Leinster Announce Squad For Cardiff Clash
The Leinster squad to face the Cardiff Blues in Sunday’s Magners League tie at Cardiff City Stadium (kick-off 4pm) has been named.
Shane Jennings and Eoin Reddan have been included by Leinster for the trip to the Welsh capital on Sunday after their involvement with the Ireland senior squad in the victory over England last weekend.
Jennings will lead the Leinster team on Sunday and is one of six Ireland internationals named amongst the forwards.
Experienced duo Stan Wright and CJ van der Linde join hooker Richardt Strauss, who has impressed of late in the British & Irish Cup alongside the likes of Stephen Keogh and Paul Ryan.
With Shaun Berne, Girvan Dempsey and Isa Nacewa in tow, Leinster can call on a panel which is mixed with youth and experience.
Recent debutant Andrew Conway and his Ireland Under-20 colleague Rhys Ruddock have made the cut in the province’s provisional squad which will be reduced to a matchday 22 on Friday.
Speaking ahead of Leinster’s inaugural visit to Cardiff City Stadium this weekend, Leinster team manager Chris Whitaker said that the players will approach the game in a positive manner against an in-form Cardiff side.
“Cardiff are a strong force in Welsh rugby and even though they started the season slowly, they have managed to pick up some impressive victories, not least their 30-7 win up at Firhill against Glasgow last time out,” he said.
“They are a club with big ambitions and they have strength, power and pace right across their squad.
“It will be interesting to see which of their internationals will be available on the one hand, but we know that irrespective of who they select their team will be strong.
“They have a big forward pack. Xavier Rush is an important player for them as is Paul Tito, while their back-line combinations are strong and experienced with the likes of Ben Blair and two exciting centres in Casey Laulala and Tom Shanklin.
“Supplemented by a number of up-and-coming players, they will certainly be a force to be reckoned with as they have found their form recently.
“It’s good that we’re in a position to welcome back some of our international players this week who are really keen to play.
“We’re pleased not just with the attitude of those players in training this week, but also with the likes of the Ireland Under-20 players who enjoyed such an impressive win against England, so some of them could also be involved on Sunday.”
LEINSTER Squad (v Cardiff Blues) – Backs (11): Shaun Berne, Andrew Conway, Girvan Dempsey, David Kearney, Simon Keogh, Ian Madigan, Fergus McFadden, Isa Nacewa, Paul O’Donohoe, Eoin O’Malley, Eoin Reddan.
Forwards (14): Trevor Hogan, Bernard Jackman, Shane Jennings, Stephen Keogh, Ronan McCormack, Kevin McLaughlin, Malcolm O’Kelly, Mike Ross, Rhys Ruddock, Paul Ryan, Richardt Strauss, Devin Toner, CJ van der Linde, Stan Wright.