Leinster and Connacht name teams for URC clashes on Saturday
Thomas Clarkson is back in the Leinster team. Pic: ©INPHO/Steve Haag.
Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has made seven changes to his team to take on the Vodacom Bulls in Round 2 of the BKT United Rugby Championship on Saturday at Loftus Versfeld Stadium (kick-off is at 5.30pm).
Cullen has rung the changes in personnel to the starting XV from last week's defeat to DHL Stormers, including the introduction of British and Irish Lion Thomas Clarkson for the first time this season.
Clarkson will pack down on the opposite side to Paddy McCarthy, who is making his first Leinster start, with Gus McCarthy at hooker. Ryan Baird moves into the second row where he will partner Brian Deeny.
It's a new-look back row, with Alex Soroka and Will Connors on the flanks to support Max Deegan at number eight.
Luke McGrath captains the side once more and continues his half-back partnership with Sam Prendergast. Robbie Henshaw shifts across to inside centre, with Hugh Cooney set to be his partner on the outside.
Tommy O'Brien and Jimmy O'Brien continue at wing and full-back respectively, while Andrew Osborne comes in for his first appearance of the campaign.
Jack Boyle, Rabah Slimani and John McKee provide the front row reinforcements, with Diarmuid Mangan, Scott Penny and James Culhane completing the forward replacements. Fintan Gunne and Ciarán Frawley offer cover for the backs in a 6-2 split.
Meanwhile Connacht head coach Stuart Lancaster has named his team for Saturday’s URC match against Scarlets at Dexcom Stadium (kick-off is at 1.45pm).
Cian Prendergast captains the side from blindside flanker in his 88th appearance for the province, with nine changes made to the starting fifteen from last weekends win over Benetton.
Prendergast features in a back row that includes Paul Boyle with Sean Jansen at number eight. Darragh Murray and Joe Joyce come in to make up the second row partnership, while its a new front row completing the pack with props Denis Buckley and Jack Aungier, and hooker Dave Heffernan.
In the backs, the back three remain the same with Sean Naughton at full back and Chay Mullins and Irish international Shayne Bolton on the wings. Cathal Forde is joined by David Hawkshaw in the centre. Completing the side is scrum-half Ben Murphy and out-half Jack Carty.
Head coach Stuart Lancaster said: “I was really pleased with the result last weekend against a really strong Benetton side.
"There was a lot of positives to take from it, but still plenty to improve on. The energy from the fans was brilliant and we’ll need that same energy on Saturday this time with the earlier start.
"I know the Scarlets coaching team well and I have a lot of respect for them. Dwayne will have them really well organised and up for the fight and Jarrod is a great defence coach. They more than deserved their play off chance last season.
We’ve made a few changes for the game with the new faces coming, it's exciting to see how they'll go.”
Jimmy O’Brien, Tommy O’Brien, Hugh Cooney, Robbie Henshaw, Andrew Osborne, Sam Prendergast, Luke McGrath; Paddy McCarthy, Gus McCarthy, Thomas Clarkson, Brian Deeny, Ryan Baird, Alex Soroka, Will Connors, Max Deegan.
John McKee, Jack Boyle, Rabah Slimani, Diarmuid Mangan, Scott Penny, James Culhane, Fintan Gunne, Ciarán Frawley.
Sean Naughton, Chay Mullins, David Hawkshaw, Cathal Forde, Shayne Bolton, Jack Carty, Ben Murphy; Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan, Jack Aungier, Darragh Murray, Joe Joyce, Cian Prendergast, Paul Boyle, Sean Jansen.
Eoin de Buitléar, Jordan Duggan, Sam Illo, David O’Connor, Sean O'Brien, Matthew Devine, Hugh Gavin, Finn Treacy.
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