Magners League: Leinster V Connacht

Leinster and Ireland fans will be delighted to see Malcolm O’Kelly back in action on Saturday in Donnybrook as Connacht come calling.

Magners League

Leinster V Connacht

Donnybrook, Saturday March 24th, 5:15 p.m.

Leinster

Malcolm O’Kelly returns to the Leinster pack and will partner Trevor Hogan, a second half replacement in Ireland’s 51-24 victory over Italy last weekend, in the second row.

Hogan is also joined by the returning Shane Horgan, Girvan Dempsey and Denis Hickie after starring for Ireland in recent weeks.

Vacancies have been left at inside centre and out-half with one from Christian Warner, Gordon D’Arcy, Felipe Contepomi and Jonathan Sexton due to drop to the bench and one other out of the panel.

On the replacements bench, a decision will be made closer to kick off on the reserve prop and outside back replacements.

Connacht

Connacht have made four changes to the side which beat Border Reivers, ahead of their derby clash with Leinster in Donnybrook on Saturday (kick off 5.15pm).

Gavin Duffy is named at full back as he returns to the starting line up for the first time since returning to Connacht from Harlequins three weeks ago. Daniel Riordan and Gavin Williams are to form a new centre partnership in place of John Hearty and Mark McHugh who are named among the replacements and Andrew Farley returns from injury to captain Connacht for the fourth time this season, as he is named in the starting line up in place of Michael Swift.

Teams

Leinster
15: Girvan Dempsey; 14: Shane Horgan; 13: Kieran Lewis; 12/10: Christian Warner, Gordon D’Arcy, Felipe Contepomi, Jonathan Sexton; 11: Denis Hickie;10: (see 12/10); 9: Chris Whitaker

1: Stanley Wright; 2: Bernard Jackman; 3: Will Green; 4: Trevor Hogan; 5: Malcolm O’Kelly; 6: Stephen Keogh; 7: Keith Gleeson; 8: Jamie Heaslip

Replacements:

16: Brian Blaney; 17: Reggie Corrigan / Fosi Pala’amo; 18: Owen Finegan; 19: Cameron Jowitt
20: Guy Easterby; 21: (see 12/10); 22: Luke Fitzgerald / Rob Kearney

Connacht
Gavin Duffy; Darren Yapp, Daniel Riordan, Gavin Williams, Conor McPhillips; Paul Warwick, Chris Keane; Brett Wilkinson, Adrian Flavin, Stephen Knoop; David Gannon, Andrew Farley (C); John Muldoon, Ray Ofisa, Colm Rigney.

Replacements:
John Fogarty, Ray Hogan, Michael Swift, Matt Lacey, Mark McHugh, John Hearty, David Slemen.