Leinster pull trigger on long-rumoured Andrew Porter switch for URC opener

Leinster have pulled the trigger on the long-rumoured move of Andrew Porter to the tighthead side of the scrum as Leo Cullen named his side for their URC opener against the Lions at Ellis Park.

Porter’s move across the front row has been the subject of speculation for some time, but Cullen has now opted to make it a reality as Leinster begin a new campaign in Johannesburg.

In truth, it’s a return to the tighthead for Porter, who played at No.3 for his first four season at Leinster before moving to loosehead in the 2021/22 season. Porter last ran out for Leinster in the URC back in June against the Stormers, but left the field injured.

The 30-year-old packs down on the right-hand side of an inexperienced Leinster front row, with Gus McCarthy at hooker and Alex Usanov named at loosehead.

“The Lions are a good team, and I think everybody would say that,” said Leinster senior coach Jacques Nienaber. “But if you statistically look at them, if you look especially from an attacking point of view, and you look at last season, they were the team that had the most offloads, they scored the most tries in the competition, they won the South African conference, and South African teams in general are doing pretty well in the BKT URC.

Fixture

United Rugby Championship

Lions

04:30

26 Sep 26

Leinster

All Stats and Data

“They’ve been in the last five grand finals, South African teams, so it’s a tough task to come to South Africa, and the Lions as well.

“It’s going to be a nice challenge for us, and it’s one that we definitely are looking forward to. But they’re a great outfit, the Lions.

“They’re a very proud team, and they’re different. They’re forced to be reckoned with. As they showed when they played against the All Blacks, Ellis Park is a ground that they really put their heart and their soul into defending.”

Ryan Baird provides the headline presence in the second row alongside Conor O’Tighearnaigh, while opensides Scott Penny and Josh Ericson join Deegan in the back row.

There is also a start at fly-half for emerging talent Caspar Gabriel, who partners Fintan Gunne at half-back, while Tommy O’Brien and Andrew Osborne provide experience in the back three.

Leinster: Todd Lawlor, Tommy O’Brien, Hugh Cooney, Charlie Tector, Andrew Osborne, Caspar Gabriel, Fintan Gunne, Alex Usanov, Gus McCarthy, Andrew Porter, Ryan Baird, Conor O’Tighearnaigh, Max Deegan (CAPT), Scott Penny, Josh Ericson

Replacements: Stephen Smyth, Peter Dooley, Niall Smyth, Brian Deeney, Dylan McNeice, Oliver Coffey, Harry Byrne, Ciarán Mangan

10bet Lions: Boeta Chamberlain, Kelly Mpeku, Henco van Wyk, Richard Kriel, Erich Cronje, Chris Smith, Nico Steyn, Boan Venter, PJ Botha, Sebastian de Klerk, Etienne Oosthuizen, Ruan Delport, Siba Mahashe, Batho Hlekani, Francke Horne (CAPT)

Replacements: Morne Brandon, SJ Kotze, RF Schoeman, Hyron Andrews, Siba Qoma, JC Pretorius, Zian Cilliers, Ethan Adams