It is third plays second in the opening GUINNESS PRO12 match of 2016 on Irish soil, as Leinster look to build on their derby triumph over Munster and Connacht target their first ever victory at the RDS.
GUINNESS PRO12: Friday, January 1
LEINSTER (3rd) v CONNACHT (2nd), the RDS, 5pm (live TG4)
Team News: Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has made eleven changes from the Munster game with a number of players returning after recent injuries. Notably, Luke McGrath (knee), Jonathan Sexton (quad) and Ben Te’o (concussion) are all back in the starting line-up.
Sean O’Brien, who is included on the bench, is also in line to make his 100th Leinster appearance should he be used as a replacement.
In the pack Jack McGrath is once again selected at loosehead prop after his try-scoring performance last weekend, with Martin Moore coming in to start on the tighthead side. Richardt Strauss also starts at hooker.
Devin Toner is joined in the second row by former Connacht player Mike McCarthy who played 160 times in two spells out west. Captain Rhys Ruddock leads the charge from blindside flanker in a completely new back row that includes Josh van der Flier at openside and Jordi Murphy at number 8.
Rob Kearney starts at full-back in only his second PRO12 game of the season on his 170th appearance for Leinster. Fergus McFadden continues on the right wing with Dave Kearney coming in on the left having been an unused replacement in Limerick.
Te’o takes over at inside centre from Luke Fitzgerald, with Garry Ringrose outside him at number 13. Luke McGrath and Sexton both return from injury to form the half-back combination.
Leinster Rugby would like to advise those attending the interpro derby that with other events such as Funderland on at the RDS during the busy festive period, parking will be extremely limited and supporters are asked to consider public transport and car pooling as a means of attending the fixture.
Over 16,500 tickets have been sold for the Leinster v Connacht clash. Purchase your tickets here.
Meanwhile, in naming his team for the New Year’s Day clash with Leinster, Connacht boss Pat Lam has made three changes to the side that lined out against Ulster last weekend.
While the back-line remains unchanged, the pack has been boosted by the return from injury of hooker Tom McCartney and openside flanker Jake Heenan. This will be the first game of the season for the 23-year-old Heenan who underwent shoulder surgery in May.
Galway man Andrew Browne is also introduced for the round 11 fixture in Dublin, joining Aly Muldowney in the second row.
Commenting on the team selection and preparations for his side’s second successive interprovincial tie, Lam said: “It’s great to have both Tom and Jake back from injury and ready for this game having joined us in training over the past few weeks. Tom adds that bit of experience and leadership that is needed in these big games, especially with our young back-line.
“We are all delighted to see Jake returning after what has been a challenging six months for him. He has worked extremely hard to get back to this point with the help of our medical and S&C teams and he is raring to go.
“I’m pleased with the quality of the week’s preparation we have had as a squad. We travel to Dublin confident in the knowledge that we have a good chance of getting the points on offer against Leinster as long as we play as a team and can take the opportunities we create. Although we face a big hurdle at the RDS, we are excited by it and are looking forward to the challenge.”
LEINSTER: Rob Kearney; Fergus McFadden, Garry Ringrose, Ben Te’o, Dave Kearney; Jonathan Sexton, Luke McGrath; Jack McGrath, Richardt Strauss, Martin Moore, Devin Toner, Mike McCarthy, Rhys Ruddock (capt), Josh van der Flier, Jordi Murphy.
Replacements: James Tracy, Peter Dooley, Michael Bent, Ross Molony, Sean O’Brien, Eoin Reddan, Ian Madigan, Zane Kirchner.
CONNACHT: Tiernan O’Halloran; Niyi Adeolokun, Bundee Aki, Craig Ronaldson, Matt Healy; Jack Carty, Kieran Marmion; Finlay Bealham, Tom McCartney, Nathan White, Aly Muldowney, Andrew Browne, John Muldoon (capt), Jake Heenan, Eoghan Masterson.
Replacements: Dave Heffernan, Ronan Loughney, Rodney Ah You, Ultan Dillane, Sean O’Brien, Ian Porter, AJ MacGinty, Rory Parata.
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Leo Colgan, Mark Patton (both Ireland)
Television Match Official: Marshall Kilgore (Ireland)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Leinster to win: 1/5; Draw: 17/1; Connacht to win: 7/2
Pre-Match Quotes: Leo Cullen (Leinster) – “I’m conscious of that five-day turnaround. I was trying to get a few fresh faces. We had a few more bangs and bruises from the weekend, so it’s about freshening guys up.
“Luke Fitzgerald has had quite a heavy workload over the last few weeks so he drops out. Garry (Ringrose) stays in because he did pretty well. He hadn’t the workload of Lukey leading in to the Munster game so we’re just trying to manage it.
“It is disappointing (Ian Madigan has signed for Bordeaux) because Ian showed at the weekend (against Munster) he’s still a class operator. It’s been a bit frustrating for him here I’d imagine, but we wish him well. Maybe Mads will play for Leinster again at some time down the road.
“Sometimes players move around and that’s part and parcel of the business, but we still feel he has a big part to play with Leinster for the rest of the season. We’ll only really feel the effect of it a long way down the tracks, that’s next season, so we’re focusing on this season for now.”
Pat Lam (Connacht) – “We know we missed a realistic opportunity to get four points and a rare win over Ulster last week but following a thorough review on Monday, we are looking forward to taking our learnings into another tough derby game.
“It won’t be easy though following Leinster’s good win over Munster at Thomond Park. They are an experienced side stacked full of international and quality players across the park who are all pushing hard to be involved in the upcoming Six Nations.
“Now they’re back at the RDS where they haven’t lost (in the PRO12) since March and a place where we have never won. So it’s going to be a massive challenge for us without a doubt.
“We have a lot of young Irish players who are fairly new to this level of rugby week in, week out, and who are excited to have the opportunity to learn and grow their rugby experience. These big games are vital in their rugby education and it is very beneficial for us going straight into another big challenge after Ulster at the weekend.
“The last two times we’ve played at the RDS, we feel we were right in it and were gutted not to come away with a more positive result on both occasions. We’ve been there or thereabouts but we haven’t been able to finish it off. Hopefully on New Year’s Day, we can show that we’ve learned from those past experiences.”
Top Scorers – 2015/16 GUINNESS PRO12: Leinster – Points: Isa Nacewa 49; Tries: Isa Nacewa 5; Connacht – Points: Jack Carty 55; Tries: Nepia Fox-Matamua, Matt Healy, Danie Poolman, Tiernan O’Halloran 3 each
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Friday, September 28, 2012 – Connacht 34 Leinster 6, the Sportsground
Saturday, December 29, 2012 – Leinster 17 Connacht 0, the RDS
Saturday, October 26, 2013 – Leinster 16 Connacht 13, the RDS
Saturday, January 4, 2014 – Connacht 8 Leinster 16, the Sportsground
Friday, September 19, 2014 – Connacht 10 Leinster 9, the Sportsground
Friday, December 19, 2014 – Leinster 21 Connacht 11, the RDS
MATCH FACTS:
– Leinster climbed into third place in the GUINNESS PRO12 table with their fifth successive league victory, at
Munster last Sunday
– The Leinstermen have won all five home games in the PRO12 this season, while their only league defeat at the RDS since March 2013 was to the Newport Gwent Dragons in February
– Connacht remained in second place in the standings despite a second successive loss, at home to Ulster last Saturday
– Connacht have gained at least one league point from each of their last twelve fixtures in the competition
– Each side won its respective home games when the two teams clashed in the PRO12 last season
– Connacht have never won in their eight previous visits to the RDS, with their only victory in Dublin since 1985 coming at Donnybrook in 2002
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