Dec 07,2024
Jordie Barrett looks set to make his Leinster debut in Sunday's Investec Champions Cup opener against Bristol Bears at Ashton Gate, with the New Zealand international named among the replacements.
Barrett will provide cover at centre and full-back as Leo Cullen shakes up his selection, also holding Andrew Porter, RG Snyman and captain Caelan Doris back on the bench.
Sam Prendergast gets the start at out-half, following on from his impressive Autumn Nations Series with Ireland, where he is again partnered with Jamison Gibson-Park in the half-backs.
Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose start as expected in the centre, but Jamie Osborne misses out due to injury.
Hugo Keenan has also been ruled out because of a wrist injury suffered in Ireland's win against Australia, with Ciarán Frawley taking his usual place at full-back, while Jimmy O'Brien starts on the left wing, as James Lowe misses out because of a knock. Jordan Larmour completes the backline on the right wing.
In the pack, Jack Boyle will make his Champions Cup debut, the 22-year-old starting at loosehead and joining Rónan Kelleher and Rabah Slimani in the front row.
Joe McCarthy and James Ryan reprise their Ireland second-row partnership, while Jack Conan captains the team from number 8, flanked by Joh van der Flier and Max Deegan.
Leinster: Ciaran Frawley; Jordan Larmour, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, Jimmy O'Brien; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Jack Boyle, Ronan Kelleher, Rabah Slimani; Joe McCarthy, James Ryan; Max Deegan, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan (capt)
Replacements: Gus McCarthy, Andrew Porter, Tom Clarkson, RG Snyman, Caelan Doris, Luke McGrath, Ross Byrne, Jordie Barrett
Beirne will be held back in reserve after playing every minute of Ireland's Autumn Nations Series schedule, but Ian Costello has been able to restore the rest of his Irish squad members to his starting team.
Diarmuid Barron captains the side at hooker, packing down between John Ryan and new signing Dian Bleuler.
With Beirne on the bench, Evan O'Connell keeps his place in the starting side and will make a first Champions Cup appearance, alongside Fineen Wycherley in the second row.
Peter O'Mahony comes in at blindside flanker with Alex Kendellen at openside, and Gavin Coombes starts at the base of the scrum.
Craig Casey and Jack Crowley team up in the half-backs as Billy Burns and Paddy Patterson provide cover off the bench. Conor Murray misses out due to injury.
The centre pairing is unchanged from last week's win over the Lions, as Alex Nankivell is joined in midfield by Tom Farrell.
Shane Daly makes his 100th Munster appearance at full-back, with Calvin Nash and Thaakir Abrahams on the wings.
Munster: Shane Daly; Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Thaakir Abrahams; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Dian Bleuler, Diarmuid Barron (capt), John Ryan; Evan O'Connell, Fineen Wycherley; Peter O’Mahony, Alex Kendellen, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Niall Scannell, Kieran Ryan, Stephen Archer, Tadhg Beirne, John Hodnett, Paddy Patterson, Billy Burns, Jack O’Donoghue.
Ulster appear to have one eye on next week's home meeting with Bordeaux, as Richie Murphy keeps several of his returning Ireland internationals on the bench for Sunday's Pool 1 game away to defending champions Toulouse.
Stuart McCloskey does start, but Rob Herring, Tom O'Toole, Iain Henderson, Cormac Izuchukwu and Nick Timoney are all held in reserve by the Ulster coach.
In total, Murphy has made four changes to his side for the trip to France, and four players will make their first Champions Cup appearances for the province.
It's an unchanged front row from last week's defeat to Leinster, with James McCormick propped up by Eric O'Sullivan and Scott Wilson.
Alan O'Connor captains the side from the second row and Harry Sheridan comes in to replace Kieran Treadwell.
James McNabney moves from blindside to number 8, while he's flanked by the Rea brothers - Marcus and Matty - who come into the side at the expense of Timoney and David McCann.
The only change to the backline sees McCloskey return to the starting team at inside-centre, with Jude Postlethwaite dropping out, while he partners Ben Carson in midfield.
Nathan Doak and Aidan Morgan start at nine and 10, while Werner Kok and Michael Lowry continue on the wings, with Stewart Moore named at full-back.
Ulster: Stewart Moore; Werner Kok, Ben Carson, Jude Postlethwaite, Michael Lowry; Aidan Morgan, Nathan Doak; Eric O'Sullivan, James McCormick, Scott Wilson; Alan O'Connor (capt), Kieran Treadwell; James McNabney, Nick Timoney, David McCann.
Replacements: Tom Stewart, Andrew Warwick, Corrie Barrett, Harry Sheridan, Marcus Rea, John Cooney, James Humphreys, Ben Moxham.
Connacht are looking to a blend of youth and experience for Saturday's EPCR Challenge Cup opener with Zebre Parma at Dexcom Stadium.
Head coach head coach Pete Wilkins has named a side that will see two players mark significant milestones for the club and could also feature three players making their debut for the province.
Caolin Blade and Paul Boyle will make their 200th and 100th appearances for the province, respectively. Boyle will line out as co-captain for the game, with Cathal Forde sharing those duties.
Elsewhere, there’s a debut for winger Chay Mullins, who was at the Paris Olympics with the Ireland Sevens team. He starts on the right wing, while academy graduates Fiachna Barrett and Seán Naughton could both earn their first caps, as they are named on the bench.
Mullins lines out in a back three that features Shane Jennings at full-back and Santiago Cordero on the opposite wing. David Hawkshaw is at 13, having impressed off the bench last week, and Jack Carty continues at out-half.
In the forwards, Jack Aungier keeps his place at tighthead while loosehead Jordan Duggan and hooker Dylan Tierney-Martin start, and there’s a new-look second row of Darragh Murray and Oisín Dowling.
Last year’s Connacht Player of the Year Shamus Hurley-Langton makes his first start of the campaign at openside flanker, with Josh Murphy on the opposite flank.
Connacht: Shane Jennings; Chay Mullins, David Hawkshaw, Cathal Forde, Santiago Cordero; Jack Carty, Caolin Blade; Jordan Duggan, Dylan Tierney-Martin, Jack Aungier; Darragh Murray, Oisín Dowling; Josh Murphy, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Paul Boyle
Replacements: Eoin de Buitléar, Temi Lasisi, Fiachna Barrett, David O’Connor, Oisín McCormack, Matthew Devine, Seán Naughton, Byron Ralston
