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WILL CONNORS HAS been handed Leinster’s number seven shirt for tomorrow’s Champions Cup final against Toulouse in London [KO 2.45pm, RTÉ/TNT].
The Kildare man has been brought back into the starting XV for his third start of this Champions Cup campaign, with Josh van der Flier named as part of a 6/2 Leinster bench.
Experienced second row James Ryan is also part of a punchy-looking Leinster bench, with Springboks-capped lock Jason Jenkins named to start alongside Joe McCarthy, meaning Ross Molony misses out on the matchday 23. Ryan Baird will call the lineout, as he did in the quarter-final against La Rochelle.
Jordan Larmour starts on the right wing, with Jimmy O’Brien among those unlucky not to be involved against Toulouse.
It’s a familiar-looking Leinster team overall, with Larmour joined in the back three by left wing James Lowe and fullback Hugo Keenan, who returned from injury against Ulster last weekend.
With Garry Ringrose absent once again as he continues his recovery from a shoulder injury, Robbie Henshaw and Jamie Osborne continue in midfield, while Jamison Gibson-Park and Ross Byrne make up the halfback pairing again.
Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, and Tadhg Furlong form a strong front row, with Baird and captain Caelan Doris completing the back row alongside Connors.
Cian Healy, Rónan Kelleher, and Michael Ala’alatoa are the front row replacements, while Ryan, Jack Conan, and van der Flier will look to provide impact in the back five of the scrum.
Scrum-half Luke McGrath and the versatile Ciarán Frawley have been named as the two backs on the Leinster bench.
Toulouse have named an unchanged starting XV from their semi-final defeat of Harlequins, with Blair Kinghorn retaining his place at fullback and Thomas Ramos again starting on the bench.
There is however a positional switch in the Toulouse backrow, with Jack Willis named at blindside flanker and François Cros moving to openside.
Joshua Brennan, son of former Ireland international Trevor, has been named on the Toulouse bench.
15. Hugo Keenan
14. Jordan Larmour
13. Robbie Henshaw
12. Jamie Osborne
11. James Lowe
10. Ross Byrne
9. Jamison Gibson-Park
1. Andrew Porter
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Joe McCarthy
5. Jason Jenkins
6. Ryan Baird
7. Will Connors
8. Caelan Doris (captain)
Replacements:
16. Rónan Kelleher
17. Cian Healy
18. Michael Ala’alatoa
19. James Ryan
20. Jack Conan
21. Luke McGrath
22. Ciarán Frawley
23. Josh van der Flier
15. Blair Kinghorn
14. Juan Cruz Mallia
13. Paul Costes
12. Pita Ahki
11. Matthis Lebel
10. Romain Ntamack
9. Antoine Dupont (captain)
1. Cyril Baille
2. Peato Mauvaka
3. Dorian Aldegheri
4. Thibaud Flament
5. Emmanuel Meafou
6. Jack Willis
7. François Cros
8. Alexandre Roumat
Replacements:
16. Julien Marchand
17. Rodrigue Neti
18. Joel Merkler
19. Richie Arnold
20. Joshua Brennan
21. Paul Graou
22. Santiago Chocobares
23. Thomas Ramos
Referee: Matthew Carley [RFU].
Written by Murray Kinsella. The Journal publishes the biggest breaking news in Irish and international sport but for all of The 42′s insightful analysis and sharp sportswriting, subscribe here.
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What a horrible lot don’t blame the USA for trying to keep them out
Michael, drug cartels are so powerful because of US drug use, US war on drugs is a joke, calling Mexicans ‘a horrible lot’ is rather simplistic view
Micheal two young mexicans are dead because of the illegal drugs industry, because they may have used their rights to freedom of speech (a right upheld in the constitutions of many countries) to speak out against drug cartels. Are they part of the horrible lot too?The drugs industry is an international one it doesn’t follow borders, it just follows supply and demand.
Michael, try educating yourself before you make idiotic comments in future.
Dear drug cartels,
You can’t stop the signal!
Sooner you learn that, the better!
I’ve been meeting so many people facing these kinds of threats every day at the Frontline Human Rights Defenders Platform in Dublin Castle this week. 130 incredibly brave people from 85 countries being threatened for standing up for their basic rights. Its shocking to hear stories like this one. Can you imagine actually facing that fear every day but continuing to fight for the right thing despite it? And what if you had kids? Massive respect to the journalists who fight back. Rant over. If you guys interested in reading more about them, visit http://www.frontlinehumanrights.org
Mexico, a failed state now. Imagine the situation in ten years time.
There was a great show on last week where that sas guy chris Ryan teamed up with the special police there ‘bope’. Incredible stuff seeing the conditions in the favelas. The place is overrun with drugs and crime. Remember last year when hundreds of cops raided the place and arrested hundreds?
Scary stuff if they are turning to killing those using social media and reporters
Thats brazil you clown. And BOPE are a bunch of murderers and torturers
My bad mad durdu. I made a mistake.
I ain’t a clown though. I wouldn’t say murderers, they are going in dealing with serious criminals and drug cartels.
This was a mad story. On Monday.
: )
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