Penny ready for Glasgow clash
SCOTT Penny captains Leinster for the first time as the Irish province begin their campaign away at Scotstoun against Glasgow Warriors.
Openside flanker Penny captained Leinster in two of their pre-season matches and takes full control on his 56th appearance for the Dubliners.
Ireland international Jordan Larmour starts out wide, with Ciaran Frawley at full-back. In the pack, loosehead prop Jack Boyle starts a competitive game for the first time.
Leinster finished the URC regular season in first place but were put out by URC winners Munster in the semi-final. That loss was only their second of the season. In the previous meeting last season, Leinster beat Glasgow at the RDS 40-5.
George Horne is set to become the latest Glasgow centurion as the scrum-half returns from Scotland duty. The Howe of Fife product is selected among the replacements and will follow in the footsteps of elder brother Pete in reaching 100 appearances, becoming just the second pair of siblings – following Alan and Gordon Bulloch – to join the ranks of Glasgow centurions.
In total, six Scotland internationals return to club action this weekend; Zander Fagerson, Scott Cummings, Rory Darge, Huw Jones, Kyle Steyn and Horne.
Head coach Franco Smith said: “Everyone cannot wait for the start of the new season.”
TEAMS
GLASGOW WARRIORS: McKay, Cancelliere, Jones, McDowall, Steyn (c), Jordan, Dobie; Kebble, Fraser, Z Fagerson, Cummings, Brown, Darge, Venter Replacements: Matthews,Mc-Beth, Sordoni, Samuel, Miller, Gordon, Horne, Weir LEINSTER: Frawley, O'Brien, Turner, Ngatai, Larmour, Byrne, McGrath; Boyle, McKee, Clarkson, Molony, Jenkins, Deegan, Penny (c), Culhane Replacements: Barron, P McCarthy, McGuire, Deeny, Ruddock, Foley, Prendergast, Connors Referee: Craig Evans
