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Leinster forced to withdraw Lions star hours before Munster showdown
By Josh Raisey
Leinster have withdrawn captain Jack Conan just hours before their highly anticipated contest with Munster at Croke Park in the United Rugby Championship due to a knee complaint.
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The British & Irish Lions No.8 is one of two withdrawals, with winger Tommy O’Brien also being pulled from the fixture with a back issue.
Leinster have said that the two removals are a precaution, with both players selected in the Ireland squad that will assemble this week.
Max Deegan has been promoted from the bench to start in Conan’s place, while Jordan Larmour has come into the squad on the wing. Jimmy O’Brien has taken Deegan’s place on the bench, changing its make-up to a 5-3 split.
Josh van der Flier will take over the captaincy duties from Conan, who was set to make his first appearance of the season following the Lions series in the summer. The flanker captained the side last week as Leinster registered their first win of the season against the Sharks.
A Leinster statement read: “As a precaution, Tommy O’Brien (back) and Jack Conan (knee) have been ruled out of today’s game, with Jordan Larmour and Max Deegan now starting, and Jimmy O’Brien coming onto the bench.
“Josh van der Flier will now captain the side for the second week in a row.”
Updated Leinster XV: Jamie Osborne; Jordan Larmour, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Paddy McCarthy, Rónan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong, RG Snyman, James Ryan, Alex Soroka, Josh van der Flier (capt), Max Deegan.
Replacements: Dan Sheehan, Andrew Porter, Thomas Clarkson, Brian Deeny, Scott Penny, Fintan Gunne, Ciarán Frawley, Jimmy O’Brien.
Munster XV: Shane Daly; Andrew Smith, Tom Farrell, Dan Kelly, Thaakir Abrahams; Jack Crowley, Ethan Coughlan; Michael Milne, Diarmuid Barron, John Ryan, Edwin Edogbo, Fineen Wycherley, Tadhg Beirne (capt), Jack O’Donoghue, Brian Gleeson.
Replacements: Lee Barron, Jeremy Loughman, Ronan Foxe, Jean Kleyn, Gavin Coombes, Paddy Patterson, JJ Hanrahan, Alex Nankivell.