URC: Sharks vs Leinster, Saturday April 23rd, Hollywoodbets Kings Park Stadium (kick-off 5.15pm Irish time, live on TG4, Premier Sports, URC TV).
Leinster will hand debuts to two academy prospects as Leo Cullen has named his squad to take on the Sharks in Durban on Saturday evening Irish time. Wexford native and Ireland U20 international Brian Deeny starts at lock while Belfast native John McKee lines out on the bench as hooker cover.
Elsewhere Andrew Porter and Rónan Kelleher, the sole Six Nations squad members to have travelled to South Africa, start in the frontrow alongside tighthead Thomas Clarkson. Rhys Ruddock captains the side in a backrow trio of himself, Scott Penny and Max Deegan.
Harry Byrne gets an outing at outhalf as he partners Nick McCarthy in the halfbacks, while Ciarán Frawley and Jamie Osborne are the centre pairing. Chris Cosgrave makes his first start for the province at fullback with Tommy O’Brien and Exeter-bound Rory O’Loughlin alongside him in the backthree.
Leinster’s hosts, the Sharks, have named a very experiened side with a number of South African internationals. Thomas du Toit captains the side in the frontrow where he is joined by Ox Nche and Bongi Mbonambi while Siya Kolisi is named as vice-captain in the backrow. Former Munster forward Gerbrandt Grobler starts in the secondrow.
Curwin Bosch starts at outhalf while Springbok wing Makazole Mapimpi is joined by Sevens international Werner Kok.
Sharks: Aphelele Fassi; Werner Kok, Ben Tapuai, Marius Louw, Makazole Mapimpi; Curwin Bosch, Jaden Hendrikse; Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi, Thomas du Toit (capt); Le Roux Roets, Gerbrandt Grobler; Siya Kolisi, Henco Venter, Phepsi Buthelezi.
Replacements: Kerron van Vuuren, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Khutha Mchunu, Reniel Hugo, Jeandre Labuschagne, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Grant Williams, Boeta Chamberlain.
Leinster: Chris Cosgrave; Tommy O'Brien, Jamie Osborne, Ciarán Frawley, Rory O'Loughlin; Harry Byrne, Nick McCarthy; Andrew Porter; Rónan Kelleher, Thomas Clarkson; Brian Deeny, Jack Dunne; Rhys Ruddock (capt), Scott Penny, Max Deegan.
Replacements: John McKee, Peter Dooley, Michael Ala'alatoa, Josh Murphy, Alex Soroka, Cormac Foley, David Hawkshaw, Martin Moloney.
