No Aki for Connacht while Ruddock set for RDS farewell

Connacht will be without Bundee Aki for their must-win BKT United Rugby Championship visit to Leinster on Friday night, while the hosts have made 14 changes to their side following last weekend’s Champions Cup final defeat to Toulouse.

Jamie Osborne is the only member of last week’s starting side named in Leinster’s line-up. Leo Cullen’s side will likely need a bonus-point win to secure one of the top two seeds in the play-offs, while also requiring the Bulls to slip up against the Sharks.

Ciarán Frawley, Rónan Kelleher and Jack Conan all start, having appeared off the bench in London last Saturday.

Frawley partners Osborne in the centre, while Sam Prendergast and Cormac Foley are given a start in the half-backs. Prendergast has been the subject of speculation about a loan move to Connacht next season.

Jimmy O’Brien comes in at full-back to replace Hugo Keenan, Tommy O’Brien and Rob Russell starting on the wings.

Friday’s Interpro will be Leinster’s final game at the RDS ahead of it’s summer redevelopment, with any home play-off games set to take place either at the Aviva Stadium or Croke Park.

As such, it’s a final game at the RDS for loosehead Ed Byrne, second row Ross Molony and the retiring Rhys Ruddock, who all come into the starting pack.

Byrne joins Kelleher and Thomas Clarkson in the front row, Molony is partnered with Brien Deeny at lock, while Ruddock is alongside Conan and captain Scott Penny in the back row to complete the pack.

Dan Sheehan, Ryan Baird, Max Deegan and Luke McGrath are among an impressive replacements’ bench.

Connacht have made six changes to their starting XV following their defeat to Stormers last time out.

Pete Wilkins’ side need a bonus-point win to stand any chance of breaking into the play-offs, while they will also require some favourable results on Saturday.

Aki is the notable omission from their side, with Cathal Forde coming into midfield, where he partners David Hawkshaw.

Santiago Cordero will make his first start for the province, having returned off the bench from his knee injury against the Stormers, while Shane Jennings and Shane Mallon start on the wings. Mallon is set for his Connacht debut, with the 21-year-old Leitrim native a former Ireland Under-20 international.

The front row is unchanged, with Peter Dooley, Dave Heffernan and Finlay Bealham packing down once again, with Niall Murray replacing his brother Darragh in the second row, where he joins Joe Joyce.

Conor Oliver comes into he back-row, joining Cian Prendergast and Sean Jansen.

Leinster: Jimmy O’Brien; Tommy O’Brien, Jamie Osborne, Ciarán Frawley, Rob Russell; Sam Prendergast, Cormac Foley; Ed Byrne, Rónan Kelleher, Thomas Clarkson; Ross Molony, Brian Deeny; Rhys Ruddock, Scott Penny (capt), Jack Conan

Replacements: Dan Sheehan, Michael Milne, Michael Ala’alatoa, Ryan Baird, Max Deegan, Luke McGrath, Harry Byrne, Charlie Ngatai

Connacht: Santiago Cordero; Shane Jennings, David Hawkshaw, Cathal Forde, Shane Mallon; Jack Carty (capt), Caolin Blade; Peter Dooley, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham; Joe Joyce, Niall Murray; Cian Prendergast, Conor Oliver, Sean Jansen

Replacements: Dylan Tierney-Martin, Denis Buckley, Jack Aungier, Darragh Murray, Seán O’Brien, Colm Reilly, Byron Ralston, Tom Daly

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