Leinster v Edinburgh:DOUBTLESS THE punters will like the look of this Leinster team. A vintage centre pairing of Brian O'Driscoll and Gordon D'Arcy with Andrew Conway and Fionn Carr outside and Isa Nacewa coming in at fullback and what is there not to like?
Edinburgh coach Michael Bradley has said his team will arrive at the RDS today and face the three-times European champions with a blend of “confidence and excitement”. That home backline and Edinburgh’s chutzpah should make for a lively number on the Ballsbridge sward.
While it has been beaten into us that forwards win matches and backs decorate the scoreboard, there is a sparkle about the Leinster team. Even Seán Cronin, who comes in at hooker for Richardt Strauss, may lift the crowd with a few trademark line breaks.
Leo Cullen captains Leinster, with Cronin joining Cian Healy and Mike Ross in an internationally-flavoured frontrow. Tom Denton comes in for his home debut beside the captain in the secondrow, while Jamie Heaslip, Shane Jennings and Kevin McLaughlin make up an aristocratic looking backrow.
It is D’Arcy’s first start of the season and already he’s a try behind O’Driscoll as the two players chase down 59-try Denis Hickey before going after Shane Horgan’s Leinster mark of 71 tries. O’Driscoll is on 55 tries and D’Arcy 54 tries and while Horgan seems out of reach, the former Ireland winger’s mark looks vulnerable. Halfbacks Jonathan Sexton and Eoin Reddan add to a mobile Leinster team.
The sides go into the match with a two-from-three record, each losing their opener before adjusting their fortunes by putting over 40 points past their opponents at home. Added to Leinster losing just two games at the Showground last season and Edinburgh’s last win in Dublin dating back to 2005, the home team wins hands down on historical form.
But Bradley is not without hope for his side and while he concedes Leinster are “a quality side”, Edinburgh are not quaking. “I’ve been impressed by the willingness to be meticulous in our preparations and go the extra mile this season. We will be well prepared to face Leinster in Dublin,” said Bradley.
He has made three changes to the side that put five tries past Zebre at Murrayfield last weekend. Resting try-machine Tim Visser, Tom Brown comes in on the wing and in the pack the return of prop Geoff Cross and flanker Roddy Grant completes the changes.
LEINSTER: I Nacewa; A Conway, B O'Driscoll, G D'Arcy, F Carr; J Sexton, E Reddan; C Healy, S Cronin, M Ross, L Cullen (capt), T Denton, K McLaughlin, S Jennings, J Heaslip. Replacements: T Sexton, H van der Merwe, J Hagan, D Toner, J Murphy, J Cooney, I Madigan, B Macken.
EDINBURGH: G Tonks: L Jones, M De Luca, M Scott, T Brown; G Laidlaw (capt), R Rees; J Yapp, R Ford, G Cross, G Gilchrist, S Cox, S McInally, R Grant, N Talei. Replacements: A Titterrell, R Hislop, W Nel, R McAlpine, D Basilaia, C Leck, H Leonard, D Fife.
Referee: N Hennessy(WRU).
