Caelan Doris will captain a Leinster side heavily bolstered by the return of several Ireland internationals for their Champions Cup last-16 clash against Harlequins.
Doris is among 13 Ireland internationals named to start Saturday’s game at Croke Park (kick-off 3pm), slotting back into his number eight spot.
In the frontrow, Dan Sheehan gets the nod at hooker, Andrew Porter and Rabah Slimani on either should, while Joe McCarthy returns from international duty to pair up with Springbok RG Snyman in the secondrow.
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Jack Conan and Josh van der Flier complete Leo Cullen’s pack.
Having started four of Ireland’s games in the Six Nations, Sam Prendergast starts at outhalf, linking up with Jamison Gibson-Park at scrumhalf.
Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose renew the centre partnership as James Lowe and Jamie Osborne start on the wings and Hugo Keenan comes in at fullback.
Having deputised during Doris’s absence, including their 10-7 URC win over the Stormers last weekend, Max Deegan falls to the bench.
Gus McCarthy, Jack Boyle, Tadhg Furlong and Ryan Baird are also among the replacements, while Luke McGrath, Ross Byrne and All Black Jordie Barrett provide cover for the backs.
Leinster: Hugo Keenan; Jamie Osborne, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Rabah Slimani; Joe McCarthy, RG Snyman; Jack Conan, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris (capt). Replacements: Gus McCarthy, Jack Boyle, Tadhg Furlong, Ryan Baird, Max Deegan, Luke McGrath, Ross Byrne, Jordie Barrett.
Munster have the early evening throw-in, travelling to Stade Marcel Deflandre to face former clubman Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle (kick-off 5.30pm Irish time).
Tadhg Beirne, Peter O’Mahony, Jean Kleyn, Thaakir Abrahams and Andrew Smith all return to the starting fray, while Seán O’Brien switches to inside centre having started last Saturday’s URC win over Connacht at MacHale Park on the wing.
Abrahams slots in at fullback as Smith is partnered Calvin Nash. Craig Casey and Jack Crowley continue as halfbacks, and Tom Farrell starts at outside centre.
An unchanged frontrow from last weekend sees Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron and Oli Jager start, while Kleyn and Beirne fill the secondrow, O’Mahony, John Hodnett and Gavin Coombes finishing off the pack.
Niall Scannell, Josh Wycherley, Stephen Archer, Fineen Wycherley, Tom Ahern and Alex Kendellen are the forwards replacements, with Conor Murray and Rory Scannell coverings the backs.
Munster: Thaakir Abrahams; Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Seán O’Brien, Andrew Smith; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron, Oli Jager; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne (capt); Peter O’Mahony, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes. Replacements: Niall Scannell, Josh Wycherley, Stephen Archer, Fineen Wycherley, Tom Ahern, Conor Murray, Rory Scannell, Alex Kendellen.
For Saturday’s Challenge Cup game against Cardiff in Galway (kick-off 8pm), Connacht have made five changes to the starting side that went down 30-24 to Munster.
Shayne Bolton returns from a foot injury to start on the right wing as Matthew Devine and JJ Hanrahan form a new halfback pairing.
Bundee Aki and Hugh Gavin maintain their places in the centre, as does Finn Treacy on the left wing and Mack Hansen at fullback.
In the forwards, Josh Murphy comes in for Cian Prendergast who misses out after taking a hit to the head during last Saturday’s game in Castlebar, and Oisín Dowling comes into the secondrow.
Jordan Duggan, Dave Heffernan and Finlay Bealham retain their starting positions, Heffernan captaining the side in Prendergast’s absence, and Darragh Murray, Shamus Hurley-Langton and Sean Jansen complete the pack.
“Tomorrow is the start of an enormous opportunity in achieving our goals at this club which is to win silverware,” said Connacht coach Cullie Tucker, who continues to stand in for head coach Pete Wilkins.
“Our results in the pool stage have set us up nicely for the knockouts, but that’ll mean nothing if we don’t go out and take advantage of it, starting tomorrow.”
Connacht: M Hansen, S Bolton, H Gavin, B Aki, F Treacy, JJ Hanrahan, M Devine, J Duggan, D Heffernan (c), F Bealham, O Dowling, D Murray, J Murphy, S Hurley-Langton, S Jansen. Replacements: D Tierney-Martin, D Buckley, J Aungier, N Murray, P Boyle, C Blade, J Ioane, P O’Conor.
