Leinster and Connacht reveal teams for URC quarter-finals

James Lowe comes back into the team to make his 100th appearance, after equalling Shane Horgan's all-time try-scoring record (69 tries) in his last outing.

Hugo Keenan continues at full-back with Jimmy O'Brien coming back into the team on the wing.

Rieko Ioane shifts over to centre where he will play outside Jamie Osborne, while Luke McGrath and Sam Prendergast come in at scrum-half and out-half respectively. Tadhg Furlong moves into the starting team after being on the bench last weekend, with Andrew Porter and Dan Sheehan completing the front row.

Joe McCarthy and James Ryan continue in the second row, while Max Deegan comes in to the starting line-up with Scott Penny on the opposite flank.

Gus McCarthy, Alex Usanov and Thomas Clarkson offer the front row cover while Diarmuid Mangan and Josh van der Flier complete the forward reinforcements. Jamison Gibson-Park and Harry Byrne are the reserve half-backs with Robbie Henshaw taking the number 23 shirt.

Leinster v Lions: 

Hugo Keenan, Jimmy O'Brien, Rieko Ioane, Jamie Osborne, James Lowe, Sam Prendergast, Luke McGrath; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan, Max Deegan, Scott Penny, Caelan Doris (c).

Replacements: Gus McCarthy, Alex Usanov, Thomas Clarkson, Diarmuid Mangan, Josh van der Flier, Jamison Gibson-Park, Harry Byrne, Robbie Henshaw.

The recently named Connacht Fans’ Player of the Year Cian Prendergast captains the side, in a back row that features Shamus Hurley-Langton and Paul Boyle, who replaces the injured Sean Jansen.

There are two fitness boosts in the rest of the pack with Dylan Tierney-Martin and Darragh Murray both selected to start. Tierney-Martin is named in a front row alongside props Billy Bohan and Sam Illo, while Murray partners Josh Murphy to complete the pack.

The final change is at outside centre where John Devine replaces the injured Harry West. He plays alongside British & Irish Lion Bundee Aki, while Ben Murphy and Josh Ioane continue at nine and 10. Completing the side is the unchanged back three of wingers Shayne Bolton and Shane Jennings, and full-back Sam Gilbert.

There’s a further boost on the bench with the return of the fit-again Dave Heffernan. Sean O’Brien is named as the back row replacement, and Jack Carty is unavailable due to personal reasons so Hugh Gavin wears the number 22 jersey.

Connacht v Glasgow Warriors: 

Sam Gilbert, Shane Jennings, John Devine, Bundee Aki, Shayne Bolton, Josh Ioane, Ben Murphy; Billy Bohan, Dylan Tierney-Martin, Sam Illo, Josh Murphy, Darragh Murray, Cian Prendergast (c), Shamus Hurley-Langton, Paul Boyle.

Replacements: Dave Heffernan, Peter Dooley, Finlay Bealham, Joe Joyce, Sean O’Brien, Matthew Devine, Hugh Gavin, Seán Naughton.