Derby debut for Connacht’s Parks

Connacht’s big summer signing Dan Parks will make his debut for the province in Friday night’s RaboDirect PRO12 interprovincial clash with Leinster in the Sportsground (8pm).

The former Scottish fly-half will be partnered by Kieran Marmion at half-back in a much changed backline.

Robbie Henshaw replaces an injured Gavin Duffy in the fullback position. Henshaw earned his first competitive start in Glasgow last week, having made a positive impact from the bench in all three previous league matches.

Both Tiernan O'Halloran and Fetu'u Vainikolo return to their starting positions on the wings while Eoin Griffin joins Dave McSharry in the centre.

Up front, Brett Wilkinson makes way for Denis Buckley as loose-head prop while former Leinster prop Nathan White, who also captains the side, starts again as tight-head prop.

Michael Swift will make appearance number 150 for the province at second-row and he is joined by Mike McCarthy.

Eoin McKeon who started the last two weeks in the number 8 position moves to blindside flanker and joins Johnny O'Connor and George Naoupu in the back row.

Connacht (v. Leinster): R Henshaw; T O’Halloran, E Griffin, D McSharry, F Vainikolo; D Parks; K Marmion; D Buckely, A Flavin, N White ©; M Swift, M McCarthy; E McKeon, J O’Connor, G Naoupu.

Replacements: J Harris-Wright, B Wilkinson, R Loughney, D Gannon, W Faloon, D Moore, M Nikora, M Fifita.