URC team news: Leinster changes; international trio back for Connacht

The Leinster team to take on Connacht in the URC on Saturday evening sees Alex Soroka make his first appearance of the season, while international trio Bundee Aki, Mack Hansen and Finlay Bealham all return for the visitors.

Jack Conan captains Leinster from number eight with Soroka and Scott Penny joining him in the back row in a side that shows 13 changes from that which defeated Clermont Auvergne in the Champions Cup.

Jordie Barrett switches to 12 and Jimmy O'Brien swapping from the wing to full-back.

Diarmuid Mangan is one of five academy players named in the starting XV and he will partner RG Snyman in the second row. Jack Boyle and Rabah Slimani will scrum down either side of academy hooker Gus McCarthy in a repeat of the same front row who faced Connacht in October.

The experienced duo of Ross Byrne and Luke McGrath will steer the ship from the half-back positions, with Academy star Charlie Tector selected to partner Barrett in the centre.

With O'Brien at full-back, Andrew Osborne, who scored in October's win over Pete Wilkins' in Galway, and Aitzol Arenzana-King have been given the nod on the wings.

Lee Barron, Michael Milne and Cian Healy provide the front row cover from the bench with Brian Deeny, Ryan Baird and Max Deegan offering further reinforcements in a 6:2 split.

Jamison Gibson-Park and Harry Byrne will provide a change of pace as the replacement half-backs.

For Connacht, iBundee Aki, Mack Hansen and Finlay Bealham all start for the first time since the November internationals, with two other players named in that Ireland squad - captain Cian Prendergast and Dave Heffernan - also in the starting XV.

Elsewhere Josh Ioane returns from injury to play for the first time since the end of October – he lines out at