Sam Prendergast gets the nod at out-half as Jordie Barrett set for ...
Sam Prendergast will go straight into the Leinster starting line-up for their Champions Cup opener against Bristol Bears on Sunday.
The 21-year-old gets the nod from Leo Cullen after starting at out-half for Ireland’s wins over Fiji and Australia and he has a chance to stake his claim as the first-choice No 10 for the remainder of the campaign.
Hugo Keenan’s absence means Ciarán Frawley is accommodated at full-back, with Ross Byrne on a stacked bench that includes All Black Jordie Barrett who will make his debut at Ashton Gate.
As expected, Cullen has left some of the players who had the heaviest November schedules on the Leinster bench, with Caelan Doris and Andrew Porter both held in reserve.
Josh van der Flier is retained at openside alongside Max Deegan and Jack Conan who leads the team, with Joe McCarthy and James Ryan in the second-row and Jack Boyle, Rónan Kelleher and Rabah Slimani in the front-row.
Behind the scrum, Jamison Gibson-Park partners Prendergast, with Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose in midfield. Jordan Larmour and Jimmy O’Brien are on the wings.
Gus McCarthy is another rising star who enjoyed a big month for Ireland and he covers hooker, with Porter and another new international Thomas Clarkson the back-up props.
RG Snyman is primed for an impact off the bench with Doris, with Luke McCrath and Byrne offering experience and Barrett ready to don the Leinster shirt for the first time since arriving on a short-term deal.
Bristol, meanwhile, recall England pair Harry Randall and Ellis Genge. Dubliner AJ MacGinty is at out-half, with former Ireland scrum-half alongside ex-All Black Steven Luatua on Pat Lam’s bench.
Bristol Bears: R Lane; J Bates, BJ van Rensburg, K Ravouvu, G Ibitoye; AJ MacGinty, H Randall; E Genge, H Thacker, M Lahiff; J Dun, J Owen; S Grondona, F Harding (capt), B Mata.
Reps: G Oghre, J Woolmore, L Chawatama, S Luatua, B Grondona, K Marmion, J Jenkins, B Elizalde.
Leinster: C Frawley; J Larmour, G Ringrose, R Henshaw, J O’Brien; S Prendergast, J Gibson-Park; J Boyle, R Kelleher, R Slimani; J McCarthy, J Ryan; M Deegan, J van der Flier, J Conan (capt).
Reps: G McCarthy, A Porter, T Clarkson, RG Snyman, C Doris, L McGrath, R Byrne, J Barrett.
Bristol Bears v Leinster, Sunday, 5.30pm
