RG Snyman, Jordie Barrett and Rabah Slimani all start for Leinster, as Leo Cullen makes three changes to his side for tomorrow's BKT United Rugby Championship meeting with the Bulls in Pretoria (live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player).
The province have to make do without the vast majority of their Ireland Six Nations squad members, but have been able to call upon Jack Boyle and Jimmy O’Brien in their starting side, as well as Thomas Clarkson and Ciarán Frawley who are named on the bench.
Boyle starts alongside John McKee and Slimani in an unchanged front row from the 42-24 win against Cardiff, which was the province’s 16th in a row in all competitions.
Snyman replaces Brian Deeny in the second row to start against his home club, and he’s joined at lock by Diarmuid Mangan, who features for the fourth game in a row.
James Culhane replaces Alex Soroka in the back row, and starts at number 8, with Max Deegan shifting to the blindside, and Will Connors retained at seven.
The half-back partnership is unchanged, with Luke McGrath captaining the team at scrum-half, and Ross Byrne going again at out-half.
Barrett replaces Charlie Tector in the centre, with Hugh Cooney outside the All Blacks star, while Jimmy O’Brien is at full-back, joined in the backfield by wings Tommy O’Brien and Andrew Osborne.
Clontarf prop Ivan Soroka will make his second Leinster appearance off the bench, included in a 6:2 split of forwards and backs.
Leinster: Jimmy O'Brien; Tommy O'Brien, Hugh Cooney, Jordie Barrett, Andrew Osborne; Ross Byrne, Luke McGrath (capt); Jack Boyle, John McKee, Rabah Slimani; Diarmuid Mangan, RG Snyman; Max Deegan, Will Connors, James Culhane
Replacements: Stephen Smyth, Ivan Soroka, Thomas Clarkson, Brian Deeny, Alex Soroka, Scott Penny, Fintan Gunne, Ciarán Frawley
Connacht have made three changes to their team to take on the Ospreys in Swansea tomorrow (5.15pm, live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player).
Forwards Denis Buckley (above), captain Joe Joyce, and Josh Murphy come in to the side as they bid to make it three wins in a row following their victories over Cardiff and Benetton.
Buckley is joined by Dave Heffernan and Jack Aungier in the front row, while Darragh Murray completes the tight five for the Westerners, who sit ninth in the table.
The back row again sees Shamus Hurley-Langton start at openside flanker with Paul Boyle at number 8.
The entire backline is unchanged, meaning Caolin Blade and Josh Ioane combine at 9 and 10, Cathal Forde and Hugh Gavin start together at centre
Shayne Bolton and Finn Treacy play on the wings with Piers O'Conor at full-back.
Pete Wilkins has opted for a 6:2 split on the bench, with Sean Jansen wearing the number 23 jersey.
Connacht: Piers O’Conor; Finn Treacy, Hugh Gavin, Cathal Forde, Shayne Bolton; Josh Ioane, Caolin Blade; Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan, Jack Aungier; Darragh Murray, Joe Joyce (capt); Josh Murphy, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Paul Boyle.
Replacements: Dylan Tierney-Martin, Temi Lasisi, Sam Illo, Oisín Dowling, David O’Connor, Matthew Devine, JJ Hanrahan, Sean Jansen.
Elsewhere, Ulster have named Ireland internationals Rob Herring (above), Tom O'Toole, and Stuart McCloskey in their side to take on bottom side Dragons in Newport on Saturday (5.15pm).
There are two changes to the forward pack from the round 12 victory over Scarlets, with O’Toole, starting at tighthead prop and David McCann starting at blindside flanker.
Loosehead prop Callum Reid and hooker Herring join O’Toole in the front row.
Alan O’Connor continues to captain the side after his dramatic late try against Scarlets earned Ulster, in 14th place, a vital victory. Matthew Dalton starts alongside him in the second row.
Joining McCann in the back-row, Nick Timoney is at openside flanker, with James McNabney retaining the number 8 jersey.
Nathan Doak starts at scrum-half alongside academy out-half Jack Murphy.
Head coach Richie Murphy opts for an unchanged Ulster backfield, with Jacob Stockdale and Michael Lowry remaining on the left and right wings respectively.
McCloskey is in line for his 199th Ulster appearance, starting at inside centre alongside James Hume at outside centre. Stewart Moore completes the starting XV at full-back.
Murphy welcomes back John Cooney onto the bench, after it was confirmed that the long-serving scrum-half will depart the province for Brive at the end of this season.
Cooney joins Kiwi Aidan Morgan and Sevens star Zac Ward as the backline replacement options.
John Andrew, Sam Crean, Scott Wilson, Kieran Treadwell and Reuben Crothers are the forward reinforcements.
Ulster: Stewart Moore; Michael Lowry, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale; Jack Murphy, Nathan Doak; Callum Reid, Rob Herring, Tom O’Toole; Alan O’Connor (capt), Matthew Dalton; David McCann, Nick Timoney, James McNabney.
Replacements: John Andrew, Sam Crean, Scott Wilson, Kieran Treadwell, Reuben Crothers, John Cooney, Aidan Morgan, Zac Ward.
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