Leinster Resume League Challenge Against Dragons

Amongst those set to be included in the panel for Sunday’s game in Newport are Leinster skipper Leo Cullen, while Eoin Reddan and Jonathan Sexton could also feature.

Any decision on their availability will be made before Friday’s team announcement. If selected to play, Sexton and Devin Toner will be making their 50th league appearances for the province.

Shane Jennings (ankle) and Shaun Berne (Achilles) remain doubtful due to injury.

Fergus McFadden could be in the frame, while Stan Wright continued his rehabilitation during the province’s ‘A’ interprovincial match against Connacht last weekend.

It is hoped, meanwhile, that Shane Horgan (knee), who has missed the last two months through injury, will also be available for selection. Andrew Conway (ankle) remains a doubt.

With players such as Ian Madigan, Ian McKinley, Rhys Ruddock and Dominic Ryan all in the mix, the Leinster management expect to be able to call on a squad mixed with youth and experience for the first of two successive away ties in the league before the Heineken Cup quarter-final on April 9.

Speaking ahead of Sunday afternoon’s trip to Rodney Parade, young flanker Ryan said that the team can be inspired by the return of the international players.

“It has been a quiet week and we’ve had a bit of time off our feet, but we’ve been working very hard in terms of our fitness over the last few weeks,” he said.

“The Dragons are a very good team and though we actually beat them over here, they’re different at home and you saw it with Ireland at the weekend.

“I made my debut (for Leinster) against the Dragons last season and we were absolutely thumped over there at Rodney Parade, so it’s coming to the business end of the season now and we have to win every game in the Magners League.

“You can’t really afford to slip up, so it’s going to be a big game. In the past there might have been an impression that it was one of the easier games, but our approach is that it’s one of our toughest games.”

Ryan added: “It was magical to watch the Ireland game at the weekend and seeing how they beat England and you do take inspiration from that, especially when you see an Irish team bringing that kind of physicality to a game.

“That Irish spirit, which people talk about, it’s always there and has to be drawn on so when we have the internationals back we’ll see the kind of strength that we have.

“At the moment with Jamie (Heaslip) and Seanie (O’Brien) out and Rhys (Ruddock) involved with the Ireland set-up as well, you have three quality internationals there.

“And with Kev (McLaughlin) and Jenno (Shane Jennings) as well, the competition is huge at the moment and you have to fight for your place.”