O’Driscoll Fit To Face Ulster In Derby Clash
The Leinster team to face Ulster in Saturday’s RaboDirect PRO12 final at the RDS (kick-off 4.45pm) has been named.
Isa Nacewa will make his 126th and final Leinster appearance on Saturday and he starts in a back-three combination which features Fergus McFadden and full-back Rob Kearney.
McFadden’s positional switch caters for the return of Brian O’Driscoll who, having overcome a back injury, starts alongside Ian Madigan in the centre.
Isaac Boss makes his 25th appearance of the season and will partner Jonathan Sexton at half-back, with the Ireland out-half earning his 110th provincial cap (having scored 1,013 points to date).
Up front, Cian Healy and Richardt Strauss return to the starting line-up after coming on as replacements in the Amlin Challenge Cup final victory last weekend.
The team will be led by the returning Leo Cullen who partners Devin Toner in the second row.
Kevin McLaughlin, meanwhile, returns to the back row in place of Sean O’Brien (bruised knee) who has failed to recover from injury.
McLaughlin will form an experienced back row unit alongside Shane Jennings, who is set to make his 175th appearance, and number 8 Jamie Heaslip.
LEINSTER (v Ulster): Rob Kearney; Fergus McFadden, Brian O’Driscoll, Ian Madigan, Isa Nacewa; Jonathan Sexton, Isaac Boss; Cian Healy, Richardt Strauss, Mike Ross, Leo Cullen (capt), Devin Toner, Kevin McLaughlin, Shane Jennings, Jamie Heaslip.
Replacements: Sean Cronin, Jack McGrath, Jamie Hagan, Quinn Roux, Rhys Ruddock, John Cooney, Andrew Goodman, Andrew Conway.