Rugby:Isaac Boss is preferred to Eoin Reddan at scrumhalf and Shane Jennings to Kevin McLaughlin in the backrow for Leinster's trip to Bordeaux this weekend.
Leinster coach Joe Schmidt - as he has done on previous occasions - has brought in the more robust Boss for their semifinal against Clermont Auvergne. Boss’s strength against Reddan’s higher tempo of play is the trade off as Leinster expect a physical challenge in Stade Chaban-Delmas on Sunday (KO: 3.00 Irish time)
Gordon D’Arcy partners Brian O’Driscoll at centre with left wing Luke Fitzgerald joining Isa Nacewa on the flank, the Fijian making his 99th Leinster appearance. In form fullback Rob Kearney completes the back three with Boss linking with Jonathan Sexton at half back.
Twenty-four-year-old Clontarf prop Cian Healy, makes his 94th Leinster appearance in the front row alongside hooker Richardt Strauss and tighthead prop Mike Ross.
Leo Cullen leads the team out along side All Black Brad Thorn at lock, where there is expected to be a titanic battle against Clermont’s 6’5’’ Jamie Cudmore and former Leinster secondrow Nathan Hines, who have both been selected to start for the French side.
Jennings joins fellow Ireland internationals Sean O’Brien and the returning Jamie Heaslip in the back row.
Clermont have Welsh fullback Lee Byrne starting and Brock James at outhalf partnering Morgan Parra, who may assume the kicking duties.
The backline sizzles with class from Byrne through Sivivatu to captain Rougerie and the French pair of Fofana and Malzieu.
ASM Clermont Auvergne:L Byrne; S Sivivatu, A Rougerie [capt], W Fofana, J Malzieu; B James, M Parra; L Faure, B Kayser, D Zirakashvili, J Cudmore, N Hines, J Bonnaire, A Lapandry, E Vermeulen. Replacements: T Paulo, V Debaty, D Kotze, J Pierre, J Bardy, L Radoslavjevic , R King, J Buttin
Leinster:R Kearney: I Nacewa, B O'Driscoll, G D'Arcy, L Fitzgerald; J Sexton, I Boss; C Healy, R Strauss, M Ross, L Cullen (Capt.), B Thorn, S O'Brien, S Jennings, J Heaslip. Replacements – S Cronin, H van der Merwe, N White, D Toner, K McLaughlin, E Reddan, I Madigan, F McFadden.
