Celtic League: Jennings To Captain Leinster

23-year-old back row Shane Jennings has been rewarded for his recent form, with the Leinster captaincy for their Murrayfield clash with Edinburgh on Saturday (kick-off 7.45pm, live Setanta).

The St Mary’s man – who scored his first league try earlier this season – has been given the honour of leading out a much-changed line-up, by coach Declan Kidney.

Jennings, fellow youngster Ciaran Potts and Ireland international Eric Miller, starting at number eight, form an impressive back row combination – with veteran Victor Costello shunted into the second row.

Miller – named as the league’s Guinness Draught Player of the Month for January, on Wednesday – will be returning to the scene of last weekend’s 40-13 RBS Six Nations win, following an impressive 20-minute cameo against Scotland.

The 29-year-old Dubliner pocketed his first league try in three seasons when scoring late in the 19-13 loss to Munster at Musgrave Park last month. Miller was also in rampaging form in Leinster’s record 55-3 Lansdowne Road demolition of the Dragons, three weeks ago.

Kidney – looking for to do the double over the Scots, after October’s four-try 35-13 win – has made a wholesale ten changes to his starters from last month, with the the majority of his Irish stars unavailable.

Guy Easterby will partner top scorer David Holwell at half back, with David Quinlan forming a centre partnership with UCD’s Christian Warner – making his first start for the province since the 22-16 victory over Glasgow in November.

Clontart flyer David Hewitt is set to win his third cap for the province at full-back, with John McWeeney and Kieran Lewis lining up on either flank.

Lock Ben Gissing – a recent member of the Ireland training squad – is also included.

The match will see Australian referee Stuart Dickinson become the first overseas official to take charge of a Celtic League tie.

Celtic League: Week 16
Edinburgh v Leinster, Murrayfield, 7.45pm, Saturday, February 19 (live Setanta Sports)

Head-to-head since 2000: Edinburgh 3, Leinster 1; Draw 1
League form: Edinburgh LWLWW, Leinster WWLLW
Top scorers: Edinburgh: Chris Paterson 78 / Derrick Lee 4 tries; Leinster: David Holwell 86 / Denis Hickie 5 tries

LEINSTER:

(15) David Hewitt
(14) John McWeeney
(13) Christian Warner
(12) David Quinlan
(11) Kieran Lewis
(10) David Holwell
(9) Guy Easterby
(1) John Lyne
(2) David Blaney
(3) Ricky Nebbett
(4) Victor Costello
(5) Ben Gissing
(6) Ciaran Potts
(7) Shan Jennings (Capt)
(8) Eric Miller

Replacements:

(16) Peter Coyle
(17) Gavin Hickie
(18) Aidan McCullen
(19) Des Dillon
(20) Brian O’Riordan
(21) Dave McAllister
(22) James Norton

Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)