Dan Sheehan will captain Leinster in their first match of the season against the Stormers in the United Rugby Championship (URC), marking his return from a long-term ACL injury.
The 27-cap Ireland international was injured in the 28th minute of last summer’s 27-20 defeat to world champions South Africa while attempting to tackle lock Eben Etzebeth.
Sheehan will play for a new-look Leinster team before joining Simon Easterby’s Ireland squad next week for the Six Nations opener against England, assuming he recovers from the game.
Ireland’s James Lowe also returns from injury, making his first Leinster appearance since October. He, too, will rejoin the Ireland squad after the game.
Elsewhere Henry McErlean is also scheduled to make his season debut at fullback. Paddy McCarthy is among the replacements and will look to play his first minutes of the season.
Will Connors has been named to the bench, having recovered from a hamstring injury.
Leinster’s backline consists of academy players McErlean and Andrew Osborne, as well as the veteran Lowe. Ross Byrne and Luke McGrath start at half-back, with nearly 400 combined appearances.
Following last weekend’s 47-21 victory against Bath in the Investec Champions Cup, Jordie Barrett retains the number 12 shirt and will be partnered in the midfield by Liam Turner.
Rabah Slimani and Max Deegan continue to lead the pack. Deegan switches from flanker to number eight. Jack Boyle starts in the front row with Slimani and Sheehan, followed by RG Snyman and Brian Deeny. Alex Soroka and Scott Penny complete the back row.
Front-row replacements include John McKee, McCarthy, and Rory McGuire. Diarmuid Mangan and James Culhane join Connors on the bench, rounding off a 6-2 forward-heavy split. Cormac Foley and Charlie Tector cover the back line.
Storm Éowyn created travel disruptions, thus referee Andrea Piardi was replaced by Eoghan Cross for the game.
Leinster
15. Henry McErlean
14. Andrew Osborne
13. Liam Turner
12. Jordie Barrett
11. James Lowe
10. Ross Byrne
9. Luke McGrath
1. Jack Boyle
2. Dan Sheehan CAPTAIN
3. Rabah Slimani
4. RG Snyman
5. Brian Deeny
6. Alex Soroka
7. Scott Penny
8. Max Deegan
Replacements:
16. John McKee
17. Paddy McCarthy
18. Rory McGuire
19. Diarmuid Mangan
20. James Culhane
21. Will Connors
22. Cormac Foley
23. Charlie Tector
Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU)
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