Test stars boost Leinster
Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:18
Shane Jennings and Eoin Reddan will be back on duty for Leinster when they face the Cardiff Blues in Sunday's Magners League clash in Cardiff.
Jennings, the Leinster skipper, and Reddan return from Ireland duty and are included in the starting line-up for the trip to Cardiff. Jennings forms a back-row unit which includes Kevin McLaughlin and Stephen Keogh, with Malcolm O'Kelly at lock alongside Devin Toner.
Former Springbok CJ van der Linde starts at tighthead prop in a front row which includes Bernard Jackman and Stan Wright.
Reddan partners Shaun Berne at halfback, with Isa Nacewa named on the left wing in a back three which includes the experienced Girvan Dempsey and 18-year-old Andrew Conway, who comes in for his first senior start for the province on the right wing.
Ireland U20 captain Rhys Ruddock is named amongst the replacements alongside the likes of Ireland internationals Trevor Hogan and Mike Ross.
Looking
ahead to Sunday's clash in Cardiff, flyhalf Berne said he believed that the game will present an opportunity for every member of the squad to stake a claim ahead of a crucial month in the Magners League.
"Even though we won last time out against Cardiff in the RDS, Sunday's game will be a real test for us coming, as it does, when so many of our players are away on international duty. At this time of year the squad's resources are stretched, but with a few of the international players returning, we're in a good frame of mind ahead of the game," said Berne.
"Having played Cardiff twice before with Bath, you know what to expect against them, or any Welsh side for that matter; pride, physicality and a high skill level. They're a passionate rugby playing people and rugby's pretty much a national past-time over there.
"From a player's perspective it's a great place to play and with the new stadium and a good surface to play on it should make for an exciting
game.
"Cardiff are a club who have been well served by their foreign signings. European rugby takes a bit of getting used to coming from the southern hemisphere, so it's no guarantee that players will settle. I have played against the likes of Xavier Rush and Ben Blair before in the old Super 12 competition and they're two consistent performers, while Maama Molitika gives them greater options in the back-row, which is a very solid unit.
"I have also played with Sam Norton-Knight with the Waratahs and even though he hasn't played as regularly this season, he's one of those players who likes to play the game at a high speed. He's a very good player and we'll need to be mindful of his threats whether he starts or comes off the bench.
"Even though we have big games coming up this month in the Magners League, we'll take it one game at a time and we're not looking beyond this challenge. For those of us who want to play regularly in the side as we approach
the business end of the season, Sunday will present an opportunity to stake a claim.
"As well as the pride in representing Leinster, the Ireland players who have been released this week will no doubt look to Jonathan Sexton's example last month when a good showing against the Scarlets helped him earn a spot in the win over England last weekend.
Berne concluded: "It's imperative that we begin well and look to dominate the key exchanges and if we manage that we'll need to be playing at the top of our game to get the win."
Leinster: 15 Girvan Dempsey, 14 Andrew Conway, 13 Eoin O'Malley, 12 Fergus McFadden, 11 Isa Nacewa, 10 Shaun Berne, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 Stephen Keogh, 7 Shane Jennings (captain), 6 Kevin McLaughlin, 5 Malcolm O'Kelly, 4 Devin Toner, 3 CJ van der Linde, 2 Bernard Jackman, 1 Stan Wright.
Replacements: 16 Richardt Strauss, 17 Mike Ross, 18 Trevor Hogan, 19 Rhys Ruddock, 20 Paul O'Donohoe, 21 Ian
Madigan, 22 Simon Keogh
Date: Sunday, March 7
Venue: Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff
Kick-off: 16.00 (16.00 GMT)
Referee: Andy Macpherson (SRU)
Assistant referees: Leighton Hodges (WRU), Phil Connett (WRU)
TMO: Hugh Watkins (WRU)
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