Rieko Ioane and RG Snyman start as Leinster make 12 changes

Leinster have rung the changes in emphatic fashion for Round 11 of the BKT United Rugby Championship, with a side stripped of its Ireland internationals as they continue Six Nations preparations in the Algarve.

Head coach Leo Cullen has named a team packed with rotation and opportunity for Saturday’s clash with Edinburgh at Aviva Stadium, as the province negotiate a busy block without their Test contingent.

Just three names survive from the starting XV who beat Stuart Lancaster’s Connacht at the Dexcom.

The headline inclusions see Rieko Ioane lining up in the centres alongside rookie Ciarán Mangan, while towering Springboks lock RG Snyman returns to the engine room. He partners Brian Deeny.

Luke McGrath captains the side from scrum-half, with Charlie Tector switching into the number ten jersey after his Player of the Match display at 12 against Connacht last weekend.

Mangan is set to make his first Leinster start following a debut cameo off the bench against Zebre Parma in October, while Ruben Moloney also earns his first senior start on the wing. He is joined in the back three by Joshua Kenny and Andrew Osborne at full-back.

Up front, Andrew Sparrow makes his first start at tighthead prop, with John McKee at hooker and Jerry Cahir packing down on the loosehead side.

Max Deegan and Scott Penny flank Diarmuid Mangan at No.8. It’s a position that the 6’6, 120kg Mangan, who can normally be found in the second-row or blindside, has never played before for Leinster at senior level.

Among the replacements, Niall Smyth is included after making his debut last week.

Hooker Gus McCarthy and Alex Usanov make-up the rest of the front row. Conor O’Tighernaigh, Josh Ericson and Will Connors provide back-row and lock cover in a 6/2 split, with Fintan Gunne and Hugo McLaughlin completing the matchday 23.

“Edinburgh are a pretty cohesive bunch,” said Leinster assistant coach Robin McBryde. “I think they’ll be hurting after their result last weekend. They’ll be keen to finish this block on a high as well.

“It’s always good to finish on a victory before any sort of break because the result sits with you. So it’ll be tough enough. We’ve just got to improve on certain aspects of the game from last Saturday and really knuckle down.”

Leinster:
15. Andrew Osborne
14. Joshua Kenny
13. Rieko Ioane
12. Ciarán Mangan
11. Ruben Moloney
10. Charlie Tector
9. Luke McGrath
1. Jerry Cahir
2. John McKee
3. Andrew Sparrow
4. RG Snyman
5. Brian Deeny
6. Max Deegan
7. Scott Penny
8. Diarmuid Mangan

Replacements:
16. Gus McCarthy
17. Alex Usanov
18. Niall Smyth
19. Conor O’Tighearnaigh
20. Josh Ericson
21. Will Connors
22. Fintan Gunne
23. Hugo McLaughlin