Gibson-Park fit to start in Leinster's URC season-opener
KEY MAN: Jamison Gibson-Park arrives for Leinster training. Pic: Ben Brady/Inpho
Leinster boss Leo Cullen has named his side for the United Rugby Championship opening-night clash away at Edinburgh on Friday night.
Jack Conan captains the side at number eight, with Max Deegan and Scott Penny filling out an unchanged back row from the 54-26 pre-season win over Northampton Saints two weeks ago.
Conor O’Tighearnaigh, who started against both Bordeaux-Bègles and Northampton in pre-season, partners James Ryan in the second row as one of three Academy players to earn a starting berth.
Former Ireland Under-20 captain Gus McCarthy makes his first senior start for Leinster and is joined in the front row by Michael Milne and Thomas Clarkson.
Third year Academy star Charlie Tector has been given the nod at centre alongside Garry Ringrose.
Jamison Gibson-Park returns from a hamstring injury which saw him miss Ireland’s drawn Test series with South Africa over the summer to form a half-back partnership with Sam Prendergast at out-half.
Jamie Osborne has been named at full-back after some impressive displays there against the Springboks, with Tommy O’Brien and Jordan Larmour on the wings.
New signing Rabah Slimani prepares for his Leinster debut off the bench, while Cian Healy will equal Devin Toner’s record of 280 Leinster appearances if he is introduced to the game.
John McKee, Brian Deeny and James Culhane provide the rest of the forward cover, while Rob Russell joins the veteran half-back duo of Luke McGrath and Ross Byrne as the final replacements for Friday night’s season-opener.
J. Osborne; T. O’Brien, G. Ringrose, C. Tector, J. Larmour; S. Prendergast, J. Gibson-Park; M. Milne, G. McCarthy, T. Clarkson; C. O’Tighearnaigh, J. Ryan; M. Deegan, S. Penny, J. Conan.
J. McKee, C. Healy, R. Slimani, B. Deeny, J. Culhane, L. McGrath, R. Byrne, R. Russell.
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