Leinster moved top of the table for the first time since November last weekend but this week take on fellow high-flyers Scarlets at the RDS.

What’s at stake?

Something has to give this weekend, Leinster have won their last 21 home games in the Guinness PRO12 since drawing 34-all with Glasgow Warriors at the RDS Arena back in March 2015.

Scarlets meanwhile have won their last five Guinness PRO12 matches, whilst their only defeat in the last 13 rounds was 9-19 at Ospreys on 27 December.

The last six encounters between the two sides have all gone in favour of the home team.
Scarlets only previous victory over Leinster in Dublin was 52-23 at the RDS Arena in October 2007.

Leinster team news:

There are four changes to the starting XV that won in Newport last Friday and further changes on the bench.

The first change is in the half backs with Luke McGrath partnering Ross Byrne.

In the pack Irish international Richardt Strauss captains the team for the first time in the RDS as he comes in at hooker.

Ross Molony is again selected in the second row but Hayden Triggs comes in for the start this week having scored off the bench last week.

In the back row Dan Leavy comes in at openside having been 24th man last weekend with Ireland.

Bryan Byrne comes onto the bench where he will be joined by his twin brother Ed who made his first appearance in 28 months last weekend away to the Dragons.

Scarlets team news:

Head Coach Wayne Pivac has named an unchanged starting XV to the one that secured a first victory in 14 years at Munster’s Thomond Park last Friday.

Scrum-half Declan Smith is the only change to the 23 that headed to Limerick last weekend; Smith has been released from Wales U20s camp with fellow scrum half Aled Davies back in Wales camp.

Talking points:

Speaking ahead of the first versus fourth clash head coach Wayne Pivac said: “For us it’s really important to maximise the opportunities in these two away Irish games. There are points on offer and we want to get as many as we can. That was a really big result for us against Munster and we’ve got another big challenge this weekend against Leinster.

“The result this weekend is huge for us. We don’t really want to be leaving it down to that last weekend because there’s enough riding on that game as it is without top four riding on it as well!

“There’s a long way still go but it’ll be feet on the ground this week and prepare as normal.

“These boys have got a proud record. They’re three from three at the moment; they’re desperate to go four from four in this phase. That’s what we’re trying to achieve. If we can do that it sets us up nicely for the run home. We really want to go there (RDS) and try and get the points.”

Key battle: DTH van der Merwe v Adam Bryne

Two wingers at opposite ends of the experience scale, DTH van der Merwe has been scoring tries for fun for many a year in the Guinness PRO12 while Adam Byrne has burst on to the scene this season.

Both will take some stopping and their battle could go a long way to deciding the outcome of this fixture.

Key stat: Leinster Rugby’s run of four successive maximum point victories in the Guinness PRO12 has taken them to the top of the table for the first time since November.

Did you know? Scarlets have won their last four encounters with Irish provinces, their best such run for over a decade.

Leinster top try scorer – Joey Carbery, Adam Byrne, Rory O’Loughlin – 6

Top points scorer – Isa Nacewa – 78

Scarlets top try scorer – Steffan Evans – 6

Top points scorer – Rhys Patchell – 91

Overall Guinness PRO12 head to head record:
Played 27, Leinster won 16, Scarlets won 10 with 1 game drawn.

At RDS Arena, 7.35pm Live on TG4 and S4C
Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU, 147th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Sean Brickell (WRU), Jonathan Peak (IRFU)
Citing Commissioner: Tim Lowry (IRFU)
TMO: Tim Hayes (WRU)