Leinster and Ulster name sides for PRO12 meeting

Leinster and Ulster have both named their starting XVs for Friday evening’s meeting between the two at the Kingspan stadium.

Ulster have kept faith with the team that beat Connacht two weeks ago.

Jared Payne starts at outside centre for Ulster.

Craig Gilroy, Tommy Bowe and Louis Ludik make up the back three, with Gilroy on the left wing, Bowe on the right and Ludik at fullback.

Darren Cave and Jared Payne continue their partnership in midfield - Payne starts at outside centre with Cave at 12. Paddy Jackson starts at 10 with Ruan Pienaar continuing at scrumhalf.

Callum Black and Wiehahn Herbst start either side of captain Rory Best in the front row.

Dan Tuohy and Franco van der Merwe are paired together in the second row, with Iain Henderson starting at blindside and Chris Henry selected at openside, while Roger Wilson is named at number eight.

Jamie Heaslip makes his 200th appearance for Leinster.

Leinster Rugby Head Coach Matt O'Connor has made four changes to the team that were narrowly beaten by Toulon in last weekend’s Champions Cup semi-final.

Fergus McFadden has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a thumb injury and as a result, his place on the right wing is taken by Zane Kirchner. Luke Fitzgerald starts on the left wing with Rob Kearney once again at full back.

Gordon D'Arcy and Ben Te'o form the midfield partnership while Jimmy Gopperth starts at out-half and Isaac Boss is at nine.

Richardt Strauss comes in at hooker, with Cian Healy selected at loosehead prop and Mike Ross at tighthead. Devin Toner and Mike McCarthy are partnered in the second row

Dominic Ryan comes into the side at blindside flanker with Sean O'Brien at openside and captain Jamie Heaslip at number eight.

Ulster v Leinster at Kingspan Stadium on Friday April 25 - kick-off 7.35pm.

Ulster team: L Ludik; T Bowe, J Payne, D Cave, C Gilroy; P Jackson, R Pienaar, C Black, R Best - capt., W Herbst, D Tuohy, F Van der Merwe, I Henderson, C Henry, R Wilson.

Replacements: R Herring, A Warwick, B Ross, R Diack, C Ross, P Marshall, I Humphreys, S McCloskey.

Leinster team: R Kearney, Z Kirchner, B Te'o, G D'Arcy, L Fitzgerald, J Gopperth, I Boss, C Healy, R Strauss, M Ross, D Toner, M McCarthy, D Ryan, S O'Brien, J Heaslip - capt.

Replacements: S Cronin, J McGrath, T Furlong, B Marshall, J Murphy, E Reddan, I Madigan, D Fanning.