Rieko Ioane handed Leinster start, James Ryan returns from ban and Ireland duo benched for Leicester Tigers trip

Round Two of the Investec Champions Cup kicks off with a cracking match on Friday night as Leicester Tigers clash with Leinster in a battle of the former champions.

In a boost to their side after an opening round defeat to La Rochelle, Leicester Tigers welcome back five senior internationals for this week’s fixture with the Irish province.

England’s Freddie Steward, Joe Heyes and Jamie Blamire all return alongside Wales duo Tommy Reffell and Nicky Smith for a huge game at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.

Flanker Reffell skippers the Tigers in the week partner Annabel gave birth to their daughter Nancy, and he’s joined in the back-row by James Thompson and Joaquin Moro.

Tom Whiteley will make his 50th appearance for Leicester and Solomone Kata – who reached the half-century off the bench last week – starts alongside Will Wand at centre.

Friday night’s fixture is a meeting of two European giants with six Investec Champions Cup wins between them and promises to be quite the occasion in the East Midlands.

Meanwhile, Rieko Ioane will make his first start for Leinster as he gets the nod at centre alongside the returning Robbie Henshaw as part of seven alterations to the XV.

Ireland stalwart James Lowe also returns to the team, with Tommy O’Brien on the opposite wing and Jimmy O’Brien at full-back.

Harry Byrne has been named at fly-half, with Jamison Gibson-Park his partner at scrum-half.

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Caelan Doris captains the team from number eight once more, with Jack Conan and Josh van der Flier completing an unchanged back-row.

James Ryan will make his 99th Leinster appearance as he returns to the starting XV, with Joe McCarthy joining him in the second-row.

Tadhg Furlong and Rónan Kelleher come in at tighthead prop and hooker respectively, while Paddy McCarthy continues at loosehead.

Dan Sheehan, Jack Boyle and Thomas Clarkson provide the front-row cover, with Diarmuid Mangan and Max Deegan completing the forward replacements.

Luke McGrath and Sam Prendergast offer cover for the half-backs, with Ciarán Frawley completing the matchday 23.

Prediction: Leinster by 12

The teams

Leicester Tigers: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Adam Radwan, 13 Will Wand, 12 Solomone Kata, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10 Billy Searle, 9 Tom Whiteley, 8 Joaquin Moro, 7 Tommy Reffell (c), 6 James Thompson, 5 Harry Wells, 4 Cameron Henderson, 3 Joe Heyes, 2 Jamie Blamire, 1 Nicky Smith
Replacements: 16 Finn Theobald Thomas, 17 Archie van der Flier, 18 Will Hurd, 19 Tom Manz, 20 Sam Williams, 21 Ollie Allan, 22 Orlando Bailey, 23 Joseph Woodward

Leinster: 15 Jimmy O’Brien, 14 Tommy O’Brien, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 James Lowe, 10 Harry Byrne, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Caelan Doris (c), 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Jack Conan, 5 James Ryan, 4 Joe McCarthy, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Rónan Kelleher, 1 Paddy McCarthy
Replacements: 16 Dan Sheehan, 17 Jack Boyle, 18 Thomas Clarkson, 19 Diarmuid Mangan, 20 Max Deegan, 21 Luke McGrath, 22 Sam Prendergast, 23 Ciarán Frawley

Date: Friday, December 12
Venue: Mattioli Woods Welford Road
Kick-off: 20:00 GMT
Referee: Pierre Brousset (Fra)
Assistant Referees: Vincent Blasco Baque (Fra), Julien Caulier (Fra)
TMO: Tual Trainini (Fra)

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