Celtic League: Easterby Named In Leinster Squad
Ireland scrum-half Guy Easterby was back at Leinster training on Wednesday, having been named in a 29-man squad for Sunday’s Celtic League fixture against Edinburgh.
Guy Easterby shares a joke at Leinster training
Ireland scrum-half Guy Easterby was back at Leinster training on Wednesday, having been named in a 29-man squad for Sunday’s Celtic League fixture against Edinburgh.
CELTIC LEAGUE: Sunday, November 6
Leinster v Edinburgh Gunners, Donnybrook, 3.00pm
Easterby suffered a broken jaw in the league clash with Ulster on October 1 – in what was Leinster’s last outing at Donnybrook – but could feature against the Scots on Sunday after a quick recovery.
It remains to be seen whether he will be called into the Ireland squad for the autumn Tests against Australia and Romania.
Leinster coach Michael Cheika is without five players that started last Sunday’s 33-20 Heineken Cup pool win in Glasgow due to the autumn Tests. Argentinian centre/fly-half Felipe Contepomi, who has starred recently as the province’s stand-in captain, is also away on international duty with the Pumas.
As well as Easterby, Will Green and Eric Miller have been included, but are still recovering from spells on the sidelines and are unlikely to start. Leinster are currently fourth in the league standings – level on 22 points with Edinburgh, but Frank Hadden’s side are ranked third due to a better scoring difference.
Meanwhile, Reggie Corrigan, Kieran Lewis, Robert Kearney and Jamie Heaslip are back in contention for a starting place against the Gunners having returned from Ireland squad duty.
Edinburgh are yet to finalise their squad but they are certainly without scrum-half Rory Lawson (ankle).
The two sides have met on six previous occasions with Leinster’s only win to date being a 35-13 success at Donnybrook in October 2004. In Leinster’s favour, they have lost just once in 14 outings at Donnybrook since March of last year.
Previous Meetings: 00/01: Heineken Cup: Edinburgh 29 Leinster 21, Leinster 34 Edinburgh 34; 03/04: Leinster 30 Edinburgh 33, Edinburgh 40 Leinster 34; 04/05: Leinster 35 Edinburgh 13, Edinburgh 41 Leinster 33
LEINSTER: 2005/06 CL Form: LWWWWLW (Includes Free Weekend); Top Scorers: Points: Felipe Contepomi 97; Tries: Robert Kearney 3
EDINBURGH: 2005/06 CL Form: WWLWWLW; Top Scorers: Points: Chris Paterson 78; Tries: Rob Dewey 4
LEINSTER Squad:
Backs (12): Guy Easterby, Brian O’Meara, Brian O’Riordan, Jonny Hepworth, Eoghan Hickey, David McAllister, Stephen Grissing, Greg Stafford, Gary Brown, Brendan Burke, James Norton, Ross McCarron.
Forwards (17): Ronan McCormack, John Lyne, Brian Blaney, Bernard Jackman, Johnny Wickham, Will Green, Emmett Byrne, Ben Gissing, Bryce Williams, Devin Toner, Cameron Jowitt, Simon Crawford, Niall Ronan, Keith Gleeson, Eric Miller, Des Dillon, Kevin McLaughlin.
EDINBURGH Squad: tbc
Referee: Neil Ballard (Wales)