HEINEKEN CUP TEAM NEWS:Devin Toner will replace the suspended Malcolm O'Kelly for Leinster's crunch Pool 2 clash against Edinburgh at the RDS on Sunday (1.0pm).
The 6’ 10” lock will line up alongside Trevor Hogan, who starts the game after replacing the injured Leo Cullen in last weekend’s clash against Wasps.
Leinster coach Michael Cheika has also been forced to make a change in the frontrow, with Cian Healy coming in for South African prop CJ van der Linde.
Stan Wright was also a doubt but takes his place in the starting XV, with Ollie le Roux providing cover on the bench. Stephen Keogh has got the nod ahead of Cameron Jowitt as cover for the back five in the scrum, with flanker Sean O’Brien also named amongst the replacements.
The rest of the side remains the same from the one that lost 19-12 at Twickenham, with Isa Nacewa again named at outhalf.
Brian O’Driscoll and Felipe Contepomi continue their midfield partnership, with Gordon D’Arcy named on the bench.
Munster boss Tony McGahan had the luxury of naming an unchanged line-up as his side go in search of the winning bonus point away to Montauban tomorrow (3.35pm).
The reigning champions hit top gear with a scintillating six-try demolition of Sale last weekend to claim their 11th straight quarter-final spot and will now be looking to secure a home draw in the last eight.
Although he stopped shy of talking about a winning bonus point, McGahan is confident his side can finish their pool campaign in style at Stade de Sapiac.
“A home quarter would be fantastic. That’s an outcome at the end, but we have to navigate through that 80 minutes first. It’s going to be extremely tough because Montauban are an extremely good side at home,” remarked McGahan.
“The players have come back into training this week and they’re very motivated to finish off this campaign very well. We’ll split up soon, so it’s important that we maintain and finish on a real high. It’s about maintaining focus this week.”
He added: “The players certainly know what is at stake and they certainly know that their standards and the way they perform are always on show. It’s very important every time we run out on the field, the Munster brand or the Munster players is put out front, so we must play accordingly.”
Ulster coach Matt Williams has kept faith with his squad rotation policy as players like Ian Whitten and Niall O’Connor will be given their chance to perform on the European stage when the province takes on Stade Francais in their final pool game away to Stade Francais tomorrow.
Whitten comes in for the injured Paddy Wallace while O'Connor starts in place of Ian Humphreys. Paul Marshall also comes into the backline as Paul Steinmetz replaces the in-form Darren Cave and Isaac Boss will start from the bench.
Up front Bryan Young has been called up in place of Tom Court, who starts on the bench. Young is joined by Nigel Brady and BJ Botha, who has returned to full health after missing Ulster's win against Harlequins at Ravenhill last weekend.
Matt McCullough steps in for the injured Stephen Ferris, while Chris Henry returns to the pack.
Stuart Philpott, Willie Faloon and Rob Dewey will take their place alongside Boss and Court on the bench. Carlo Del Fava, Cillian Willis, Thomas Anderson, Robbie Diack, Timoci Nagusa and Rory Best were others not considered due to injury.
Williams believes Ulster’s winless hoodoo on French soil should have no bearing on the outcome.
"I've won in France and I've lost in France, it's not about history it's about attitude,” he said. “This talk that Ulster have never won in France, well we've just won in Limerick and we hadn't done that for a long time."
"It's irrelevant what's gone before and it's the attitude that the players take into the game. If they can take the attitude that they have taken into the game so many times this year, both home and away, into the Paris game they're in with a good shot."
Kick-off at Stade Jean Bouin in Paris tomorrow is 1.35pm Irish-time
Leinster (v Edinburgh):
R Kearney; S Horgan, B O'Driscoll, F Contepomi, L Fitzgerald; I Nacewa, C Whitaker (capt), C Healy, B Jackman, S Wright, T Hogan, D Toner, R Elsom, S Jennings, J Heaslip. Replacements:J Fogarty, O le Roux, S Keogh, S O'Brien, C Keane, G D'Arcy, G Dempsey.
Munster (v Montauban)
P Warwick; D Howlett, K Earls, L Mafi, I Dowling; R O'Gara, T O'Leary; M Horan, J Flannery, J Hayes, D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell (capt), A Quinlan, D Wallace, D Leamy. Replacements:D Fogarty, F Pucciariello, D Ryan, N Ronan, P Stringer, B Murphy, D Hurley.
Ulster (v Stade Francais):
C Schifcofske; A Trimble, P Steinmetz, I Whitten, S Danielli; N O'Connor, P Marshall; B Young, N Brady, B Botha, E O'Donoghue, R Caldwell, M McCullough, D Pollock (C), C Henry. Replacements: S Philpott, T Court, K Dawson, W Faloon, R Dewey, I Boss, M McCrea.
