Ireland Six Nations winners start for Leinster against Bath

Matt O’Connor makes nine changes to side which drew with Glasgow for Champions Cup clash

Jamie Heaslip captains Leinster in their Champions Cup quarter-final against Bath at the Aviva Stadium. Photograph: Inpho
Jamie Heaslip captains Leinster in their Champions Cup quarter-final against Bath at the Aviva Stadium. Photograph: Inpho

Leinster welcome back all of their Ireland Six Nations winners as Matt O'Connor makes nine changes from the side which drew with Glasgow for Saturday's European Champions Cup clash with Bath at the Aviva Stadium.

Jamie Heaslip captains the side from number eight, while Jordi Murphy starts at blindside flanker and Sean O'Brien makes his first provincial appearance since the opening game of the season.

Cian Healy, Sean Cronin and Mike Ross all come in to the frontrow and Devin Toner joins Mike McCarthy at lock.

Rob Kearney comes back into the side at fullback with Fergus McFadden on the right wing and Luke Fitzgerald on the left.

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Ian Madigan retains the number 12 jersey with Ben Te'o starting at outside centre, while Jimmy Gopperth plays at outhalf and Isaac Boss has been given the nod to start at nine.

Bath also welcome back their international cohort with George Ford, Jonathan Joseph and Anthony Watson starting, however Sam Burgess has to settle for a place on the bench.

Leinster: Rob Kearney, Fergus McFadden, Ben Te'o, Ian Madigan, Luke Fitzgerald, Jimmy Gopperth, Isaac Boss, Cian Healy, Sean Cronin, Mike Ross, Devin Toner, Mike McCarthy, Jordi Murphy, Sean O'Brien, Jamie Heaslip

Replacements: Richardt Strauss, Jack McGrath, Marty Moore, Tom Denton, Dominic Ryan, Eoin Reddan, Gordon D'Arcy, Zane Kirchner

Bath: Anthony Watson, Horacio Agulla, Jonathan Joseph, Kyle Eastmond, Matt Banahan, George Ford, Micky Young, Paul James, Rob Webber, Kane Palma-Newport, Stuart Hooper, Dave Attwood, Carl Fearns, Francois Louw, Leroy Houston

Replacements: Ross Batty, Nick Auterac, Max Lahiff, Matt Garvey, Alafoti Faosiliva, Peter Stringer, Sam Burgess, Tom Homer