LIAM’S READY TO TAKE THE LEAD FOR BLUES

Leinster v Chile 2pm

BY MICHAEL SCULLY

PATIENCE has been a virtue for Liam Turner who has put 18 months of frustration behind him to skipper Leinster at Energia Park today.

The 23-year-old (left) will lead out a youthful Blues side against the South Americans, who are looking for quality games in the build-up to their first

World Cup finals in 2023. Clontarf’s Cormac Daly and Terenure’s Conall Boomer make their debuts for the province while Trinity’s Thomas Connolly and Colm Hogan may win their bows off the bench.

Rhys Ruddock is the main man with 213 appearances to his name but Leo Cullen has given the captaincy to centre Turner. “It has been frustrating at times,” he said. “I had a pec and a hip injury and then last season I was jumping in and out of Sevens a lot. But thankfully it all worked out. I had a very good pre-season and just feel like I’m back into my groove a bit. You don’t get to play an international side every week, certainly not a side going to the World Cup as well.”

LEINSTER:

RUGBY UNION