Leinster will be without Irish internationals Brian O'Driscoll, Malcolm O'Kelly and Victor Costello for Friday night's friendly against Gloucester at Donnybrook. On the direction of the Irish team management, Leinster coach Gary Ella has been asked to rest O'Driscoll and O'Kelly while Costello, originally selected for the game against the English club, has withdrawn because of a continuing calf niggle.
Costello missed Ireland's victory over Wales last weekend because of a calf strain and the problem has not eased sufficiently to risk him on Friday. The absence of the international triumvirate guarantees opportunities for talented young centre Kieran Lewis, Clontarf second row Ben Gissing and for Eric Miller to start at number eight.
The match represents the first opportunity for new Leinster coach Ella to have a look at his squad in a competitive environment and to this end eight players have been included on the bench for the Gloucester game.
Leinster - it will be a similar scenario for all the Irish provinces - will play their Celtic League and Cup campaigns without their Irish squad players and because of this Ella is keen to blood as many young players as is feasible in the next fortnight.
The province take on Gloucester twice, home and away, and Coventry before opening their Celtic League campaign against Munster at Donnybrook on Friday, September 5th.
Ella admitted: "It's an opportunity for the younger players to show what they can do and to set down some match patterns. It'll also give me a chance to see the better players in action. I was quite surprised at the talent of the young guys coming through."
Tickets for Leinster's Celtic League game against Munster go on sale tomorrow from the Spar shop in Donnybrook and tomorrow at Ticketlord: 1890 339333. The province have pre-sold almost 1,500 season tickets through various enterprises including the 150, Lions, Blue and Gold and Supporters clubs.
Leinster chief executive Mick Dawson confirmed that Leinster hope to stage their three home matches in the Heineken European Cup at Lansdowne Road.
Ulster coach Alan Solomons will give several fringe players an opportunity in Friday night's friendly against Orrell at Ravenhill (7.30). Seamus Mallon is named on the right wing with Andy Maxwell on the other flank.
Kieron Campbell is at scrumhalf in the absence of Neil Doak while Ronan McCormack makes his debut for the province at loosehead prop after moving from Connacht. Openside flanker Neil McMillan is injured so Andy Ward fills that berth with Tony McWhirter (pending a fitness test) and former Ireland under-21 number eight Roger Wilson joining him in the back row.
New Zealander Matt Mustchin, scrumhalf Reece Spree and Tommy Bowe are included among the replacements.
Munster won't name a side until tomorrow morning for their Friday clash with Rotherham at Thomond Park (7.0). Anthony Foley, Ronan O'Gara and Peter Stringer won't play but David Wallace and Keith Wood probably will; the likelihood is that Marcus Horan and John Hayes will also be given game time.
... The Munster Supporters' Club, through their chairman Declan O'Connell, have pledged their unconditional support to Frankie Sheahan in his bid to overturn the recent ERC ban imposed on him. A website has been set up in aid of Frankie's appeal. Supporters can pledge their support on www.frankiesheahan.com
LEINSTER (v Gloucester): G Dempsey; G D'Arcy, K Lewis, D Quinlan, D Hickie; C Warner, B O'Meara; R Corrigan (capt), S Byrne, N Treston; B Gissing, L Cullen; A McCullen, E Miller, K Gleeson. Replacements: D Molloy, G Hickie, A Kearney, S Jennings, D Dillon, B O'Riordan, M Leek, J McWeeney, G Brown.
Ulster (v Orrell): B Cunningham; S Mallon, R Constable, S Stewart, A Maxwell; P Wallace, K Campbell; R McCormack, P Shields, S Best; M McCullough, G Longwell; T McWhirter, R Wilson, A Ward (capt). Replacements: M Sexton, C Boyd, M Mustchin, N Best, R Spee, T Bowe, S Young.
