Jordie Barrett denied Leinster debut as Springboks star returns for URC derby against Ulster
RG Snyman is on the bench for Leinster while Nick Timoney starts for Ulster.
Leinster fans will have to wait to see Jordie Barrett in action after his name was missing from their squad to face Ulster in the United Rugby Championship.
The All Black was set to arrive in Leinster’s camp this week but it seems his debut will come next Sunday when they begin their Champions Cup campaign at Bristol.
Leinster are, however, boosted by the return to fitness of Jack Conan, who will captain the side in their derby clash with Ulster as the URC returns on Friday night.
11 changes
Head coach Leo Cullen has made 11 changes from the team that overcame the Lions in Dublin last month, with a few players returning after injury, notably Conan.
Elsewhere, Jimmy O’Brien, Jordan Larmour and John McKee have all recovered from injury to take their places in the starting team for the Kingspan Stadium clash.
Andrew Osborne joins Larmour and O’Brien in the back three as Liam Turner is named at centre alongside Charlie Tector, whose 12 jersey could soon be Barrett‘s.
Ross Byrne starts at 10, where he will be partnered by Luke McGrath at scrum-half, with Fintan Gunne and Harry Byrne providing the half-back cover on the bench.
McKee will be joined by Jack Boyle and Rabah Slimani in the front-row while Diarmuid Mangan will make his first appearance of the season alongside Brian Deeny.
Conan captains the side from number eight, with Will Connors and Max Deegan completing the back-row, with Springboks star RG Snyman occupying a bench spot.
Meanwhile, Ulster celebrate 100 years of rugby at Ravenhill this Friday as head coach Richie Murphy reveals his team for the United Rugby Championship clash.
Alan O’Connor leads the side and is joined by Kieran Treadwell in the second-row, with Eric O’Sullivan and Scott Wilson propping either side of James McCormick.
The back-row sees James McNabney start at blindside with Nick Timoney starting on the openside flank and David McCann completing the pack at number eight.
The half-back partnership sees Nathan Doak at scrum-half and Aidan Morgan starting at 10 while Jude Postlethwaite and Ben Carson form the centre partnership.
On the wings, Michael Lowry gets the nod in the 11 shirt on the left with Werner Kok starting on the right wing and Stewart Moore makes an injury return at full-back.
Murphy opts for a 5:3 split on the bench with Tom Stewart making a welcome return to the matchday squad for the first time this campaign following an ankle injury.
Stewart is joined by Andrew Warwick, Corrie Barrett, Harry Sheridan, Marcus Rea, John Cooney, James Humphreys and Ben Moxham as the replacement options.
The teams
Leinster: 15 Jimmy O’Brien, 14 Jordan Larmour, 13 Liam Turner, 12 Charlie Tector, 11 Andrew Osborne, 10 Ross Byrne, 9 Luke McGrath, 8 Jack Conan (c), 7 Will Connors, 6 Max Deegan, 5 Brian Deeny, 4 Diarmuid Mangan, 3 Rabah Slimani, 2 John McKee, 1 Jack Boyle
Replacements: 16 Lee Barron, 17 Michael Milne, 18 Rory McGuire, 19 RG Snyman, 20 James Culhane, 21 Fintan Gunne, 22 Harry Byrne, 23 Scott Penny
Ulster: 15 Stewart Moore, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Ben Carson, 12 Jude Postlethwaite, 11 Michael Lowry, 10 Aidan Morgan, 9 Nathan Doak, 8 David McCann, 7 Nick Timoney, 6 James McNabney, 5 Kieran Treadwell, 4 Alan O’Connor (c), 3 Scott Wilson, 2 James McCormick, 1 Eric O’Sullivan
Replacements: 16 Tom Stewart, 17 Andrew Warwick, 18 Corrie Barrett, 19 Harry Sheridan, 20 Marcus Rea, 21 John Cooney, 22 James Humphreys, 23 Ben Moxham
Date: Friday, November 29
Venue: Kingspan Stadium
Kick-off: 19:35 GMT
Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU)
Assistant Referees: Andrew Cole (IRFU), Andrew Fogarty (IRFU)
TMO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)
READ MORE: Siya Kolisi ‘experiment’ continues as Springboks-laden Sharks named for Stormers clash
