Heineken Cup team news:David Kearney has been handed his Heineken Cup debut on the right wing for Leinster for Sunday's clash away to the Glasgow Warriors at Firhill (12.45pm).
The 22-year-old comes into the side due to a slight neck sprain suffered by Luke Fitzgerald, with coach Joe Schmidt deciding against risking the Irish international this weekend.
Kearney is joined in the back three by older brother Rob, who starts at fullback, with Isa Nacewa making up the back three after being named on the left wing.
The defending champions have been boosted by the inclusion of Gordon D’Arcy at inside centre after he shook off the rib injury he picked up in the first half of last week’s victory away to Cardiff Blues. He is again joined by Fergus McFadden in midfield.
In the pack, Leo Cullen returns in place of Mark Flanagan to lead the side from the secondrow, while Shane Jennings comes into the backrow instead of Kevin McLaughlin to start at openside, with Seán O’Brien moving across to the blindside.
Munster coach Tony McGahan keeps faith with the same 23 that delivered a bonus-point win over Treviso for Saturday’s clash with Castres at Thomond park (3.40pm).
Donnacha Ryan again gets the nod ahead of Donnacha O’Callaghan in the secondrow, despite the latter’s fine showing off the bench against the Italians last week.
Ryan will start alongside Paul O’Connell, who will skipper the side despite taking little part in Munster’s field sessions this week due to a cut to his knee. Backrow Niall Ronan also starts after recovering from the knee injury picked up against Treviso.
Depending on how things go in the Scarlets v Northampton game in Parc y Scarlets, a win for Munster could secure qualification before Munster have to go to Milton Keynes to play Northampton next weekend.
Ronan accepts that as things stand, they are guaranteed nothing yet.
“Of course the expectation is there among the supporters. We’re at home, top of the group and all that. But we know we still have to put in a performance. We don’t know what sort of a side they’ll send over but we do know they’re not going to come over and roll over. And it they get momentum get their tails up we know what they're capable of doing.”
Connacht make three changes to their starting XV for their daunting trip to play Toulouse on Saturday afternoon (3.40pm Irish time).
Paul O’Donohoe replaces the injured Frank Murphy at scrumhalf and he will be joined at halfback by Niall O’Connor, who takes over from Matthew Jarvis. The back five remain the same.
In the pack, John Muldoon moves to blindside flanker as Michael Kearney moves to the bench. Ray Ofisa comes in at openside with George Naoupu at number eight.
Munster (v Castres):D Hurley; J Murphy, K Earls, L Mafi, S Zebo; R O'Gara, C Murray; W du Preez, D Varley, BJ Botha, D Ryan, P O'Connell (capt), P O'Mahony, N Ronan, J Coughlan.
Replacements:D Fogarty, M Horan, S Archer, Donncha O'Callaghan, B Holland, T O'Leary, I Keatley, D Barnes.
Leinster (v Glasgow Warriors):R Kearney; D Kearney, F McFadden, G D'Arcy, I Nacewa; J Sexton, E Reddan; C Healy, S Cronin, M Ross, LCullen (Capt), D Toner, S O'Brien, S Jennings, J Heaslip.
Replacements:A Dundon, H van der Merwe, N White, D Browne, R Ruddock, I Boss, I Madigan, E O'Malley.
Connacht (v Toulouse):G Duffy (capt); Fetu'u Vainikolo, K Tonetti, D McSharry, T O'Halloran; N O'Connor, P O'Donohoe; B Wilkinson, A Flavin, D Rogers, M Swift, M McCarthy, J Muldoon, R Ofisa, G Naoupu.
Replacements:E Reynecke, D Buckley, S Maguire, M Kearney, E McKeon, D Moore, M Nikora, H Fa'afili.
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