Connacht head coach Pat Lam is putting his faith in youth as his side prepare to welcome Leinster to the Sportsground for this weekend’s RaboDirect PRO12 clash. Lam hands 21-year-old fly-half Jack Carty his first start as Connacht look for a second win in eight against Leinster, having last prevailed against their provincial rivals at the Sportsground in September 2012. Carty is one of three changes to a youthful backline that boasts an average age of 22 with scrum-half Kieran Marmion making his 44th consecutive appearance since his debut in 2012. Darragh Leader has also been brought up from the Academy and starts at full-back in place of the injured Gavin Duffy. The 20-year-old has played in three games this season, starting two on the wing at home against Glasgow Warriors and Scarlets. Connacht, who have named an unchanged pack, have won only once in the RaboDirect PRO12 since round one: 14-11 at home to the Dragons on December 21 but they are now looking for back to back home wins for the first time since March. But they have not beaten a fellow Irish province since the last time that Leinster visited Galway, on 28th September 2012. But Lam has no issue with throwing the youngsters into the back line against Leinster. “With our second and third choice out-half out injured, we have decided to bring in young Jack Carty to start,” he said. “Jack has been involved with us in training all year and has had some good performances with the Eagles. It is a great boost to his development as a young Irish qualified 10 to play against such quality opposition and I know he is very much looking forward to the test. “Young Darragh (Leader) will start at full-back, a position in which he has proven himself with the Ireland U20s in the [Junior] World Championship last summer. “We have an extremely young back line going up against the best team in Europe and the league champions. “But we have a belief in our young squad and if every player does their job and commits to the game plan we've put in place, then we have every chance of getting the desired result.” Leinster meanwhile, have suffered just one defeat in their last six RaboDirect PRO12 encounters – a 6-11 loss to Edinburgh at Murrayfield in round 10. But they have won just once away to a fellow Irish Province since April 2012: 22-16 at Munster on 13th April 2013. Coach Matt O'Connor has made ten changes to the side that saw off Ulster as Zane Kirchner moves to the right wing from full back and Dave Kearney to the bench with brother Rob taking the number 15 jersey. Luke Fitzgerald continues on the left wing while back come Brian O’Driscoll and Gordon D’Arcy to the centres. Eoin Reddan starts at scrumhalf against his former club, with Ian Madigan beside him at fly-half. Man of the Match from the Ulster game, Jordi Murphy is selected at flanker, with captain Jamie Heaslip returning at No.8. Rhys Ruddock is once again selected on the blindside. Former Connacht hooker Sean Cronin, who spent three years at the Sportsground before joining Leinster, is also selected to start against his former club. Joining him in the front row will be Martin Moore and Jack McGrath And in the second row Devin Toner and Tom Denton start in place of Leo Cullen and Mike McCarthy. Reddan told The Score: “It is a great encounter,” said Reddan. “There is always a serious amount of bite in the game. The Sportsground is one of the loudest places to play. Obviously they sell it out which is incredible every week, it is still 7,000 or 8,000 but it sounds like 20,000. “They are one of the most passionate [sets of] supporters in the Rabo. All that makes for an exciting weekend ahead but a tough weekend.” At Sportsground, 7.15pm. Referee: George Clancy (IRFU, 57th competition game) Assistant Referees: Leo Colgan, Ollie Hodges (both IRFU) Citing Commissioner: Denis Templeton (IRFU) TMO: Jude Quinn (IRFU) LIVE on TG4
