Leinster v Castres: Johnny Sexton ruled out of Champions Cup opener
By Tony Tighe
Last Updated: 15/10/16 2:58pm
Johnny Sexton has been ruled out of Leinster's Champions Cup clash against Castres with a tight hamstring.
The Ireland fly-half felt discomfort in training during the week and Leo Cullen has opted against risking him, with talented youngster Joey Carbery handed the No 10 shirt on his European debut.
Sexton's absence is one of four changes to the team that beat Munster in last weekend's PRO12 derby as Ireland prop Jack McGrath makes his 100th appearance for the province.
McGrath replaces Cian Healy in the front row, Josh van der Flier returns at openside while South Africa international Zane Kirchner comes in for Rory O'Loughlin on the wing.
Leinster have won six of their seven European meetings with Castres, including the last four in a row. The visitors have never won a game on Irish soil, losing all nine of their previous visits.
Castres head coach Christophe Urios has made wholesale changes following last weekend's defeat to Pool 4 rivals Montpellier.
Benjamin Urdapilleta and Antoine Dupont are the half-back combination with Geoffrey Palis named at full-back, while Antoine Tichit, Jody Jenneker and Daniel Kotze form a new-look front row.
Leinster: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Zane Kirchner, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 Isa Nacewa (c), 10 Joey Carbery, 9 Luke McGrath; 1 Jack McGrath, 2 Sean Cronin, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 4 Devin Toner, 5 Ian Nagle, 6 Rhys Ruddock, 7 Josh van der Flier, 8 Jamie Heaslip.
Replacements: 16 James Tracy, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Mike Ross, 19 Ross Molony, 20 Dan Leavy, 21 Jamison Gibson-Park, 22 Cathal Marsh, 23 Noel Reid.
Castres: 15 Geoffrey Palis, 14 Remi Grosso, 13 Thomas Combezou, 12 Robert Ebersohn, 11 David Smith, 10 Benjamin Urdapilleta, 9 Antoine Dupont; 1 Antoine Tichit, 2 Jody Jenneker, 3 Daniel Kotze, 4 Victor Moreaux, 5 Rodrigo Capo Ortega, 6 Mathieu Babillot, 7 Steve Mafi, 8 Alex Tulou.
Replacements: 16 Brice Mach, 17 Mihaita Lazar, 18 Damien Tussac, 19 Thibault Lassale, 20 Anthony Jelonch, 21 Rory Kockott, 22 , 23 Florian Vialelle.
