LEINSTER COACH MATT O’Connor has been able to call on all three of Ireland’s replacement front rows for tomorrow’s Pro12 clash against the Dragons at the RDS.
Jack McGrath, Sean Cronin and Martin Moore will lead the push against the Welsh side with Ian Madigan given an opportunity to shine ahead of Jimmy Gopperth.
Eoin Reddan will partner Madigan as he returns from calf injury and Fergus McFadden will get more match minutes under his belt on the right wing after featuring in the win over Wales.
Luke Fitzgerald has apparently not yet managed to recover from an abdominal issue and so Darragh Fanning will start on the left wing.
Leinster v (Dragons): Z Kirchner, F McFadden, B Macken, N Reid, D Fanning; I Madigan, E Reddan: J McGrath, S Cronin, M Moore; Leo Cullen (Capt.), M McCarthy; R Ruddock, S Jennings, J Murphy.
Replacements: A Dundon, M Bent, T Furlong, T Denton, D Ryan, I Boss, J Gopperth, D Hudson.
Ulster, meanwhile, have named Paddy Jackson and Iain Henderson in the starting line-up to take on Llanelli Scarlets.
Henderson was 24th man, just outside of Joe Schmidt’s match-day squad against Wales while Jackson made a try-scoring impact off the bench.
Luke Marshall starts at inside centre after appearing off the bench in last week’s win over the Ospreys.
Outisde of him will be Darren Cave, Craig Gilroy, Michael Allen and Jared Payne with Ruan Pienaar completing a back-line that is missing only wings Andrew Trimble and Tommy Bowe from the perceived first choice.
Up front, Chris Henry and Rory Best are held back after two punishing international weeks, leaving opportunity at openside and hooker for Sean Doyle and Rob Herring with Niall Annett among the front row replacements.
Ulster (v Scarlets ): J Payne, C Gilroy, D Cave, L Marshall, M Allen, P Jackson, R Pienaar: T Court, R Herring, J Afoa, J Muller (Capt), I Henderson, R Wilson, S Doyle, N Williams.
Replacements: N Annett, C Black, R Lutton, R Diack, M McComish, P Marshall, R Scholes, R Andrew.
