Leinster Recall O’Driscoll And Fitzgerald
The Leinster team to face Harlequins in Sunday afternoon’s Heineken Cup quarter-final tie at the Twickenham Stoop (kick-off 3.30pm) has been named.
Grand Slam-winning duo Brian O’Driscoll and Luke Fitzgerald return to the starting line-up for the first time since the RBS 6 Nations.
O’Driscoll partners Gordon D’Arcy at centre, while in the pack, Bernard Jackman has been named at hooker despite doubts over his knee injury.
Shane Jennings and Jamie Heaslip join Bank of Ireland Player of the Month Rocky Elsom in the back row.
A final decision on the make-up of the replacements bench will be confirmed pending the result of Jonathan Sexton’s suspension appeal on Friday evening.
Looking forward to Sunday’s showdown at the Stoop, Leinster captain Leo Cullen said: “We’re in the quarter-finals of Europe. Everyone has a good home record of those left in the competition, that’s why they’re playing at home, so it’s going to be tough.
“I don’t think the result (against Munster) from last weekend will change things. Obviously it’s disappointing that we didn’t win the game but Munster were full value for their win.”
LEINSTER (v Harlequins): Rob Kearney; Isa Nacewa, Brian O’Driscoll, Gordon D’Arcy, Luke Fitzgerald; Felipe Contepomi, Chris Whitaker; Cian Healy, Bernard Jackman, Stan Wright, Leo Cullen (capt), Malcolm O’Kelly, Rocky Elsom, Shane Jennings, Jamie Heaslip.
Replacements (from): John Fogarty, Ronan McCormack, Trevor Hogan, Sean O’Brien, Simon Keogh, Jonathan Sexton or Girvan Dempsey, Shane Horgan.