Robbie Henshaw will start for Leinster in tomorrow's Champions Cup Final against Union Bordeaux Bègles in Bilbao.

Henshaw to start for Leinster in Champions Cup decider

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Athlone's Robbie Henshaw has been selected to start for Leinster in Saturday's keenly-awaited Investec Champions Cup Final against Union Bordeaux Bègles at San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao Saturday (2.45pm).

Hesnhaw missed Ireland's Six Nations campaign with a knee injury and then suffered a gruesome-looking head injury in the Champions Cup semi-final win against Toulon, leading many to speculate that the brilliant centre might not make it back for the final.

However, the Coosan native has thankfully been passed fit to make head coach Leo Cullen's starting team, where he will resume his familiar centre partnership alongside Garry Ringrose.

Caelan Doris captains the side from number eight, with Jack Conan and Josh van der Flier on the flanks. Joe McCarthy partners James Ryan in the second row, while Andrew Porter and Thomas Clarkson will scrum down either side of Dan Sheehan at hooker.

Jamison Gibson-Park has been named at scrum-half with Harry Byrne at out-half. Tommy O'Brien and Rieko Ioane are on the wings with Hugo Keenan at full-back.

Paddy McCarthy returns to the bench for his first appearance since the win over La Rochelle in January, with Rónan Kelleher and Tadhg Furlong providing further front-row reinforcements.

Diarmuid Mangan and Max Deegan round out the rest of the replacements for the pack as Luke McGrath, Ciarán Frawley and Jamie Osborne complete the matchday 23.

Leinster Rugby v Union Bordeaux Bègles (caps in brackets):

15. Hugo Keenan (82)

14. Tommy O'Brien (60)

13. Garry Ringrose (148)

12. Robbie Henshaw (120)

11. Rieko Ioane (14)

10. Harry Byrne (90)

9. Jamison Gibson-Park (170)

1. Andrew Porter (147)

2. Dan Sheehan (86)

3. Thomas Clarkson (76)

4. Joe McCarthy (62)

5. James Ryan (108)

6. Jack Conan (177)

7. Josh van der Flier (172)

8. Caelan Doris (105)

Replacements:

16. Rónan Kelleher (92)

17. Paddy McCarthy (15)

18. Tadhg Furlong (165)

19. Diarmuid Mangan (27)

20. Max Deegan (157)

21. Luke McGrath (253)

22. Ciarán Frawley (122)

23. Jamie Osborne (73)

Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU).

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