Semifinal of the nvestec Champions Cup
Venue: Dublin’s Croke Park Time: 17:30 BST on Saturday, May 4,
Coverage includes live written updates on the BBC Sport website and smartphone as well as live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra.
Due to a shoulder injury, Lewis Ludlam, the captain of the Northampton Saints, will not play in his team’s Investec Champions Cup semi-final on Saturday against Leinster.
In front of an anticipated audience of over 82,000 at Croke Park, flanker Courtney Lawes leads the Saints; Ollie Sleightholme is out due to a concussion.
Sam Graham switches to openside flanker, and Juarno Augustus, ranked eight, joins the team that last weekend lost to Harlequins at Twickenham.
The Aviva Stadium, Leinster’s customary home for major games, is currently unavailable due to preparations for hosting the football league’s Europa League final on May 22.
In Northampton’s resounding quarterfinal win over South African team Bulls, winger Sleightholme—a consistent starter this year—scored a try.
George Furbank, an England full-back, teams up with James Ramm and the returning George Hendy to form an intriguing back three despite the loss of Sleightholme.
This means that Fraser Dingwall and Tommy Freeman, who made an impression for England during the Six Nations on the wing, will team up in the midfield.
Frawley and Osborne recommence
Ciaran Frawley and Jamie Osborne from Leinster start for the Irish province, who are again plagued by injuries. Hugo Keenan, the full-back, and Garry Ringrose, the centre, from Ireland are again absent.
After making an impression in Leinster’s quarterfinal triumph over back-to-back champions La Rochelle, Frawley and Osborne are still playing at full-back and inside center.
When James Ryan and Ringrose are not available, Caelan Doris, who is ranked eight, leads the team.
The runners-up of the previous season, Josh van der Flier and Ross Molony, both return to the pack, alter their starting XV from the quarterfinals.
Lock Jason Jenkins will start on the bench for flanker Will Connors, who was selected ahead of Van der Flier for the quarterfinal. Connors will not be included in the matchday squad.
Good news about injuries: utility back Jimmy O’Brien, 27, is back among the substitutes after missing the Six Nations due to a neck injury.
In the competition, both teams have won all six of their games, and their past eight games have been emphatic victories.
However, in their last ten encounters with Leinster, Northampton has only triumphed once.
