Leinster Head Coach Leo Cullen has made 12 changes for his side's trip to Wales to face Newport-Gwent Dragons tomorrow night. Over 30 players are missing through international call-ups and injury.
Luke McGrath has also been named captain for the game for the first time in his Leinster career as he makes his seventh start of the campaign. It's his most starts to date in a single season in his 38 appearances to date.
There is one positional switch in the backs as try scorer from last week Zane Kirchner switches from the right wing to full-back, with Fergus McFadden returning from suspension to take his place on the left wing while Academy winger Adam Byrne makes his first start for Leinster on the right wing just over three years after his first and only cap to date for Leinster.
On that occasion Byrne came off the bench against Connacht in a 17-0 home win to become the youngest player to ever play for Leinster at just 18 years, eight months and twenty days. Injuries have cut across his progress since then but the UCD club man has been performing very well this season for UCD in the AIL, the Leinster 'A' team in the British & Irish Cup and indeed with the Irish 7s team.
Elsehwere Ben Te'o and Garry Ringrose renew their partnership in the centre, while St Michael's past-pupils Luke McGrath and Cathal Marsh fill the number nine and ten jerseys respectively.
In the pack Peter Dooley, James Tracy and Michael Bent start in the front row with all three starters last week in Irish camp or injured.
Ross Molony is joined by Hayden Triggs in the second row. Triggs makes his first start since injuring his ankle in the Champions Cup game against Bath in November, an injury that subsequently required surgery.
Dominic Ryan at blind side and Jordi Murphy at number eight are retained from last weekend, while Dan Leavy comes into the pack at open side. Leavy is the leading try scorer in this seasons British & Irish Cup with eight tries in the six Pool 1 games.
On the bench Academy players Jeremy Loughman, Oisín Heffernan and Peadar Timmins are all in line to make their Leinster debuts. Loughman and Heffernan are both in their first year in the Academy and Timmins, who has captained the Leinster 'A' team this season is in his second.
Leinster team and replacements to face Newport-Gwent Dragons:
(15-9): Zane Kirchner, Adam Byrne, Garry Ringrose, Ben Te'o, Fergus McFadden, Cathal Marsh, Luke McGrath (capt).
(1-9): Peter Dooley, James Tracy, Michael Bent, Ross Molony, Hayden Triggs, Dominic Ryan, Dan Leavy, Jordi Murphy.
Replacements (16-23): Richardt Strauss, Jeremy Loughman, Oisín Heffernan, Tadhg Beirne, Peadar Timmins, Isaac Boss, Ian Madigan, Noel Reid.
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