Jamie Osborne has returned from injury for Leinster’s clash against Munster in the URC on Friday (KO 7.35pm), starting at fullback, back in the team for the first time since he got injured for Ireland in the Autumn Nations Series.
Caelan Doris will captain the team at Thomond Park as Leinster head coach Leo Cullen makes several changes from the squad that beat Connacht last weekend.
Tommy O’Brien and Jimmy O’Brien are on the wings, with Osborne at fullback. Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose form a familiar looking partnership in the centre, with Luke McGrath and Sam Prendergast in the halfbacks.
In the pack, Jack Boyle, Rónan Kelleher and Rabah Slimani are the frontrow selected by Cullen, with Joe McCarthy and James Ryan in the engine room.
Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier and Doris complete the starting XV for Cullen.
Meanwhile, there are seven changes to the Munster side that recorded a bonus-point victory away to Ulster last week.
Tadhg Beirne returns to captain Munster with Rory Scannell, Billy Burns, Ethan Coughlan, Dian Bleuler, Oli Jager and Alex Kendellen also coming into the starting XV.
There is a positional switch for Tom Ahern as he moves to the backrow. Mike Haley, Calvin Nash and Shane Daly form an unchanged back three with Rory Scannell and Tom Farrell in midfield, as Coughlan and Burns start together in the halfbacks.
Bleuler has completed the return-to-play protocols to make his fourth start at loosehead prop with Niall Scannell and Oli Jager completing the frontrow.
Fineen Wycherley and Beirne start in the engine room with Ahern, Alex Kendellen and Gavin Coombes completing the starting XV.
On the injury front, Peter O’Mahony (calf contusion), Conor Murray (elbow) and Jack O’Donoghue (shoulder) were unavailable for selection. In line with IRFU player management guidelines, Jack Crowley was unavailable for selection.
Munster: Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Rory Scannell, Shane Daly; Billy Burns, Ethan Coughlan; Dian Bleuler, Niall Scannell, Oli Jager; Fineen Wycherley, Tadhg Beirne (capt); Tom Ahern, Alex Kendellen, Gavin Coombes. Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Kieran Ryan, John Ryan, Brian Gleeson, John Hodnett, Paddy Patterson, Tony Butler, Ben O’Connor.
Leinster: Jamie Osborne; Tommy O’Brien, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, Jimmy O’Brien; Sam Prendergast, Luke McGrath; Jack Boyle, Rónan Kelleher, Rabah Slimani; Joe McCarthy, James Ryan; Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris (capt). Replacements: Lee Barron, Andrew Porter, Cian Healy, Brian Deeny, Scott Penny, Fintan Gunne, Ross Byrne, Jordan Larmour.
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