LEINSTER HEAD COACH Matt O’Connor has moved Luke Fitzgerald to outside centre for his side’s Champions Cup clash with Harlequins at the Aviva Stadium tomorrow evening [KO 19.45].
Fitzgerald started on the left wing in last weekend’s defeat to Conor O’Shea’s side, but a calf strain for Gordon D’Arcy means the 27-year-old shifts into midfield alongside Ian Madigan.
Dominic Ryan returns to Leinster’s starting XV after missing out last weekend through injury, with openside Jordi Murphy the man to lose out as a result.
The three other personnel changes see Kane Douglas come into the second row in place of Mike McCarthy, Isaac Boss start at scrum-half ahead of Eoin Reddan, and Zane Kirchner selected on the left wing.
McCarthy and Reddan both drop to the bench, where they are joined by Mick McGrath.
Meanwhile, Harlequins have made two injury-enforced changes to their starting team. Nick Evans and Chris Robshaw were both ruled out, meaning Tim Swiel starts at fly-half and Jack Clifford is selected in the back row.
Leinster
15. Rob Kearney
14. Zane Kirchner
13. Luke Fitzgerald
12. Ian Madigan
11. Darragh Fanning
10. Jimmy Gopperth
9. Isaac Boss
1. Jack McGrath
2. Sean Cronin
3. Mike Ross
4. Devin Toner
5. Kane Douglas
6. Rhys Ruddock
7. Dominic Ryan
8. Jamie Heaslip (capt.)
Replacements:
16. Bryan Byrne
17. Michael Bent
18. Tadhg Furlong
19. Mike McCarthy
20. Jack Conan
21. Eoin Reddan
22. Noel Reid
23. Mick McGrath
Harlequins
15. Mike Brown
14. Marland Yarde
13. Matt Hopper
12. George Lowe
11. Aseli Tikoirotuma
10. Tim Swiel
9. Danny Care
1. Joe Marler (capt.)
2. Dave Ward
3. Will Collier
4. Charlie Matthews
5. George Robson
6. Luke Wallace
7. Jack Clifford
8. Nick Easter
Replacements:
16. Joe Gray
17. Mark Lambert
18. Kyle Sinckler
19. Sam Twomey
20. Joe Trayfoot
21. Karl Dickson
22. Tom Casson
23. Ross Chisholm
Referee: Romain Poite [FFR].
