Johnny Sexton will make his first Leinster appearance of 2019 after recovering from a thigh injury to start the Heineken Champions Cup semi-final clash with Top 14 leaders Toulouse on Sunday.
The Ireland fly-half has not played since returning from Six Nations duty, with his last appearance coming in the Cardiff defeat by Wales just over a month ago. But the out-half will captain his province as they look to reach a second consecutive final as part of their Champions Cup defence.
Head coach Leo Cullen has made 10 changes to the starting XV after suffering defeat last time out against Glasgow Warriors, but Leinster’s well-rested big guns return for what is the third encounter with Toulouse this season and the decisive match in their Champions Cup trilogy.
Toulouse announced their credentials earlier in the season by defeating the reigning champions 28-27 at the Stade Ernest Wallon in October, before Leinster gained revenge in January at the RDS Arena with a 29-13 victory. That result gave Leinster their home advantage for both the last eight and this semi-final encounter, which takes place at the Aviva Stadium that has become a second home for the province as they take the majority of their big Pro14 matches there as well as the European knockout games.
But a resurgent Toulouse have hinted that they could be the team that upsets Leinster on home soil for the first time in the European knockout stages since 2006. Head coach Ugo Mola has elected to start with Antoine Dupont at fly-half instead of Romain Ntamack, despite the latter ending the Six Nations as France’s first-choice No 10, while there has been plenty of controversy surrounding the selection of flanker Joe Tekori.
Six Nations Team of the Tournament
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The Samoan was cited for a dangerous tackle on Clermont Auvergne’s Yohan Beheregaray that left the prop unconscious and needing to be carried off the pitch on a stretcher, although the initial hearing was not due to be held until next Wednesday.
However, not only was it brought forward ahead of the semi-final trip to Dublin at request of the player, but Tekori was cleared by a French National Rugby League (LNR) disciplinary panel as he “had made his best efforts to make a regular tackle by stooping and using his arms”.
Tekori is joined in the pack by former All Blacks Charlie Faumuina and Jerome Kaino, while the electric South Africa Cheslin Kolbe starts on the left wing.
Teams
Leinster: Rob Kearney; Jordan Larmour, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe; Johnny Sexton, Luke McGrath; Cian Healy, Sean Cronin, Tadhg Furlong; Devin Toner, James Ryan; Rhys Ruddock, Sean O'Brien, Jack Conan.
Replacements: James Tracy, Ed Byrne, Michael Bent, Scott Fardy, Max Deegan, Hugh O'Sullivan, Ross Byrne, Rory O'Loughlin.
Toulouse: Thomas Ramos; Yoann Huget, Sofiane Guitoune, Pita Ahki, Cheslin Kolbe; Antoine Dupont, Sebastien Bezy; Clement Castets, Peato Mauvaka, Charlie Faumuina; Richie Arnold, Richie Gray; Rynhardt Elstadt, Joe Tekori, Jerome Kaino.
Replacements: Guillaume Marchand, Cyril Baille, Maks Van Dyk, Selevasio Tolofua, Piula Faasalele, Francois Cros, Romain Ntamack, Maxime Medard.
