mens
United-rugby-championship
Leo Cullen remembered Ireland flanker Josh van der Flier to his Leinster starting XV for Saturday’s 2nd round URC clash with Sharks in Durban, while youngster Caspar Gabriel retained the No. 10 jersey.
Leinster have made five personnel changes following last weekend’s bonus-point defeat to the Lions, with Van der Flier among the headline inclusions as Cullen seeks an immediate response to Kings Park.
Rónan Kelleher returns to captain the wing side, while Thomas Clarkson moves into the front row and Andrew Porter moves to loosehead.
Ryan Baird also moves to the back row, joining No.8 Josh Ericson and Van der Flier.
Gabriel continues at fly-half after last week’s first round and will again combine with scrum-half Fintan Gunne’s hat-trick. He has the advantage over Sam Prendergast, who returns to the team, but has to settle for a place on the bench.
In the backs, Robbie Henshaw is brought back at inside center alongside Hugh Cooney, while Andrew Osborne, Tommy O’Brien and Todd Lawlor form an unchanged back three as Leinster chase their first win of the new campaign.
“We’re looking to evolve (the offense),” assistant coach Tyler Bleyendaal said. “We’ve got to work hard at it, and we’ve got to make sure the time we put into it is quality time. So we’re trying to evolve. We’re trying to get better. The game is evolving. The offense has to evolve now.”
“The defense is almost more structured than the offense at times, so you have to figure out how to break it down. We’re enjoying the process right now. It’s definitely not the end product, but we’ve made good strides in the preseason and we’ll continue to do that.”
The Sharks, for their part, are looking forward to taking on ‘the best’.
Hollywoodbets Sharks head coach JP Pietersen said: “The champions are coming to Durban and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Leinster are one of the best teams in the world, and we have a lot of respect for the threat they bring. But this is our territory and we’re up for the challenge. This week is about going up against the best and seeing how far we’ve come as a group.”
Leinster: Todd Lawlor, Tommy O’Brien, Hugh Cooney, Robbie Henshaw, Andrew Osborne, Caspar Gabriel, Fintan Gunne; Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher (CAPT), Thomas Clarkson, Conor O’Tighearnaigh, Alan Spicer, Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier, Josh Ericson
Replacements: Gus McCarthy, Alex Usanov, Niall Smyth, Brian Deeney, Ciarán Mangan, Oliver Coffey, Sam Prendergast, Hugo McLaughlin
Hollywoodbets Sharks: Luan Giliomee, Edwill van der Merwe, Jurenzo Julius, Andre Esterhuizen (CAPT), Lili Bester, Vusi Moyo, Jaden Hendrikse, Thomas du Toit, Esethu Mnebelele, Vincent Koch, Jason Jenkins, Darrien Landsberg, Phepsi Buthelezi, Manu Tshituka, Nick Tshituka
Replacements: Ethan Bester, Ox Nche, Hanro Jacobs, Eben Etzebeth, Matt Romao, Ivan van Zyl, Zekhethelo Siyaya, Ethan Hooker