Connacht and Leinster name teams for interpro game
Cian Prendergast will captain Connacht at a sold-out Dexcom Stadium
- Published
Cian Prendergast will captain a Connacht side which shows three changes to their starting team from that which beat Montauban in the Challenge Cup last week for Saturday's United Rugby Championship clash with a Leinster at a sold-out Dexcom Stadium (17:30 GMT).
There are two changes in the half-backs as fit-again Caolin Blade links up with Josh Ioane at nine and 10, while Dylan Tierney-Martin comes in at hooker following Dave Heffernan's injury.
Cian Prendergast captains the side from blindside flanker in a strong back row with Paul Boyle and Sean Jansen. Josh Murphy and Darragh Murray continue in the second row, while Academy prop Billy Bohan starts in a front row with Dylan Tierney-Martin and Sam Illo.
Forde and West keep their places in midfield after impressive Challenge Cup outings, with Treacy, Jennings and Gilbert making up the back three. Buckley, Carty and Aki add experience from the bench.
Connacht currently sit 12th in the URC table and have lost their last three league outings.
Connacht: S Gilbert; S Jennings; H West, C Forde; F Treacy, J Ioane; C Blade; B Bohan, D Tierney-Martin, S Illo; J Murphy, D Murray; C Prendergast (capt), P Boyle, S Jansen.
Replacements: E de Buitléar, D Buckley, J Aungier, Joe Joyce, S O'Brien, B Murphy, J Carty, B Aki.
Doris set to captain Leinster on his 100th appearence
Caelan Doris is set to make his 100th Leinster appearence on against Connacht
Caelan Doris will captain Leinster as he is set to make his 100th appearence in blue during Saturday's visit to Connacht.
Niall Smyth is set to make his debut for the province and will be joined in the front row by Gus McCarthy and Jack Boyle.
James Lowe returns for his first appearance since last month's win over Munster and lines out on the wing, one try shy of equalling Shane Horgan's Leinster record of 69, with Joshua Kenny on the opposite flank and Ciaran Frawley named at full-back.
South African RG Snyman and James Ryan combine in the second row, with centurion Caelan Doris joined by Will Connors and Alex Soroka.
Harry Byrne and Fintan Gunne start in the half-backs, with Charlie Tector partnering Garry Ringrose in midfield.
Leinster sit fifth in the URC table, Leo Cullen's side have won nine games in a row in all competitions, their last defeat coming against Munster in October last year.
Leinster: C Frawley; J Kenny, G Ringrose, C Tector, J Lowe; H Byrne, F Gunne; J Boyle, G McCarthy, N Smyth; RG Snyman, J Ryan; A Soroka, W Connors, C Doris (capt).
Replacements: R Kelleher, J Cahir, A Sparrow, B Deeny, D Mangan, S Penny, L McGrath, R Moloney.
