URC: Bulls welcome back hardman Elrigh Louw for massive Leinster clash

It's the No 1 side in the URC hosting the No 2 side, with kick-off for this mouth-watering affair at the RDS Arena set for 21:35pm SA time.

Louw returns after being sidelined by a shoulder bump where he will take his place alongside Marco van Staden and Marcell Coetzee in the back row. In front of them will be the lock duo of Ruan Nortje and Vermaak, while Gerhard Steenekamp, Akker van der Merwe and Wilco Louw will marshall the forces up front.

Behind the forwards, halfback duo Embrose Papier and Johan Goosen will be directing traffic, while Canan Moodie is retained at outside centre, joined in the midfield by David Kriel who returns to the matchday squad. Devon Williams switches to left wing with Kurt-Lee Arendse running out on the right-hand side of the park. Willie le Roux will manage affairs from fullback in South Dublin.

White said the match will be a great opportunity to test the progress of his side and a great advert for the competition.

"We have trained well and the guys who had niggles earlier in the week are all available except for Sebastien (de Klerk) who had a bit of a knock to his head last week," said the Bulls boss.

"We must at least give ourselves a chance, we don't want to come here and not fire a shot. This is a great opportunity for us to give it a go.

"We also are going to have to match them, they are a really good team. We will have to match them in areas where they are really good and we are going to have to stop them from doing what they want to do as well.

"It will not be like a heavyweight boxing fight where you go toe-to-toe but I think it is a reality of being smart and it will be a case of taking your opportunities."

Meanwhile, Leinster have also picked a formidable side packed with Ireland stars, including star wing James Lowe alongside fullback Jordan Larmour and wing Rob Russell. Robbie Henshaw gets the nod with the impressive Jamie Osborne in the centre while flyhalf Harry Byrne is partnered in the halfbacks by skipper Luke McGrath.

Former World Rugby Men's 15s Player of the Year Josh van der Flier also starts, with Jack Conan and Ryan Baird completing the back row.

Even the bench is loaded with talent, including the Six Nations' top try-scorer Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong and Jamison Gibson-Park.

Leinster: 15 Jordan Larmour, 14 Rob Russell, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Jamie Osborne, 11 James Lowe, 10 Harry Byrne, 9 Luke McGrath (c), 8 Jack Conan, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Ryan Baird, 5 Joe McCarthy, 4 Ross Molony, 3 Michael Ala'alatoa, 2 Rinan Kelleher, 1 Cian Healy

Replacements: 16 Dan Sheehan, 17 Michael Milne, 18 Tadhg Furlong, 19 Jason Jenkins, 20 Caelan Doris, 21 Jamison Gibson-Park, 22 Ross Byrne, 23 Liam Turner

Bulls: 15 Willie Le Roux, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 David Kriel, 11 Devon Williams, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Marcell Coetzee (co-captain), 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje (co-captain), 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.

Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 Mpilo Gumede, 21 Izak Burger, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Harold Vorster.

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