Oct 12,2024
Leo Cullen has chopped and changed his 10s since Jonathan Sexton's retirement, but this United Rugby Championship Interpro offers the Ireland international another chance to cement his claim on the pivot role.
Frawley will start alongside Ireland nine Jamison Gibson-Park in a fascinating half-back battle, which will pit the Leinster pair against Jack Crowley and Craig Casey.
Elsewhere, Munster old boy RG Snyman retains his place in the second row where he is joined by James Ryan, setting up another Test quality showdown with Jean Kleyn and Tadhg Beirne.
In total Cullen has made three changes to the starting XV from last weekend's 35-5 win over Benetton in Treviso.
As well as Ryan, Lee Barron comes into the starting team, with Andrew Porter and Tadhg Furlong filling out the rest of the front row.
Liam Turner comes in on the wing for the injured Jimmy O'Brien as the only change to the backline, with James Lowe and Hugo Keenan keeping their places.
Munster head coach Graham Rowntree has made four changes from the win over Ospreys, with a number of those enforced.
Munster's record cap-holder Stephen Archer makes his first start of the season on his 286th appearance for the province, coming in for injured tighthead Oli Jager.
Gavin Coombes returns to the starting XV at number eight with Jack O’Donoghue moving to blindside flanker as the backrow is rejigged in the absence of injured former captain Peter O'Mahony.
Mike Haley is fit to start at full-back with Calvin Nash and Sean O'Brien on either wing, the latter coming off the back of the Emerging Ireland tour.
Fit-again Alex Nankivell returns from a shoulder injury having missed the last two games and will partner Tom Farrell in midfield, squaring up against Garry Ringrose and Jamie Osborne.
While veteran prop Rabah Slimani misses out, the Leinster bench is still loaded. Ryan Baird once again takes the number 19 shirt, with Max Deegan offering backrow cover. Luke McGrath provides the reinforcements at scrum-half, while Ross Byrne is joined on the bench by his brother Harry.
Gus McCarthy slots right back into the matchday 23 following his exploits in South Africa with Emerging Ireland. Cian Healy will look to extend his appearance record even further while Thomas Clarkson will be waiting to make his fourth appearance of the campaign.
For Munster three academy players are included among the replacements, prop Kieran Ryan, flanker Ruadhán Quinn and winger Shay McCarthy.
Leinster: Hugo Keenan; Liam Turner, Garry Ringrose, Jamie Osborne, James Lowe; Ciarán Frawley, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Lee Barron, Tadhg Furlong; RG Snyman, James Ryan; Jack Conan, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris (capt)
Replacements: Gus McCarthy, Cian Healy, Thomas Clarkson, Ryan Baird, Max Deegan, Luke McGrath, Ross Byrne, Harry Byrne
Munster: Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Seán O'Brien; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne (capt); Jack O’Donoghue, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Kieran Ryan, John Ryan, Tom Ahern, Ruadhán Quinn, Conor Murray, Tony Butler, Shay McCarthy.
Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins has made five changes for the trip to Kingspan Stadium to face Ulster in Saturday's second URC interpro (8pm).
Joe Joyce and Josh Ioane have recovered from injury to come straight into the starting XV, while Sean O'Brien will make his first appearance of the season after being named at openside flanker.
The two other changes see Paul Boyle and Shayne Bolton come into the starting team after their appearances off the bench in the 24-23 win at Scarlets last weekend.
The experienced front row of Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan and Finlay Bealham is unchanged, while Josh Murphy moves from the back row to the second row to partner Joyce. Captain Cian Prendergast moves to blindside flanker with Boyle wearing number 8.
Ben Murphy continues at scrum-half, while Piers O’Conor shifts from the left wing to outside centre alongside Bundee Aki. Bolton takes his place on the wing with Mack Hansen and Santiago Cordero making up the rest of the back three.
Wilkins has gone for a 6:2 split on the bench with Oisín Dowling, David O’Connor and Conor Oliver all expected to be called upon.
Having made nine changes for the 47-21 defeat to the Bulls in South Africa, Richie Murphy's Ulster selection shows just three switches from the previous XV against the Lions.
Iain Henderson captains the team and is joined in the second row by Kieran Treadwell.
Prop Andrew Warwick and lock Alan O’Connor are in line for their 200th Ulster caps this weekend.
Warwick starts at loosehead prop, joined by experienced hooker John Andrew and Irish international Tom O’Toole at tighthead prop.
In the back row, David McCann starts as the openside flanker, with Sean Reffell starting on the blindside.
Nick Timoney starts at eight and marks a milestone of his own, making his 150th cap for Ulster.
The half-back partnership this weekend sees John Cooney start alongside Aidan Morgan, who has two tries in his opening three matches for Ulster.
After scoring a superb individual try against the Bulls last weekend, Jacob Stockdale, is on the left wing, with Werner Kok making his first start at Kingspan Stadium on the right wing.
Jude Postlethwaite returns to the team, following an impressive Emerging Ireland tour, that saw the Lisburn man score a try against Western Force last weekend, before being released to play for the province.
He starts at inside centre and is joined by Stewart Moore, who scored a great try last weekend against the Bulls. Ethan McIlroy starts at full-back, completing the back-field.
Murphy opts for a 5:3 split on the bench, with James McCormick, Callum Reid, Corrie Barrett, Alan O’Connor and Marcus Rea providing the forward replacement options.
Nathan Doak, Ben Carson and Mike Lowry provide the back options from the bench.
Ulster: Ethan McIlroy; Werner Kok, Stewart Moore, Jude Postlethwaite, Jacob Stockdale; Aidan Morgan, John Cooney; Andrew Warwick, John Andrew, Tom O’Toole; Iain Henderson (C), Kieran Treadwell; David McCann, Sean Reffell, Nick Timoney.
Replacements: James McCormick, Callum Reid, Corrie Barrett, Alan O’Connor, Marcus Rea, Nathan Doak, Ben Carson, Mike Lowry.
Connacht: Santiago Cordero; Mack Hansen, Piers O'Conor, Bundee Aki, Shayne Bolton;
Josh Ioane, Ben Murphy; Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham; Joe Joyce, Josh Murphy; Cian Prendergast (C), Sean O'Brien, Paul Boyle.
Replacements: Dylan Tierney-Martin, Peter Dooley, Temi Lasisi, Oisín Dowling, David O’Connor, Caolin Blade, Cathal Forde, Conor Oliver.
