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Recap: Lyon vs Leinster LIVE | Heineken Champions Cup
By RugbyPass
Follow all the action on the RugbyPass live blog from the Heineken Champions Cup match between Lyon and Leinster at Matmut Stade de Gerland.
Keep up to date with the latest score, stats and join the conversation from anywhere in the world in our Live Match Centre (click here).
Top 14 leaders Lyon have made eleven changes following their 25-14 opening round defeat at Northampton, starting with a completely changed front row of Xavier Chiocci, Michael Ivaldi and Demba Bamba, Captain Baptiste Couilloud and Jonathan Wisniewski form the half-backs.
Leinster have made five changes following last weekend’s 33-19 home win over Benetton. Rob Kearney makes his first start for the Irish province since returning from the World Cup, with Jordan Larmour moving to the right wing and James Lowe continuing on the left.
Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose are paired together for the first time this season in the centre, with Luke McGrath and captain Johnny Sexton continuing as the half-back pairing.
(Continue reading below...)
In the pack, Cian Healy and Ronan Kelleher are retained from the starting XV last week, with Tadhg Furlong returning from a back injury to start at tighthead. James Ryan is again selected in the second row, with Scott Fardy stepping up for Devin Toner to win his 50th club cap.
In the back row, it's the same two on the flanks, with Rhys Ruddock at blindside and Josh van der Flier at openside winning his 75th cap, with Max Deegan making his first European start from No8 having come on early last weekend for the injured Caelan Doris.
In the replacements, James Tracy is in line to win his 100th cap. The 28-year-old made his Leinster debut off the bench in November 2012. Josh Murphy, meanwhile, is in line to make his European debut off the bench.
LYON: 15. Toby Arnold; 14. Xavier Mignot, 13. Thibaut Regard, 12. Charlie Ngatai, 11. Noa Nakaitaci; 10. Jonathan Wisniewski, 9. Baptiste Couilloud (capt); 1. Xavier Chiocci, 2. Mickael Ivaldi, 3. Demba Bamba, 4. Virgile Bruni, 5. Hendrik Roodt, 6. Julien Puricelli, 7. Liam Gill, 8. Carl Fearns. Reps: 16. Jeremie Maurouard, 17. Raphael Chaume, 18. Francisco Gomez Kodela, 19. Etienne Oosthuizen, 20. Loann Goujon, 21. Jonathan Pelissie, 22. Jean-Marcellin Buttin, 23. Rudi Wulf.
LEINSTER: 15. Rob Kearney; 14. Jordan Larmour, 13. Garry Ringrose, 12. Robbie Henshaw, 11. James Lowe; 10. Johnny Sexton (capt), 9. Luke McGrath; 1. Cian Healy, 2. Ronan Kelleher, 3. Tadhg Furlong, 4. Scott Fardy, 5. James Ryan, 6. Rhys Ruddock, 7. Josh van der Flier, 8. Max Deegan. Reps: 16. James Tracy, 17. Ed Byrne, 18. Andrew Porter, 19. Devin Toner, 20. Josh Murphy, 21. Jamison Gibson-Park, 22. Ross Byrne 23. Dave Kearney.
Referee: Luke Pearce (England).
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Latest Comments
Thanks Nick. Surely they will thump Japan this week and the pressure will be off. Do you want to make a prediction that the defence coach will go before the Six Nations? England seem to want Borthwick there for a long time so surely they will back Bortho and look for a new defence coach?
Go to commentsYes, Carlos, I sensed before hand this would be a very close game, even could see an Arg. win....well, they have beaten all their three SH compatriots this year, then added Italy. And as nick says below, they were winners of the breakdown for a lot of the game, and both sides of the ball too.
Felipe very highly regarded in Ireland, esp. Leinster.
Good luck this weekend !
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