Reid to make Leinster senior debut
Academy outhalf Noel Reid will make his senior debut for Leinster when he takes to the pitch against Aironi at the RDS on Saturday (6pm).
The 21-year-old will operate alongside Cillian Willis in a Leinster backline that is otherwise unchanged from that which stared in last week’s 15-10 triumph over the Scarlets with Ian Madigan starting on the bench.
This means that Luke Fitzgerald continues his centre partnership with Eoin O'Malley while Isa Nacewa - who has kicked 45 points so far this season at an 84% success ratio - continues at full-back.
The inclusion of Steven Sykes represents another debut with the South African making his first competitive start for the province. He joins Ireland international Devin Toner at second row, marking one of three switches in the pack.
Ciaran Ruddock, who will make his second provincial appearance, joins his brother and team captain Rhys in the back-row at the expense of Jordi Murphy who drops to the bench.
Jamie Hagan gets his opportunity to impress from the start having come on as a half time substitute for Nathan White against the Scarlets.
Leinster: I Nacewa; F Carr, E O'Malley, L Fitzgerald, D Kearney; N Reid, C Willis; H van der Merwe, R Strauss, J Hagan; S Sykes, D Toner; C Ruddock, R Ruddock, L Auva'a.
Replacements: J Harris-Wright, J McGrath, J O'Connell, D Browne, J Murphy, J Cooney, I Madigan, B Macken.
