Team Announcement: Leinster vs Tigers

The Leinster Rugby team to take on Leicester Tigers in the Quarter-Final of the Heineken Champions Cup, on Friday evening in Aviva Stadium, has been named by Leo Cullen (KO: 8pm – live on RTÉ2, BT Sport 1, RTÉ Radio and Newstalk).

Garry Ringrose and Caelan Doris return to the lineup, replacing Jordan Larmour and Josh van der Flier, in the only two personnel changes from last week’s win over Ulster.

Hugo Keenan starts at full-back, with Jimmy O’Brien and James Lowe named on the wings.

Ringrose and Robbie Henshaw form the centre partnership for the first time since October’s win over Munster, with Ross Byrne and Jamison Gibson-Park completing the back line.

Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong make up the front row for the second week running.

James Ryan captains the team and is partnered in the second row by Ross Molony.

Caelan Doris comes into the back-row and is joined by Ryan Baird and Jack Conan, with Baird set to win his 50th Leinster cap.

On the bench, there are no changes from last Saturday’s win over Ulster, with Cian Healy set to become Leinster's joint-second highest capped player.

Leinster Rugby (caps in brackets):
15. Hugo Keenan (52)
14. Jimmy O’Brien (67)
13. Garry Ringrose (113)
12. Robbie Henshaw (74)
11. James Lowe (70)
10. Ross Byrne (144)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (122)
1. Andrew Porter (104)
2. Dan Sheehan (42)
3. Tadhg Furlong (130)
4. Ross Molony (159)
5. James Ryan (70) CAPTAIN
6. Ryan Baird (49)
7. Caelan Doris (64)
8. Jack Conan (128)

16. John McKee (16)
17. Cian Healy (260)
18. Michael Ala’alatoa (43)
19. Jason Jenkins (13)
20. Scott Penny (54)
21. Luke McGrath (191)
22. Harry Byrne (47)
23. Ciarán Frawley (63)

Referee: Nika Amashukeli (GRU)

Leicester Tigers

Richard Wigglesworth has named the Leicester Tigers matchday squad to play Leinster Rugby in the 2022/23 Heineken Champions Cup quarter-finals.

Julián Montoya will captain the team at the Aviva Stadium on Friday night.

Wigglesworth has made six positional changes to his starting side from the win over Edinburgh Rugby at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, which includes four new faces in the starting line-up from the Round of 16 victory.

Mike Brown returns to action, at full-back, which sees Freddie Steward shift to the wing and Harry Potter move to outside centre.

Dan Kelly, who came off the bench last Friday night, starts at inside centre alongside Potter in the midfield.

Kelly’s inclusion is a direct swap with Jimmy Gopperth, who is included on the bench.

In the forward pack, there are two changes from the last outing, with Joe Heyes and Jasper Wiese coming into the starting team after featuring as replacements last week.

Heyes and Wiese come in for Dan Coleand Olly Cracknell, who are included on the bench for the trip to Dublin.

Friday night will be the 50th starting appearance for Heyes in his 121st Leicester Tigers match.

Sam Wolstenholme, who was an unused replacement against Edinburgh, will make his Leicester Tigers debut if he features against Leinster.

STARTING XV
15 Mike Brown [5]
14 Anthony Watson [13]
13 Harry Potter [63]
12 Dan Kelly [52]
11 Freddie Steward [69]
10 Handré Pollard [11]
9 Jack van Poortvliet [62]
1 James Cronin [13]
2 Julián Montoya (c) [40]
3 Joe Heyes [120]
4 George Martin [55]
5 Cameron Henderson [33]
6 Hanro Liebenberg [81]
7 Tommy Reffell [96]
8 Jasper Wiese [57]

REPLACEMENTS
16 Charlie Clare [75]
17 Tom West [7]
18 Dan Cole [306]
19 Eli Snyman [32]
20 Olly Cracknell [21]
21 Sam Wolstenholme *
22 Charlie Atkinson [15]
23 Jimmy Gopperth [14]

* Leicester Tigers debut