Three changes for Connacht: Madigan and McLaughlin return for Leinster
After a mounting injury list during the week sparked suggestions of calling up U20 players to the Connacht team to face Leinster in the RDS this Saturday (5pm) Eric Elwood will be relieved he’s only had to make three changes to his starting team.
Mark McCrea has recovered from an ankle problem and replaces injured winger Tiernan O'Halloran. McCrea joined Connacht this season from Ulster and has featured in three of Connacht's five matches so far, scoring the winning try against the Scarlets in the Sportsground last month.
Ethienne Reynecke starts on the bench as Adrian Flavin retakes his position in the front row. The former London Irish hooker has earned 108 caps for the Province since joining Connacht in 2006.
The final change sees Ray Ofisa return to the starting line-up at number eight with John Muldoon switching to blindside flanker and TJ Anderson dropping to the bench.
Joe Schmidt has restored some of his more experienced performers to the starting team that will face Connacht as academy players Ciaran Ruddock and Noel Reid fall out of the match day squad.
Kevin McLaughlin returns to the Leinster side after missing the recent victories over the Scarlets and Aironi through injury and he starts alongside Leo Auva'a and skipper Rhys Ruddock in the back-row. Heinke van der Merwe, Richardt Strauss and Jamie Hagan continue in the front row.
Cillian Willis restores his half-back partnership with Ian Madigan, who scored his third try in five league games in the 26-7 win over Aironi last weekend, while Luke Fitzgerald continues his centre partnership with Eoin O'Malley.
Fionn Carr, David Kearney and Isa Nacewa complete the backline.
Connacht: G Duffy (C); M McCrea, E Griffin, H Fa'afili, B Tuohy; N O'Connor, F Murphy; B Wilkinson, A Flavin, D Rogers; M Swift, M McCarthy; J Muldoon, J O'Connor, R Ofisa. Replacements: E Reynecke, R Loughney, R Ah You, D Gannon, TJ Anderson, P O'Donohoe, M Jarvis, D McSharry.
Leinster: I Nacewa; F Carr, E O'Malley, L Fitzgerald, D Kearney; I Madigan, C Willis; H van der Merwe, R Strauss, J Hagan; S Sykes, D Toner; K McLaughlin, R Ruddock, L Auva'a. Replacements: A Dundon, J McGrath, N White, D Browne, D Ryan, J Cooney, B Macken, D Hudson.
