MAGNERS LEAGUE PREVIEWS: Leinster v Glasgow:MICHAEL CHEIKA has decided not to cut back on his Lions players for this meeting with Glasgow, although the match will be played by Leinster with a sharp eye on next week's Heineken Cup semi-final against Munster.
The coach and the players know the title is probably out of sight. Of all teams in the Magners League, leaders Munster are the most unlikely to fluff their lines in the final act.
Lions heavyweights Brian O’Driscoll, Luke Fitzgerald and Jamie Heaslip are all named in the starting line-up, with only Rob Kearney missing the match due to illness.
The Leinster management, however, fully expect the Ireland fullback to be fit and available for next week’s game. Fitzgerald takes his place on the left wing, while Gordon D’Arcy will partner O’Driscoll in the centre.
Doubtlessly Cheika will be looking for a tight, largely error- free game against the Scottish opponents. Having seen first hand how Munster punish any such lapses in concentration or discipline, an open, romping game is the last thing he or Leinster wants against Glasgow, for the sort of game they want to bring with them to Croke Park in a week’s time.
The last few weeks have been difficult for Leinster. Being beaten by Edinburgh 27-16 last time out was disappointing but with the Harlequins result in the Heineken Cup still fresh, the home side should go into this home game with positive thoughts.
They will doubtlessly hope to hold on to that defiant attitude that held out the English Premiership side for such long spells of the quarter-final.
Defending every inch of turf like it was the last is a style of game that will serve them well next week if it can be repeated and although the Leinster quarter-final win was flawed, there was much more good than bad that they can take with them.
While commander-in-chief of the pack Leo Cullen sits it out as a rotational decision Shane Jennings takes up the captain’s armband.
In that respect the performance of the forwards will be of particular interest, given the quality of next week’s opponents.
The backrow bristles with the talent of Heaslip, Australian power-house Rocky Elsom and Jennings, who are collectively able for almost anything Glasgow can bring to Dublin.
Devin Toner will again be extremely useful in the lineout but his learning graph and physical development is still on an upwards curve and each match is an education as much as a performance.
Veteran Malcolm O’Kelly is the secondrow partner and teacher in this week’s instalment.
In all, Leinster field the same team in the same positions that beat Harlequins two weeks ago except for the sick Kearney and the resting Cullen.
Glasgow won the meeting 15-12 in Firhill last October when Dan Parks kicked five penalties. It would be extremely bad timing for Leinster if they were to allow that to happen again.
LEINSTER: G Dempsey; I Nacewa, B O'Driscoll, G D'Arcy, L Fitzgerald; F Contepomi, C Whitaker; C Healy, B Jackman, S Wright, D Toner, M O'Kelly, R Elsom, S Jennings (c), J Heaslip. Replacements: J Fogarty, R McCormack, L Cullen, S O'Brien, C Keane, J Sexton, S Horgan.
GLASGOW: B Stortoni; L Fa'atau, M Evans, G Morrison, T Evans; R Jackson, M McMillan; K Tkachuk, D Hall, M Low, T Barker, A Kellock (capt), C Forrester, J Barclay, K Brown. Replacements: F Thomson, J Va'a, R Gray, J Eddie, C Gregor, A Henderson, H O'Hare.
Referee: J Jones (WRU)
Verdict: Leinster to win.
