Leinster Rugby has made thirteen changes for the game against Connacht Rugby on Saturday night. THE game at the Aviva Stadium kicks off at 5:30 pm and is live on RTÉ 2 and Premier Sports 1.
Jack Conan captains the side from the back row. He starts alongside Alex Soroka, who makes his first appearance of the United Rugby Championship campaign. Scott Penny also starts.
Jordie Barrett switches to 12, and Jimmy O’Brien swaps from the wing to fullback. Charlie Tector is the other centre.
Andrew Osborne and Aitzol Arenzana-King are Leinster's wingers.
The halfbacks consist of Ross Byrne (fly-half) and Luke McGrath (scrum-half).
Diarmuid Mangan partners with RG Snyman in the second row., while Jack Boyle and Rabah Slimani will scrum down either side of Gus McCarthy.
Lee Barron, Michael Milne, and Cian Healy provide the front row cover from the bench, with Brian Deeny, Ryan Baird, and Max Deegan offering further reinforcements in a 6-2 split.
Jamison Gibson-Park and Harry Byrne will provide a change of pace as the replacement halfbacks.
Leinster Team by Position
Forwards:
- Front Row: Jack Boyle (loosehead prop), Gus McCarthy (hooker), Rabah Slimani (tighthead prop)
- Second Row: Diarmuid Mangan, RG Snyman
- Back Row: Alex Soroka (blindside flanker), Scott Penny (openside flanker), Jack Conan (number 8, captain)
Backs:
- Half-Backs: Ross Byrne (fly-half), Luke McGrath (scrum-half)
- Centres: Jordie Barrett (inside centre, 12), Charlie Tector (outside centre, 13)
- Back Three: Jimmy O’Brien (full-back), Andrew Osborne (left wing), Aitzol Arenzana-King (right wing)
Replacements:
- Forwards: Lee Barron, Michael Milne, Cian Healy, Brian Deeny, Ryan Baird, Max Deegan
- Backs: Jamison Gibson-Park, Harry Byrne
Connacht
Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins has also named his side for tomorrow’s clash.
International trio Bundee Aki, Mack Hansen, and Finlay Bealham make their first starts since the November internationals, joining Cian Prendergast (captain) and Dave Heffernan in the starting XV. Josh Ioane, returning from injury, lines out at out-half, pairing with Ben Murphy at scrum-half.
In the forwards, Denis Buckley starts in a front row alongside Heffernan and Bealham, while Josh Murphy partners Darragh Murray in the second row. Paul Boyle and Shamus Hurley-Langton also start in the back row.
In the backs, Cathal Forde has been given 13 jersey beside Aki, with Piers O’Conor returning from injury to start at full-back. Shane Jennings completes the starting lineup on the wing.
The bench features a 6:2 split, with Sean Jansen back from suspension, Santiago Cordero covering the backfield, and Conor Oliver also
Connacht Team by Position
Forwards:
- Front Row: Denis Buckley (loosehead prop), Dave Heffernan (hooker), Finlay Bealham (tighthead prop)
- Second Row: Josh Murphy, Darragh Murray
- Back Row: Shamus Hurley-Langton (openside flanker), Cian Prendergast (blindside flanker, captain), Paul Boyle (number 8)
Backs:
- Half-Backs: Josh Ioane (fly-half), Ben Murphy (scrum-half)
- Centres: Bundee Aki (inside centre, 12), Cathal Forde (outside centre, 13)
- Back Three: Piers O’Conor (full-back), Mack Hansen (left wing), Shane Jennings (right wing)
Replacements:
- Forwards: Dylan Tierney-Martin, Jordan Duggan, Jack Aungier, Oisín Dowling, Sean Jansen
- Backs: Caolin Blade, Santiago Cordero, Conor Oliver.
