Sexton starts for Leinster, but Connacht without key players due to illness

Johnny Sexton will start for Leinster in Sunday's BKT United Rugby Championship Interpro against Connacht (live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player), but Tadhg Furlong again misses out with an ankle injury.

The tighthead prop has missed the last three games due to the knock he picked up late in the province's win against Ulster in early December, and while he has trained in a limited capacity in the last two weeks, he hasn't been cleared to play by head coach Leo Cullen.

The league leaders are well stocked with Ireland internationals though, with Sexton captaining a side that sees 13 changes from Monday's win against Munster, with Jordan Larmour and Ryan Baird the only two to retain their places.

Larmour is the only back retained in the side, starting on the right wing as Jimmy O'Brien and Rob Russell come into the back three, while there's a new centre pairing of Charlie Ngatai and Liam Turner.

Sexton comes in at out-half to replace Ross Byrne, who is given the night off having played every game so far this season, and partners Jamison Gibson-Park in a first choice half-back pairing.

Rónan Kelleher packs down in between Michael Milne and Michael Ala'alatoa in an all-new front row, while Brian Deeny makes his first start of the season in the second row alongside James Ryan.

Baird shifts to the back row, and is joined by Caelan Doris and Josh van der Flier.

Connacht are without Finlay Bealham, Mack Hansen and Bundee Aki, making eight changes from the recent defeat to Ulster.

Aki is rested, while Bealham, Hansen and Josh Murphy have all been ruled out due to illness.

Adam Byrne doesn't make the cut, having been dealing with a foot issue this week, but Peter Dooley and David Hawkshaw both start having joined Connacht from this weekend's