Connacht and Leinster name teams for inter-provincial clash
Attention switches back to the PRO12 this week, with Leinster welcoming Connacht to the RDS tomorrow.
The visitors made three personnel changes to the side that defeated Zebre in Europe five days ago.
Here is the Connacht team to face Leinster at the RDS tomorrow in round 7 of the #GuinnessPRO12 #LEIvCON pic.twitter.com/NZNzOhUNNT
— Connacht Rugby (@connachtrugby) October 28, 2016
Tiernan O'Halloran, who missed out last week through injury, returns to the starting lineup and will take his place at fullback. Cian Kelleher, top try scorer so far this season, shifts to the left wing in a pacey back three completed by Niyi Adeolokun.
In the pack, there are two changes with Dave Heffernan and Conor Carey coming into the front row.
28-year-old lock James Cannon, who signed with the province from Wasps last month, will make his Connacht debut should he feature from the bench tomorrow.
Commenting on the team selection and the upcoming game, head coach Pat Lam said:
"Despite the high number of injuries that we have, we are excited by the challenge and opportunity to be the first Connacht team to win at the RDS. Leinster have started the season extremely well and are sitting top of the table so we understand the difficulty of that challenge.
"Although it has been a short week with the travel back from Italy on Monday, we have mentally prepared very well as we know that a focus on our team roles will give us the best shot at the points on offer."
Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has made ten changes to the team that faced Montpellier in the Champions Cup last Sunday.
WATCH: Here is your #LeinsterRugby starting XV to face Connacht at the #RDSArena tomorrow. #LEIvCON
— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) October 28, 2016
Tickets: https://t.co/1qwmLojMgq pic.twitter.com/Gs9jSxiGMl
Isa Nacewa is the only back retained by Cullen, with the Fijian international moving from the left wing to take up the full back position.
UCD's Adam Byrne makes his first start of the season on the right wing with fellow UCD man Barry Daly making his first Leinster start on the left having already made an appearance off the bench in Cardiff.
Noel Reid and Rory O'Loughlin come into the centre with Jamison Gibson-Park and Joey Carbery the half back pairing.
In the pack there is one change in the front row as Seán Cronin starts at hooker with Cian Healy at loose head and Mike Ross at tight head.
Mick Kearney again starts in the second row but is joined by Ian Nagle this week.
Finally in the back row Seán O'Brien again starts but moves from blind side to open side with his place in the number six jersey taken by Dan Leavy.
After recovering from an ankle injury picked up in the pre-season game against Gloucester,
Jack Conan makes his first competitive senior appearance of the season from number eight.
Leinster v Connacht at the RDS Arena on Saturday October 29, kick-off 5.15pm.
: 15 Tiernan O'Halloran, 14 Niyi Adeolokun, 13 Peter Robb, 12 Craig Ronaldson, 11 Cian Kelleher, 10 Jack Carty, 9 Kieran Marmion; 1 JP Cooney, 2 Dave Heffernan, 3 Conor Carey, 4 Quinn Roux, 5 Andrew Browne, 6 Sean O'Brien, 7 Jake Heenan, 8 John Muldoon - captain.
: 16 Shane Delahunt, 17 Dominic Robertson-McCoy, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 James Cannon, 20 Eoin McKeon, 21 Caolin Blade, 22 Bundee Aki, 23 Stacey Ili.
: 15. Isa Nacewa - captain, 14. Adam Byrne, 13. Rory O'Loughlin, 12. Noel Reid, 11. Barry Daly, 10. Joey Carbery, 9. Jamison Gibson-Park; 1. Cian Healy, 2. Sean Cronin, 3. Mike Ross, 4. Mick Kearney, 5. Ian Nagle, 6. Dan Leavy, 7. Sean O'Brien, 8. Jack Conan.
: 16. James Tracy, 17. Peter Dooley, 18. Michael Bent, 19. Mike McCarthy, 20. Josh van der Flier, 21. Luke McGrath, 22. Ross Byrne, 23. Rob Kearney.
