Leinster gear up for Connacht

The Leinster Rugby team, proudly sponsored by Bank of Ireland, to take on Connacht in Round 7 of the United Rugby Championship tomorrow evening in The Sportsground has been named by Head Coach Leo Cullen (KO: 7:35pm).

Scott Penny returns to captain the team, that also sees hooker Rónan Kelleher in line to make his 50th appearance for Leinster.

After replacing the injured Ross Byrne in last week’s win over Munster, Ciarán Frawley starts in Galway at full-back. Rob Russell and Jamie Osborne are on the wing. It’s Osborne’s first start on the wing in over a year, having already featured at 12 and 13 this season, while Russell is set for his first start of the campaign.

In the centre, Charlie Ngatai and Robbie Henshaw partner together for the first time this season, while Ben Murphy and Harry Byrne start together for the first time in the half-backs.

In the pack. Kelleher is joined in the front row by the returning Ed Byrne and Michael Ala’alatoa. Byrne missed the opening six weeks of the season with a hamstring injury.

Ryan Baird and Jason Jenkins are in the second row together for the first time this season.

Captain Penny is joined by Max Deegan and James Culhane in the back-row.

In the replacements, Cian Healy is set to make his first Leinster appearance of the season, after missing the Rugby World Cup through injury.

Leinster Rugby (caps in brackets)

15. Ciarán Frawley (73)
14. Rob Russell (21)
13. Robbie Henshaw (78)
12. Charlie Ngatai (19)
11. Jamie Osborne (35)
10. Harry Byrne (55)
9. Ben Murphy (7)
1. Ed Byrne (96)
2. Rónan Kelleher (49)
3. Michael Ala’alatoa (51)
4. Ryan Baird (55)
5. Jason Jenkins (23)
6. Max Deegan (103)
7. Scott Penny (62) CAPTAIN
8. James Culhane (7)

Replacements:

16. Lee Barron (11)
17. Cian Healy (265)
18. Tadhg Furlong (136)
19. Ross Molony (167)
20. Jack Conan (134)
21. Cormac Foley (15)
22. Liam Turner (21)
23. Will Connors (39)

Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)