Johnny Sexton returns to captain Leinster in last-16 clash

Colin Newboult
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The Champions Cup returns on Friday as two matches take place, including the huge clash between European giants Leinster and Toulon.

Leinster v Toulon

Johnny Sexton starts for Leinster and will captain the side, with James Lowe also back in the team this week, as they prepare to face Toulon in the Champions Cup last-16.

Hugo Keenan continues at full-back with Jordan Larmour again on the right wing and Lowe coming in on the left for his 50th Leinster cap.

It’s as you were in the centre with Robbie Henshaw partnering Rory O’Loughlin.

Luke McGrath is at scrum-half having captained Leinster last week to PRO14 glory, with Sexton back to start as captain at 10.

In the pack, there is one change in the front-row with Cian Healy and Rónan Kelleher joined by Tadhg Furlong.

In the second-row, Devin Toner is joined by Ryan Baird who starts for the second time in Europe.

Finally, in the back-row, it’s the same trio that started against Munster with Rhys Ruddock at blindside, Josh van der Flier at openside and last week’s player of the match Jack Conan at number eight.

Meanwhile, Gabin Villière has returned from injury to take his place in the Toulon XV for Friday’s encounter.

The three-time champions were thrashed 54-16 by Lyon in the Top 14 last weekend and have made a number of changes to their side.

Experienced New Zealander Ma’a Nonu is suspended following a red card in that league match, which means Rudi Wulf starts at centre and he is joined by Julien Heriteau in the midfield.

Duncan Paia’aua moves to fly-half with Louis Carbonel absent and is joined in the half-backs by captain Baptiste Serin, who returns from international duty.

There are also a number of alterations up front as Charles Ollivon, Swan Rebbadj and Romain Taofifenua all return following their excursions with France.

The teams:

Leinster: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Jordan Larmour, 13 Rory O’Loughlin, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 James Lowe, 10 Johnny Sexton (c), 9 Luke McGrath, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Rhys Ruddock, 5 Ryan Baird, 4 Devin Toner, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Rónan Kelleher, 1 Cian Healy
Replacements: 16 James Tracy, 17 Ed Byrne, 18 Andrew Porter, 19 Ross Molony, 20 Scott Fardy, 21 Hugh O’Sullivan, 22 Ross Byrne, 23 Dave Kearney

Toulon: 15 Gervais Cordin, 14 Masivesi Dakuwaqa, 13 Rudi Wulf, 12 Julien Heriteau, 11 Gabin Villière, 10 Duncan Paia’aua, 9 Baptiste Serin (c), 8 Sergio Parisse, 7 Charles Ollivon, 6 Swan Rebbadj, 5 Romain Taofifenua, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Beka Gigashvili, 2 Christopher Tolofua, 1 Jean Baptiste-Gros
Replacements: 16 Bastien Soury, 17 Sébastien Taofifenua, 18 Emerick Setiano, 19 Raphael Lakafia, 20 Julien Ory, 21 Frederick du Plessis, 22 Anthony Meric, 23 Simon Moretti

Venue: RDS Arena
Kick-off: 17:30 BST (16:30 GMT)
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant referees: Sean Gallagher (Ireland), Chris Busby (Ireland)
TMO: Tom Foley (England)

Gloucester v La Rochelle

Gloucester head coach George Skivington has named his team to host La Rochelle at Kingsholm on Friday in the Champions Cup.

There is just one change in the starting 15 from the side that beat Exeter Chiefs in the Premiership last weekend with Scotland international Chris Harris returning from Six Nations duty to start at outside centre.

Santiago Carreras, Louis Rees-Zammit and Jonny May start in the back three with Mark Atkinson lining up at 12 alongside Harris. Willi Heinz and George Barton continue their partnership and start at half-back.

The forwards are unchanged with Lewis Ludlow resuming the captaincy at openside alongside Jordy Reid and Ruan Ackermann in the back-krow. Ed Slater and Matias Alemanno start at lock with Val Rapava-Ruskin, Henry Walker and Fraser Balmain packing down in the front-row.

In a similar fashion to last week, the Cherry and Whites have opted for a six-two split on the bench with Santiago Socino, Alex Seville, Jamal Ford-Robinson, Alex Craig, Freddie Clarke and Jack Clement all named as forward replacements. Charlie Chapman and Billy Twelvetrees are the two backs on the bench.

Meanwhile, La Rochelle have named a strong matchday squad for this encounter.

In the backline, Springbok Dillyn Leyds starts at full-back and is joined in the back three by flyers Arthur Retiere and Jules Favre while another Bok, Raymond Rhule, lines up at outside centre alongside Fiji international Levani Botia.

In the half-backs, All Blacks scrum-half Tawera Kerr-Barlow is joined by fellow New Zealander Ihaia West, who will wear the number 10 jersey.

In the forwards, Victor Vito starts at number eight with Kevin Gourdon and Wiaan Liebenberg the starting flankers while captain Romain Sazy and Wallaby Will Skelton start in the engine room.

Up front, hooker Facundo Bosch lines up at hooker and packs down alongside Arthur Joly and Dany Priso. France internationals Grégory Alldritt and Uini Atonio have been included on the replacements bench after returning from Six Nations duty.

The teams:

Gloucester: 15 Santiago Carreras, 14 Louis Rees-Zammit, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Mark Atkinson, 11 Jonny May, 10 George Barton, 9 Willi Heinz, 8 Ruan Ackermann, 7 Lewis Ludlow (c), 6 Jordy Reid, 5 Matias Alemanno, 4 Ed Slater, 3 Fraser Balmain, 2 Henry Walker, 1 Val Rapava-Ruskin
Replacements: 16 Santiago Socino, 17 Alex Seville, 18 Jamal Ford-Robinson, 19 Alex Craig, 20 Freddie Clarke, 21 Jack Clement, 22 Charlie Chapman, 23 Billy Twelvetrees

La Rochelle: 15 Dillyn Leyds, 14 Arthur Retiere, 13 Raymond Rhule, 12 Levani Botia, 11 Jules Favre, 10 Ihaia West, 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Kevin Gourdon, 6 Wiaan Liebenberg, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Romain Sazy (c), 3 Arthur Joly, 2 Facundo Bosch, 1 Dany Priso
Replacements: 16 Pierre Bourgarit, 17 Reda Wardi, 18 Uini Atonio, 19 Thomas Lavault, 20 Grégory Alldritt, 21 Thomas Berjon, 22 Jules Plisson, 23 Geoffrey Doumayrou

Venue: Kingsholm
Kick-off: 20:00 BST (19:00 GMT)
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Paul Dix (England), Craig Maxwell-Keys (England)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)

 

Gloucester