Irish provinces make some ballsy calls as teams named for Champions Cup grudge matches

Well, we know Dylan Hartley won't be showing up at the Aviva anyway.

However, neither will Joey Carbery or Johnny Sexton, leaving Leo Cullen with no choice but to name the inexperienced Ross Byrne at fly-half as the three-time winners look to take huge step towards winning Pool 4 on Saturday night (7.15pm). Having kept Leicester scoreless in Thomond Park last weekend, Munster will travel to Welford Road expecting a response but Rassie Erasmus can at least name an unchanged team for the Pool 1 clash, which kicks off another fantastic weekend of rugby for the provinces on Saturday (3.15pm).

Leinster XV: Zane Kirchner; Adam Byrne, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, Isa Nacewa; Ross Byrne, Luke McGrath; Jack McGrath, Sean Cronin, Tadhg Furlong, Devin Toner, Hayden Triggs; Sean O’Brien,Josh van der Flier, Jamie Heaslip  Replacements: James Tracy, Cian Healy, Michael Bent, Rhys Ruddock, Jack Conan, Jamison Gibson-Park, Noel Reid, Rory O’Loughlin (7)

Munster XV: Simon Zebo; Darren Sweetnam, Jaco Taute, Rory Scannell, Keith Earls; Tyler Bleyendaal, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell, John Ryan; Donnacha Ryan, Billy Holland; Peter O’Mahony – capt., Tommy O’Donnell, CJ Stander. Replacements: Rhys Marshall, Thomas Du Toit, Stephen Archer, Jean Kleyn, Jack O’Donoghue, Duncan Williams, Ian Keatley, Andrew Conway

Connacht are without wing wizard Cian Kelleher, Stacey Ili and Jake Heenan but Finlay Bealham returns as they welcome Wasps to the Sportsground on Saturday afternoon (5.30pm).

Connacht XV: Tiernan O’Halloran;  Niyi Adeolokun, Rory Parata, Bundee Aki, Matt Healy; Jack Carty, Kieran Marmion; Denis Buckley, Tom McCartney, Finlay Bealham; Ultan Dillane, Quinn Roux; Eoin McKeon, Nepia Fox-Matamua, John Muldoon (captain) 

Replacements: Dave Heffernan,  JP Cooney, Conor Carey, Lewis Stevenson, Sean O’Brien, Caolin Blade, Danie Poolman, Naulia Dawai (0)

 

Ulster have undoubtedly the most daunting task of the weekend, travelling to France to take on Clermont on Sunday (4.05pm) after they took two bonus points from Kingspan Stadium in defeat last weekend after a cracking game. https://twitter.com/UlsterRugby/status/809729571520151553