Taulupe Faletau will return to action in Dublin on Saturday night (10 October – 7.45pm) and go head-to-head with his 2021 British & Irish Lions back row colleague Jack Conan.
The legendary Wales and Lions No 8 will make his first appearance since March when he starts for Cardiff against the reigning BKT United Rugby Championship champions, Leinster.
The 35-year-old has not played since suffering a shoulder injury against the Sharks, a blow that ended a campaign that also featured knee and calf problems. He is one of seven changers to the Cardiff side that followed up their opening day win over the Scarlets with a victory against Zebre.
There is a URC debut for former Wales U20 full back Matty Young and a return to front row action for skipper Liam Blecher. There are also starts for Mason Grady, Aled Davies, Danny Southworth and Dan Thomas while Tongan forward Semisi Paea is poised for his debut off the bench.
“It is great to have him back,” said head coach Corniel van Zyl about Faletau. “When his name is on the team sheet, everybody rises a little bit.
“He’s struggling actually with a little bit of a niggle, but I’m pretty confident he’ll get through to the game.
“It’s been a pleasing start to the season in terms of results but there is plenty to work on in terms of performance and we want to take another step forward this week.”
Lock Josh McNally is certainly looking forward to welcoming back the 100+ times capped No 8 into the Cardiff pack for what is going to be the toughest of tests against the champions.
“The guy can have six months out, come back and play 80 minutes, get man of the match and score two tries. Everyone knows what he can bring,” said McNally about Faletau.
Wales flanker James Botham is nursing a hand injury while centre Ben Thomas is nursing a calf injury. Former Australian and current Samoan prop Scott Sio is sidelined for a few weeks after suffering a facial fracture against Zebre
Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has made 15 changes to last week’s team and has welcomed back eight British & Irish Lions into his starting XV and has two more on the bench. Leinster kicked-off their campaign with defeats against the Lions and Sharks in South Africa.
The game will be the first competitive fixture played by Leinster at the 20,500-capacity Laya Arena – formerly known as the Royal Dublin Society Arena.
TEAMS
Leinster: Hugo Keenan; Joshua Kenny, Garry Ringrose, Jamie Osborne, Jimmy O’Brien; Sam Prendergast, Oliver Coffey; Alex Usanov, Dan Sheehan, (captain), Tadgh Furlong, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan, Max Deegan, Scott Penny, Jack Conan
Reps: Rónan Kelleher, Peter Dooley, Thomas Clarkson, Alan Spicer, Josh Ericson, Fintan Gunne, Caspar Gabriel, Robbie HenshawCardiff Rugby: Matty Young; Jacob Beetham, Harri Millard, Le Roux Malan, Mason Grady; Callum Sheedy, Aled Davies; Danny Southworth, Liam Belcher (captain), Javan Sebastian, Josh Mcally, Teddy Williams, Alex Mann, Dan Thomas, Taulupe Faletau
Reps: Evan Lloyd, Rhys Barratt, Sam Wainwright, George Nott, Semisi Paea, Johan Mulder, Jarrod Evans, Steff Emanuel