flag
back Retour
Sheehan switches to number eight for Munster derby
Dan Sheehan
Image caption, Dan Sheehan will captain Ireland in next month's Nations Championship games in Caelan Doris' absence

Leinster captain Dan Sheehan will start at number eight for the first time in Saturday's United Rugby Championship derby against Munster in Dublin.

The Ireland hooker switches to the back row as one of four changes made by head coach Leo Cullen for the Aviva Stadium game (18:00 BST) following last weekend's 48-23 Investec Champions Cup victory over Clermont Auvergne.

Ireland scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park makes his first appearance of the season, while former Munster out-half Joey Carbery earns his first start since rejoining Leinster.

Ronan Kelleher and Jamie Osborne are also drafted into the starting side, with Kelleher replacing Sheehan at hooker and Osborne joining Robbie Henshaw in midfield.

The hosts are seeking consecutive URC victories after bouncing back from opening defeats by the Lions and Sharks with a convincing win over Cardiff.

Leinster have collected eight points from their opening three league matches, including four bonus points.

Munster, meanwhile, have made seven changes to the side that defeated Racing 92 in the Champions Cup last weekend.

Shane Daly returns from injury, while Josh Wycherley, Kieran Brookes, Fineen Wycherley, Jack O'Donoghue, Alex Kendellen and Gavin Coombes are also drafted into the starting XV.

Former Ireland Under-20s international Sean O'Brien switches from the wing to outside centre as he prepares to make his 50th Munster appearance.

Mark Donnelly is in line for his first appearance of the season from the bench, with academy centre Gordon Wood also among the replacements.

Tadhg Beirne and Craig Casey - the only Munster players in Andy Farrell's latest Ireland squad - both start.

Munster have recovered from their opening URC defeat by Glasgow Warriors with a victory over the Bulls and a 26-26 draw against Ulster on October 10.

Leinster: Keenan; T O'Brien, Osborne, Henshaw, J O'Brien; Carbery, Gibson-Park; Porter, Kelleher, Furlong; J McCarthy, Ryan; Baird, Van der Flier, Sheehan (capt).

Replacements: G McCarthy, Usanov, Clarkson, O'Tighearnaigh, Penny, Gunne, Gabriel, Tector.

Munster: B O'Connor; McCarthy, S O'Brien, Nankivell, Daly; O'Shea, Casey; J Wycherley, Van der Merwe, Brookes; F Wycherley, Beirne (capt); O'Donoghue, Kendellen, Coombes.

Replacements: Clein, Donnelly, Ala'alatoa, Edogbo, Gleeson, B O'Donovan, Hanrahan, Wood.

You may like

Lions lock Hyron Andrews dies at team hotel before Champions Cup game against La Rochelle

The Guardian il y a 1 semaine

Tries aplenty as Connacht secure bonus-point win over Zebre

irishtimes.com il y a 1 jour

Ellie Kildunne handed brutal player rating as Red Roses lose again to Canada

ruck.co.uk il y a 10 heures

Jean Kleyn targets Springboks recall after ‘immensely positive’ move and why Rassie Erasmus’ outl...

planetrugby.com il y a 2 jours

Conor Murray: Snubbed Munster players can make statement against Leinster

irishtimes.com il y a 1 jour

‘There could be carnage in Dublin’: Ian Madigan and Alan Quinlan on Leinster v Munster

irishtimes.com il y a 1 jour

What time is Luke Littler playing against Nathan Aspinall on Saturday evening at the 2026 Europea...

dartsnews.com il y a 6 heures

Australia v New Zealand: Bledisloe Cup rugby union international – live

The Guardian il y a 1 semaine