Dan Sheehan switches to number eight for Leinster as Joey Carbery starts against former club Munster

Dan Sheehan will start at number eight for the first time in his professional career when Leinster face Munster at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, with injuries to Caelan Doris and Jack Conan forcing a reshuffle in the back row.

Joey Carbery also makes his first start since rejoining the province, against his former club, while Jamison Gibson-Park returns for his first appearance of the season. The United Rugby Championship match kicks off at 6pm BST on 24 October.

Why Dan Sheehan is starting at number eight

Sheehan moves from hooker with Doris unavailable and Conan sidelined by the shoulder injury he suffered against Clermont.

Rónan Kelleher comes into the front row between Andrew Porter and Tadhg Furlong. Sheehan captains the side from the back of the scrum, alongside flankers Ryan Baird and Josh van der Flier, in the confirmed selection reported by BBC Sport.

The switch allows Leo Cullen to retain Sheehan in the starting pack while bringing in another established international at hooker. Joe McCarthy and James Ryan continue in the second row.

Sheehan scored twice in Leinster’s 48–23 Champions Cup win at Clermont, reacting to a disrupted lineout for his first try before adding another from a driving maul.

His new club assignment follows his appointment as captain of Ireland’s Nations Championship squad in Doris’s absence.

Carbery starts as Gibson-Park returns

Carbery’s selection is his first Leinster start since 2018. He made his first appearance since returning to the province as a replacement for Sam Prendergast at Clermont last weekend.

Prendergast is absent from Saturday’s matchday squad, with RugbyPass reporting an arm injury. Academy fly-half Caspar Gabriel provides cover from the bench.

Gibson-Park’s return gives Carbery an experienced partner at scrum-half after a groin problem delayed the Ireland international’s start to the season.

Jamie Osborne joins Robbie Henshaw in midfield, with Hugo Keenan at full-back and Tommy O’Brien and Jimmy O’Brien on the wings.

Munster make seven changes

Munster have confirmed seven changes from the side that beat Racing 92, including Shane Daly’s return from injury on the wing.

Seán O’Brien moves to outside centre for his 50th Munster appearance. Craig Casey and academy fly-half Charlie O’Shea retain their half-back partnership, while Gavin Coombes starts at number eight opposite Sheehan.

Tadhg Beirne captains the visitors from the second row, with Brian Gleeson among the replacements.

Confirmed teams

Leinster: Hugo Keenan; Tommy O’Brien, Jamie Osborne, Robbie Henshaw, Jimmy O’Brien; Joey Carbery, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong; Joe McCarthy, James Ryan; Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier, Dan Sheehan (captain).

Replacements: Gus McCarthy, Alex Usanov, Thomas Clarkson, Conor O’Tighearnaigh, Scott Penny, Fintan Gunne, Caspar Gabriel, Charlie Tector.

Munster: Ben O’Connor; Shay McCarthy, Seán O’Brien, Alex Nankivell, Shane Daly; Charlie O’Shea, Craig Casey; Josh Wycherley, Marnus van der Merwe, Kieran Brookes; Fineen Wycherley, Tadhg Beirne (captain); Jack O’Donoghue, Alex Kendellen, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Max Clein, Mark Donnelly, Michael Ala’alatoa, Seán Edogbo, Brian Gleeson, Ben O’Donovan, JJ Hanrahan, Gordon Wood.