URC team news: Ericson set to make Leinster debut, Shanahan in line for 100th Ulster appearance

Max Deegan captains Leinster from number eight.

Leinster's Josh Ericson. Pic: Dan Clohessy/Inpho

Head coach Leo Cullen has named his Leinster side to take on Dragons in Round 6 of the United Rugby Championship at Rodney Parade (kick-off, 7.45pm).

Josh Ericson, who was added to the Leinster academy earlier this month, is in line to make his debut after being named on the bench for tomorrow night's game.

Max Deegan captains the side from number eight, with Alex Soroka and Scott Penny joining him on the flanks.

Brian Deeny partners Diarmuid Mangan in the second row, with Jack Boyle and Thomas Clarkson scrummaging down on either side of Gus McCarthy at hooker.

Fintan Gunne has been named at scrum-half with Harry Byrne outside him at out-half while Ciarán Frawley partners Hugh Cooney in the centre.

Joshua Kenny is named on the wing once more after scoring two tries against Zebre Parma in our last outing, with Jordan Larmour on the opposite side and Jimmy O'Brien at full-back.

On the bench, the uncapped Ericson is joined by some experienced faces. 

RG Snyman returns after earning his 50th international cap in South Africa's win over Ireland last weekend, with Rabah Slimani joining Jerry Cahir and John McKee as the front row replacements.

Luke McGrath provides the cover at scrum-half with Charlie Tector and Ruben Moloney completing the matchday 23.

Cullen said: "A lot of the lads are raring to go for the next block of games, especially the ones that didn’t play last week, and there are loads of young lads itching to play on the flip side that haven’t played for the last number of weeks.

"That’s what we want, guys that are hungry and wanting to play for Leinster and making sure they want to give everything of themselves every opportunity they get to put on a Leinster jersey, because it has to mean something, it has to be special.

"That’s the beauty of that last game against Zebre, and you can see how cool it was for the group, because the wider group wants to make it special for all those players making their debut.

"I’d love to be picking guys making a debut every week, you know, because you can see how everyone rallies around that."

Leinster (v Dragons): Jimmy O’Brien; Joshua Kenny, Hugh Cooney, Ciarán Frawley, Jordan Larmour; Harry Byrne, Fintan Gunne; Jack Boyle, Gus McCarthy, Thomas Clarkson; Brian Deeny, Diarmuid Mangan; Alex Soroka, Scott Penny, Max Deegan.

Replacements: John McKee, Jerry Cahir, Rabah Slimani, RG Snyman, Josh Ericson, Luke McGrath, Charlie Tector, Ruben Moloney.

Ulster (v Benetton): Jacob Stockdale; Rob Baloucoune, James Hume, Jude Postlethwaite, Werner Kok; Jack Murphy, Nathan Doak; Sam Crean, Tom Stewart, Scott Wilson; Harry Sheridan, Iain Henderson; David McCann, Nick Timoney, Juarno Augustus

Replacements: Rob Herring, Callum Reid, Tom O’Toole, Matthew Dalton, Bryn Ward, David Shanahan, Jake Flannery, Stewart Moore.