Jimmy Gopperth set for Leinster No 10 slot

In selections which are likely to have interesting implications for Joe Schmidt and the Irish management, Leinster are set to opt for Jimmy Gopperth at outhalf while reverting Ian Madigan to inside centre for their penultimate pool match against Castres at the RDS on Saturday.

As eye-catching will be the selection of Marty Moore to start at tighthead, and with Tadgh Furlong on the bench, meaning no place in the match-day squad for Mike Ross.

On foot of Johathan Sexton being sidelined for 12 weeks, thus ruling him out of Ireland’s opening Six Nations match away to Italy on February 7th, Madigan started at outhalf in the festive derbies when Leinster lost away to Munster and beat Ulster at home.

Gopperth was restored for last week’s win away to Cardiff, when looking more relaxed in his own skin. The Kiwi had been left in something of a limbo following the early-season confirmation that Sexton was coming home next season, before having had his future resolved with his move to Wasps next summer.

While Paddy Jackson’s return to form with Ulster has been encouraging Joe Scmidt might have preferred to see Madigan start at 10. In the event Leinster coach Matt O’Connor, who has generally preferred to start the Kiwi at outhalf in European games, has seemingly opted for Gopperth once more, with Madigan reverting to inside centre.

Potential impact

The selection of Moore, after his first game last week since injuring his shoulder away to Zebre in early October, is also interesting, all the more so with Furlong’s potential impact also preferred off the bench to Ross.

With Jack McGrath suspended and O’Connor unlikely to risk Cian Healy yet, the expectation is that Michael Bent will start at loosehead with Sean Cronin at hooker, and Mike McCarthy is in line to partner Devin Toner in the secondrow, with a backrow of Dominic Ryan, Jordi Murphy and Jamie Heaslip.

Eoin Reddan will be restored at scrumhalf, with Luke Fitzgerald at outside centre and a back three of Dave Kearney, Fergus McFadden and Rob Kearney.