Ireland second-row James Ryan will make his 100th appearance for Leinster after being named in their starting team to face Ulster in the United Rugby Championship (URC).

The hugely-anticipated derby is one of two games to kick off Round Seven of the competition as sides return to league action after the recent Investec Champions Cup ties.

Jack Conan captains the Leinster side at number eight with Scott Penny and Alex Soroka on the flanks. Ryan is joined in the engine room on Friday night by Brian Deeny.

It’s all change in Leo Cullen’s starting front-row as Jack Boyle and Rabah Slimani will scrum down either side of Gus McCarthy who has been named in the hooker jersey.

All Blacks centre Rieko Ioane will make his first appearance in the URC outside of Charlie Tector, with fly-half Sam Prendergast partnering Luke McGrath at scrum-half.

Ciarán Frawley is named at 15 after coming off the bench to slot in at full-back for most of last Friday’s win over Leicester, with James Lowe and Joshua Kenny the wings.

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Dan Sheehan, Paddy McCarthy and Tadhg Furlong will provide front-row cover to Cullen, with Joe McCarthy and Max Deegan completing the forward replacements. Fintan Gunne and Harry Byrne are the reserve half-backs and Ruben Moloney completes the matchday squad for the home fixture.

Angus Bell gets first start

Meanwhile, Ulster head coach Richie Murphy has handed Australia prop Angus Bell his first start for the province after two appearances as a replacement in the opening rounds of the EPCR Challenge Cup.

Ireland international, Stuart McCloskey, returns from a recent groin injury to start at inside centre.

There is also a welcome return to the matchday squad for Ethan McIlroy, who is in line for a first appearance since suffering an ACL injury in January.

In the front-row, Bell is joined by Ireland international forwards in hooker, Tom Stewart, and tighthead prop, Tom O’Toole.

Harry Sheridan and Charlie Irvine continue to start together in the engine room as the second-row pairing.

Completing the forward pack, David McCann starts at blindside flanker, with Nick Timoney captaining the team at openside flanker. South African forward Juarno Augustus starts at number eight.

Scrum-half Nathan Doak and fly-half Jack Murphy return to resume their partnership in the half-back positions.

Murphy selects two wingers in top try scoring form, with Werner Kok on the left channel and Robert Baloucoune on the right. Both wings have scored five tries each this season for the province.

McCloskey makes a welcome return to the side in the midfield, alongside Jude Postlethwaite at outside centre.

Ireland international, Jacob Stockdale, completes the XV at full-back.

Murphy opts for a 5/3 split among the replacements, which features a blend of experience and young talent.

John Andrew, Sam Crean, Scott Wilson, Joe Hopes and Academy back-row, Bryn Ward form the forward replacements, with Conor McKee, Jake Flannery and McIlroy the backline cover options.

The teams

Leinster: 15 Ciarán Frawley, 14 Joshua Kenny, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Charlie Tector, 11 James Lowe, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Luke McGrath, 8 Jack Conan (c), 7 Scott Penny, 6 Alex Soroka, 5 James Ryan, 4 Brian Deeny, 3 Rabah Slimani, 2 Gus McCarthy, 1 Jack Boyle
Replacements: 16 Dan Sheehan, 17 Paddy McCarthy, 18 Tadhg Furlong, 19 Joe McCarthy, 20 Max Deegan, 21 Fintan Gunne, 22 Harry Byrne, 23 Ruben Moloney

Ulster: 15 Jacob Stockdale, 14 Rob Baloucoune, 13 Jude Postlethwaite, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Werner Kok, 10 Jack Murphy, 9 Nathan Doak, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Nick Timoney (c), 6 David McCann, 5 Charlie Irvine, 4 Harry Sheridan, 3 Tom O’Toole, 2 Tom Stewart, 1 Angus Bell
Replacements: 16 John Andrew, 17 Sam Crean, 18 Scott Wilson, 19 Joe Hopes, 20 Bryn Ward, 21 Conor McKee, 22 Jake Flannery, 23 Ethan McIlroy

Date: Friday, December 19
Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Kick-off: 19:45 GMT
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU, 111th league game)
Assistant Referees: Andrew Fogarty (IRFU), Tomas O’Sullivan (IRFU)
TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)
Live on: TG4, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

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