DLSP's New Zealand-born outhalf Simon Broughton has been promoted to the Leinster team for tomorrow's interprovincial clash with Munster at Musgrave Park (7.30). He replaces Nathan Turner in the only change to the starting XV that defeated Connacht at Donnybrook last weekend.
Broughton, who played his rugby with Hawke's Bay on the North Island, was a Ballymena player last season but a childhood friendship with fellow New Zealander and DLSP full back Shane Stephens persuaded him to switch clubs and move to Dublin for the coming season.
He has trained with the Leinster squad for the past two weeks and now receives an opportunity due to a spiralling injury crisis that has claimed Emmet Farrell and Andy Dunne. Turner, whose preferred position is full back, filled in at outhalf for the Connacht game but struggled to master the demands of the playmaker's role.
Broughton (25) who is qualified to represent Ireland through an Irish grandfather (Omagh), relishes his promotion.
"It is a great opportunity for me and I see it as a huge challenge to go down there and play Munster. They are the best team in Ireland as last week's win showed. It's going to be the biggest game of my career to date."
So what qualities will Broughton bring to Leinster? "I like to run the ball, it's my style. I don't know if it's Leinster's but we have got really exciting backs. I'll be hoping to use them. Besides I have some big guys inside me if I need them like Victor (Costello) so they should take some of the pressure off."
Leinster coach Matt Williams outlined his decision to promote Broughton. "He's got lovely hands and gets the backline going. He's been with us for a couple of weeks. He's a 10 that can get it going, he has been around in the league and knows the scene. Everyone has to play their first game and his is on Friday night."
Old Belvedere scrumhalf Simon Keogh has recovered from injury and wins a place on the bench ahead of Derek Hegarty while St Mary's College prop Peter Coyle comes into the replacements for the injured Gary Halpin (back).
Ulster make just one change from the team that was beaten by Munster for tomorrow night's encounter with Connacht at the Sportsground (6.0). Tighthead prop Clem Boyd is fit again and reclaims his place from Simon Best.
Connacht have yet to finalise a team. Coach Steph Nel has left a vacancy in the second row pending the outcome of an IRFU disciplinary hearing involving second-row and captain Mark McConnell tonight. According to the squad released, it appears that Blackrock scrumhalf Jim Ferris will miss the match through injury with Steve McIvor set to deputise.
Meanwhile, UCD will host a Cambridge University squad that includes several Irish players at the Belfield Bowl on Saturday. Open-side flanker Mike Haslett, a former Ireland under-19 and under-21 international, captains Cambridge. He is joined by former Ballymena scrumhalf Mark Edwards, Blackrock centre David Quinlan and former Belfield student Andy O'Brien.
Leinster: G Dempsey; D Hickie, P McKenna, S Horgan, G D'Arcy; S Broughton, B O'Meara; R Corrigan, S Byrne, E Byrne; R Casey, M O'Kelly; E Miller, V Costello, L Toland (capt). Replacements: S Keogh, N Turner, M McHugh; T Brennan, L Cullen, P Coyle, P Smyth.
Ulster: G Henderson; J Topping, R Constable, J Bell, T Howe; D Humphreys (capt), B Free; J Fitzpatrick, R Weir, C Boyd; P Johns, G Longwell; R Nelson, T McWhirter, A Ward. Replacements: S Bell, N Malone, S Stewart, D Topping, M Blair, S Best, P Shields.
Connacht (squad): W Ruane; P Duignan, M Smyth, M Murphy, D Rumney; E Elwood, S McIvor; J Screene, M Uijs, M Cahill; D Browne, A N Other; I Dillon, J Charlie, J O'Connor, R Lee, T Allnutt, B Shelbourne, M Swift, C Rigney, J McVeigh, D McFarland.
