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19-year-old St Michael's product to make Leinster debut after scoring 8 tries in 7 games
By Online Editors
The latest talent produced by Irish Rugby nursery St Michael's is to make his debut for Leinster tomorrow.
At openside the 19-year-old Scott Penny makes his senior debut having impressed in the victorious Celtic Cup campaign scoring eight tries across the seven games.
Penny is in his first year in the Academy and is joined in the back row by Josh Murphy at six and Caelan Doris at eight who makes his first start at the RDS.
Penny will follow in the footsteps of Dan Leavy, James Ryan, Noel Reid and Ross Moloney among others to have made the jump to professional rugby from the school.
With a number of players still on Ireland duty there are opportunities for other players to state their case and indeed there could be as many as three senior debuts over the course of the 80 minutes with seven players from the Leinster Academy in the match day 23.
In the backs, Cullen has named UCD and Leinster Academy player Hugo Keenan at fullback for his first start with Irish international Adam Byrne on the right wing and James Lowe on the left.
In the centre Conor O'Brien and Noel Reid will line up at 12 and 13, with Nick McCarthy and Ciarán Frawley the half backs.
In the pack Peter Dooley and Michael Bent start at loose and tighthead prop respectively with James Tracy at hooker.
Ross Molony is joined in the second row by captain Scott Fardy.
There is also the possibility for two further senior debuts with Jimmy O'Brien and Jack Kelly named amongst the replacements. Like Penny, both players were key components of the Leinster 'A' Celtic Cup win with Kelly captaining the side in the Final against Scarlets 'A'.
Leinster Rugby (caps in brackets):
15. Hugo Keenan (2)
14. Adam Byrne (41)
13. Conor O’Brien (5)
12. Noel Reid (105)
11. James Lowe (19)
10. Ciarán Frawley (4)
9. Nick McCarthy (31)
1. Peter Dooley (52)
2. James Tracy (75)
3. Michael Bent (110)
4. Ross Molony (69)
5. Scott Fardy (29) CAPTAIN
6. Josh Murphy (12)
7. Scott Penny (0)
8. Caelan Doris (4)
16. Bryan Byrne (30)
17. Ed Byrne (28)
18. Vakh Abdaladze (3)
19. Mick Kearney (40)
20. Max Deegan (27)
21. Hugh O’Sullivan (3)
22. Jimmy O’Brien (0)
23. Jack Kelly (0)
Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)
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Latest Comments
Well it's a bit disappointing injury hasn't been as much of a selector as I'd hoped for the AB's this weekend.
At least week got ALB in there and they made the call to let Ratima concentrate on building for another go next year already. Upgrades in both positions for me though I'd like it the otherway round, to not be.
Happy for Patrick to earn his start this week, along with EDG.
Mo'unga, please come back home ASAP, we need saving as I'm not sure Razor knows that his captain, Ardie, and Reiko have literally played every test this year, and we can all see he's given you the big desperate PLEASE with these selections.
Go to commentsWhat you say is true, but it's a new coach with a different structure and cohesiveness takes time. To be honest, despite the losses, the AB's looked more dangerous this year and more exciting.
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