Leinster debut for Ben Te’o as Kevin McLaughlin returns

Kevin McLaughlin returns from injury to lead Leinster out against Edinburgh at the RDS on Friday night, while new recruit Ben Te'o will debut at outside centre beside Noel Reid.

The backrow is one of eight changes to the side that edged past Castres in the European Champions Cup last weekend, but the PRO12 game has come too soon for Jordi Murphy, Dave Kearney and Fergus McFadden, all of whom trained this week before the decision was taken to rest them further after long injury lay offs.

"It was felt that they were better served getting another few weeks of training under their belts with a trip to Treviso at the end of November on the horizon," a Leinster statement read. "Shane Jennings is a little bit further away from fitness but is also aiming for a return against Treviso.

McLaughlin is named in the backrow alongside Dominic Ryan and number eight Jack Conan, while in the frontrow Michael Bent swaps to loosehead as Tadhg Furlong comes on board. Tom Denton will start for the first time this season along with Kane Douglas in the secondrow.

The back three remains the same, with Darragh Fanning on the right, Luke Fitzgerald on the left, and Zane Kirchner at fullback.

Luke McGrath is selected at scrumhalf with Jimmy Gopperth outside him at 10, feeding Reid and Te'o, the rugby league convert from New Zealand, who played 80 minutes for Leinster A against Carmarthen Quins in the British & Irish Cup last weekend.

There are wholesale changes for Edinburgh as well, with 10 in total thanks to an injury list totalling 18 and two plays ruled out because of international commitments.

Nick McLennan and Joaquin Dominguez, therefore, start at fullback and outside centre, respectively, while Dougie Fife returns on the wing.

At inside centre, Andries Strauss will captain the side in the absence of captain Mike Coman, vice-captain Grant Gilchrist (both injured) and Ross Ford (Scotland duty).

"In all my years of coaching at professional level, I've never experienced an injury list like we have at present," head coach Alan Solomons said. "Eighteen players injured and two on national duty presents a huge challenge for the team, especially as we are playing last year's champions, Leinster, at the RDS.

“It is an opportunity for many of our young players and will be a chance to see how they measure up at this early point in their careers.”

LEINSTER (v Edinburgh): z Kirchner; D Fanning, B Te'o, N Reid, L Fitzgerald; J Gopperth, L McGrath; M Bent, R Strauss, T Furlong; T Denton, K Douglas; K McLaughlin (captain), D Ryan, J Conan. Replacements: B Byrne, E Byrne, P Dooley, B Marshall, D Leavy, I Boss, S Crosbie, M McGrath

Edinburgh (v Leinster): N Leenan; D Fife, J Dominguez, A Strauss, T Visser; T Heathcote, S Hidalgo-Clyne; A Dell, J Hilterbrand, W Nel; B Toolis, J Turley; M Bradbury, T Leonardi, D Denton. Replacements: J Kerr, R Sutherland. J Andress, J Ritchie, G Turner, S Kennedy, G Tonks, J Cuthbert

Referee: Nigel Owens