The former Castleknock College secondrow Devon Toner could find himself on the Leinster bench on Saturday against the Dragons at Rodney Parade (5.30pm). The two young players who have managed to capture Leinster coach Michael Cheika's attention this season have been Toner and Jonathan Sexton, who is also named in yesterday's 28-man squad.
The likelihood is either Ben Gissing or Toner will start on the Leinster bench. The talented 6ft 10ins Toner is the tallest player in Ireland and came on, with Sexton, from the bench against the Borders in Leinster's last Celtic League match. Both players went on to represent Ireland at under-21 level against Italy and France.
Ciarán Potts has also been named among the forwards having come through 80 minutes in a Leinster A match against Munster A last week. Potts had been sidelined with knee ligament problems. Upbeat throughout, Cheika also confirmed Leinster have not been able to fix a competitive match in the week prior to their Heineken European Cup clash against Toulouse
"We haven't been able to confirm opposition for the gap week in the calendar before the Toulouse game." he said. "The 'bye-week' is unfortunate but we have to find opponents of the right quality. There was talk of maybe playing Harlequins but they're occupied. The door isn't closed though and we hope we can arrange something."
Connacht have also named a squad of 26 for Saturday's Celtic League clash with Llanelli at the Sportsground (2.30pm). With five players returning from Ireland A duty last weekend, coach Michael Bradley has a chance to strengthen the team, something desperately needed as Connacht sit at the bottom of the table. They are 11 points adrift while Llanelli, in fifth place, are scrambling for a top-four finish.
"We are looking forward to the challenge," said Bradley. "The game will give a lot of our squad members the opportunity to perform and put themselves in the picture for the European Challenge Cup quarter-final against Newcastle next month."
Gavin Henson has been named in the Neath-Swansea Ospreys squad for tomorrow's Celtic League clash against the Borders. Henson has completed a 51-day ban imposed after he was cited for elbowing Leicester prop Alex Moreno in a European Cup match in December. The 24-year-old, who missed the Six Nations Championship matches against England and Scotland, is looking to put in a performance to persuade Wales caretaker coach Scott Johnson to pick him against Ireland in Dublin nine days later.
LEINSTER - Forwards: R Corrigan, B Blaney, W Green, B Williams, A Byrnes, E Miller, K Gleeson, J Heaslip, R McCormack, D Blaney, B Gissing, N Ronan, E Byrne, C Potts, D Toner. Backs - G Easterby, F Contepomi, G Brown, J Hepworth, K Lewis, R Kearney, D Hickie, B O'Riordan, J Sexton, E Hickey, B Burke, B O'Meara, G Dempsey.
CONNNACHT - Forwards: R Hogan, S Knoop, D McFarland, A Clarke, J Fogarty, J Merrigan, D Gannon, C Short, A Farley, M Swift, M Lacey, J Muldoon, C Rigney, B O'Connor. Backs: T Tierney, C Keane, D Slemen, P Warwick, C McPhillips, D Yapp, A Mailei, K Matthews, G Williams, J Hearty, M Mostyn, M McHugh.
