Leo Cullen opts for youth ahead of visit of Bath

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has named a young team to face Bath in the European Rugby Champions Cup on Saturday in the RDS.

Six players - Garry Ringrose, Luke McGrath, Peter Dooley, James Tracy, Tadhg Furlong and Ross Molony - make their first European starts with three of them still in the Leinster Academy.

Adding experience to the XV, Zane Kirchner, the 31 times capped Springbok comes in at full back, with Isa Nacewa captaining from the right wing and Dave Kearney, who scored two tries last weekend against the Ospreys, on the left.

In the centre Ben Te'o and Ringrose are once again selected having performed well together in the recent Interpro victory over Connacht, while in the half backs Luke McGrath makes his first European start in what will be his 38th cap for the province alongside Ian Madigan.

It’s a new look front row with Dooley, Tracy and Furlong starting for the first time in the Champions Cup. Similar to McGrath, Furlong has 39 Leinster caps to his name to date, but tomorrow will be his first European start having come off the bench in six games to date scoring one try against Castres last season. Furlong has also been capped three times by Ireland.

Mike McCarthy is joined by Molony in the second row while in the back row Rhys Ruddock starts at blind side flanker, with Josh van der Flier on the open side. Jordi Murphy completes the pack from number eight.

LEINSTER: Zane Kirchner; Isa Nacewa (Captain), Garry Ringrose, Ben Te'o, Dave Kearney; Ian Madigan, Luke McGrath; Peter Dooley, James Tracy, Tadhg Furlong; Ross Molony, Mike McCarthy; Rhys Ruddock, Josh van der Flier, Jordi Murphy.

Replacements: Sean Cronin, Jack McGrath, Marty Moore, Tom Denton, Sean O'Brien, Eoin Reddan, Johnny Sexton, Noel Reid.