LEINSTER HEAD COACH Leo Cullen has made 11 changes to his starting team to face Ulster at the Kingspan Stadium tomorrow [KO 5.15pm, BBC NI] on the final regular-season day of the Guinness Pro12.
With a semi-final already secured, there is no sign of Johnny Sexton and Robbie Henshaw in the Leinster side, although Ireland internationals Jack McGrath, Tadhg Furlong, Devin Toner, Garry Ringrose and Luke McGrath return.
Captain Isa Nacewa is at fullback in a back three that sees Adam Byrne and Fergus McFadden retained on the wings, while Ringrose joins Noel Reid in midfield.
Joey Carbery starts at out-half after kicking the winning penalty against Glasgow last weekend, while McGrath and Furlong join James Tracy in the front row. Devin Toner and Hayden Triggs are the locks, as Rhys Ruddock and Josh van der Flier are joined in the back row by the fit-again Jack Conan.
Former Ireland U20s loosehead Andrew Porter is named on the bench as tighthead cover after his recent switch to that side of the scrum.
Meanwhile, Ruan Pienaar has recovered from a back issue to take Ulster’s nine shirt in what will be his final game for the province before a move to Montpellier this summer.
Roger Wilson, Ulster’s most capped player, will also say goodbye to the Kingspan Stadium crowd by making his 221st appearance from number eight.
Rodney Ah You and Rob Herring come into the Ulster front row, while Wilson replaces Iain Henderson in the back row, but otherwise Les Kiss’ side is unchanged from the defeat to the Ospreys last time out.
Henderson, Jared Payne and Rory Best are not included as Ulster rest them ahead of their involvement with this summer’s Lions tour.
Ulster:
15. Craig Gilroy
14. Andrew Trimble (captain)
13. Luke Marshall
12. Stuart McCloskey
11. Charles Piutau
10. Paddy Jackson
9. Ruan Pienaar
1. Andy Warwick
2. Rob Herring
3. Rodney Ah You
4. Kieran Treadwell
5. Alan O’Connor
6. Robbie Diack
7. Sean Reidy
8. Roger Wilson
Replacements:
16. John Andrew
17. Kyle McCall
18. Ricky Lutton
19. Chris Henry
20. Nick Timoney
21. Paul Marshall
22. Peter Nelson
23. Jacob Stockdale
Leinster:
15. Isa Nacewa (captain)
14. Adam Byrne
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Noel Reid
11. Fergus McFadden
10. Joey Carbery
9. Luke McGrath
1. Jack McGrath
2. James Tracy
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Devin Toner
5. Hayden Triggs
6. Rhys Ruddock
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Jack Conan
Replacements:
16. Richardt Strauss
17. Cian Healy
18. Andrew Porter
19. Ross Molony
20. Dan Leavy
21. Jamison Gibson-Park
22. Ross Byrne
23. Rory O’Loughlin
Referee: Andrew Brace [IRFU].
- This article was updated at 2.50pm to indicate a change on Ulster’s bench, with Ricky Lutton replacing Wiehahn Herbst after the latter was ruled out with a knee injury.
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
