Leinster coach Leo Cullen has named his team to take on Connacht in their PRO14 game tomorrow in the Sportsground at 5.15pm.
Cullen welcomes back a number of players including Seán O'Brien onto the bench from injury.
Rob Kearney comes in to the number 15 jersey with Jordan Larmour moving to the right wing from full-back as a result. James Lowe continues on the left wing.
Joe Tomane partners Garry Ringrose in the centre for the first time with Luke McGrath and captain Johnny Sexton.
Cian Healy, Seán Cronin and Tadhg Furlong are selected in the front row.
WATCH: Here is your #LeinsterRugby team to face Connacht tomorrow at the Sportsground (KO 5.15pm), captained by @JohnnySexton. #CONvLEI pic.twitter.com/hF2gnRzw3a
— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) September 28, 2018
Meath's Devin Toner moves into third on the all-time Leinster appearances list, together with Leo Cullen, as he gets set to make his 221st appearance in blue. Toner and Cullen on 221 are behind Jamie Heaslip on 229 and Gordon D'Arcy on 261 caps for Leinster Rugby.
Australian international Scott Fardy joins Toner in the second row.
Rhys Ruddock, Josh van der Flier and Jack Conan complete the starting XV for Leo Cullen.
51 times Ireland capped Seán O'Brien is on the bench and in line for his first game since last April against Benetton.
Leinster team
Rob Kearney, Jordan Larmour, Garry Ringrose, Joe Tomane, James Lowe, Johnny Sexton (CAPTAIN), Luke McGrath, Cian Healy, Seán Cronin, Tadhg Furlong, Devin Toner, Scott Fardy, Rhys Ruddock, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan
Replacements:
James Tracy, Ed Byrne, Andrew Porter, Ross Molony, Seán O'Brien, Nick McCarthy, Ross Byrne, Rory O'Loughlin
Connacht
Mayo native Dave Heffernan is set to captain Connacht against Leinster tomorrow.
Heffernan takes over the captaincy from Jarrad Butler who is ruled out through injury. Heffernan’s inclusion at hooker sees him continue as part of a front trio that includes props Denis Buckley and Finlay Bealham.
Butler’s replacement at openside Colby Fainga’a, makes his first start for Connacht who along with lock Ultan Dillane are the only change to the team that beat Scarlets last weekend. Fainga’a comes into a back row alongside blindside Sean O’Brien and Robin Copeland at number 8.
In the second row Dillane’s inclusion sees him for a familiar partnership with Quinn Roux.
Among the backs, Kieran Marmion and Jack Carty continue the half-back partnership, as do Bundee Aki and Tom Farrell in midfield.
Wingers Matt Healy and Cian Kelleher are also retained, as is Tiernan O’Halloran at full back.
🚨 TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT 🚨
Here is your Connacht team to face @leinsterrugby tomorrow at The Sportsground!
❇️ @daveheffernan88 named as captain👨✈️
❇️ A first start for @colbyfaingaa ☝️
❇️ @Ultan_Dillane partners @QuinnRoux 🤝Full details ➡️ https://t.co/x3xIUh2erZ pic.twitter.com/ft8yZeLjUF
— Connacht Rugby (@connachtrugby) September 28, 2018
Connacht team
Tiernan O’Halloran, Cian Kelleher, Tom Farrell, Bundee Aki, Matt Healy, Jack Carty, Kieran Marmion, (1-8) Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan (C), Finlay Bealham, Ultan Dillane, Quinn Roux, Sean O’Brien, Colby Fainga’a, Robin Copeland.
Replacements:
Tom McCartney, Peter McCabe, Dominic Robertson-McCoy, James Cannon, Paul Boyle, Caolin Blade, Craig Ronaldson, Niyi Adeolokun.
Munster
Munster Head Coach Johann van Graan has made eight changes to the side beaten in Cardiff last week for the clash with Ulster tomorrow.
Alby Mathewson making his Munster debut at scrum-half as Keith Earls and Niall Scannell make their first starts of the season.
Having obtained a work permit in the standard timelines, Mathewson is named at scrum-half for his first Munster appearance.
Mike Haley, Dan Goggin, Earls, Mathewson, Dave Kilcoyne, Scannell, Billy Holland and Tommy O’Donnell all come into the side.
Haley starts at full-back with Andrew Conway and Earls on the flanks.
Rory Scannell partners Goggin in the centres with out-half Joey Carbery alongside Mathewson in the half-backs.
Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell and Stephen Archer make up the front row with Holland returning from injury to partner Tadhg Beirne in the second row.
📣 TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT
The Munster team to face Ulster tomorrow night at Thomond Park has been named.@AlbyMathewson makes his Munster debut with @KeithEarls87 & @N_Scannell222 in for their first starts of the season.
Full details > > https://t.co/9z31rRFQ8c#MUNvULS #SUAF 🔴 pic.twitter.com/Ko10uavYpA
— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) September 28, 2018
Captain Peter O’Mahony, O’Donnell and CJ Stander complete the side.
Hooker Kevin O’Byrne and prop Ciaran Parker are both set to see their first PRO14 action of the season off the bench with O’Byrne returning from a calf injury.
Munster team
Mike Haley; Andrew Conway, Dan Goggin, Rory Scannell, Keith Earls; Joey Carbery, Alby Mathewson; Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; Tadhg Beirne, Billy Holland; Peter O’Mahony (C), Tommy O’Donnell, CJ Stander.
Replacements:
Kevin O’Byrne, James Cronin, Ciaran Parker, Jean Kleyn, Arno Botha, Duncan Williams, Ian Keatley, Sammy Arnold.
Ulster
Ulster prop Andrew Warwick will become the latest player to reach the 100 cap milestone in tomorrow’s clash at Munster.
27-year-old Warwick, who made his debut against Cardiff towards the tail end of the 2013/14 season, will start at loosehead prop, with fellow Ballymena RFC clubman Adam McBurney selected for his first start of the season beside him at hooker. Ross Kane completes the front row.
Alan O’Connor will captain the side from the second row, with Iain Henderson returning to partner him in the engine room.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT
Here's your Ulster team to take on @Munsterrugby tomorrow night at Thomond Park! Read more here > https://t.co/XFMBbjg42p pic.twitter.com/b8Zexf5F4J
— Ulster Rugby (@UlsterRugby) September 28, 2018
In the back row, flankers Matthew Rea and Nick Timoney are named at blindside and openside respectively, with Jean Deysel packing down at number 8.
John Cooney returns from the scalp laceration sustained in the win over Southern Kings a fortnight ago to join Billy Burns at half-back.
Angus Curtis will also earn his first start of the season, as he is given the nod to partner Darren Cave in midfield.
Wingers Angus Kernohan and Craig Gilroy join Peter Nelson in the back three as the fullback runs out for the 50th time in an Ulster jersey.
On the bench, John Andrew, Eric O’Sullivan and Tom O’Toole will provide the front row cover, with Kieran Treadwell and Clive Ross named as the additional forward options. Double try-scorer from last week Dave Shanahan will cover scrum-half, while the Abbey Insurance Ulster Rugby Academy duo of Michael Lowry and James Hume are set to earn their first Ulster senior caps if called upon.
Ulster teamPeter Nelson, Craig Gilroy, Darren Cave, Angus Curtis, Angus Kernohan, Billy Burns, John Cooney; Andrew Warwick, Adam McBurney, Ross Kane, Alan O’Connor (Capt), Iain Henderson, Matthew Rea, Nick Timoney, Jean Deysel.
Replacements: John Andrew, Eric O’Sullivan, Tom O’Toole, Kieran Treadwell, Clive Ross, Dave Shanahan, Michael Lowry, James Hume.
