Leinster ring the changes, Iain Henderson back for Ulster

Leinster have rung the changes to their starting line-up for Saturday’s Champions Cup quarter-final against Ulster at the Aviva Stadium.

There are 12 alterations to the side which lost to Edinburgh in the PRO14 last weekend with Jordan Larmour starting at full-back and Adam Byrne and Dave Kearney on the wings.

Rory O’Loughlin and Garry Ringrose are the centre partnership with Luke McGrath and Ross Byrne named in the half backs.

In the pack, Cian Healy, Seán Cronin and Tadhg Furlong are selected in the front-row with Scott Fardy and James Ryan behind them in the second-row.

Rhys Ruddock captains the side from blindside flanker, with Seán O’Brien on the openside and Jack Conan completing the pack at the base of the scrum.

On the bench Mick Kearney is in line to play his 50th game for the Irish province for what might also be his first game in the Champions Cup this season.

Andrew Porter is also in line to win his 50th cap from the bench.

Meanwhile, Luke Marshall has been included in Ulster’s matchday squad for the first time this season, after overcoming an ACL injury sustained against Ospreys in May last year.

Marshall is joined among the replacements by Sean Reidy, who is set to make his 100th Ulster appearance.

Ireland hooker Rory Best will captain the province in what will be his 75th European game and he will pack down alongside Eric O’Sullivan and Marty Moore in the front-row.

Iain Henderson has recovered from injury and will partner Kieran Treadwell in the second-row.

Jordi Murphy will play against his former club for the first time since his move to Ulster last summer – he’s selected in a back-row that also includes Marcell Coetzee and Nick Timoney.

John Cooney and Billy Burns will continue their half-back partnership that has been so pivotal in Europe this season, with the latter having made five try assists.

Stuart McCloskey and Darren Cave are again paired in midfield, while Jacob Stockdale, the competition’s joint top try scorer (six), is joined in the back three by Ulster Academy players Michael Lowry and Robert Baloucoune.

Rob Herring, Andy Warwick, Wiehahn Herbst, Alan O’Connor, Dave Shanahan and Angus Kernohan will join Marshall and Sean Reidy on the bench.

The teams:

Leinster: 15 Jordan Larmour, 14 Adam Byrne, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Rory O’Loughlin, 11 Dave Kearney, 10 Ross Byrne, 9 Luke McGrath, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Seán O’Brien, 6 Rhys Ruddock (c), 5 James Ryan, 4 Scott Fardy, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Seán Cronin, 1 Cian Healy
Replacements: 16 James Tracy, 17 Ed Byrne, 18 Andrew Porter, 19 Mick Kearney, 20 Dan Leavy, 21 Jamison Gibson-Park, 22 Noel Reid, 23 Rob Kearney

Ulster: 15 Michael Lowry, 14 Robert Baloucoune, 13 Darren Cave, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Jacob Stockdale, 10 Billy Burns, 9 John Cooney, 8 Marcelle Coetzee, 7 Jordi Murphy, 6 Nick Timoney, 5 Kieran Treadwell, 4 Iain Henderson, 3 Marty Moore, 2 Rory Best (c), 1 Eric O’Sullivan
Replacements: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Andy Warwick, 18 Wiehahn Herbst, 19 Alan O’Connor, 20 Sean Reidy, 21 Dave Shanahan, 22 Luke Marshall, 23 Angus Kernohan

Date: Saturday, March 30
Venue: Aviva Stadium
Kick-off: 17:45 GMT
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant referees: Pierre Brousset (France), Vincent Blasco Baqué (France)
Television match official: Denis Grenouillet (France)