Carlow man Ed Byrne has been named at loosehead for Leinster’s crucial Guinness PRO 14 clash against Ulster in the PRO14 tomorrow.
He’s been released from the Irish training squad for the game and joins James Tracy and Michael Bent in the front row
Luke McGrath will once again captain the side and is joined this week by Ross Byrne.
In the back row, Rhys Ruddock and Josh van der Flier are the final two available to Cullen having been released back to the province with Scott Penny in there too.
Academy back Max O’Reilly starts at full-back for his fifth cap of the season, with try-scorer from last week Cian Kelleher on the right-wing and Dave Kearney on the left. Kearney has seven tries in 12 games so far this season.
Rory O’Loughlin starts in the number 12 jersey this week, with Jimmy O’Brien wearing the number 13 outside him.
Devin Toner and Scott Fardy are the second-row combination for Cullen’s side for the second week in a row, as Toner gets ever closer to Gordon D’Arcy’s all-time Leinster caps record of 261.
In the back row, Rhys Ruddock and Josh van der Flier are the final two available to Cullen having been released back to the province and they start at blindside and openside, with Guinness Man of the Match from last week, Scott Penny, completing the starting XV for Leinster Rugby.
Leinster Rugby
15. Max O’Reilly (4)
14. Cian Kelleher (23)
13. Jimmy O’Brien (30)
12. Rory O’Loughlin (76)
11. Dave Kearney (161)
10. Ross Byrne (96)
9. Luke McGrath (142) CAPTAIN
1. Ed Byrne (63)
2. James Tracy (122)
3. Michael Bent (152)
4. Devin Toner (258)
5. Scott Fardy (72)
6. Rhys Ruddock (184)
7. Josh van der Flier (90)
8. Scott Penny (22)
16. Seán Cronin (192)
17. Peter Dooley (87)
18. Thomas Clarkson (7)
19. Ross Molony (108)
20. Josh Murphy (42)
21. Rowan Osborne (8)
22. Jamie Osborne (3)
23. Jack Dunne (12)
