Celtic League: Connacht v Leinster

Leinster’s Ben Gissing gets to grips with Connacht hooker John Fogarty during the sides’ last meeting at the Sportsground in March. Leinster won the Celtic League tie on a 26-21 scoreline.

CELTIC LEAGUE: Saturday, December 3

Connacht v Leinster, The Sportsground, 2.00pm (live Setanta Sports)

2005/06: CL Positions: Connacht: 11th, Leinster: 4th; CL Form: Connacht: WLLLLLLL; Leinster: LWWW(Free Wk)WLWL.

CL Top Points Scorers: Connacht: Paul Warwick 49; Leinster: Felipe Contepomi 97; Top Try Scorers: Connacht: Conor McPhillips 3; Leinster: Robert Kearney 3.

Recent Meetings: 2002 – Interprovincial Championship: Connacht 20 Leinster 49, The Sportsground; 2002 – Celtic League: Leinster 23 Connacht 26, Donnybrook; 2003/04 – Celtic League: Leinster 21 Connacht 6, Donnybrook; Connacht 35 Leinster 24, The Sportsground; 2004/05 – Celtic League: Leinster 18 Connacht 9, Donnybrook; Connacht 21 Leinster 26, The Sportsground.

Celtic League Odds: Connacht 750/1, Leinster 9/1 (Paddy Power).

CONNACHT Squad: Forwards (14); Dan McFarland, Ronan Loughney, Ray Hogan, Stephen Knoop, John Fogarty, Joe Merrigan, David Gannon, Andrew Farley (capt), Christian Short, Matt Lacey, Michael Swift, Brendan O’Connor, Colm Rigney, John Muldoon.

Backs (12): Tom Tierney, Chris Keane, Paul Warwick, David Slemen, Conor McPhillips, Ted Robinson, John Hearty, Keith Matthews, Gavin Williams, Andrew Mailei, Darren Yapp, Matt Mostyn.

LEINSTER: Girvan Dempsey; Kieran Lewis, Gordon D’Arcy, Shane Horgan, Robert Kearney; Felipe Contepomi (capt), Guy Easterby; Reggie Corrigan, Bernard Jackman, Will Green, Bryce Williams, Ben Gissing, Eric Miller, Keith Gleeson, Jamie Heaslip.

Replacements (from): Brian Blaney, Emmett Byrne, Cameron Jowitt, Adam Byrnes, Niall Ronan, Brian O’Riordan, Jonny Hepworth, Eoghan Hickey.

Referee: Simon McDowell (IRFU); Touch Judges: Olan Trevor, David Armstrong (both IRFU).