Fergus McFadden makes a welcome return for Leinster after nearly three months of nursing an ankle injury as they face the Ospreys in the Guinness PRO12 on Saturday evening in the RDS.
Coming into the side at outside centre, McFadden is one of six changes in total from the team who were lucky to emerge from Treviso with a draw last weekend.
Having injured his ankle in the PRO12 game against Munster on October 4th, McFadden's inclusion is a welcome one as Kevin McLaughlin, Richardt Strauss and Luke Fitzgerald all miss out through injury.
Madigan at centre
Inside him is Ian Madigan who had an impressive Guinness Series with Ireland and is only three points short of 600 points for Leinster in what will be his 116th appearance since his debut in May 2009.
Elsewhere it is as you were with Zane Kirchner, Darragh Fanning and Dave Kearney in the back three. Fanning scored two tries for Leinster against Treviso and is in line to win his 25th cap.
Bryan Byrne, who scored his first ever Leinster senior try within minutes of his introduction, starts at hooker with Dominic Ryan starting at blindside flanker.
The rest of the front row sees Michael Bent and Tadhg Furlong once again selected at loose head and tight head, while in the second row Mike McCarthy has been selected alongside Kane Douglas.
Jordi Murphy makes his second appearance of the season having shown no ill effects after his return from shoulder surgery, while Jack Conan continues at number eight.
Henshaw misses out
Bolstered by the return of Ireland internationals Kieran Marmion and Rodney Ah You, Connacht Head Coach Pat Lam has named a strong match day squad for the their match with Scarlets on Saturday night.
Robbie Henshaw is a late withdrawal having failed to fully recover from a minor hip flexor injury picked up in last week’s Ireland game.
Having played in every game this season, last week's try scorer Jack Carty has been handed the reins at outhalf.
Along with Ah You coming in, there are three more changes to the forwards pack. Hooker Tom McCartney, who earned his first Connacht cap from the bench last week, has been named for his first start in the absence of the injured Jason Harris-Wright.
Pat Lam expressed his disappointment to have lost Harris-Wright but says the squad are “thankful to have the experience of Tom McCartney to step in for his first start in a slightly changed pack.”
“Scarlets are a well-coached side with huge squad depth and it’s been over three years since we beat them. Their win last week over an in-form Glasgow Warriors highlights the big challenge we face tomorrow night. But with both teams vying to climb the table, it is set up for a great evening at a lively Sportsground.”
Connacht team:
Mils Muliaina; Danie Poolman, Bundee Aki, Dave McSharry, Matt Healy; Jack Carty, Kieran Marmion; Denis Buckley, Tom McCartney, Rodney Ah You; Quinn Roux, Andrew Browne; John Muldoon(captain)Eoin McKeon, George Naoupu.
Replacements: Dave Heffernan, Ronan Loughney, Finlay Bealham, Mick Kearney, Willie Faloon, John Cooney, Craig Ronaldson, Darragh Leader.
Leinster team:
Zane Kirchner; Darragh Fanning , Fergus McFadden, Ian Madigan, Dave Kearney ; Jimmy Gopperth, Eoin Reddan(captain); Michael Bent, Bryan Byrne, Tadhg Furlong; Mike McCarthy, Kane Douglas; Dominic Ryan, Jordi Murphy, Jack Conan.
Replacements: James Tracy, Peter Dooley, Jamie Hagan, Tom Denton, Rhys Ruddock, Isaac Boss, Noel Reid, Gordon D’Arcy.
