Harry Byrne to start at No.10 for Leinster away to Tigers

Sam Prendergast, Andy Farrell’s main choice at out-half for Ireland for the last 13 months, switches to the bench

Harry Byrne of Leinster. Photo by Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile

Harry Byrne has been selected to start at No.10 for Leinster’s Champions Cup pool tie away to Leicester Tigers on Friday evening, which means Sam Prendergast switches to the bench.

Prendergast, Andy Farrell’s main choice at out-half for Ireland for the last 13 months, has assumed the same role with his province, but Byrne has been in impressive form this season and gets the nod this time.

The 26-year old brings greater physicality to what is expected to be a physical game on a tight Welford Road pitch, but this is a case of rotation as much as anything else.

“Harry played in this game [away to Leicester] previously so he's experienced the atmosphere over there before and he knows what to expect,” said head coach Leo Cullen. “And, yeah, Harry has been great since he's come back in. He was away with Bristol for a period last season.

“He was good off the bench last week and it’s just about making sure that we’re getting the right balance over the 80 minutes of the game. Sam, hopefully, will have his moment at some point as well in the game, and just making sure that those two guys were working well together.

"Both of them have been excellent.” 

Rieko Ioane is another bumped up to the starting XV. The All Black made his Leinster debut as a replacement in the defeat of Harlequins in Dublin last Saturday and now lines out beside Robbie Henshaw at centre.

“Both of them are hugely experienced,” said Cullen. “Robbie got through a bit of training last week. We weren't quite sure at the start of the week how he would be. He is someone who brings unbelievable physicality. It'll be that type of game.

“It’s a smaller pitch at Welford Road. Conditions like they're going to be okay for tomorrow evening, but this year, never quite sure. Robbie is someone who's able to bring huge physicality. Rieko, again, is another experienced player, and he is new to our group.

“We're just at the start of the relationship. He's been excellent, lads have taken to him. He's definitely his own man and he is a phenomenal athlete.”

James Lowe returns after missing out last time with injury. James Ryan is back in the mix after serving his two-match suspension arising from the red card received against the Springboks, and Tadhg Furlong is the starting tighthead again.

Dan Sheehan, Jack Boyle and Thomas Clarkson provide the front row cover, with Diarmuid Mangan and Max Deegan completing the forward replacements. Luke McGrath and Prendergast cover the half-backs, with Ciarán Frawley completing the 23.

LEINSTER: J O’Brien; T O’Brien, R Ioane, R Henshaw, J Lowe; H Byrne, J Gibson-Park; P McCarthy, R Kelleher, T Furlong; J McCarthy, J Ryan; J Conan, J van der Flier, C Doris.

Replacements: D Sheehan, J Boyle, T Clarkson, D Mangan, M Deegan, L McGrath, S Prendergast, C Frawley.