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Leinster freshen up side for Connacht visit

Fergus McFadden is back in the Leinster side
Fergus McFadden is back in the Leinster side

Leinster will welcome back a host of star names for their clash with Connacht in the Pro14 on Saturday at the RDS.

After the win last week in Thomond Park against Munster, head coach Leo Cullen has brought in a number of fresh faces.

It's a completely new backline with Jordan Larmour coming in at full-back, Fergus McFadden in on the right wing and Dave Kearney back on the left.

Joe Tomane makes a welcome return from injury in the centre where he will be joined by Garry Ringrose.

Luke McGrath and Ciarán Frawley are the half-back pairing.

Peter Dooley, Seán Cronin and Tadhg Furlong start in the front row for Leinster, with Ross Molony and James Ryan behind them in the second row.

In the back row, captain Rhys Ruddock is joined by Will Connors and Max Deegan.

Amongst the replacements there are three members of the Leinster Academy selected in Roman Salanoa, Ryan Baird and Harry Byrne.

Second row Niall Murray is set to make his first start for Connacht.

The 20-year-old Roscommon man came off the bench in their recent Champions Cup win over Gloucester, but this will be a first start for his home province.
 
In a boost to Connacht, Gavin Thornbury has returned from injury to partner Murray in the second row.

Thornbury had been out of action since he picked up an arm injury against the Cheetahs at the end of October.
 
In the front row, prop Denis Buckley also returns to the starting team where he lines up alongside hooker Shane Delahunt and Dominic Robertson McCoy at tighthead. While in the backrow, Eoghan Masterson is included at blindside.
 
Scrum-half Caolin Blade captains the side in the absence of Jarrad Butler through injury. Blade continues his half-back partnership with Conor Fitzgerald.

There is a new look back three for Connacht with Stephen Fitzgerald named at full-back and Niyi Adeolokun and John Porch on the wings. While Tom Daly and the versatile Kyle Godwin make up the midfield.

Leinster:  Jordan Larmour, Fergus McFadden, Garry Ringrose, Joe Tomane, Dave Kearney, Ciarán Frawley, Luke McGrath; Peter Dooley, Seán Cronin, Tadhg Furlong, Ross Molony, James Ryan, Rhys Ruddock, Will Connors, Max Deegan

Replacements: Bryan Byrne, Ed Byrne, Roman Salanoa, Ryan Baird, Caelan Doris, Jamison Gibson-Park, Harry Byrne, Cian Kelleher

Connacht: Stephen Fitzgerald, Niyi Adeolokun, Kyle Godwin, Tom Daly, John Porch, Conor Fitzgerald, Caolin Blade; Denis Buckley, Shane Delahunt, Dominic Robertson-McCoy, Niall Murray, Gavin Thornbury, Eoghan Masterson, Paul Boyle, Robin Copeland.

Replacements: Tom McCartney, Paddy McAllister, Conor Kenny, Joe Maksymiw, Sean Masterson, Stephen Kerins, David Horwitz, Tiernan O'Halloran

Listen to Leinster v Connacht live on RTÉ Radio 1 on Saturday from 5.30pm or follow the live blog here  

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