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Leinster make sweeping changes for Bath game

Isa Nacewa is back to face Bath
Isa Nacewa is back to face Bath

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has made sweeping changes to his team to face Bath in the Champions Cup on Saturday.

Cullen has made eight personnel changes and two positional alterations from the team that were humbled 33-6 in defeat to Wasps at the RDS last weekend.

Isa Nacewa returns from injury to captain the side from full-back, with Dave Kearney on the left wing and Fergus McFadden moving from outside centre to the back three.

Ben Te'o and Luke Fitzgerald, who both missed the loss to Wasps, return to start together in midfield for the second time this season.

There is also a change in Leinster's half-back pairing as Isaac Boss comes in to replace Eoin Reddan at scrum-half. Johnny Sexton starts once again in the number 10 jersey.

Cian Healy and Sean Cronin come in for Jack McGrath and Richardt Strauss, respectively, in the front row. Mike Ross is Leinster's starting tighthead for the third game in succession. 

Hayden Triggs will start in a European fixture for the first time, alongside Devin Toner in the second row. 

In the back row, with Sean O'Brien ruled out, Rhys Ruddock comes in to start at blindside with Jordi Murpy shifting to openside. Jamie Heaslip starts at number 8.

Leinster: Isa Nacewa, Fergus McFadden, Ben Te'o, Luke Fitzgerald, Dave Kearney, Johnny Sexton, Isaac Boss, Cian Healy, Sean Cronin, Mike Ross, Devin Toner, Hayden Triggs, Rhys Ruddock, Jordi Murphy, Jamie Heaslip.

Replacements: James Tracy, Jack McGrath, Martin Moore, Dominic Ryan, Josh Van Der Flier, Luke McGrath, Ian Madigan, Zane Kirchner.

Bath: Anthony Watson; Semesa Rokoduguni, Ollie Devoto, Kyle Eastmond, Matt Banahan; George Ford, Chris Cook; Nick Auterac, Rob Webber, Henry Thomas, Dom Day, David Attwood, Matt Garvey, Francois Louw (c), Leroy Houston.

Replacements: Ross Batty, Nathan Catt, Max Lahiff, Stuart Hooper, Alafoti Fa'osiliva, Niko Matawalu, Rhys Priestland, Tom Homer.

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