Both Leinster and Connacht have named their sides for their interprovincial clash in the URC tonight. Leinster travels to Galway, where they will try to maintain their unbeaten run.
Leo Cullen has made seven changes to the side that dismantled Munster last weekend.
Hugo Keenan starts at fullback, while the wing duo of Liam Turner and Andrew Osborne also start.
In midfield, Jamie Osborne and Gary Ringrose pair up.
Ciarán Frawley and James Gibson-Park get the nod as the province's halfbacks.
In the front row, Jack Boyle, Gus McCarthy, and Rabah Slimani start. The second row consists of RG Snyman and James Ryan, and the side is completed by a backrow trio of Max Deegan, Will Connors, and James Culhane.
Academy duo Hugh Cooney and Stephen Smyth are in line to make their debuts if they are introduced into the action.
Fintan Gunne rounds out a total of five academy players in the matchday squad, as he hopes to make his third appearance of the season.
Andrew Porter provides some experience among the replacements, while Thomas Clarkson will hope to continue his involvement in every game so far this season.
Brian Deeny and Scott Penny complete the forward reinforcements, while Ross Byrne is in line for his fifth appearance of the campaign.
Kick-off is at 7:35 pm, live on TG4 and Premier Sports 1.
📩 | 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙬𝙚𝙨𝙩...
Here is your #LeinsterRugby team to face @connachtrugby tomorrow evening in Galway!#CONvLEI #FromTheGroundUp pic.twitter.com/dPeEHvRglf— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) October 18, 2024
Leinster: Hugo Keenan; Liam Turner, Garry Ringrose, Jamie Osborne, Andrew Osborne; Ciarán Frawley, Jamison Gibson-Park; Jack Boyle, Gus McCarthy, Rabah Slimani; RG Snyman, James Ryan (captain); Max Deegan, Will Connors, James Culhane.
Replacements: Stephen Smyth, Andrew Porter, Thomas Clarkson, Brian Deeny, Scott Penny, Finn Gunne, Ross Byrne, and Hugh Cooney.
Connacht, on the other hand, have made two changes to the side that lost to Ulster last weekend.
Head coach Pete Wilkins has selected Bundee Aki as his inside centre, with David Hawkshaw as the outside option.
Piers O'Conor, Shayne Bolton, and Santiago Cordero start in the back three.
Ben Murphy and Josh Ioane are again partnered as the halfbacks.
It's an unchanged front row of Denis Buckley, Finlay Bealham, and Dave Heffernan, while Darragh Murray partners Joe Joyce in the second row.
Cian Prendergast captains the side alongside Sean O'Brien and Paul Boyle in the back row.
The bench includes three further players who were named in the Emerging Ireland tour—Jack Aungier, Sean Jansen, and Hugh Gavin, who will make his debut for his home province if called upon.
Connacht: Piers O'Conor; Shayne Bolton, David Hawkshaw, Bundee Aki, Santiago Cordero; Josh Ioane, Ben Murphy; Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham; Joe Joyce, Darragh Murray; Cian Prendergast (captain), Sean O’Brien, Paul Boyle.
Replacements: Dylan Tierney-Martin, Peter Dooley, Jack Aungier, Niall Murray, Sean Jansen, Caolin Blade, Cathal Forde, and Hugh Gavin.
🟢 𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐌 𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒 🦅
Locked and loaded for tomorrow at Dexcom Stadium 👊
🔗https://t.co/3qksDeQJmN#ConnachtRugby | @Genesys pic.twitter.com/TVVIfEFgSX— Connacht Rugby (@connachtrugby) October 18, 2024
