Tullow Sean O Brien will start at No.6 for Leinster in their first of back to back Champions Cup games with Northampton tomorrow evening at 7.45pm in Franklin’s Gardens.
Josh van der Flier has been selected at open side and Jamie Heaslip at number eight.
There are a number of changes to the team that faced the Dragons last weekend in the Guinness PRO12 with 10 Irish internationals back in the mix.
Rob Kearney starts at full back with Isa Nacewa captaining the side from the left wing and Adam Byrne on the right wing. The Kildare winger will make his Champions Cup debut having scored five tries so far this season in the PRO12.
Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose will start in the centre together for the first time since the Round 2 game against Montpellier.
In the half backs it’s as you were from last weekend with Irish internationals Luke McGrath and Joey Carbery continuing in the nine and ten jerseys.
It’s a new front row with Jack McGrath, Sean Cronin and Tadhg Furlong starting.
In the second row, Meath native Devin Toner will win his 50th European cap when he runs out against the Saints. Toner made his European debut in October 2008 against Edinburgh Rugby. He will have Hayden Triggs for company in the engine room.
Leinster Academy backs Ross Byrne and Rory O’Loughlin have been selected on the bench and should they be introduced they will make their European debuts.
LEINSTER:
15. Rob Kearney (182)
14. Adam Byrne (8)
13. Garry Ringrose (29)
12. Robbie Henshaw (3)
11. Isa Nacewa CAPTAIN (158)
10. Joey Carbery (10)
9. Luke McGrath (59)
1. Jack McGrath (101)
2. Sean Cronin (121)
3. Tadhg Furlong (56)
4. Devin Toner (187)
5. Hayden Triggs (18)
6. Sean O’Brien (105)
7. Josh van der Flier (32)
8. Jamie Heaslip (223)
16. James Tracy (27)
17. Cian Healy (161)
18. Michael Bent (70)
19. Rhys Ruddock (119)
20. Jack Conan (35)
21. Jamison Gibson-Park (10)
22. Ross Byrne (7)
23. Rory O’Loughlin (7)
