Here is your team news ahead of today’s titanic clashLeinster coach Leo Cullen insists he was free of any IRFU restrictions when selecting Jordie Barrett on the bench for tomorrow’s Champions Cup semi-final against Northampton Saints.
The All Black produced an all-time great performance in the quarter-final win over Glasgow Warriors last month, but his reward is a place among the replacements against the English champions.
Max Deegan and Tommy O’Brien have been rewarded for their strong recent form with starting spots in a formidable matchday 23, but the decision to leave Barrett out has raised eyebrows.
Northampton, who pushed Leinster all the way at Croke Park last season, have an extensive injury list as they return to Dublin but coach Phil Dowson can still name a host of England stars including Alex Mitchell, Fin Smith and Tommy Freeman behind the scrum.
LEINSTER – H Keenan; T O’Brien, G Ringrose, R Henshaw, J Lowe; S Prendergast, J Gibson-Park; C Healy, D Sheehan, T Furlong; RG Snyman, J McCarthy; M Deegan, J van der Flier, C Doris (capt).
Reps: R Kelleher, A Porter, R Slimani, R Baird, J Conan, L McGrath, R Byrne, J Barrett
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS – J Ramm; T Freeman, F Dingwall (capt), R Hutchinson, T Litchfield; F Smith, A Mitchell; E Iyogun, C Langdon, T Davison; T Mayanavanua, A Coles; J Kemeny, H Pollock, J Augustus.
Reps: H Walker, T West, E Millar Mills, T Lockett, C Munga, A Scott-Young, T James, T Seabrook.
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