EVER THE curious mind, Leinster coach Joe Schmidt will have RDS tongues wagging with this week’s inside centre, Luke Fitzgerald, pairing with Eoin O’Malley for Glasgow’s visit tonight in the RaboDirect PRO 12. The match is not being televised.
It’s an interesting move as Schmidt hopes to build on last week’s victory and hold on to that hoary old record of 28 home wins in all competitions. Glasgow will be aware that the last team to beat Leinster in Ballsbridge was London Irish in October 2009.
Fionn Carr and Ian Madigan, try-scorers in the 31-10 victory over the Dragons last weekend, continue in a back line which also includes Isa Nacewa and Cillian Willis, while in the pack, Leo Auva’a makes his first start for the province at number eight after appearing twice off the bench so far. He joins Dominic Ryan and captain Rhys Ruddock in the backrow. Recent-signing prop Nathan White could be in line for his debut appearance from the bench.
Glasgow arrive with a terrible record, Leinster having won the last 10 home meetings, which is bad news for the Scottish team as they are in Leinster’s Heineken Cup pool too. But Glasgow coach Seán Lineen, despite this being an inexperienced side that lost to Ulster, and Munster last weekend, believes his team will arrive with some hope and sees the Leinster threat as a certain game raiser.
“This is another huge challenge for us, to go to the home of the Heineken Cup holders and look to do something we’ve never done before,” said Lineen.
He has made four changes to his starting team. Former Melrose captain Scott Wight, on loan from Ospreys, Rory Pitman and Finlay Gillies will make their first competitive starts for the club at outhalf, number eight and hooker respectively. Ed Kalman comes in for Mike Cusack at tighthead prop.
To keep themselves honest, Leinster may be reminded that they were trimmed in Glasgow last year 30-6 and will field with no assumptions but undoubtedly confident of a second win of the season.
LEINSTER: I Nacewa; F Carr, E O’Malley, L Fitzgerald, D Kearney; I Madigan, C Willis; H Van der Wer; R Strauss, DJ Hagan, K McLaughlin, D Toner, R Ruddock (capt), D Ryan, L Auva’a. Repacements: A Dundon, J McGrath, N White, D Browne, J Murphy, J Cooney, B Macken, D Hudson.
GLASGOW: S Hogg; F Aramburu, R Dewey, T Nathan, C Shaw; S Wight, H Pyrgos; R Grant, F Gillies, E Kalman, T vRyder, N Campbell, R Harley (capt), C Fusaro, R Pitman. Replacements: P MacArthur, G Reid, M Cusack, J Eddie, D Weir.
Referee: Andrew McMenemy (SRU).
Verdict: Leinster win.
