Irish provinces name teams for European openers

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2 hours ago

The Irish provinces begin their respective European campaigns on Saturday with games against French, Italian and English opposition.

In the Investec Champions Cup, last year's beaten finalists Leinster travel to France to face Clermont Auvergne (15:15 BST), before Connacht host Saracens (17:30) and Munster welcome Racing 92 to Cork (20:00).

Ulster take on Zebre in the Challenge Cup (15:15) as Richie Murphy's side begin their quest to avenge last season's loss to Montpellier in the final.

Carbery set for Leinster return

Joey Carbery is set to make his first Leinster appearance in eight years as head coach Leo Cullen names a strong team to take on Clermont at Stade Marcel-Michelin.

Having departed in 2018, fly-half Carbery returned to Leinster in the summer following spells at Munster and Bordeaux. The 30-year-old Ireland international is named on the bench with Sam Prendergast given the nod at 10.

A strong starting XV features 14 Ireland internationals, with Dan Sheehan again captaining the side in Caelan Doris' absence.

Sheehan is joined by Andrew Porter and Tadhg Furlong in the front row with Joe McCarthy and James Ryan paired in the second row. Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier and Jack Conan make up an experienced back row.

After impressing in last week's United Rugby Championship win over Cardiff, Prendergast is retained at fly-half alongside scrum-half Fintan Gunne - the only player in the XV without a senior Ireland cap - as Jamison Gibson-Park misses out through injury.

Hugo Keenan, Tommy O'Brien and Jimmy O'Brien comprise the back three with Garry Ringrose and Robbie Henshaw in midfield.

The starting line-up features 10 players that started the 41-19 defeat by Bordeaux in last season's final.

Leinster: Keenan; T O'Brien, Ringrose, Henshaw, J O'Brien; Prendergast, Gunne; Porter, Sheehan (capt), Furlong, J McCarthy, Ryan, Baird, Van der Flier, Conan.

Replacements: Kelleher, Usanov, Clarkson, O'Tighearnaigh, Penny, Coffey, Carbery, J Osborne.

Munster to retire number eight for Racing game

Munster make six changes from last week's URC draw with Ulster as they prepare to mark the 10-year anniversary of former captain and head coach Anthony Foley's death against Racing 92 at Pairc Ui Chaoimh in Cork.

As part of a series of tributes for Foley, Munster have revealed the number eight will be retired for the day, with Brian Gleeson wearing the number 24.

Four players will make their Champions Cup debuts, with fly-half Charlie O'Shea and back row Sean Edogbo in from the start and Max Clein and Ben O'Donovan on the bench.

In addition to Gleeson and Edogbo, Jack Aungier, Tom Ahern, John Hodnett come into the pack alongside props Jeremy Loughman and Jack Aungier, hooker Marnus van der Merwe and captain Tadhg Beirne, who partners Ahern at lock.

O'Shea is preferred to JJ Hanrahan at out-half, with the back three of Ben O'Connor, Shay McCarthy and Sean O'Brien and midfield of Dan Kelly and Alex Nankivell unchanged.

Munster: O'Connor; McCarthy, Nankivell, Kelly, O'Brien; O'Shea, Casey; Loughman, Van der Merwe, Aungier; Ahern, Beirne (capt); S Edogbo, Hodnett, Gleeson.

Replacements: Clein, J Wycherley, Brookes, Wycherley, Coombes, O'Donovan, Hanrahan, O'Donoghue.

McCann captain as Hawkshaw set for Ulster bow

Centre Daniel Hawkshaw will make his Ulster debut in their Challenge Cup opener against Zebre in Parma.

The 24-year-old arrived at the club in the summer and will partner the versatile Jake Flannery in midfield.

First-time captain David McCann leads a youthful side, which is without Eli Snyman, Eduardo Bell, Ben Donnell and Ethan McIlroy through injury.

Ireland internationals Stuart McCloskey and Nick Timoney are also missing after starting the 26-26 URC draw with Munster in Belfast last weekend.

Prop Tom O'Toole comes in for his first start of the season with development hooker Henry Walker making his first competitive start and Keynan Knox completing the front row at tight-head prop.

Harry Sheridan is included in the second row with Cormac Izuchukwu, while James McKillop makes his European debut in the back row.

Nathan Doak is paired with Jamie Benson at half-back for the first time as Zac Ward comes in to start on the left wing.

In a bench split of five forwards and three backs, prop Scott Wilson and lock Joe Hopes are set to make their first appearances this season, while full-back Michael Lowry is back among the replacements.

Ulster: Stockdale; Baloucoune, Hawkshaw, Flannery, Z Ward; Benson, Doak; O'Toole, Walker, Knox, Sheridan, Izuchukwu, McKillop, McCann (capt), Augustus.

Replacements: Stewart, O'Sullivan, Wilson, Hopes, Moloney, Devine, Murphy, Lowry.

Connacht rest Hansen and Bealham

Ireland internationals Mack Hansen and Finlay Bealham have been rested for Connacht's Champions Cup opener against Saracens at Galway's Dexcom Stadium.

Hansen started while Bealham came off the bench in the URC defeat by Glasgow last weekend, but head coach Stuart Lancaster has decided to give both the weekend off.

"In terms of our selection, Mack and Finlay are rested after playing in the first three games of the season, and tomorrow has come a bit too soon for the likes of Will Connors, Dave Heffernan and Harry West, but they've all completed training this week and should be available for Zebre next week," said Lancaster.

Prop Francois van Wyk, hooker Matthew Victory and lock Josh Murphy all come into the team.

Colm Reilly is also handed a start and is paired with fly-half Ciaran Frawley, who will make his home debut.

Sam Gilbert, as well as wingers Finn Treacy and Shane Jennings complete a new-look back three, while tight-head prop Thomas Connolly is in line to make his debut off the bench.

Connacht: Gilbert; Treacy, Forde, Aki, Jennings; Frawley, Reilly; Van Wyk, Victory, Illo, D Murray, Murphy, Prendergast (capt), Hurley-Langton, Jansen.

Replacements: De Buitlear, Bohan, Connolly, N Murray, O'Brien, Blade, Ioane, Ryan.