Whatever Jerry Cahir and Alex Usanov go on to do in their careers, they will forever share a milestone as Leinster debutants on October 24th, 2025. Zebre were visitors to the Aviva Stadium, where the pair were joined by Hugo McLaughlin, Caspar Gabriel and Bobby Sheehan in making the first senior appearances for the province.
On Friday night at Croke Park, Cahir (25) will start at loosehead prop in the URC final against the Bulls, while Usanov, who will celebrate his 21st birthday next month, will offer backup from the bench.
Leo Cullen has made three changes from the side that defeated the Stormers in the semi-final. Andrew Porter misses out due to injury, as Tadhg Furlong joins Cahir in the frontrow and Tommy O’Brien returns from injury on the right wing.
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Rieko Ioane and Jamie Osborne are named in the centre, Sam Prendergast at outhalf, Max Deegan’s form is recognised to start at in the backrow, while Jack Conan is part of a very strong bench.
Meanwhile, James Lowe, Luke McGrath and Ioane are set to make their final bows for Leinster.
The same is true for Cahir, who accepted a contract offer from Connacht for next season. When he agreed to a short-term contract with Leinster in September, having trained with the province during the summer, he was still a sales accelerator with Vodafone. His road to a URC final at Croker is a remarkable story.
On his debut, Leinster had lost three of their first four games in the URC. “To see his progression through the season has been amazing,” Cullen said of prop Cahir.
“It’s a great story of persistence and perseverance, because he was in the (underage) system, fell out of the system, went back playing club, battling it out at AIL with a few different teams – Old Belvedere, Trinity and Lansdowne. He was moving around to try and progress himself all the time.
“To see him progress with us through the course of the season, he’s had some huge moments for us, some huge games. I don’t think anyone thinks they’re (Cahir and Usanov) going to let the team down on Friday because they’re bloody great characters.”
Asked about Lowe, who leaves for Japan at the end of the season, it’s clear the winger will be missed by Cullen. “James has been brilliant for the club. It’s amazing to think what he’s gone on to achieve with Leinster and Ireland since then.
“He’s such a big, colourful character and will be missed. Then you go on to someone like Luke McGrath, a warrior for the team.”
Cullen went on to talk about other players leaving, including Will Connors, Ciarán Frawley, Ioane and Cahir, and spoke fondly of the impact that French prop Rabah Slimani has had on the group.
He also paid tribute to Jacques Nienaber when asked about the South African’s influence as he approaches the end of his third season with the province. “I love working with Jacques; he’s a brilliant character.
“He gets the balance right between the fun part and the work part, which is important because over the course of a season, you live in each other’s pockets as well. He’s been immense for Leinster in what we’ve all learned from him. He’s a defensive genius the way I see it.
“Jacques with the group here is amazing. His system is very much geared up for big days like this. Hopefully, you’ll see it with the players in terms of how aggressive we can be from a defensive point of view. We’re really attacking the Bulls when we don’t have possession.”
The Bulls have named an unchanged side from their semi-final victory over Glasgow Warriors.
LEINSTER: Hugo Keenan; Tommy O’Brien, Rieko Ioane, Jamie Osborne, James Lowe; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Jerry Cahir, Rónan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong; Joe McCarthy, James Ryan; Max Deegan, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris (capt). Replacements: Dan Sheehan, Alex Usanov, Thomas Clarkson, Diarmuid Mangan, Jack Conan, Luke McGrath, Harry Byrne, Garry Ringrose.
BULLS: Willie le Roux, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Canan Moodie, Harold Vorster, Stravino Jacobs; Handre Pollard, Embrose Papier; Gerhard Steenekamp, Johan Grobbelaar, Francois Klopper; Ruan Vermaak, Ruan Nortje; Marcell Coetzee (capt), Elrigh Louw, Cameron Hanekom. Replacements: Marco van Staden, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Wilco Louw, Cobus Wiese, Jeandre Rudolph, Zak Burger, Stedman Gans, Nizaam Carr.
Referee: A Piardi (ITA).
