URC team news: Garry Ringrose fails to shrug off injury as Leinster rest two stars; Munster name strong side to face Connact
Garry Ringrose has failed to shrug off his shoulder issue ahead of tomorrow’s RDS Ospreys clash, casting more doubts about his fitness for his side’s double trophy bid.
The Ireland centre had been slated to return for only his second appearance since January against Northampton last weekend but Leo Cullen decided not to risk him.
Hugo Keenan appears to be a week away from returning from his hip issue while the two stars of the Croke Park win, Jamison Gibson-Park and James Lowe, are stood down from the starting line-up, albeit Gibson-Park will spring from the bench.
Leinster make only five changes to the team that booked their Champions Cup final berth last week, with Jimmy O’Brien, Luke McGrath, Rónan Kelleher, Jason Jenkins and Will Connors all returning to the starting lineup.
Ciarán Frawley starts at full-back with Jordan Larmour and O’Brien named on the wings.
Jamie Osborne and Robbie Henshaw maintain their partnership in the centre, with McGrath joining Ross Byrne in the half-backs, for the first time since the March win over Zebre.
In the pack, Kelleher joins Andrew Porter and Tadhg Furlong in the front row. Jenkins partners Ross Molony in the second row for the seventh time this season.
Caelan Doris captains the team once more. He’s joined in the back row by Ryan Baird and Connors.
There is a 5-3 split on the bench, with Tommy O’Brien set to feature for the first time since suffering a hamstring injury in February.
After two defeats in South Africa with their second string, Cullen insisted he would strengthen his team as they bid to avoid a first league hat-trick of defeats in 16 years, seeking to refocus their attention on the second part of the twin title tilt.
Leinster are four points behind the in-form Glasgow Warriors and also have the Bulls and Munster on their tails in the race to bank a lucrative home run to the URC final
Leinster’s only RDS loss since the 2022 semi-final was a dramatic defeat by the minimum to Ulster on New Year’s Day.
Ospreys are four points outside the top eight and need to win to regain any hope of Champions Cup or play-off contention.
However, they have lost on their last six visits to Irish provinces, and only once in seven against Leinster, albeit that was in Dublin three years ago.
Meanwhile, Munster make just two changes to the side that beat Lions in Johannesburg last time out as Craig Casey and Alex Nankivell come into the backline as Graham Rowntree’s men accelerate their late season bid to retain their title by banking home play-offs.
However, they have been dealt a blow to their front-row ranks for the run-in as Josh Wycherley may not feature for the rest of the campaign.
He shipped a heavy blow late on last week and continues to follow the graduated return to play protocols. He has also seen a specialist regarding a facial injury and will be unavailable for a number of weeks.
Jack Crowley will make his 50th appearance for the province at out-half. Full-back Simon Zebo and wingers Calvin Nash and Shane Daly are named in an unchanged back three.
Seán O’Brien and Nankivell start together in midfield for the first time with Casey and Jack Crowley in the half-backs.
The pack is unchanged for the third game in succession. Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell and Stephen Archer pack down in the front row with RG Snyman and captain Tadhg Beirne in the engine room.
Peter O’Mahony, Alex Kendellen and Jack O’Donoghue complete the side.
Eoghan Clarke, Academy prop Mark Donnelly and Oli Jager provide the front row back-up with Tom Ahern and Gavin Coombes completing the forward cover.
Conor Murray, Joey Carbery and Antoine Frisch are the backline replacements.
Connacht make three enforced changes from the starting team that beat Dragons two weeks ago, with Peter Dooley, Paul Boyle and captain Jack Carty replacing injury absentees Denis Buckley, Cian Prendergast and JJ Hanrahan.
The other changes see Oisín Dowling start alongside Joe Joyce in the second row, while the fit-again Byron Ralston comes onto the left wing.
The remaining forwards are hooker Dave Heffernan, prop Finlay Bealham and flankers Shamus Hurley-Langton and Conor Oliver.
In the backs Matthew Devine is retained at scrum-half, Bundee Aki and Tom Farrell continue their centre pairing, while winger Shane Jennings and full-back Tiernan O’Halloran make up the rest of the back three.
Leinster v Ospreys
Leinster – Ciarán Frawley; Jordan Larmour, Jamie Osborne, Robbie Henshaw, Jimmy O’Brien; Ross Byrne, Luke McGrath; Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong, Ross Molony, Jason Jenkins, Ryan Baird, Will Connors, Caelan Doris (capt).
Reps – Dan Sheehan, Michael Milne, Thomas Clarkson, Jack Conan, Josh van der Flier, Jamison Gibson-Park, Charlie Ngatai, Tommy O’Brien.
Ospreys – Max Nagy; Luke Morgan, Owen Watkin, Keiran Williams, Keelan Giles; Dan Edwards, Reuben Morgan-Williams; Nicky Smith, Dewi Lake, Rhys Henry, James Ratti, Huw Sutton, Harri Deaves, Justin Tipuric (capt), Morgan Morris.
Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU)
Munster v Connacht
Munster: Simon Zebo, Calvin Nash, Alex Nankivell, Seán O’Brien, Shane Daly, Jack Crowley, Craig Casey, Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer, RG Snyman, Tadhg Beirne (CAPT), Peter O’Mahony, Alex Kendellen, Jack O’Donoghue
Replacements: Eoghan Clarke, Mark Donnelly, Oli Jager, Tom Ahern, Gavin Coombes, Conor Murray, Joey Carbery, Antoine Frisch
Connacht: Tiernan O’Halloran, Shane Jennings, Tom Farrell, Bundee Aki, Byron Ralston, Jack Carty (CAPT) Matthew Devine, Peter Dooley, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham, Joe Joyce, Oisín Dowling, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Conor Oliver, Paul Boyle
Replacements: Dylan Tierney-Martin, Jordan Duggan, Jack Aungier, Niall Murray, Sean Jansen, Caolin Blade, Cathal Forde, Jarrad Butler
Referee – Adam Jones (WRU)
Get ahead of the day with the morning headlines at 7.30am and Fionnán Sheahan’s exclusive take on the day’s news every afternoon, with our free daily newsletter.