The duo form part of nine changes made by the coaching team of Luke Narraway and Geraint Lewis for the big encounter at Energia Park in Dublin. Lawrence packs down with the recalled Josh Reynolds up front while a new second row pairing will see Newport RFC’s Dan Partridge and a fit-again Sheekey combine.
Garin Price will play alongside Ben Fry and captain Ben Roach in the back row. Scrum half Dan Babos returns while wing James McCarthy, centre Tom, Hoppe and full back Carwyn Penny complete the changes.
Dylan Bartlett, Benji Hoppe and Oliver Lewis are called onto the bench. “Leinster are undefeated in the Celtic Cup so we know the size of the challenge we face, but it’s important we relish that test and respond in the right way to last week’s defeat to Ulster,” said Narraway.
“We’ve challenged the players to learn the lessons from last weekend and firmly believe this kind of game has come at the right time for us in the competition.” Scarlets A have named a strong side for their Celtic Cup clash with Munster A at Carmarthen Park on Saturday.
Wales internationals Tom Prydie and Tom James are named as part of an exciting back-division which also includes exciting Wales age grade stars Tomi Lewis and Osian Knott. Up-front Wales under 20s locks Morgan Jones and Jac Price link up with the impressive Jack Morgan captaining the side at openside flanker.
Elsewhere Alun Lawrence will captain Cardiff Blues A as they make seven changes for Saturday’s clash with Connacht Eagles. Wales’ Capital Region welcome three Indigo Group Premiership players into the backline, including Cardiff RFC duo Barney Nightingale, who wears the number 12 jersey, and wing Joe Gatt.
They are joined by Merthyr’s Sam Jones, who made a move to the Ironmen from RGC over the summer, while academy players Ioan Davies, Ethan Lloyd and Rhys Davies retain their spots alongside Wales Sevens’ Dafydd Smith. In the pack, skipper Lawrence is joined in the back row by Cardiff Met’s Aled Ward, who returns to the number six jersey, and Gwilym Bradley, who makes his first start of the campaign.
Teddy Williams is reintroduced into the second row to partner Ben Murphy, while there is a new face at loosehead in the form of Brynley Toms who combines with Ethan Lewis and Will Davies King in the front row.
“We’ve had a disappointing run of results in the last two games, but we’ve been encouraged by signs of the performance, and all we can ask for as a coaching team is for the side to build on that once again this week,” said joint head coach Gethin Jenkins.
“Hopefully some of the Premiership boys coming in will add a bit of experience into the backline in particular, which will help the likes of Ethan Lloyd, Rhys Davies and Mason Grady. If we can minimise our individual errors, it should put us in good stead, because against Ospreys and Munster we were strong in areas but weren’t able to be ruthless enough with taking our chances.
“It’s an opportunity to come back to the Arms Park, and with two games to go we want to finish this block of games with some pride in front of our home supporters.”
Ospreys Development face Ulster Ravens in Belfast tonight as they look to salvage a disappointing Celtic Cup campaign. Phil Jones, Ben Cambriani and Dewi Cross form an exciting back-three with Kieran Williams and Callum Carson linking up in midfield.
Scrum-half Liam Seaward and outside-half Josh Thomas make up the back line. Up-front Rhys Davies, Ifan Phillips and Rhys Henry are in the front-row with Shay Smallman and Rhys Thomas in the second-rows. Morgan Morris, Will Jones and Guido Volpi form a destructive loose forward trio.
