Leinster make nine changes for The Dragons lair
Reggie Corrigan, Shane Byrne, Malcolm O’Kelly, Brian O’Driscoll, Shane Horgan and Girvan Dempsey all make their first starts of the season, as Declan Kidney makes another set of sweeping changes.
Leinster have made nine changes to the team to face the Newport-Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade on Friday (KO: 7.05pm, BBC Wales).
Reggie Corrigan, Shane Byrne, Malcolm O’Kelly, Brian O’Driscoll, Shane Horgan and Girvan Dempsey all make their first starts of the season.
Dempsey replaces last weekend’s man of the match Denis Hickie at full back. Hickie drops to the bench after two impressive run-outs in the last two wins over Munster and The Borders respectively as he continues his rehabilitation.
Gary Brown, Guy Easterby, Christian Warner and Felipe Contepomi are retained from last weekend’s 50-13 win, with the Argentinian Contepomi switching to out-half. Brian O’Meara drops to the bench.
In the pack, Reggie Corrigan skippers the side and is joined in the front row by Shane Byrne – a second half substitute last weekend – and Ricky Nebbett. Malcolm O’Kelly partners the recalled Ben Gissing in the second row, with Shane Jennings replacing Ciaran Potts at wing forward.
Emmett Byrne, Leo Cullen, Aidan McCullen, James Norton and David Quinlan are rested, while Gordon D’Arcy misses out with a slight groin strain. A vacancy has been left on the bench which will be filled closer to kick off.
Leinster:
15: Girvan Dempsey
14: Shane Horgan
13: Brian O’Driscoll
12: Christian Warner
11: Gary Brown
10: Felipe Contepomi
9: Guy Easterby
1: Reggie Corrigan (Captain)
2: Shane Byrne
3: Ricky Nebbett
4: Malcolm O’Kelly
5: Ben Gissing
6: Eric Miller
7: Shane Jennings
8: Victor Costello
Replacements:
16: Peter Coyle
17: A.N. Other
18: Ciaran Potts
19: Des Dillon
20: Kieran Lewis
21: Brian O’Meara
22: Denis Hickie
Referee: Rob Dickson (SRU)