Provinces make changes for European clashes

There are six changes to the Munster starting XV for Saturday's Champions Cup clash with the Leicester Tigers.

Although he has made changes to the side that defeated Glasgow Warriors in the Guinness PRO12 last weekend, director of rugby Rassie Erasmus has kept faith with the same team that defeated the Scottish side in the Champions Cup in October.

Simon Zebo returns at full-back and is joined in the back three by Keith Earls and Darren Sweetnam, while Jaco Taute and Rory Scannell are retained in midfield.

Conor Murray returns to the half-back line where he will be partnered by Tyler Bleyendaal.

Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell and John Ryan are retained in the front row as Donnacha Ryan comes into the second row to partner Billy Holland. The final change sees CJ Stander start in the back row alongside captain Peter O'Mahony and Tommy O'Donnell.

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, T Du Toit, S Archer, J Kleyn, J O'Donoghue, D Williams, I Keatley, A Conway.

Ireland international Rory Best and Paddy Jackson return to the Ulster starting XV for the Pool 5 game against ASM Clermont Auvergne.

Jackson returns to join Ruan Pienaar at half back, while Stuart McCloskey and Luke Marshall will continue in midfield.

Charles Piutau is named at full-back in a back three that also includes Tommy Bowe and Louis Ludik.

Best will captain the side from hooker, joining Kyle McCall and Wiehahn Herbst in the front row, while Robbie Diack will lock down with Pete Browne in the second row.

Iain Henderson, Chris Henry and Sean Reidy complete the pack.

Ulster (XV v ASM Clermont Auvergne): C Piutau; T Bowe, L Marshall, S McCloskey, L Ludikl; P Jackson, R Pienaar; K McCall, R Best, W Herbst, P Browne, R Diack, 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 personnel changes to his Connacht team for the trip to the Ricoh Arena to face Wasps.

Niyi Adeolokun returns to take his place on the right wing and his inclusion means Cian Kelleher moves to the left with Tiernan O’Halloran completing the back three.

Stacey Ili and Bundee Aki are once again named in the centre while Kieran Marmion and Jack Carty will take their place in the half-back line.

Denis Buckley, Tom McCartney and Conor Carey get the nod in the front row as Ultan Dillane returns for his first game since international duty to join Quinn Roux in the second row.

There are no changes to the back row as Nepia Fox-Matamua, Jake Heenan and John Muldoon are retained.

Connacht (XV v Wasps): T O'Halloran; N Adeolokun, S Ili, B Aki, C Kelleher; J Carty, K Marmion; D Buckley, T McCartney, C Carey, U Dillane, Q Roux, N Fox-Matamua, J Heenan, J Muldoon.

Replacements: D Heffernan, JP Cooney, F Bealham, S O'Brien, E McKeon, C Blade, R Parata, P Robb.

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