Live

LIVE: OTB Weekend

02:00 PM-07:00 PM

LIVE: OTB Weekend
Advertisement
Rugby

No place for Johnny Sexton as Leo Cullen names squad to face Ulster

Johnny Sexton won't be making an appearance for Leinster in their New Year's Eve PRO 12 fixture a...



No place for Johnny Sexton as...
Rugby

No place for Johnny Sexton as Leo Cullen names squad to face Ulster

Johnny Sexton won't be making an appearance for Leinster in their New Year's Eve PRO 12 fixture after head coach Leo Cullen named his squad. 

The Irish international is still recovering from a hamstring injury that has ruled him out for the past few weeks, and while there had been speculation that he would be able to return as early as this week, Cullen has chosen not to take the risk. 

Instead, Ross Byrne slots in at no, 10 again with Joey Carbery also out injured, and he will be joined by Luke McGrath at scrum-half. 

After making wholesale changes to the squad that visited Thomond Park on St. Stephen's Day, Cullen's team has a more familiar look to it this time out, with Sean O'Brien, Jamie Heaslip and Josh van der Flier all being named in the starting side.

Having come off the bench against Munster and impressed with some direct running and good footwork, Noel Reid slots into the centre alongside Garry Ringrose, while Isa Nacewa will captain the team as he moves from the wing to full back.

The team in full is: 

Starting XV:

15. Isa Nacewa CAPTAIN 
14. Adam Byrne 
13. Garry Ringrose 
12. Noel Reid 
11. Rory O’Loughlin 
10. Ross Byrne 
9. Luke McGrath

 
1. Jack McGrath 
2. Sean Cronin 
3. Michael Bent 
4. Devin Toner 
5. Hayden Triggs 
6. Sean O’Brien 
7. Josh van der Flier 
8. Jamie Heaslip 

Replacements:

16. Richardt Strauss 
17. Andrew Porter 
18. Jeremy Loughman 
19. Mick Kearney
20. Jack Conan
21. Jamison Gibson-Park 
22. Tom Daly 
23. Zane Kirchner 

Download the brand new OffTheBall App in the Play Store & App Store right now! We've got you covered!

Subscribe to OffTheBall's YouTube channel for more videos, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for the latest sporting news and content.


Read more about

Rugby

Live: Title

Description

Added to queue
Removed from queue

On Air

Share

Share

Next up in queue

Title
Description
Duration

There are currently no podcasts in the queue

Go to podcasts

On Air

LIVE: OTB Weekend

LIVE: OTB Weekend

02:00 PM-07:00 PM

Share

Up next

Highlights on Off The Ball

Highlights on Off The Ball

07:00 PM-12:00 AM

Share

Repeat: OTB AM

Repeat: OTB AM

12:00 AM-02:00 AM

Share

Repeat: Off The Ball

Repeat: Off The Ball

02:00 AM-05:00 AM

Share

Repeat: OTB AM

Repeat: OTB AM

05:00 AM-07:00 AM

Share

Highlights on Off The Ball

Highlights on Off The Ball

07:00 AM-07:30 AM

Share

LIVE: OTB AM

LIVE: OTB AM

07:30 AM-10:00 AM

Share

Repeat: OTB AM

Repeat: OTB AM

10:00 AM-12:00 PM

Share

Highlights on Off The Ball

Highlights on Off The Ball

12:00 PM-01:00 PM

Share

OTB Gold

OTB Gold

01:00 PM-02:00 PM

Share

Highlights on Off The Ball

Highlights on Off The Ball

02:00 PM-05:00 PM

Share

LIVE: Monday Night Rugby

LIVE: Monday Night Rugby

05:00 PM-06:00 PM

Share

OTB Gold

OTB Gold

06:00 PM-07:00 PM

Share

00:00:00 / 00:00:00

Share on