URC team news: Johnny Sexton starts derby as Tadhg Beirne misses out

Johnny Sexton and Ciarán Frawley will both start for Leinster in Saturday's BKT United Rugby Championship against Munster at the Aviva Stadium, live RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.

Leinster skipper Sexton returns at out-half, having missed last week’s win over Connacht, with Frawley named at full-back after making his return from injury as a replacement in Galway.

Leo Cullen has made nine changes to his starting line-up as Robbie Henshaw resumes his centre partnership with Garry Ringrose. Jimmy O’Brien shifts to the wing to accommodate Frawley’s inclusion with Jamie Osborne completing the back three.

Luke McGrath partners Sexton at half-back while ex-Munster lock Jason Jenkins, Cian Healy, Max Deegan and Scott Penny come into the pack.

Munster are without Ireland forwards Peter O’Mahony and Tadhg Beirne as they make eight changes to the side that claimed a morale-boosting win over the Vodacom Bulls.

O’Mahony did not come through training because of a neck injury but will still join the Ireland squad next week. There was no update on Beirne, however, who was due to have a scan on a groin injury.

Jack Crowley starts at full-back for the first time, having impressed as a second playmaker alongside Joey Carbery when introduced against the Bulls, while Rory Scannell and Conor Murray come in at inside centre and scrum-half respectively.

Forwards Diarmuid Barron, Keynan Knox, Tom Ahern and John Hodnett all make their first starts of the season with Jack O’Donoghue captaining the side from blindside flanker.

Leinster: Ciarán Frawley; Jimmy O'Brien, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, Jamie Osborne; Johnny Sexton (capt), Luke McGrath; Cian Healy, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong; Jason Jenkins, James Ryan; Max Deegan, Scott Penny, Caelan Doris.

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