Schmidt names youthful Leinster side for Melbourne clash
In the absence of his senior international players, Leinster coach Joe Schmidt has named a young side to face the Melbourne Rebels in tomorrow night’s opening fixture of the Bank of Ireland Series in Donnybrook, kick-off 7pm.
Kiwi out-half Mat Berquist makes his first appearance for Leinster since his summer arrival from the Canterbury Crusaders and will partner recent Academy graduate John Cooney at half-back in a backline which also includes former Connacht winger Fionn Carr who starts on the wing.
Rhys Ruddock captains the side and joins Dominic Ryan and Leo Auva’a in the back row.
Meanwhile, following his summer return to his home province, Balbriggan native and former Leinster Youths prop Jamie Hagan lines up alongside Richardt Strauss and Heinke van der Merwe in the front row. First cousins Mark Flanagan and Devin Toner start in the secondrow for the first time.
Ian Madigan; Darren Hudson, Brendan Macken, Eamonn Sheridan, Fionn Carr; Mat Berquist, John Cooney; Heinke van der Merwe, Richardt Strauss, Jamie Hagan; Mark Flanagan, Devin Toner; Rhys Ruddock (C), Dominic Ryan, Leo Auva’a
Replacements: Aaron Dundon, Jack McGrath, Jack O’Connell, Steven Sykes, David Gannon, Cillian Willis, Colm O’Shea, Andrew Conway, Jason Harris-Wright, Ciaran Ruddock, Ben Marshall, Andrew Boyle
