Champions Cup Showdown: Leinster Stars Return as Dombrandt Leads Harlequins Charge at Croke Park
Preview of Leinster vs Harlequins Champions Cup clash featuring returning international stars and tactical lineup changes at Dublin's historic Croke Park.
Team News and Key Returns
Leinster has reinforced their squad with six Ireland internationals returning for Saturday's high-stakes Investec Champions Cup knockout match against Harlequins. Meanwhile, the London outfit welcomes back their inspirational captain Alex Dombrandt to spearhead their challenge at the iconic Croke Park stadium.
Leinster's Strengthened Lineup
- Dan Sheehan starts at hooker after Ronan Kelleher's neck injury
- Sam Prendergast gets the nod at fly-half in a bold selection
- Pack features Six Nations stars including Caelan Doris (captain), Josh van der Flier, and Andrew Porter
- Bench boasts 150kg of firepower with Tadhg Furlong and RG Snyman
- Kiwi superstar Jordie Barrett among impact substitutes
Harlequins' Tactical Reshuffle
Harlequins boss Danny Wilson makes six changes following their Premiership defeat:
- Dombrandt returns at No.8, pushing Chandler Cunningham-South to lock
- Experienced fullback Leigh Halfpenny replaces injured Argentine Rodrigo Isgro
- Youthful midfield pairing of Oscar Beard and Ben Waghorn
- Marcus Smith retains his pivotal role at fly-half
Historic Venue, High Stakes
This marks the first rugby match at Croke Park since 2009, with:
- Capacity crowd expected at the 82,300-seat stadium
- Winner advances to face either La Rochelle or Stormers
- Leinster seeking record-equaling fifth European title
Key Battlegrounds
- Breakdown duel: Van der Flier vs Evans
- Midfield clash: Henshaw/Ringrose vs Waghorn/Beard
- Set piece: Sheehan's throwing vs Launchbury's lineout reads
Recent Form Guide
| Team | Last 5 Results | Top Try Scorer |
|---|---|---|
| Leinster | WWWWL | James Lowe (7) |
| Harlequins | LWWLW | Cadan Murley (9) |
Broadcast Information
- Kickoff: 15:00 BST, Saturday 5 April
- Coverage: Live text commentary on BBC Sport
- Weather Forecast: 12°C with light rain (60% humidity)
This European classic promises fireworks as two attack-minded teams collide with quarter-final berths on the line.
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