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Pro12: 10 changes to Leinster for Connacht match

Seán Cronin features in the Leinster pack
Seán Cronin features in the Leinster pack

Leinster coach Leo Cullen has made sweeping changes to his Leinster side for the Pro12 clash against Connacht at the RDS on Saturday.

There are 10 changes in total from the team that faced Montpellier in the Champions Cup last Sunday. 

Isa Nacewa is the only back retained by Cullen, with the Fijian international moving from the left wing to full-back.

UCD's Adam Byrne makes his first start of the season on the right wing, with fellow UCD man Barry Daly making his first Leinster start on the left having already made an appearance off the bench in Cardiff. Daly has scored four tries in two games for the Leinster A team over the last two weekends in the British & Irish Cup. 

Noel Reid and Rory O'Loughlin come into the centre, with Jamison Gibson-Park and Joey Carbery the half-back pairing.

Seán Cronin starts at hooker which is the only change in the pack.  Cian Healy has been named at at loosehead and Mike Ross is the tighthead. 

Mick Kearney again starts in the second row but is joined by Ian Nagle this week.

Flanker Seán O'Brien makes his second consecutive start after a long injury absence, but moves from blindside to openside, with Dan Leavy named at number six.

Jack Conan makes his first competitive senior appearance of the season from number eight having played with the Leinster A team over the last two weekends. Conan has recovered from an ankle injury picked up in the pre-season game against Gloucester. 

UCD's Ross Byrne is in line to make his first appearance of the season off the bench.

Leinster: Isa Nacewa (captain), Adam Byrne, Rory O’Loughlin, Noel Reid, Barry Daly, Joey Carbery, Jamison Gibson-Park; Cian Healy, Sean Cronin, Mike Ross, Mick Kearney, Ian Nagle, Dan Leavy, Sean O’Brien, Jack Conan.

Replacements: James Tracy,  Peter Dooley,  Michael Bent,  Mike McCarthy Josh van der Flier, Luke McGrath, . Ross Byrne, Rob Kearney

Pat Lam has made just three changes to his Connacht side that steamrolled Zebre.

Tiernan O'Halloran, who missed out last week through injury, returns to the starting line-up and will take his place at full-back.

Leading tryscorer Cian Kelleher shifts to the left wing in a pacey back three completed by Niyi Adeolokun.

Dave Heffernan and Conor Carey come into the front row.

Lock James Cannon, who signed with the province from Wasps last month, has been named on the bench.

Connacht: Tiernan O'Halloran, Niyi Adeolokun, Peter Robb, Craig Ronaldson, Cian Kelleher,  Jack Carty, Kieran Marmion; JP Cooney, Dave Heffernan, Conor Carey, Quinn Roux,   Andrew Browne, Sean O'Brien, Jake Heenan, John Muldoon (captain)  

Replacements: Shane Delahunt, Dominic Robertson-McCoy, Finlay Bealham, James Cannon,  Eoin McKeon,  Caolin Blade, Bundee Aki, Stacey Ili

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