Faletau primed for return from six-month injury

Wales number eight Taulupe Faletau will make his first appearance since March when starting for Cardiff at Leinster in the United Rugby Championship (URC).

The 35-year-old has not played since suffering a shoulder injury at Sharks, a blow that ended a campaign that also featured knee and calf problems.

Faletau is set to make his latest return as Cardiff, fresh from wins against Scarlets and Zebre, make seven changes for the trip to the redeveloped Laya Arena in Dublin on Saturday (19:45 BST).

Captain Liam Belcher returns at hooker and full-back Matty Young, who scored at Stade Francais in the Challenge Cup last season, makes his URC debut.

There are also starts for Mason Grady, Aled Davies, Danny Southworth and Dan Thomas while Tonga forward Semisi Paea is poised for his debut off the bench.

Faletau, who signed a new one-year contract in the summer, still has to get the all-clear to feature in Ireland but has been named in the starting line-up.

"It is great to have him back," said head coach Corniel van Zyl. "When his name is on the team sheet, everybody rises a little bit.

"He's struggling actually with a little bit of a niggle, but I'm pretty confident he'll get through to the game."

Cardiff have been cautious with Faletau's return but lock Josh McNally expects the former Dragons and Bath forward to hit the ground running.

"The guy can have six months out, come back and play 80 minutes, get man of the match and score two tries. Everyone knows what he can bring," said McNally.

Cardiff are without flanker James Botham because of a hand injury while centre Ben Thomas has a calf problem and may not feature before Wales' Nations Championship squad is named on 20 October.

The Blue and Blacks face a defending champions Leinster who claimed three bonus points despite two defeats in South Africa against Lions and Sharks.

Van Zyl said: "It's been a pleasing start to the season in terms of results but there is plenty to work on in terms of performance and we want to take another step forward this week."

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen names an entirely new starting line-up from the bonus-point defeat in Durban with a host of Ireland internationals available.

Hooker and captain Dan Sheehan, prop Tadgh Furlong, locks Joe McCarthy and James Ryan, number eight Jack Conan, centre Garry Ringrose and full-back Hugo Keenan all play for the first time since starting against New Zealand in the Nations Championship while fly-half Sam Prendergast also starts.

The Irish province are playing their first competitive fixture at the 20,500-capacity Laya Arena - formerly known as the Royal Dublin Society Arena - since 2024 after playing two seasons at Aviva Stadium during the redevelopment.

Leinster: Keenan; Kenny, Ringrose, Osborne, J O'Brien; Prendergast, Coffey, Usanov, Sheehan (capt), Furlong, McCarthy, Ryan, Deegan, Penny, Conan.

Replacements: Kelleher, Dooley, Clarkson, Spicer, Ericson, Gunne, Gabriel, Henshaw.

Cardiff: Young; Beetham, Millard, Malan, Grady; Sheedy, Davies; Southworth, Belcher (capt), Sebastian, McNally, T Williams, Mann, Thomas, Faletau.

Replacements: E Lloyd, Barratt, Wainwright, Nott, Paea, Mulder, J Evans, S Emanuel.

Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)

Assistant referees: Keane Davison (Ireland), Jonathan Erskine (Ireland)

TMO: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland)