Leinster Name Team For Ulster Clash
The Leinster team to face Ulster in Sunday’s Magners League derby clash at the RDS (kick-off 5.30pm) has been named.
Ireland’s Grand Slam-winning centre Gordon D’Arcy will start in Leinster’s midfield, partnering Fergus McFadden for the interprovincial derby in a back-line which includes Shane Horgan, Girvan Dempsey and returning scrum half Chris Whitaker.
In the pack, team captain Leo Cullen returns from injury and he will partners Malcolm O’Kelly in the second row.
The Magners League champions’ replacements bench will be confirmed closer to kick-off.
Over 14,500 tickets have now been sold for the Leinster-Ulster showdown.
Tickets are on sale from Ticketmaster outlets nationwide and from the Leinster Rugby Store and Spar in Donnybrook.
Tickets will also be available to purchase from Ticketmaster Box Offices at the RDS from 1.30pm on Sunday.
The RBS 6 Nations Trophy is set to be the star attraction at an action-packed day of entertainment at the RDS.
The trophy will be paraded prior to kick-off by the returning Grand Slam heroes before the Harrington Brothers take to the stage with their rendition of Molly Malone 2009.
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s return to league action, Leinster coach Michael Cheika said: “There are some very big games coming up over the next three weeks in the context of retaining the Magners League title.
“The derby nature of the next two games (against Ulster and Munster), as well as the European qualification (against Harlequins). It’s going to be in an interesting combination of which players play and when.
“Obviously if you look at Ulster they have a few players like (Rory) Best, Paddy Wallace and Tom Court who will all be returning from the Irish team. It’s a big test for us.
“I think that Ulster will be buoyed by their win against Munster at Thomond Park and they will definitely be targeting that ‘away double.’
“We got two very good results away in Wales and everybody’s excited about getting back to playing regularly again.
“You can feel the energy and enthusiasm in training and I’d like to think that we have improved a little bit over that time.
“We know that our title aspirations are in the next two games, but all that we can manage is our result against Ulster.”
LEINSTER (v Ulster): Girvan Dempsey; Shane Horgan, Fergus McFadden, Gordon D’Arcy, Isa Nacewa; Felipe Contepomi, Chris Whitaker; Cian Healy, Bernard Jackman, Stan Wright, Leo Cullen (capt), Malcolm O’Kelly, Cameron Jowitt, Shane Jennings, Rocky Elsom
Replacements (from): John Fogarty, CJ Van Der Linde, Ronan McCormack, Trevor Hogan, Devin Toner, Sean O’Brien, Paul O’Donohoe, Jonathan Sexton, Simon Keogh.