Leinster have made four changes to the side that beat La Rochelle for tomorrow evening’s Investec Champions Cup pool game against the Sale Sharks at the RDS (5.30).
Ciarán Frawley, who came to great effect at the Stade Marcel Deflandre last Sunday, kicking three penalties, including a 60-metre effort, replaces the unfortunate Harry Byrne, who is following the graduated return to play protocols following a head injury.
There are three changes to the pack, tighthead Thomas Clarkson who was on the bench last week but didn’t come on, starts and will make his European debut as a result. Michael Ala’alatoa played the full 80-plus minutes last week and is named among the replacements.
Jason Jenkins is named in the secondrow with Joe McCarthy dropping to the bench while the third change is in the backrow with Jos van der Flier coming into the run-on team. Will Connors, outstanding in France, is not included among the replacements with a fit again Jack Conan coming back into the matchday 23.
Outhalf Sam Prendergast will make his Champions Cup debut upon his introduction from the bench on Saturday evening.
Leinster head coach Leo Cullen refused to be drawn too much on Irish Times rugby correspondent Gerry Thornley’s exclusive story that RG Snyman will swap Munster for Leinster next season.
He said when asked about the potential switch for the Springbok World Cup winner. “Good question. It’s this time of year isn’t it? Marcus (O’Buachalla, head of communications at Leinster) will reveal all if there was something to be revealed.
“Listen, at the moment our attention is on Sale tomorrow. We talk about it at this time of year, there are lots of different conversations, discussions happening in the background so when those become a bit firmer, yeah, we’ll be the first to let you know.
“But at the moment, it’s not where our attention is at the moment, and that is out of respect for all different parties as well. So yeah, focus on the game now, believe it’s a sell-out, great to be here, the place is looking well.
Leinster: H Keenan; J Larmour, G Ringrose, R Henshaw, J O’Brien; C Frawley, J Gibson-Park; A Porter, D Sheehan, T Clarkson; J Jenkins, J Ryan; R Baird, J van der Flier, C Doris. Replacements: R Kelleher, C Healy, M Ala’alatoa, J McCarthy, J Conan, B Murphy, S Prendergast, C Ngatai.
Sale Sharks: TBC
Munster have made six changes to the team to face Exeter Chiefs in the Champions Cup on Sunday at Sandy Park (1pm).
Shane Daly, Antoine Frisch and Craig Casey come into the backline with Diarmuid Barron, Stephen Archer and Jack O’Donoghue starting in the pack as Peter O’Mahony misses out with a shoulder injury.
Calvin Nash moves from fullback to wing, Gavin Coombes goes from number to the second row and Alex Nankivell moves to inside centre.
Daly starts at fullback with Nash and Seán O’Brien on either wing.
Nankivell and Frisch start together in midfield as Casey comes into the side at scrumhalf to partner Jack Crowley.
Jeremy Loughman, Barron and Archer pack down in the front row with Coombes and captain Tadhg Beirne in the engine room.
Tom Ahern, John Hodnett and O’Donoghue complete the side.
Munster: Shane Daly; Calvin Nash, Antoine Frisch, Alex Nankivell, Seán O’Brien; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron, Stephen Archer; Gavin Coombes, Tadhg Beirne (capt); Tom Ahern, John Hodnett, Jack O’Donoghue. Replacements: Eoghan Clarke, Josh Wycherley, Oli Jager, Brian Gleeson, Alex Kendellen, Conor Murray, Rory Scannell, Ben O’Connor.
Mack Hansen will miss out Connacht’s Champions Cup game against Saracens on Saturday in London (1pm) with an ankle injury.
Club captain Jack Carty will line out for Connacht for the 200th time. Gavin Thornbury makes his return exactly one year to the day since a serious knee injury against Brive last season, and Shayne Bolton who makes an appearance for the first time in the campaign.
Also coming into the starting 15 from last weekend are props Jordan Duggan and Jack Aungier, flanker Conor Oliver, number eight Paul Boyle, centre Tom Farrell and fullback John Porch.
Connacht: John Porch; Byron Ralston, Tom Farrell, Bundee Aki, Shayne Bolton; Jack Carty, Caolin Blade; Jordan Duggan, Dave Heffernan, Jack Aungier; Darragh Murray, Gavin Thornbury; Cian Prendergast, Conor Oliver, Paul Boyle. Replacements: Dylan Tierney-Martin, Denis Buckley, Finlay Bealham, Joe Joyce, Jarrad Butler, Michael McDonald, JJ Hanrahan, Diarmuid Kilgallen.
Dan McFarland has named his Ulster side to take on France’s Racing 92 at Kingspan Stadium on Saturday (8pm).
Ireland international lock, Iain Henderson, captains the province, and is joined by fellow stalwart, Alan O’Connor, in the secondrow.
World-Cup winning Springbok, Steven Kitshoff, makes his European home debut, where he will face his South Africa team-mate and captain, Siya Kolisi.
Joining Kitshoff in the front row is Rob Herring at hooker, who returns to the starting line-up, and Tom O’Toole, who retains his place at tighthead prop.
In the backrow, Dave Ewers, who won the Champions Cup in 2020 with Exeter Chiefs, retains his place at blindside flanker and is joined by Nick Timoney at openside flanker as Matty Rea gets the nod at eight
John Cooney returns to the starting line-up at scrumhalf and is joined by Billy Burns at outhalf.
Jacob Stockdale and Rob Baloucoune retain their places on the left and right wing respectively.
Stuart McCloskey and James Hume will continue their centre partnership in the backfield and Mike Lowry starts at fullback, after returning from injury.
Ulster: Mike Lowry; Rob Baloucoune, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale; Billy Burns, John Cooney; Steven Kitshoff, Rob Herring, Tom O’Toole; Alan O’Connor, Iain Henderson (capt); Dave Ewers, Nick Timoney, Matty Rea. Replacements: Tom Stewart, Eric O’Sullivan, Marty Moore, Kieran Treadwell, Harry Sheridan, Nathan Doak, Jake Flannery, Stewart Moore.
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