Leinster name team for Champions cup semi-final

Luke McGrath will captain Leinster against La Rochelle in the Semi-Final of the Heineken Champions Cup on Sunday.

Having led the side to PRO14 glory only a few weeks ago, Luke McGrath will again captain the side in the absence of Johnny Sexton, while Ross Byrne will make his 100th appearance for the club.

Similar to the win away to Exeter in the last round, Hugo Keenan, Jordan Larmour and James Lowe is the back three selected by Cullen. They scored three tries between them in the win in Sandy Park.

Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose are the centres, with Luke McGrath captaining the side from scrumhalf and Ross Byrne winning cap 100 in the number ten jersey.

Byrne made his Leinster Rugby debut off the bench away to Edinburgh in Leo Cullen's first game in charge in September 2015. He would make his first start a month later at out-half against the Scarlets.

In the pack Cian Healy, Rónan Kelleher and Tadhg Furlong start in the front row for Cullen, with Devin Toner and James Ryan behind them in the second row.

In the back row Rhys Ruddock, Josh van der Flier and Jack Conan all start this week having missed the game against Munster last weekend.

On the bench both Rowan Osborne (hand) and Ciarán Frawley (hamstring) have recovered from injury to take their place in the match day 23, while Andrew Porter is in line to win his 75th cap for Leinster

Leinster

15. Hugo Keenan
16. Jordan Larmour
17. Garry Ringrose
18. Robbie Henshaw
19. James Lowe
20. Ross Byrne
21. Luke McGrath (C)

1. Cian Healy
2. Rónan Kelleher
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Devin Toner
5. James Ryan
6. Rhys Ruddock
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Jack Conan

Replacements

16. James Tracy
17. Ed Byrne
18. Andrew Porter
19. Scott Fardy
20. Ryan Baird
21. Rowan Osborne
22. Ciarán Frawley
23. Rory O'Loughlin

Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)