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Teams named for the Guinness PRO14 final
By Online Editors
Leinster have made three changes while Glasgow have gone with an unchanged side for Saturday’s Guinness PRO14 final which will be played in front of an attendance of 43,000 at Celtic Park.
The defending champions have recalled Rob Kearney and Johnny Sexton to their line-up for the decider, the pair stepping up for Dave Kearney and Ross Byrne, while Scott Fardy takes over at second row for Devin Toner who limped away with a knee injury from their 24-9 semi-final win over Munster.
In contrast to those alterations by the Irish side, it’s as you were for the Warriors following their semi-final trouncing of an out-classed Ulster.
Glasgow, who are attempting to win a second title in five seasons, were sublime when cutting Ulster to ribbons in a runaway 50-20 success at Scotstoun and they will hope their unchanged XV can deliver just as thrilling a performance in the decider against Leinster, who defeated Scarlets in last year’s decider in Dublin.
Stuart Hogg will play his last game for the club, starting in a back-three with DTH van der Merwe, who has scored in his two previous appearances in PRO14 finals, and Tommy Seymour, who scored a brace of tries against Ulster.
Peter Horne’s inclusion on the bench makes it eight players in the squad who featured in Glasgow’s 2015 final win over Munster in Belfast.
Coach Dave Rennie said: “We’re excited to represent our city and our families at what is going to be an amazing occasion for Glasgow.
“The noise that 10,000 people make in Scotstoun is deafening, so to play in front of more than 40,000 of our supporters is going to be a special experience.
“Leinster are a world class side with hardened finals experience, so we’re going to have to play better than we have all season to lift the trophy.”
Glasgow Warriors v Leinster (Saturday, KO: 18:30 UK)
Glasgow Warriors: Stuart Hogg; Tommy Seymour, Kyle Steyn, Sam Johnson, DTH van der Merwe; Adam Hastings, Ali Price; Jamie Bhatti, Fraser Brown, Zander Fagerson, Scott Cummings, Jonny Gray, Rob Harley, Callum Gibbins (capt), Matt Fagerson. Reps: Grant Stewart, Oli Kebble, Siua Halanukonuka, Ryan Wilson, Tom Gordon, George Horne, Pete Horne, Huw Jones
Leinster: Rob Kearney; Jordan Larmour; Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe; Johnny Sexton (capt), Luke McGrath; Cian Healy, Seán Cronin, Tadhg Furlong, Scott Fardy, James Ryan, Rhys Ruddock, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan. Reps: Bryan Byrne, Ed Byrne, Andrew Porter, Ross Molony, Max Deegan, Nick McCarthy, Ross Byrne, Rory O’Loughlin.
Referee: Nigel Owens.
WATCH: RugbyPass goes behind the scenes at the 2018 Guinness PRO14 final in Dublin
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Latest Comments
I think it's the least likely possibility Ed.
Go to commentsScotland should win this one, considering they are the settled team compared to Australia. However, that is no guarantee that they will win. The Aussies tails is up, and they are throwing everything at the opposition.
When the Aussie fans cracked up and got angry when Joe Schmidt was appointed, I said to them to be patient, that he will get them on the right track. They said that he is not Australian and he won nothing. Second best. I should mind my own business because I don't know the Aussie ways, which is true as I'm SA.
However, now that he is bringing in results, they are all changing their minds. Joe is all in when he coaches a team. There is no team he supports more than the team he coaches. His quality is shining through properly now.
It's going to be a very tight game, much tighter than people realise. Both teams is playing exciting rugby right now. They both want to win. I'd even go as far as marking this game as the top game of the weekend.
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