Both Leinster and Connacht opt for rotation as Leo Cullen and Stuart Lancaster go head-to-head in an inter-pro for the first time
07:00, 03 Jan 2026Updated 11:09, 03 Jan 2026
Leinster Head Coach Leo Cullen and Senior Coach Jacques Nienaber (Image: ©INPHO/Grace Halton)
Leinster take on Connacht in what will be the last inter-pro before Andy Farrell reveals his wider Six Nations squad ahead of the international competition resuming in the first week of February.
Both sides have opted for heavy rotation ahead of European fortnights, Leinster facing La Rochelle at home and Bayonne away in the Champions Cup, Connacht traveling to Montpellier and hosting Montauban in the Challenge Cup.
Leo Cullen has gone for six potential Ireland Six Nations starters starters Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park, Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Joe McCarthy and Jack Conan.
While selecting with not quite as much caution former Leinster coaching number two Stuart Lancaster puts Bundee Aki, Finlay Bealham and Cian Prendergast into the front-line while former Leinster player Josh Murphy has been added to the back-row as abrasive beef.
Who: Leinster vs Connacht
Where: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
What Time: 5.30pm
Two x Quick Headlines: Will Connors returns from injury for Leinster in first appearance since October
Connacht make five personnel changes to the side that faced Ulster with academy props Billy Bohan, Fiachna Barrett among the replacements.
Referee/Officials: Andrew Brace (IRFU, 112th league game), AR 1: Keane Davison (IRFU) AR 2: Chris Lough (IRFU), TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)
League Positions: Leinster 6th on 25 points; Connacht 10th on 16 points
Last Week: Connacht 24-29 Ulster; Munster 8-13 Leinster
What They Are Saying:
Leinster Coach Leo Cullen: “I thought we were painting strong pictures at the scrum at the weekend,” he says of taking Munster on up front at Thomond Park. We won some penalties, thought we could have had more. But this is a new, different challenge, we just need to prepare as well this week.
“We’ve had some disjointed weeks over the last number of weeks, with Friday games, Christmas, and it’s different so we’re looking forward to just probably a bit of consistency in terms of how we go about our weeks, put in the work, and the scrum will be a big part of that.
Connacht Head Coach Stuart Lancaster: “The hardest challenge you are going to get in northern hemisphere rugby, to go to go to the Aviva and play against Leinster. Having been on the other side of the fence, I know how good the players are and how good the coaches are and how good the team are but, equally, if you’re not excited by a challenge like this as a coach, as a coaching team, as a group of players, then you’re in the wrong sport.
“Leo will have, you know, his own selection conundrum to deal with, which I know he’ll deal with it well so whatever team they put out, it will be tough to beat but I have spoken to the boys and I’ve gone back over the history of the two provinces playing against each other.
“I’ve been involved in a defeat of the RDS by Connacht, can remember Connacht smashing Leinster. I watched the 2012/13 game back (Connacht 34-6) and there was the game from 2017/18 (Connacht won 47-10) but equally I have seen it when Leinster have been on the front foot and dominant.”
Wot? Tell me who was playing for Connacht whey they posted these legend-worthy results?
Connacht December 2012: R Henshaw; T O’Halloran, E Griffin, D McSharry, F Vainikolo; D Parks, K Marmion; D Buckley, A Flavin, N White (c); M Swift, M McCarthy; E McKeon, J O’Connor, G Naoupu. Replacements: J Harris-Wright, B Wilkinson, R Loughney, D Gannon, W Faloon, D Moore, M Nikora, M Fifita.
Connacht April 2018: T O’Halloran; N Adeolokun, T Farrell, B Aki, M Healy; J Carty, K Marmion; D Buckley, S Delahunt, F Bealham; G Thornbury, Q Roux; E McKeon, J Butler, J Muldoon (capt). Replacements: T McCartney, P McCabe, C Carey, U Dillane, E Masterson, C Blade, C Ronaldson, D Leader.
Betting: Leinster 1/25, 50/1 draw, Connacht 14/1
Handicap: Leinster minus-22 10/11
Total Points: Under 54 at 9/10
Live on: TG4, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv
Leinster: Ciarán Frawley; Tommy O’Brien, Hugh Cooney, Charlie Tector, Joshua Kenny; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan (Capt), Thomas Clarkson, Joe McCarthy, Brian Deeny, Diarmuid Mangan, Will Connors, Jack Conan
Replacements: Gus McCarthy, Jack Boyle, Rabah Slimani, Conor O’Tighearnaigh, Max Deegan, Josh van der Flier, Luke McGrath, Harry Byrne
Connacht: Sam Gilbert; Chay Mullins, David Hawkshaw, Bundee Aki, Finn Treacy; Josh Ioane, Matthew Devine; Denis Buckley, Dylan Tierney-Martin, Finlay Bealham, Joe Joyce, David O’Connor, Josh Murphy, Cian Prendergast (Capt), Sean Jansen
Replacements: Eoin de Buitlear, Billy Bohan, Fiachna Barrett, Darragh Murray, Paul Boyle, Ben Murphy, Harry West, Cathal Forde