Quinlan Starts For Leinster

David Quinlan will make his first start for Leinster this evening on an occasion when Shane Byrne will make history by becoming the first player to win 100 Leinster caps.

Quinlan comes into the side to partner Brian O’Driscoll in the centre with Shane Horgan moving to the wing. It’s a move necessitated because of the injury sustained by Gordon D’Arcy last weekend, after he had scored Leinster’s opening try in Clermont Ferrand, a score that heralded a come-back that gave the Lions their first victory on French soil.

Quinlan played his part in that victory and his inclusion now will certainly not weaken Leinster’s cause and may in fact make the watching Irish selectors sit up and take note as they look towards the Six Nations and RWC 2003.

Leinster Lions: Girvan Dempsey; Denis Hickie, Brian O’ Driscoll, David Quinlan, Shane Horgan; Christian Warner, Brian O’Meara; Reggie Corrigan (capt.), Shane Byrne, Emmet Byrne; Leo Cullen, Malcolm O’Kelly; Eric Miller, Keith Gleeson, Victor Costello.

Replacements: Peter Coyle, Gavin Hickie, Aidan McCullen, Des Dillon, Brian O’Riordan, Nathan Spooner, Peter McKenna