Rugby – Team News:After yesterday's news that Jonathan Sexton will miss the Heineken Cup semi-final against Toulouse, there were somewhat better tidings for Leinster coach Michael Cheika this morning. Rob Kearney and Shane Horgan have both been cleared for the match at Le Stadium while Girvan Dempsey has also passed a fitness test.
Kearney, who has been nursing an ankle injury, and Horgan (foot) return to the starting line-up for tomorrow afternoon’s clash in southern France with Dempsey named among the replacements.
Shaun Berne steps in for the injured Sexton, the Ireland out-half’s broken jaw causing the Leinster coaching team too much cause for concern.
“He (Sexton) is desperate to play and we gave him every opportunity but we felt it was too big a risk and we also have the player’s welfare and safety in mind,” Cheika told this morning’s Irish Times. “But we also have 100 per cent confidence that Shaun Berne can do the job.”
In Sexton’s absence, the only other change to the starting XV that edged passed Clermont Auvergne 29-28 in the last round sees Cian Healy replace CJ van der Linde in the front row. Fergus McFadden’s calf injury denies him a place on the bench with Eoin O’Malley filling in.
Having had injury problems of his own, Toulouse coach Guy Noves has named David Skrela at out-half with Jean-Baptiste Elissalde’s troublesome keeping him on the bench. French international hooker William Servat remains a doubt but Dan Human will definitely start in a powerful front row.
Saturday 3.45pm Irish time, Stade Municipal, Toulouse
Leinster: R Kearney; S Horgan, B O'Driscoll, G D'Arcy, I Nacewa; S Berne, E Reddan; C Healy, J Fogarty, S Wright; L Cullen (capt), N Hines; K McLaughlin, S Jennings, J Heaslip. Replacements: B Jackman, CJ van der Linde, M Ross, M O'Kelly, S Keogh, P O'Donohoe, E O'Malley, G Dempsey
Toulouse: C Poitrenaud; V Clerc, F Fritz, Y Jauzion, C Heymans; D Skrela, B Kelleher; D Human, W Servat or V Lacombe, B Lecouls; R Millo-Chluski, P Albacete; J Bouilhou, T Dusautoir (capt), S Sowerby. Replacements: V Lacombe or A Vernat Basualdo, J Poux, Y Montes, Y Maestri, L Picamoles , J Elissalde, Y David or F Maka , M Medard
Referee: Nigel Owens