 23-year-old Ireland fly-half does not feature in Leinster’s matchday 23, with reports pointing to an arm injury sustained after Monday’s squad update — which did not list him among the injured. Harry Byrne also remains unavailable as he continues his recovery from concussion.

In Prendergast’s place, Joey Carbery starts at out-half in what will be his first appearance since returning to the province. Academy fly-half Caspar Gabriel is named among the replacements alongside Charlie Tector.

There is a significant boost at scrum-half, though. Jamison Gibson-Park makes his first appearance of the season, his return a timely one given Leinster’s domestic ambitions and Ireland’s upcoming Nations Championship fixtures in November.

Jamie Osborne comes into the midfield alongside Robbie Henshaw, while Hugo Keenan starts at full-back behind a back three of Tommy O’Brien and Jimmy O’Brien. In the front row, Rónan Kelleher joins Andrew Porter and Tadhg Furlong, with Joe McCarthy and James Ryan continuing their second-row partnership. Ryan Baird and Josh van der Flier flank Sheehan in the back row.

Munster, captained by Tadhg Beirne, name a settled side with Craig Casey at scrum-half and Charlie O’Shea at fly-half. Gavin Coombes starts at No.8, with Jack O’Donoghue and Alex Kendellen completing the back row.

Leinster: Hugo Keenan; Tommy O’Brien, Jamie Osborne, Robbie Henshaw, Jimmy O’Brien; Joey Carbery, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan, Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier, Dan Sheehan (captain). Replacements: Gus McCarthy, Alex Usanov, Thomas Clarkson, Conor O’Tighearnaigh, Scott Penny, Fintan Gunne, Caspar Gabriel, Charlie Tector.

Munster: Ben O’Connor; Shay McCarthy, Seán O’Brien, Alex Nankivell, Shane Daly; Charlie O’Shea, Craig Casey; Josh Wycherley, Marnus van der Merwe, Kieran Brookes, Fineen Wycherley, Tadhg Beirne (captain), Jack O’Donoghue, Alex Kendellen, Gavin Coombes. Replacements: Max Clein, Mark Donnelly, Michael Ala’alatoa, Seán Edogbo, Brian Gleeson, Ben O’Donovan, JJ Hanrahan, Gordon Wood.