Leinster set to prey on weakened Ospreys

Leinster v Ospreys: The Ospreys' head coach, Lyn Jones, may have sported a mischievous glint in his eye when he announced the team for tonight's Magners Celtic League game.

Certainly no one in Leinster expects to be in a position to reconcile the team sheet with the flesh-and-blood incarnation that takes the field come match time at Donnybrook.

There is no doubt the Welsh region is suffering a catalogue of injuries (14) that would have the producers of Casualty salivating, but there is a suspicion they may have one or two surprises for the home side. An exhaustive trawl through the list of the infirm does not turn up any reference to the former All Black scrumhalf Justin Marshall, Gavin Henson, top try scorer Lee Byrne or the new Welsh wunderkind James Hook.

Yet none of these are named in the match 22. Ryan Jones (neck), Filo Tiatia (groin), Duncan Jones (torn bicep), Shane Williams (ankle sprain) and Jonathan Thomas (AC joint) miss this game but hope to be available in seven days' time for a Heineken European Cup match against Stade Français.

Sonny Parker (strained medial ligament) will be out for two more weeks while Richard Hibbard (shoulder) hopes to return at the end of January. Huw Bennett (ankle ligament), Matthew Jones (knee), Tim Evans (knee), Craig Mitchell (knee), Ian Evans (shoulder) and Lyndon Bateman (knee ligament) are long-term considerations.

Jones offered by way of explanation: "The Christmas period has had a massive impact on our injury situation, and we now have 14 players unavailable. It was always our intention to rotate the squad over these few weeks, but the enforced changes have made this weekend's selection even more difficult.

"Having said that, we have always performed well at Donnybrook and we have enjoyed our previous visits to the ground. This weekend presents a great opportunity for players such as Martin Roberts, Ed Shervington and Mike Powell to show us what they can offer at this level, and there may also be an opportunity to give Ben Lewis some game time.

"Winning against Leinster in Ireland has proved difficult for all of the Welsh regions. Indeed, we were the last to have enjoyed any success in Donnybrook and that was almost two years ago. When you strive to play rugby at the highest level you want to be tested against the very best players, and Leinster will be offering that."

The Ospreys still present an abrasive proposition, particularly up front, but outside of the former Springbok Stefan Terblanche, the back line is filled by several "irregulars".

Leinster have injury concerns of their own, with Girvan Dempsey (ankle), Luke Fitzgerald (shoulder), Ronan McCormack (shoulder/neck) and Shane Horgan (chest infection) missing out. Rob Kearney continues at fullback. Kieran Lewis replaces Horgan on the right wing.

Felipe Contepomi is handed a starting role as Jonathan Sexton - who acquitted himself very well in the Munster and Ulster games - drops to the bench. Up front, Stanley Wright has won the battle to replace McCormack, the Cook Islands prop demonstrating he can play both sides of the front row.

Leinster coach Michael Cheika probably wanted to give Wright some game time, a sentiment that's echoed in Cameron Jowitt selection alongside Malcolm O'Kelly in the second row. Reggie Corrigan and Trevor Hogan are named among the replacements, as is the promising young fullback Ross McCarron.

Cheika's side have acquitted themselves well over the past five weeks, their second-half performance against Munster notwithstanding - though it's hardly a crime to finish second best at Thomond Park.

The concession of too many penalties during that second 40 minutes will have grated and it's a weakness Leinster need to address. They have to play the referee, whether he's correct or not.

Leinster's pack deserve the kudos, manifest in the performances of O'Kelly and the entire back row of Stephen Keogh, Keith Gleeson and Jamie Heaslip.

Bernard Jackman's work in the loose has been of a very high quality, while the ailing set-pieces have been downgraded from intensive care to ward status.

Contepomi's return and his understanding with the in-form midfield of Gordon D'Arcy and Brian O'Driscoll will provide the central tenet of Leinster's attacking gambits. Denis Hickie provides an incisive edge out wide.

The Ospreys have a decent record against Leinster in recent seasons, winning the last time the teams met at Donnybrook, but based on what purports to be a weakened side for this match, you suspect they will have their wings clipped.

LEINSTER: R Kearney; K Lewis, B O'Driscoll (capt), G D'Arcy, D Hickie; F Contepomi, C Whitaker; S Wright, B Jackman, W Green; C Jowitt, M O'Kelly; S Keogh, K Gleeson, J Heaslip. Replacements: R Corrigan, H Vermaas, T Hogan, O Finegan, G Easterby, J Sexton, R McCarron.

OSPREYS: S Terblanche; J Vaughton, T Selley, A Bishop, R Mustoe; S Connor, M Roberts; P James (capt), E Shervington, A Millward; B Cockbain, M Powell; L Beach, R Pugh, A Lloyd. Replacements: B Williams, A Jones, C Martenko, B Lewis, J Spice, N Walker, AN Other.

Referee: Malcolm Changleng (Scotland).

Recent meetings- (October 2004) At St Helen's: Ospreys 11 Leinster 3; (March 2005) At Donnybrook: Leinster 12 Ospreys 16; (September 2005) At Liberty Stadium: Ospreys 22 Leinster 20; (April 2006) At Lansdowne Road: Leinster 38 Ospreys 21.

Leading points scorers: Leinster - Felipe Contepomi 82. Ospreys - James Hook 63.

Leading try scorers: Leinster - Denis Hickie 5. Ospreys - Lee Byrne 3.

Verdict: Leinster to win.