McCloskey back for Ulster

Stuart McCloskey returns to the Ulster starting XV for Saturday's trip to Cardiff Blues in the Guinness PRO12.

McCloskey has not featured for the province since September because of a foot injury but he has been passed fit and will take his place in midfield alongside Luke Marshall as Ruan Pienaar and Brett Herron continue in the half backs.

Charles Piutau has been named at full-back and is joined in the back three by Tommy Bowe and Craig Gilroy.

Chris Henry makes his first appearance of the season having been named at openside flanker in a back row that also features Iain Henderson and Sean Reidy.

Pete Browne and Franco van der Merwe will lock down in the second row with captain Rob Herring joined in the front row by Kyle McCall and Wiehahn Herbst.

Ulster (XV v Cardiff): C Piutau; T Bowe, L Marshall, S McCloskey, C Gilroy; B Herron, R Pienaar; K McCall, R Herring, W Herbst, P Browne, F van der Merwe, I Henderson, C Henry, S Reidy.

Replacements: J Andrew, A Warwick, R Ah You, K Treadwell, C Ross, P Marshall, L Ludik, D Cave.

Leinster captain Isa Nacewa moves to the left win for the visit of the Newport Gwent Dragons to the RDS.

Nacewa's switch is to accommodate Zane Kirchner's return at full-back with Adam Byrne starting on the right wing as Noel Reid and Rory O’Loughlin continue in the centre.

Luke McGrath and Joey Carbery get the nod in the half-back line following their return from international dity.

James Tracy comes in from the start having come off the bench against Scarlets and he joins Peter Dooley and Michael Bent in the front row, while there is a new second row pairing with Ross Molony and Hayden Triggs starting.

Rhys Ruddock comes in for the injured Dominic Ryan in the back row alongside Dan Leavy and Jack Conan.

Leinster (XV v Dragons): Z Kirchner; A Byrne, R O'LOughlin, N Reid, I Nacewa; J Carbery, L McGrath; P Dooley, J Tracy, M Bent, R Molony, H Triggs, R Ruddock, D Leavy, J Conan.

Replacements: R Strauss, A Porter, J Loughman, M McCarthy, M Deegan, C Rock, R Byrne, T Daly.

There are four changes to the Connacht starting XV for the visit of Treviso to the Sportsground.

Marnitz Boshoff makes his first start for the province at fly-half and he will be joined by scrum-half John Cooney, while Cian Kelleher shifts from full-back to right wing to make way for Tiernan O'Halloran. Matt Healy starts on the left wing. Stacey Ili moves into midfield to partner Bundee Aki.

There is just one change to the pack with Nepia Fox-Matamua named at blindside.

Connacht (XV v Treviso): T O'Halloran; C Kelleher, B Aki, S Ili, M Healy; M Boshoff, J Cooney; D Buckley, T McCartney, C Carey, Q Roux, J Cannon, N Fox-Matamua, J Heenan, J Muldoon.

Replacements: D Heffernan, JP COoney, D Roberston-McCoy, S O'Brien, E McKeon, C Blade, J Carty, R Parata.