Leinster look to secure top spot as Cullen shakes things up for Stormers clash
Leo Cullen’s side looking to take something home from South African trip
Daire Walsh
DHL Stormers v Leinster, DHL Stadium, Saturday, 5.15 Irish time – Live on RTÉ2 and Premier Sports
Having fallen just short in their quest to do so last weekend, Leinster will have another chance to secure top spot in the United Rugby Championship table when they face DHL Stormers at DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday evening.
Currently nine points clear of their South African opponents at the summit with two games left to play, Saturday’s contest will either cement Leinster’s position as pacesetters ahead of the forthcoming quarter-finals or keep them on their toes in advance of a clash with Munster at the Aviva Stadium on May 21st.
A losing bonus point similar to the one they picked up against Cell C Sharks in Durban seven days ago could be enough to confirm pole position, but the Blues will of course be hoping to come away with a win from their mini tour of the southern hemisphere.
In a bid to ensure his travelling party are given substantial game time, Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has made seven changes to his starting line-up from the one that fell to a 28-23 reversal at the hands of the Sharks.
While the likes of Rhys Ruddock, Ed Byrne and the Connacht-bound Josh Murphy offer plenty of experience in the pack, John McKee and Brian Deeny will be picking up just their second provincial caps following competitive bows in Durban last weekend.
A day before his older brother Ivan is set to feature for Clontarf in the All-Ireland League decider, Alex Soroka will make his fourth Leinster appearance alongside Ruddock and Scott Penny in the backrow.
In total, there are nine players within the matchday 23 who have 10 caps or fewer in professional rugby.
Additionally, the aforementioned Murphy is one of four players in the squad who are due to depart for pastures new when the current campaign comes to an end. Adam Byrne will join Murphy at Connacht, while Rory O’Loughlin and replacement lock Jack Dunne will be added to the Exeter ranks.
With opportunities potentially limited for this quartet in the remaining weeks of the season – though Murphy recently featured against his future employers in the Champions Cup – they will be eager to leave a lasting impression on this penultimate round affair.
Cullen will certainly be looking for his experienced players to front up, given how impressively-stocked this Stormers team is. No fewer than six of their starting 15 have been capped by South Africa, with five of them picking up World Cup winners’ medals in 2019.
Of that contingent, props Frans Malherbe and Steven Kitshoff, as well as scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies all featured in their showpiece triumph over England and are players that Leinster will have to watch out for.
LEINSTER: M O’Reilly; A Byrne, J Osborne, R O’Loughlin, R Russell; C Frawley, C Foley; E Byrne, J McKee, T Clarkson; B Deeny, J Murphy; A Soroka, S Penny, R Ruddock.
Replacements: L Barron, M Milne, V Abdaladze, J Dunne, S O’Brien, N McCarthy, H Byrne, M Moloney.
DHL STORMERS: W Gelant; S Senatla, R Nel, D Willemse, L Zas; M Libbok, H Jantjies; S Kitshoff, JJ Kotze, F Malherbe; A Smith, M Orie; D Fourie, H Dayimani, E Roos.
Replacements: W Arnoldi, B Harris, N Fouche, S Moerat, J Pokomela, B-J Dixon, P de Wet, J de Jongh.