Connacht have been boosted by the return of Ultan Dillane, Quinn Roux, Tom Farrell and Caolin Blade from international duty who are named in the Connacht squad to play Ospreys in the Sportsground on Saturday.
Dillane and Roux continue their second row partnership that started the Six Nations game against Italy last weekend. They join a front five that includes props Denis Buckley and Finlay Bealham with Shane Delahunt coming in at hooker.
The back row remains unchanged from the game against Glasgow, with captain Jarrad Butler starting at number 8 and Eoin McKeon and Colby Fainga’a at blindside and openside respectively.
Kieran Marmion starts his second game in a row at scrum half after returning from injury. He forms a half back partnership with Kyle Godwin who comes in at out half. In the midfield Peter Robb gets his first start of the season after impressing off the bench last time out. He is joined in the centre by the returning Tom Farrell.
The back three is unchanged with Stephen Fitzgerald and Matt Healy on the wings and Tiernan O’Halloran at full back.
Connacht: Tiernan O’Halloran, Stephen Fitzgerald, Tom Farrell, Peter Robb, Matt Healy, Kyle Godwin, Kieran Marmion, Denis Buckley, Shane Delahunt, Finlay Bealham, Quinn Roux, Ultan Dillane, Eoin McKeon, Colby Fainga’a, Jarrad Butler
Replacements: Tom McCartney, Peter McCabe, Conor Carey, James Cannon, Paul Boyle, Caolin Blade, Tom Daly, Cian Kelleher.
Ulster back row forward Sean Reidy will earn his 100th cap for the Province on Sunday when they travel to take on Dragons.
Reidy, who made his debut versus the same opposition at Kingspan Stadium in November 2014, has been named to start at blindside flanker. He will be joined in the back row by Nick Timoney and Jordi Murphy, who is one of just three changes from the side that secured a 54-7 bonus point win versus Zebre last week.
The other two changes to the starting XV are at half-back, with Murphy’s international teammate scrum-half John Cooney also released from Ireland duty, while Billy Burns returns to start at fly-half.
Alan O’Connor will continue to captain the side from the second row, where he is once again paired with Kieran Treadwell. Rob Herring, who scored three tries in a man of the match performance last weekend, retains his place at hooker, with props Eric O’Sullivan and Marty Moore completing the front five.
The familiar duo of Stuart McCloskey and Darren Cave combine in midfield, while Rob Lyttle, Robert Baloucoune and Louis Ludik will provide a mixture of flair, raw pace and composure in the back three.
Ulster: Louis Ludik; Robert Baloucoune, Darren Cave, Stuart McCloskey, Rob Lyttle; Billy Burns, John Cooney;Eric O’Sullivan, Rob Herring, Marty Moore, Alan O’Connor (Capt), Kieran Treadwell, Sean Reidy, Jordi Murphy, Nick Timoney.
Replacements: Andrew Warwick, John Andrew, Wiehahn Herbst, Ian Nagle, Matthew Rea, David Shanahan, James Hume, Peter Nelson.
Billy Holland will captain Munster against Scarlets at Parc y Scarlets with seven changes to the side that defeated Ospreys last Friday night.
Centre Rory Scannell returns to the starting XV for his 100th Munster appearance and will become the youngest ever player to reach that landmark having turned 25 in December.
It’s all change in the half-backs with Alby Mathewson and Bill Johnston coming into the side.
The final addition to the backline sees Ronan O’Mahony named on the right wing.John Ryan returns from international duty to start at tighthead prop,
Jean Kleyn has recovered from illness to start in the second row and Conor Oliver is named in the back row.
Mike Haley starts at full-back with O’Mahony and Darren Sweetnam named on either flank.
Scannell is partnered by Dan Goggin in the centres with Mathewson and Johnston at scrum-half and out-half respectively.Jeremy Loughman, Rhys Marshall and Ryan pack down in the front row with Kleyn and captain Holland in the engine room.
Fineen Wycherley, Oliver and Arno Botha start in the back row.The province have won seven games in a row and lead Guinness Pro14 Conference A by a single point.
Scarlets have lost just one Pro14 game at Parc y Scarlets since September 2016.
Munster: Mike Haley; Ronan O’Mahony, Dan Goggin, Rory Scannell, Darren Sweetnam; Bill Johnston, Alby Mathewson; Jeremy Loughman, Rhys Marshall, John Ryan; Jean Kleyn, Billy Holland (C); Fineen Wycherley, Conor Oliver, Arno Botha.
Replacements: Kevin O’Byrne, Liam O’Connor, Stephen Archer, Darren O’Shea, Jack O’Donoghue, Neil Cronin, Tyler Bleyendaal, Jaco Taute.
