RUGBY/ News: In the absence of his international crew, Leinster coach Gary Ella appears to be coming much closer to what might be considered a settled side for the Celtic League and Cup campaigns.
After last week's cup win over Neath-Swansea, Ella makes just two changes to his starting line-up for Friday night's league meeting with Edinburgh in Dublin, and one of them is the predictable return of Blackrock's Leo Cullen to the second row.
Cullen, who was rested last week after a full summer's training with the Irish squad, also comes back into the team as captain, which forces Aidan Kearney to the bench. That's unfortunate for Kearney, who had an impressive game against the Welsh side last Friday night.
David Quinlan comes into inside centre, ostensibly for the injured Kieran Lewis, who bruised a knee and is out for a week. Quinlan, at 12, means a move to outside centre, where Lewis normally operates, for Christian Warner, in a slightly re-jigged backline.
It is probably the least changed team since the Celtic competitions began.
The match is part of a double header in Donnybrook, with the Leinster under-21s kicking off against Ulster at 5.30 p.m.
Shane Jennings, who was many people's man of the match last week in the back row, and Des Dillon, who is proving to be the principle ball carrier in the Leinster side, again team up with Aidan McCullen. John McWeeney and the ever-improving Brendan Burke hold the wing positions, with Gordon D'Arcy at full back.
Munster, who travel to Neath-Swansea on Saturday for the third round of their Celtic League campaign, have strengthened their front row by signing Scottish international Gordon McIlwham. The 33-year-old former Glasgow and Begles Bordeaux prop will join the squad at the conclusion of Scotland's World Cup campaign and will play with the province until the end of the season.
McIlwham, who played in France last season, made his international debut in May 1998 and won his 15th cap in Murrayfield against Ireland in their World Cup warm-up game earlier this month.
Coach Alan Gaffney had originally struck an agreement with the former Auckland prop Mike Storey, before the Kiwi was injured playing for Northland. The injury will rule him out for most of the season.
"Once it became clear that Mike Storey would be unable to take up the contract, we felt it was important that we should try and get a prop of equal status," Gaffney said. "We feel we've done that with the signing of Gordon, whose experience will not only be valuable in a team sense but also to the younger props."
Munster won't finalise their team until today, although Jason Holland has not recovered from an ankle injury and will definitely not play against the Ospreys. But Conrad O'Sullivan may be back in contention for the outhalf jersey. The former Irish under-21, who is on a development contract, was injured playing against Connacht in a pre-season warm-up but is now available.
Gaffney may also give new Australian lock David Pusey his first run just seven days after arriving in the province. The 23-year-old, who is qualified to play for Ireland, is regarded as match fit as he had been playing Super 12 with ACT Brumbies, and subsequently with Southern Districts in the Tooheys New Cup.
Connacht will also decide today who will line out on Friday against Glasgow. One serious doubt is outhalf Eric Elwood, who was taken off before half-time with a knee injury in their Celtic Cup match last week against Borders.
Prop Dan McFarland is also struggling with a back injury while fellow front row Warren O'Kelly broke a finger and will be out for a number of weeks. Add the long-term casualty of Peter Bracken, another prop, and Connacht will obviously face some difficulties in the front row in the third of their four successive away matches.
In Ulster, coach Alan Solomons welcomes back winger Tyrone Howe to the flank for their match against Gwent Dragons at Ravenhill. Howe, who missed out on a World Cup place, has now been released by Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan to play with the province.
But like Connacht, Ulster also face front-row problems. Bryan Young comes in for Rod Moore at tighthead prop, as Moore has been forced to return to Australia for three weeks where he has club commitments, while Simon Shaw, a development contracted player, comes on to the bench as cover in that area.
Their talented young back row Neil McMillan will not take any part in the match because of a cruciate ligament injury, which is expected to keep him off the field for at least a month.
LEINSTER (v Edinburgh): G D'Arcy; J McWeeney, C Warner, D Quinlan, B Burke; M Leek, B O'Riordan; J Lyne, G Hickie, E Byrne, L Cullen, B Gissing, A McCullen, S Jennings, D Dillon. Replacements: P Coyle, D Blaney, A Kearney, N Breslin, B O'Meara, G Brown, J Norton.
ULSTER (v Gwent Dragons): B Cunningham; S Young, R Constable, S Stewart, T Howe; A Larkin, K Campbell; R McCormack, M Sexton, B Young, M Mustchin, R Frost, T McWhirter, A Ward (capt), R Wilson. Replacements: P Shields, S Shaw, M McCullough, N Best, R Spee, S Mallon, J Topping.
