Darren Cave, Craig Gilroy and Stuart Olding, have all been released by Ireland and will start for Ulster against Ospreys at Kingspan Stadium tomorrow night.
Similarly Munster duo Robin Copeland and Ian Keatley have been released from the Irish squad for their visit to Rodney Parade to face Newport Gwent Dragons.
Darragh Leader has also been released for Connacht duty, although the big news from the Sportsgrounds is that their All Black centurion Mils Muliaina will make his club debut when they face Zebre tomorrow night.
Following the injury to Jared Payne, the running for the now vacant Irish centre jersey for the Australia test on Saturday seemed to fall between Ulster's Olding and Leinster veteran Gordon D'Arcy (with Robbie Henshaw moving to outside centre to accommodate).
So with the announcement of Ulster’s team news this morning the path seems firmly set for D’Arcy to start against the Wallabies.
Ulster
Cave, Gilroy and Olding all played in the international side’s win over Georgia at the Aviva Stadium last weekend and return to Ulster to take on an Ospreys side unbeaten in the Guinness PRO12 and top of the division.
Olding starts at fullback with Gilroy named on the left wing in the only change to the side that beat Newport Gwent Dragons 23-6 at the start of the month. Louis Ludik completes the back three and is selected on the right wing.
Cave starts at outside centre, with Stuart McCloskey joining him in midfield at inside centre. Paul Marshall and Paddy Jackson continue their partnership in the half backs.
Up front, Nick Williams has recovered from the knee injury that kept him out of the win over Dragons and is in line to make his 50th appearance for Ulster if he is called upon.
Ulster team: S Olding; L Ludik, D Cave, S McCloskey C Gilroy, P Jackson, P Marshall; C Black, R Herring, W Herbst, L Stevenson, F vd Merwe, C Ross, S Reidy, R Wilson (Capt); Replacements (16-23): J Andrew, A Warwick, D Fitzpatrick, A O’Connor, N Williams, M Heaney, I Humphreys, P Nelson.
Munster
Munster Head Coach Anthony Foley has named a much-changed side to face Newport Gwent Dragons in Rodney Parade tomorrow night.
There are seven changes to the starting fifteen that lined out against Cardiff Blues at the start of the month, Foley also makes two positional switches with one notable move seeing JJ Hanrahan start at full-back for the first time.
With two changes to the front five, hooker Eusebio Guinazu makes his first start for the province while Stephen Archer takes the place of BJ Botha at tight-head.
Fresh from making his Ireland debut against Georgia on Sunday, returning international Robin Copeland is named at 8, while Paddy Butler moves to blindside with Sean Dougall starting at openside.
After making his third appearance for Ireland last weekend, Ian Keatley is also released back to the province and he starts at 10 with Cathal Sheridan joining
On the injury front, Barry O’Mahony, who was stretchered off from training on Monday afternoon, underwent surgery on his right ankle in Dublin yesterday and he has been ruled out for the immediate future.
Munster team: JJ Hanrahan; Andrew Conway, Andrew Smith, Denis Hurley, Ronan O’Mahony; Ian Keatley, Cathal Sheridan; John Ryan, Eusebio Guinazu, Stephen Archer; Donncha O’Callaghan Capt., Billy Holland; Paddy Butler, Sean Dougall, Robin Copeland.
Connacht
While all the focus will be on All Black centurion Mils Muliaina making his Connacht debut at the Sportsground tomorrow night, centre Bundee Aki will also be making his home debut as one of only two players retained in the back line from the team’s last outing away to the Ospreys.
Matt Healy remains on the left wing while outhalf Miah Nikora has been handed his first start of the season and is partnered by scrum half Ian Porter while Dave McSharry makes up the midfield as 25-year-old Danie Poolman is recalled to the right wing.
The most notable inclusion on the bench is former Auckland Blues front row forward Tom McCartney who linked up with Connacht from New Zealand at the start of the month. McCartney can play at hooker or loose head prop and the current unavailability of five front row players highlights the value of the 29-year-old's versatility.
On-loan scrum half John Cooney is also included on the bench for his first home game while Ireland squad member Darragh Leader has been released from camp to play a part in tomorrow night’s PRO12 clash.
Connacht team: Mils Muliaina; Danie Poolman, Bundee Aki , Dave McSharry, Matt Healy; Miah Nikora, Ian Porter; Denis Buckley, Jason Harris-Wright, Ronan Loughney; Mick Kearney, Quinn Roux; John Muldoon (captain), Willie Faloon, George Naoupu.
