Jordie Barrett set to make first Leinster start against Clermont

Ulster and Connacht have made a host of changes for their respective clashes with Bordeaux and Perpignan. 

Jordie Barrett of Leinster during the Champions Cup Round 1 match against Bristol Bears. Picture: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Jordie Barrett is set to make his first Leinster start when his new side face Clermont in the Champions Cup at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday evening. The All Black made an impactful try scoring appearance off the bench as Leinster defeated Bristol last weekend.

Barrett, who will line out at fullback in place of Ciaran Frawley, is one of five charges to the Leinster team. Captain Caelan Doris comes in to the back row while Liam Turner starts on the wing. There are two switches in the front row with Andrew Porter and Thomas Clarkson both getting the nod to start. 

Olympian Zac Ward, who lined out for the Irish sevens team in Paris, is set to make his Ulster Champions Cup debut on the wing against Bordeaux. There is one other change in the backline with Jude Postlethwaite starting at outside centre. 

Head coach Richie Murphy has named an entirely new starting pack from the one which lined out in the 61-21 defeat to Toulouse. Eric O'Sullivan, Rob Herring and Tom O'Toole start in the front row while Iain Henderson and Kieran Treadwell come in to the second row. Cormac Izuchukwu, Nick Timoney and David McCann start in the back row. 

Connacht have made eight changes to their side for Sunday's Challenge Cup clash with Perpignan from the team which defeated Zebre last weekend. Captain Cian Prendergast comes into the backrow, Denis Buckley, Eoin de Buitléar and Sam Illo start in an all new front row, while Joe Joyce gets the nod in the second row. Matthew Divine starts at scrum-half while Byron Ralson comes in at outside centre and Andrew Smith starts on the wing. 

Ulster team to play Bordeaux (Saturday, 3pm)

Michael Lowry, Werner Kok, Jude Postlethwaite, Stuart McCloskey, Zac Ward; Aidan Morgan, Nathan Doak; Eric O’Sullivan, Rob Herring, Tom O’Toole; Iain Henderson, Kieran Treadwell; Cormac Izuchukwu, Nick Timoney, David McCann

Replacements: John Andrew, Andrew Warwick, Scott Wilson,  Harry Sheridan,  Marcus Rea, Dave Shanahan,  James Humphreys, Rory Telfer

Leinster team to play Clermont  (Saturday, 5:30pm)

Jordie Barrett, Liam Turner, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, Jimmy O’Brien; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher, Thomas Clarkson; Joe McCarthy,  James Ryan; Max Deegan, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris 

Replacements: Gus McCarthy, Cian Healy,  Rabah Slimani, RG Snyman, Jack Conan, Fintan Gunne, Ross Byrne, Andrew Osborne

Connacht team to play Perpignan (Sunday, 1pm)

Santiago Cordero,  Chay Mullins, Byron Ralston, Cathal Forde, Andrew Smith; Jack Carty, Matthew Devine; Denis Buckley, Eoin de Buitléar, Sam Illo; Darragh Murray,  Joe Joyce; Cian Prendergast, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Seán O’Brien

Replacements: Adam McBurney, Jordan Duggan, Jack Aungier, Oisín Dowling, Paul Boyle, Ben Murphy,  David Hawkshaw, Conor Oliver