Byrne to make European debut

Ross Byrne has been named in the Leinster starting XV for Saturday's European Champions Cup clash against Northampton Saints at the Aviva Stadium.

With Joey Carbery ruled out through injury, Byrne will make his European debut after impressing when introduced off the bench last weekend, joining Luke McGrath in the half-back line.

The only other change to the side that defeated Northampton in Franklin's Gardens last Friday sees Zane Kirchner come in for the injured Rob Kearney at full-back. Isa Nacewa and Adam Byrne start on the wings as Garry Ringrose and Robbie Henshaw continue in the centre.

Jack McGrath, Sean Cronin and Tadhg Furlong are retained in the front row as Devin Toner locks down with Hayden Triggs in the second row.

Sean O'Brien was taken off as a precaution in the win over the Saints but he has been passed fit to start in the back row alongside Josh van der Flier and Jamie Heaslip.

Leinster (XV v Northampton): Z Kirchner; A Byrne, G Ringrose, R Henshaw, I Nacewa; R Byrne, L McGrath; J McGrath, S Cronin, T Furlong, D Toner, H Triggs, S O'Brien, J van der Flier, J Heaslip.

Replacements: JTracy, C Healy, M Bent, R Ruddock, J Conan, J Gibson-Park, Reid, O'Loughlin.

Rassie Erasmus has kept faith with the Munster XV that ran out impressive winners against Leicester Tigers for the return game at Welford Road.

Munster inflicted a heavy defeat on the Aviva Premiership side last Saturday and there is no surprise to see Erasmus stick with the winning team.

Simon Zebo starts at full back and is joined in the back three by Darren Sweetnam and Keith Earls as Jaco Taute, Rory Scannell continue in midfield. It's as you were in the half-backs with Tyler Bleyendaal starting alongside Conor Murray.

Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell and John Ryan get the nod in the front row as Donnacha Ryan and Billy Holland are named in the second row. Peter O'Mahony, Tommy O'Donnell and CJ Stander complete the pack.

Munster (XV v Leicester): S Zebo; D Sweetnam, J Taute, R Scannell, K Earls; T Bleyendaal, C Murray; D Kilcoyne, N Scannell, J Ryan, D Ryan, B Holland, P O'Mahony, T O'Donnell, CJ Stander.

Replacements: R Marshall, J Cronin, S Archer, J Kleyn, J O'Donoghue, D Williams, I Keatley, A Conway.

There is just one change to the Ulster team for the trip to face ASM Clermont Auvergne on Sunday.

Ulster defeated the Top 14 side 39-32 last weekend and they will be hoping to do it all again this weekend as Franco van der Merwe comes into the second row in place of Robbie Diack, who has been ruled out through injury.

Van der Merwe joins Pete Browne in the second row with Rory Best, Kyle McCall and Wiehahn Herbst making up the front row and Ireland trio Iain Henderson, Chris Henry and Sean Reidy named in the back row.

Charles Piutau takes his place at full-back in a back three that also includes Tommy Bowe and Louis Ludik, while Stuart McCloskey and Luke Marshall continue in midfield. Ruan Pienaar and Paddy Jackson are retained in the half-back line.

Ulster (XV v ASM Clermont Auvergne): C Piutau, T Bowe, L Marshall, S McCloskey, L Ludik, P Jackson, R Pienaar; K McCall, R Best, W Herbst, P Browne, F van der Merwe, I Henderson, C Henry, S Reidy.

Replacements: R Herring, A Warwick, R Ah You, K Treadwell, C Ross, P Marshall, D Cave, J Stockdale.

Pat Lam has made four changes for the visit of Wasps to the Sportsground.

Rory Parata is named in the centre for his first Champions Cup start in place of the injured Stacey Ili, while Matt Healy comes on to the left wing for the injured Cian Kelleher.

Tiernan O'Halloran and Niyi Adeolokun join Healy in the back three as Bundee Aki is named alongside Parata in the centre. Jack Carty and Kieran Marmion are retained in the half-back line.

Finlay Bealham packs down with Denis Buckley and Tom McCartney in the front row as Ultan Dillane once again starts alongside Quinn Roux.

Eoin McKeon comes in at blindside flanker while Nepia Fox-Matamua shifts to openside in the absence of the injured Jake Heenan. John Muldoon is named at number 8.

Connacht (XV v Wasps): T O'Halloran; N Adeolokun, R Parata, B Aki, M Healy; J Carty, K Marmion; D Buckley, T McCartney, F Bealham, U Dillane, Q Roux, E McKeon, N Fox-Matamua, J Muldoon.

Replacements: D Heffernan, JP Cooney, C Carey, L Stevenson, S O'Brien, C Blade, D Poolman, N Dawai.

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