Leinster ring the changes for Bulls clash as Johan Ackermann calls for defensive steel

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has made seven changes to his starting XV for Saturday’s United Rugby Championship showdown against the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld.

British and Irish Lions tighthead prop Thomas Clarkson comes into the front row, where he will pack down alongside loosehead Paddy McCarthy – making his first Leinster start – and hooker Gus McCarthy.

Ryan Baird shifts into the second row to partner Brian Deeny, while the back row has an entirely new look from the team that suffered a 35-0 defeat to the Stormers. Alex Soroka and Will Connors take the flanks, with Max Deegan slotting in at No. 8.

Luke McGrath captains the side once more and continues his half-back partnership with Sam Prendergast. Robbie Henshaw moves across to inside centre, where he will be joined by Hugh Cooney at 13.

Tommy O’Brien and Jimmy O’Brien retain their places on the wing and at full-back respectively, with Andrew Osborne coming in for his first appearance of the campaign.

On the bench, Jack Boyle, Rabah Slimani and John McKee provide the front-row reinforcements, with Diarmuid Mangan, Scott Penny and James Culhane rounding off a 6–2 split. Fintan Gunne and Ciarán Frawley offer cover for the backs.

Meanwhile, Bulls coach Johan Ackermann was unimpressed by his side’s defence despite their 53-40 win over Ospreys in last week’s URC opener.

The new Bulls mentor urged his side to sharpen up after conceding a string of soft tries, with discipline also a concern.

“I really hope the defence is better, because it wasn’t good to concede so many points,” Ackermann admitted.

“I thought we scored some good tries, but some of those we let in were on the soft side. We know Leinster are one of the best – if not the best – teams in the competition. They will definitely punish you if you give them the same opportunities.

“We’ve focused a lot this week on tightening up, and hopefully it shows.”

Teams for Loftus

Bulls: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Keagan Johannes, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 JJ Theron, 7 Mpilo Gumede, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 JF van Heerden, 4 N Janse van Rensburg, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.

Replacements: 16 Juann Else, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Sintu Manjezi, 20 Nama Xaba, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Stedman Gans, 23 Willie le Roux.

Leinster: 15 Jimmy O’Brien, 14 Tommy O’Brien, 13 Hugh Cooney, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 Andrew Osborne, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Luke McGrath (c), 8 Max Deegan, 7 Will Connors, 6 Alex Soroka, 5 Ryan Baird, 4 Brian Deeny, 3 Thomas Clarkson, 2 Gus McCarthy, 1 Paddy McCarthy.

Replacements: 16 John McKee, 17 Jack Boyle, 18 Rabah Slimani, 19 Diarmuid Mangan, 20 Scott Penny, 21 James Culhane, 22 Fintan Gunne, 23 Ciarán Frawley.