Nine changes for Leinster, five for Connacht for URC clash

Will Connors returns to the Leinster team for the first time since October. Pic: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile

Leinster have made nine changes to their starting team for Saturday's clash with Connacht from the side which defeated Munster last weekend.

There are two changes at centre with Hugh Cooney and Charlie Tector coming in for Rieko Ioane and Robbie Henshaw while on the wing, Joshua Kenny replaces James Lowe. Sam Prendergast will start at out-half in place of Harry Byrne.  

In the forwards, Dan Sheehan comes in for Ronan Kelleher, Brian Deeny for James Ryan, Diarmuid Mangan for Max Deegan, Will Connors for Josh van der Flier, and Jack Conan for Caelan Doris. Connors returns to the team for the first time since October. 

For Connacht, there are five changes from the side that started last week’s narrow loss to Ulster. Dave Heffernan and Jack Carty miss out through injury, so Dylan Tierney-Martin comes in to start at hooker and Josh Ioane at 10 as a new 9-10 combo with Matthew Devine. David Hawkshaw gets a start at outside centre, and Chay Mullins has returned to full fitness to come onto the right wing.

"There’s no bigger challenge in the URC than Leinster at the Aviva and it’s one we’re relishing," said Connacht head coach Stuart Lancaster.

"You want to test yourselves against the best teams in Europe, so this is a great opportunity to take the learnings of the last few weeks. I know from past experience that there’s always a big Connacht crowd in Dublin for these games, so I’m sure they’ll make their voices heard again.”

Saturday's game at the Aviva Stadium kicks off at 5:30pm.

LEINSTER: 15. Ciarán Frawley; 14. Tommy O’Brien, 13. Hugh Cooney, 12. Charlie Tector, 11. Joshua Kenny; 10. Sam Prendergast, 9. Jamison Gibson-Park; 1. Andrew Porter, 2. Dan Sheehan (C), 3. Thomas Clarkson; 4. Joe McCarthy, 5. Brian Deeny; 6. Diarmuid Mangan, 7. Will Connors, 8. Jack Conan

Replacements: 16. Gus McCarthy, 17. Jack Boyle, 18. Rabah Slimani, 19. Conor O'Tighearnaigh, 20. Max Deegan, 21. Josh van der Flier, 22. Luke McGrath, 23. Harry Byrne

CONNACHT: 15. Sam Gilbert; 14. Chay Mullins,  13. David Hawkshaw, 12. Bundee Aki, 11. Finn Treacy; 10. Josh Ioane, 9. Matthew Devine; 1. Denis Buckley, 2. Dylan Tierney-Martin, 3. Finlay Bealham; 4. Joe Joyce, 5. David O’Connor, 6. Josh Murphy, 7. Cian Prendergast (C), 8. Sean Jansen

Replacements: 16. Eoin de Buitlear, 17. Billy Bohan, 18. Fiachna Barrett, 19. Darragh Murray, 20. Paul Boyle, 21. Ben Murphy, 22. Harry West, 23. Cathal Forde