Madigan returns for Leinster

Rugby: After coming from the bench to ignite a second half comeback against Aironi last week, Ian Madigan will start at outhalf against Connacht at the RDS on Saturday in one of two changes to Joe Schmidt's side.

When trailing 7-0 to the Italian side at the break, Madigan replaced young outhalf Noel Reid and almost immediately levelled the scores with a try and conversion.

Tries from Isa Nacewa, Luke Fitzgerald and Rhys Ruddock made the game safe in a convincing second half, so Schmidt’s only other change is to restore Kevin McLaughlin to the backrow after his recovery from injury.

Madigan will be fed by scrumhalf Cillian Willis, while Fitzgerald maintains his partnership with Eoin O’Malley and Nacewa, Fionn Carr and Dave Kearney remain the back three.

There is still no place for Andrew Conway in the matchday squad as the young wing continues to recover from an ankle injury.

Connacht are level on points with third-placed Leinster, but fourth by virtue of their lesser points difference, though Eric Elwood saw enough in last week’s bonus point defeat to Ospreys to resist changing things too much.

One of the three changes is enforced as Mark McCrea replaces the injured Tiernan O’Halloran, while Ethienne Reynecke makes way for Adrian Flavin in the frontrow.

Number eight Ray Ofisa will earn his 95th cap for the province in the backrow in a move that sees TJ Anderson benched and John Muldoon move the number six.

Leinster: I Nacewa; F Carr, E OMalley, L Fitzgerald, D Kearney; I Madigan, C Willis; H van der Merwe, R Strauss, J Hagan; S Sykes, D Toner; K McLaughlin, R Ruddock (capt), L Auvaa. Replacements: A Dundon, J McGrath, N White, D Browne, D Ryan, J Cooney, B Macken, D Hudson.

Connacht: G Duffy (capt); M McCrea, E Griffin, H Faafili, B Tuohy; N OConnor, F Murphy; B Wilkinson, A Flavin, D Rogers; M Swift, M McCarthy; J Muldoon, J OConnor, R Ofisa. Replacements: E Reynecke, R Loughney, R Ah You, D gannon, TJ Anderson, P ODonohue, M Jarvis, D McSharry.

Referee: P Fitzgibbon (IRFU)