Joey Carbery Returns to Leinster Matchday Squad for Clermont Clash
Joey Carbery is poised to make his first Leinster appearance in eight years after being named on the bench for the team’s Champions Cup opener against Clermont Auvergne at Stade Marcel Michelin. Now aged 30, the Kildare man made 37 appearances for his home province before moving to Munster in 2018 and subsequently switching to Bordeaux-Begles in 2024. He carried a long-term knee injury back to Dublin during the summer, delaying his return to action until this weekend’s European fixture.
Team Selections and Half-Back Challenges in France
Leo Cullen has named 14 Ireland internationals in his starting XV, with another four available among the replacements. Sam Prendergast starts at No.10 following an impressive seasonal cameo away to the Sharks and a follow-up start at home to Cardiff. However, the visitors must manage without Jamison Gibson-Park, who remains unavailable due to a minor groin problem suffered in pre-season. With the departure in the off-season of Luke McGrath and injury to Cormac Foley, Leinster enters the match with a raw pair of scrum-halves: Fintan Gunne starts and Oliver Coffey backs him up.
Champions Cup 🏆| Round 1⃣🟡7⃣ Players will make their Champions Cup debut for Clermont 🔵Leinster have made 6⃣ changes to their starting XV that defeated Cardiff last week, with Joey Carbery in the matchday squad for the first time since rejoining the team#ASMvLEI pic.twitter.com/usOap6ttPx
Clermont Lineup and Injury Concerns Before Kick-Off
Clermont Auvergne enters the fixture with several key absentees, including French wing Alivereti Raka, Les Bleus prop Régis Montagne, and Georgian front row Giorgi Dzmanashvili. Christophe Urios has included young Espoir Nohem Ez Zahouany in the front row. The Top 14 side has built its matchday 23 around a core of players with six league matches already under their belts this season, featuring Baptiste Jauneau and Harry Plummer as the half-back mainstays.
Historical European Rivalry at Stade Marcel Michelin
Saturday’s match renews a storied European rivalry that has produced notable encounters over the past decade and a half. In April 2010, Leinster squeezed past Clermont 29-28 in a quarter-final at the RDS aided by Johnny Sexton’s 19 points and two tries from Jamie Heaslip, overcoming an off-colour kicking display by Clermont’s Brock James. In a 2012 semi-final, a try from Cian Healy and a 45-metre drop goal by Rob Kearney helped Leinster move in front after trailing at the interval. Clermont later exacted pool-stage revenge in December 2012 at the Aviva Stadium, defeating the reigning European champions 28-21 in front of a then Irish record for a European pool match of 48,964, propelled by Morgan Parra’s 23-point haul.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Opening Fixture
Why is Joey Carbery on the bench for Leinster?
Joey Carbery returned to Dublin during the summer carrying a long-term knee injury, meaning the fixture at Stade Marcel Michelin marks his first available matchday involvement since rejoining the province.
Who is starting at scrum-half for Leinster in France?
Fintan Gunne starts at scrum-half for Leinster, backed up by Oliver Coffey, because Jamison Gibson-Park is out with a groin injury, Luke McGrath has departed, and Cormac Foley is injured.
Which key players are missing for Clermont Auvergne?
Clermont is missing several frontline players due to injuries, including French wing Alivereti Raka, prop Régis Montagne, and front-rower Giorgi Dzmanashvili.
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