Rugby:Leinster will face Connacht on Sunday in the Sportsground with an exciting, if inexperienced, backline that has Andrew Conway making his first start for some months following injury.
Conway, who came off the bench last Monday is on the left wing with Dave Kearney on the right and a centre pairing of Eoin O’Malley and Brendan Macken with the experienced Isa Nacewa at fullback. Ian Madigan partners Isaac Boss at outthalf.
Coach Joe Schmidt, without his international players, may re-jig somewhat between today and Sunday depending on Kevin McLaughlin and former Connacht winger, Fionn Carr, who has been carrying an ankle injury all week.
Final decisions on the makeup of the back-row, replacement back-row and in the replacement outside back slots will be made closer to kick off.
Leo Cullen leads the team and partners Damian Browne in the second row with prop Jamie Hagan joining fellow Academy graduate Jack McGrath in the front row alongside hooker Richardt Strauss, who made his 50thLeinster appearance against Ulster.
Mick Kearney earns his first competitive start for Connacht at blindside flanker replacing Dave Gannon, who came off with a knee injury on Monday.
The 20 year old academy forward stands at 6 foot 5 inches and is a former Mount Temple Comprehensive pupil, who represented Ireland U18, U20 & Irish Colleges. He earned his first cap for Connacht against the Ospreys this season and has appeared five times since then.
The other change in the pack sees Adrian Flavin replace Ethienne Reynecke at hooker. With over 117 caps Flavin is one of Connacht's most experienced players and even allowing for Mick Kearney's youth the pack carries 765 caps in total
Coach Eric Elwood makes three changes to the starting backline. Frank Murphy makes way for Paul O'Donohoe at scrumhalf, Brian Tuohy replaces Fetu'u Vainikolo on the wing and Connacht's newest signing, Kyle Tonetti, takes over from the injured Dave McSharry in the centre.
Tonetti, who joined Connacht from Sale Sharks earlier this season, steps in for McSharry, who required stitches to his chin following the St Stephens' Day clash with Munster.
Connacht too has an abundance of backline talent with Tonetti lining out with Tiernan O’Halloran on the wing and Eoin Griffin in the centre.
Connacht:G Duffy ©; B Tuohy, E Griffin, K Tonetti, T O'Halloran; N O'Connor, P O'Donoghue; B Wilkinson, A Flavin, R Loughney, G Naoupu, M McCarthy, M Kearney, J O'Connor, J Muldoon. Replacements – E Reynecke, D Buckley, D Rogers, E McKeon, TJ Anderson, F Murphy, M Jarvis, H Fa'afili
Leinster:I Nacewa; D Kearney, E O'Malley, B Macken, A Conway; I Madigan, I Boss; J McGrath, R Strauss, J Hagan, L Cullen, D Browne, R Ruddock, K McLaughlin/S Jennings, L Auva'a. Replacements – S Cronin, H van der Merwe, N White, D Toner, S Jennings/J Murphy, J Cooney, N Reid/F Carr, L Fitzgerald
