Hickie, Horgan To Start For Leinster

Lions duo Denis Hickie and Shane Horgan have been selected to start for Leinster in tomorrow’s Celtic League derby tie with leaders Ulster at Donnybrook.

Shane Horgan at Lenster training on Wednesday

Lions duo Denis Hickie and Shane Horgan have been selected to start for Leinster in tomorrow’s Celtic League derby tie with leaders Ulster at Donnybrook.

CELTIC LEAGUE: Saturday, October 1

Leinster v Ulster, Donnybrook, 5.30pm (live Setanta Sports)

Hickie and Horgan were second half replacements in Leinster’s recent 33-14 victory over the Dragons and are joined in the squad by fellow Ireland internationals Gordon D’Arcy and Eric Miller for the first time this season.

Horgan will partner skipper Felipe Contepomi at centre while New Zealand second row Bryce Williams, 25, will make his first start for the team having arrived in Dublin at the start of the week

Leinster will be hosting a BBQ at the Wesley End from 4.30pm.

Ulster, who were beaten home and away by Leinster last season, have recalled fit-again fly-half David Humphreys after an ankle injury forced him out of the side that defeated the Dragons 22-19 in Wales last Friday.

Coach Mark McCall, whose side have an unbeaten three-game start to the Celtic League, has named an unchanged line-up from that originally selected to play last week. Humphreys’ return is timely given the fact that he has scored 40 points in two outings and he missed last season’s 9-8 loss to Leinster in the corresponding fixture.

Adam Larkin, who came in at number 10 against the Dragons, has been named on the replacements bench.

LEINSTER: Girvan Dempsey; Denis Hickie, Shane Horgan, Felipe Contepomi (Capt), Robert Kearney; Christian Warner, Guy Easterby; Reggie Corrigan, Bernard Jackman, Will Green, Bryce Williams, Ben Gissing, Ciaran Potts, Keith Glesson, Jamie Heaslip.

Replacements: Ronan McCormack, David Blaney, Des Dillon, Eric Miller, Brian O’Meara, Kieran Lewis, Gordon D’Arcy.

ULSTER: Paddy Wallace; Tommy Bowe, Andrew Trimble, Kevin Maggs, James Topping; David Humphreys, Kieran Campbell; Justin Fitzpatrick, Rory Best, Simon Best (Capt), Justin Harrison, Matt McCullough, Neil Best, Neil McMillan, Roger Wilson.

Replacements: Paul Shields, Bryan Young, Rowan Frost, Campbell Feather, Reece Spee, Adam Larkin, Tyrone Howe.

Referee: Olan Trevor (Munster)