United Rugby Championship: Dragons v Leinster, Rodney Parade, Sunday October 3rd, (kick-off 2pm, RTÉ, Premier Sports ).
Lock James Ryan has been named Leinster captain for the first time in his career ahead of their trip to take on the Dragons on Sunday afternoon.
Ryan, who captained Ireland during their summer tests in the absench of Johnny Sexton, starts in Rodney Parade alongisde Ross Molony, meaning the secondrow pairing from last week’s win over the Bulls remains intact.
Josh van der Flier also reaches a milestone in the province’s first away trip of the season, racking up his 100th cap. After a player-of-the-match display in round one, van der Flier starts in the backrow alongside Rhys Ruddock and Max Deegan, the latter coming in at number eight for the injured Caelan Doris.
Despite Doris missing out, the news on the injury front for Leinster is largely positive as Dan Leavy returns to a matchday 23 for the first time since last January. Conor O’Brien also returns to the fold after recovering from his inury that ruled him out since February. He starts at centre alongside Gary Ringrose in place of Ciarán Frawley who drops to the bench.
Elsewhere in the backline, academy wing Rob Russell earns his first cap for the province. The St. Michael’s man replaces James Lowe in the backfield as Hugo Keenan and Rory O’Loughlin keep their places from last week.
There are changes too in the halfbacks as Ross Byrne and Jamison Gibson-Park come in for Johnny Sexton and Luke McGrath respectively.
Andrew Porter’s return to loosehead continues as he packs down in an unchanged frontrow alongside dynamic hooker Dan Sheehan and summer signing Michael Ala’alatoa.
Cian Healy offers tighthead cover on the bench once more, where he is joined by scrumhalf Nick McCarthy who is in line for his first appearance for his home province since returning from Munster.
Last season’s league joint top try-scorer Scott Penny is set to make his season bow as head coach Leo Cullen opts for a 6/2 forwards/backs split.
Dragons: Josh Lewis; Jonah Holmes, Jack Dixon, Aneurin Owen, Jordan Olowofela; Sam Davies, Lewis Jones; Aki Seiuli, Elliot Dee, Mesake Doge; Will Rowlands, Ben Carter; Ross Moriarty, Ollie Griffiths, Aaron Wainwright.
Replacements: Taylor Davies, Greg Bateman, Chris Coleman, Joe Maksymiw, Taine Basham, Rhodri Williams, Adam Warren, Ioan Davies.
Leinster: Hugo Keenan; Rob Russell, Garry Ringrose, Conor O'Brien, Rory O'Loughlin; Ross Byrne, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Michael Ala'alatoa; Ross Molony, James Ryan (capt); Rhys Ruddock, Josh van der Flier, Max Deegan.
Replacements: Ed Byrne, James Tracy, Cian Healy, Ryan Baird, Dan Leavy, Nick McCarthy, Ciarán Frawley, Scott Penny.
