PRO14 Final | Leinster v Ulster line ups and preview
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It’s an all-Irish affair on Saturday as Leinster take on Ulster for the title of Pro14 Champions.
The rivalry is steeped in history and of quite some significance as it happens to be the oldest one in Ireland, the first match between the two taking place in 1875.
It is also worth pointing out that the first Ireland international side was also made up exclusively of Leinster and Ulster representatives.
Leinster have enjoyed a dream season thus far, not tasting the bitterness of defeat once as they romped to 16 consecutive victories.
Ulster, on the other hand, have had a more difficult time of it, winning only 9 of their 16 outings. What matters, however, if that Iain Henderson’s charges have done what needed to be done to face their domestic foes on the field in the last and most noteworthy fixture of this season’s competition.
They have faced each twice already; first, in Round 8, and again in Round 15.
The Round 8 clash was a delight for rugby fans as the teams produced a 14-try festival of attacking rugby at RDS.
Leinster claimed the honours 54-42 and looked well-away in the first half already before the Ulster machine clicked into gear and mounted an impressive comeback which almost had them in with a chance.
In Round 15, the teams ran out onto the Aviva Stadium and forged a more conservative, lower-scoring spectacle with Leinster defeating their opponents 28-10.
It was a dominant performance in so far as Leinster were never behind on the scoreboard, although the notion that Ulster were out of the game was only felt right at the closing stages.
Out of the 100 occasions the sides have met, Leinster have put together an impressive 60 victories while Ulster have just 34. Six times the final whistle has sounded with the scores level. Saturday will make it a trio of meetings between these two great clubs for the season and, while the majority of factors look to be in Leinster’s favour, finals can be tricky affairs, especially one involving the depth of history, tradition and emotion as this one does.
TEAM NEWS
LEINSTER
Leo Cullen has made a number of changes from the team that accounted for Munster Rugby in the semi-final with Garry Ringrose named as captain of the senior side for the first time.
The back three is the same that started against Munster last week with Jordan Larmour selected at full back having come through the graduated return to play protocols successfully this week and Hugo Keenan on the right wing and James Lowe on the left.
Robbie Henshaw is again selected at inside centre with captain Ringrose outside him in the number 13 jersey. Ringrose made his Leinster debut in September 2015 on the wing against Cardiff Blues and tomorrow’s Guinness PRO14 Final will be his 75th appearance in a Leinster jersey. In that time he has scored 25 tries and has 29 Ireland caps to his name.
The half back partnership sees Jamison Gibson-Park and Ross Byrne start at nine and 10. In the pack there is no change in the front row with Cian Healy, Rónan Kelleher and Andrew Porter again selected. In winning his 219th cap, Cian Healy joins Leo Cullen and Rob Kearney as the joint 4th most capped player in Leinster history. James Ryan has recovered from injury to take his place in the second row alongside Devin Toner.
Finally in the back row, Guinness Player of the Match from last week Caelan Doris is again selected at blindside flanker with Josh van der Flier at openside and finally Jack Conan is selected in the number eight jersey.
ULSTER
The Ulster men will be boosted by the return of club captain, Iain Henderson, who will be making his first appearance since the season resumption and is one of four changes to the side that defeated Edinburgh in last week’s thrilling Semi-Final at BT Murrayfield.
Alan O’Connor will partner Henderson in the second row, while the front row of Eric O’Sullivan, Rob Herring and Tom O’Toole is retained. The back row sees one change, with Sean Reidy coming into the starting line-up at openside flanker. Matthew Rea takes the blindside flanker position and Marcell Coetzee packs down at number eight.
The back three sees two positional switches, with Jacob Stockdale moving to the left wing, while Rob Lyttle swaps over to the right. Joining them at full-back is Michael Lowry, returning to the starting XV. Stuart McCloskey - who, along with John Cooney, was named in the Guinness PRO14 Dream Team earlier this week - continues his midfield partnership with James Hume. All Black scrum-half, Alby Mathewson, will make his first start for Ulster alongside Billy Burns at fly-half.
McFarland has opted for a 6-2 split on the bench where John Andrew, Jack McGrath, Marty Moore, Sam Carter, Jordi Murphy and Nick Timoney will offer the forward backup, and the backline cover is provided by John Cooney and Ian Madigan.
LINE UPS
