Sam Prendergast urged to kick on again by Leo Cullen as Jordie Barrett makes first Leinster start
Leinster head coach Leo Cullen, who has made five line-up changes, discusses the threat Clermont will pose at the Aviva Stadium in the second round Champions Cup tie
Jordie Barrett's first start for Leinster will be at full-back as the Blues make five changes for Saturday's Champions Cup clash with Clermont at the Aviva Stadium (5.30pm).
Barrett, 27, made his Blues debut off the bench in Bristol last Sunday and was very impressive in a try-scoring cameo at inside centre.
He admitted this week that No.12 was his favourite position but he will fill in at No.15 in the absence of the injured Hugo Keenan, Jamie Osborne and Ciarán Frawley for the visit of the ultra-physical Top 14 outfit.
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"The guys have worked hard to understand the different types of challenge that Clermont presents," said Leinster head coach Leo Cullen. "But because of the way the game (in Bristol) played out, particularly in the first half, there are some good lessons for us.
"It’s been a while since we’ve been in the Aviva with this group, there was that big (Autumn Series) break, the Lions game was the last game at home and there’s a genuine excitement about being back in the Aviva.
"Clermont, in terms of Christophe Urios coached-teams, they will be physical and direct. You look at Fritz Lee, such an experienced campaigner in this competition, George Moala, an All Black at 12, they bring serious physicality.
"They have some very good young, talented French players thrown in with very experienced players like Mike Ala’alatoa, who obviously knows us well.
"I think they will be confrontational the way they play the game. I think they’ll kick a fair bit from 9, and then it’s making sure we're not getting frustrated and playing ourselves into trouble.
"It’s going to be a good test for us. Even listening to some of the soundbites coming out of their camp and referencing different games they would have looked at gives us a little bit of indication of their mindset that they will bring. But there’s never any guarantee with any of these things."
Sam Prendergast has retained his place at out-half after his stand-out two-try performance at Ashton Gate, and he will be partnered again by Jamison Gibson-Park at scrum-half.
Asked if this was the next phase for Prendergast in terms of development with selection on consecutive weeks, Cullen laughed: "I think every week is the next phase!
"The nature of professional sport is the next week is always the next phase but in terms of the question, yeah, coming off the back of starting two international games and straight into a Champions Cup…Test rugby is slightly different, isn’t it?
"It's the top end of the international game but then you’re into the top end of club games, and then it's depending on what type of team you come up against.
"He dealt with the challenge well last week in Bristol and the different things that were thrown at us in the first-half. There were disciplinary issues and the yellow cards and how Sam manages that period 10 minutes prior to half-time, there's great learning in that for a young player.
"When you have a young player every week you want to see them progress. He's picking up invaluable experience every week he plays and you're hoping that fuels the next performance.
"We’re not getting carried away with what happened at the weekend. There were parts of our performance that needs to be better - 10 being such an integral part of the year, particularly from an attacking point of view, we’re hoping we’ll see an improved performance and Sam kicks on again.”
The other backline change sees Liam Turner selected on the wing, while in the pack skipper Caelan Doris replaces Jack Conan at No.8 and props Andrew Porter and Thomas Clarkson are added to the front row.
Cian Healy is added to a bench that once again includes RG Snyman, plus Rabah Slimani, Ross Byrne and Conan, while there are also three Academy players included - including new Ireland international Gus McCarthy.
Leinster: J Barrett; L Turner; G Ringrose, R Henshaw; J O’Brien; S Prendergast, J Gibson-Park; A Porter, R Kelleher, T Clarkson; J McCarthy, J Ryan, M Deegan, J van der Flier, C Doris (capt).
Replacements: G McCarthy, C Healy, R Slimani, RG Snyman, J Conan, F Gunne, R Byrne, A Osborne.
Clermont Auvergne: A Newsome; L Tauzin; P Fouyssac, G Moala; A Raka; I Simone, B Jauneau; E Falcoux, E Fourcade, M Ala’atoa; P Yato, R Simmons; K Tixeront, A Fischer, F Lee.
Replacements: G Akhaladze, B Massa, C Ojovan, O Rixen, A Chalus, S Bezy, B Urdapilleta, T Giral.
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