Three changes to Leinster team to face Connacht in Champions Cup

about 2 years in The Irish Times

Leinster have restored Jamison Gibson-Park, Andrew Porter and Rónan Kelleher to their starting XV against Connacht in the second leg of the Heineken Champions Cup Round of 16 at the Aviva Stadium tomorrow (kick-off 5.30pm – live on BT Sport and RTÉ Radio One).
Meanwhile, Andy Friend makes one change as Connacht also rotate at scrumhalf, with Caolin Blade named to start and Kieran Marmion on the bench.
Porter and Kelleher are thus restored alongside Tadhg Furlong in the first-choice Irish frontrow which began the Six Nations, with Kelleher making his first appearance since the second round game in Paris when he suffered a shoulder injury in the first-half, and Porter his first appearance since sustaining an ankle injury in the third round game against Italy.
The trio are thus reunited as the starting frontrow for Leinster for the first time since the 89-7 pool win over Montpellier three months ago. Dan Sheehan drops to the bench, where Ed Byrne has been named ahead of Cian Healy.
Gibson-Park, who was yellow carded for a high hit on Marmion in the first leg and had an ensuing citing dismissed, thus partners Johnny Sexton with Luke McGrath among the replacements, where Rhys Ruddock is also restored in place of Max Deegan.
In addition to the change at scrumhalf, there are two further alterations on the Connacht bench, with the inclusion of the fit again Denis Buckley, and hooker Jonny Murphy. As with Leinster replacement Ciarán Frawley, Connacht’s Conor Fitzgerald will make his 50th appearance for the province if called upon.
Leinster: Hugo Keenan; Jimmy O’Brien, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe; Johnny Sexton (capt), Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong, Ross Molony, Josh Murphy, Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan.
Replacements: Dan Sheehan, Ed Byrne, Michael Ala’alatoa, Devin Toner, Rhys Ruddock, Luke McGrath, Ross Byrne, Ciarán Frawley.
Connacht: Tiernan O’Halloran; John Porch, Tom Farrell, Bundee Aki, Mack Hansen; Jack Carty (capt), Caolin Blade; Matthew Burke, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham, Gavin Thornbury, Leva Fifita, Cian Pendergast, Conor Oliver, Jarrad Butler.
Replacements: Johnny Murphy, Denis Buckley, Jack Aungier, Oisin Dowling, Abraham Papali’i, Kieran Marmion, Conor Fitzgerald, Sammy Arnold.
Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU).

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