Rugby – team news:Luke Fitzgerald will return from his latest injury-enforced absence against the Ospreys tomorrow night. Fitzgerald has recovered from the knee injury sustained during the autumn internationals and is named at fullback.
In addition to welcoming back Fitzgerald, Leinster coach Joe Schmidt is also able to call upon Ireland internationals Gordon D’Arcy, Cian Healy, Jamie Heaslip and Jonathan Sexton who were all rested over the festive period under the IRFU’s player welfare programme. All four have been named in the starting line-up.
Seán O’Brien will miss the visit of the defending Magners League champions as he recovers from a facial injury sustained against Connacht with Dominic Ryan deputising in the backrow.
A decision on the involvement of Eoin O’Malley, who cracked a rib at the start of December, will be taken closer to kick-off. Isa Nacewa will start on the replacements bench if O’Malley is ruled out.
The likes of Tommy Bowe, Mike Philips, Adam, Jones, Marty Holah and Alun Wyn Jones have been rested by the Ospreys while James Hook drops to the bench as the Welsh outfit rotate their squad ahead of two massive clashes in the Heineken Cup.
Nevertheless, director of coaching Scott Johnson expects his outfit to present a strong challenge against Leinster and are capable of getting a result.
“Regardless of the personnel involved on Friday night, the expectation is that we will continue improving,” he said today. “January is traditionally a big month for the Ospreys and it’s no different this time, with big games in three different competitions that will define our season.
“The changes we’ve made this weekend mean that certain players have a fantastic opportunity to put their hands up if they want to be involved in some of these big games and big occasions that are coming up.”
In Ulster, Stephen Ferris has been kept in reserve for their home fixture with Treviso tomorrow night but coach Brian McLaughlin makes a raft of changes to the side that lost in Limerick the last day.
The fit-again Ian Humphreys returns to direct proceedings from outhalf while McLaughlin’s South African contingent of Ruan Pienaar, BJ Botha, Johann Muller and Pedrie Wannenburg are all back after missing the defeat against Munster.
Ireland prop Tom Court comes back into the frontrow as McLaughlin gears up for what will prove to be a vitally important January.
Leinster(v Ospreys, kick-off 7.35pm): Luke Fitzgerald; Shane Horgan, Brian O'Driscoll, Gordon D'Arcy, Fergus McFadden; Jonathan Sexton, Eoin Reddan; Cian Healy, Richardt Strauss, Mike Ross; Leo Cullen, Devin Toner, Dominic Ryan, Shane Jennings, Jamie Heaslip. Replacements:Jason Harris-Wright, Heinke van der Merwe, Clint Newland, Nathan Hines, Rhys Ruddock, Isaac Boss, Ian Madigan, Eoin O'Malley/Isa Nacewa
Ospreys(v Leinster, kick-off 7.35pm): Barry Davies; Nikki Walker, Sonny Parker, Ashley Beck, Richard Fussell; Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb; Duncan Jones, Huw Bennett, Craig Mitchel; Ian Gough, Ian Evans; Tom Smith, Justin Tipuric, Ryan Jones. Replacements:Mefin Davies, Ryan Bevington, Cai Griffiths, James Goode, Jonathan Thomas, Jamie Nutbrown, James Hook, Gareth Owen.
Ulster(v Treviso, kick-off 7.05pm): Adam D'Arcy; Andrew Trimble, Nevin Spence, Paddy Wallace, Simon Danielli; Ian Humphreys, Ruan Pienaar; Tom Court, Rory Best, BJ Botha; Johann Muller, Tim Barker; Chris Henry, Willie Faloon, Pedrie Wannenburg. Replacements:Nigel Brady, Bryan Young, Declan Fitzpatrick, Dan Tuohy, Stephen Ferris, Paul Marshall, Ian Whitten, David McIlwaine
