Fresh look to Leinster squad

Squad news: With so many internationals unavailable in the run up to the start of the Six Nations, Leinster coach Michael Chieka has named a somewhat new-look squad ahead of the province's Magners League encounter against Llanelli Scarlets at Donnybrook this Friday.

Felipe Contepomi has been named in the squad and the Argentine stands out among a number of younger fringe squad players who feature more regularly for the 'A' team. They include the likes of; Kevin McLaughlin, Stephen Grissing, Devin Toner, Jonathan Sexton and Michael Berne.

"We see the likes of Ross McCarron, Jonathan Sexton, Kevin McLaughlin, Devin Toner and Cillian Willis as players who can hopefully make a big contribution over the coming seasons," Cheika said.

"We also have a young brigade of front rowers who are involved with the Ireland Under-20's for the upcoming Six Nations. It's important to see who's up to the mark at this time of year in terms of player retention and to see who can step up, like Jonathan and Cillian did."

Those players on Ireland duty who have not been named in the match 22 for the opening RBS Six Nations game against Wales will also be included in the squad.

"We're still in Magners League mode and this is a critical top-of-the-table clash," Cheika added:  "They have two games in hand but they also have an unbelievable run of home games between now and the end of the season.

"We have the alternate with more away games towards the end of the season, so it's imperative that we get as many wins as possible at this stage. It's also imperative that we take lessons out of Friday night's game and move on."

The Scarlets, too, must plan without many of their Welsh internationals and make nine changes, one positional in their starting XV.

Dwayne Peel, Stephen Jones and Gavin Evans are all away on Six Nations duty so Clive Stuart-Smith, Ceiron Thomas and Darren Daniel are included in the backs. Matthew Watkins switches from wing to centre.

Iestyn Thomas, Craig Dunlea and Scott MacLeod are the only survivors in the pack from the win over London Irish. Nathan Thomas, Dafydd Jones, Vernon Cooper and Ken Owens are all drafted in. James Bater takes over the captaincy from Simon Easterby who is on Ireland duty.

Irish internationals Bryan Young and Tommy Bowe - not selected for Ireland's opening Six Nations fixture against Wales - are included in the Ulster squad to play Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday, (KO 5.30pm).  Hooker Stuart Philpott will win his first cap for the table-toppers if named in the starting XV.

Connacht's squad for the game against Edinburgh at Murrayfield on Friday night shows three changes to that which played Harlequins last weekend.  David Slemen, Ray Hogan and David Gannon are included in place of the injured Ted Robinson, Brett Sturgess and Ryan Strudwick.

Leinster squad:(Forwards) Stanley Wright, Bernard Jackman, Will Green, Devin Toner, Cameron Jowitt, Stephen Keogh, Owen Finegan, Kevin McLaughlin, Reggie Corrigan, Brian Blaney, Adam Byrnes, Harry Vermaas. (Backs) Chris Whitaker, Guy Easterby, Niall Ronan, Christian Warner, Jonathan Sexton, Michael Berne, Felipe Contepomi, Ross McCarron, Gary Brown, Stephen Grissing

Scarlets:Morgan Stoddart; Dafydd James, Regan King, Matthew Watkins, Darren Daniel; Ceiron Thomas, Clive Stuart-Smith; Iestyn Thomas, Ken Owens, Craig Dunlea; Vernon Cooper, Scott MacLeod; Dafydd Jones, James Bater (c), Nathan Thomas.

Ulster squad:(Backs) Kieran Campbell; Paul Marshall; Adam Larkin; Paul Steinmetz; Kevin Maggs; Scott Young; Paul McKenzie; Mark Bartholomeusz; Bryn Cunningham; Tommy Bowe. (Forwards) Justin Fitzpatrick; Bryan Young; Declan Fitzpatrick; Paul Shields; Stuart Philpott ; Justin Harrison(Captain); Matt McCullough; Ryan Caldwell ;Tim Barker; Kieron Dawson; Roger Wilson; Stephen Ferris; David Pollock.

Connacht squad:  Peter Durcan, Andrew Farley, Adrian Flavin, John Fogarty, David Gannon, John Hearty, Ray Hogan, Chris Keane, Stephen Knoop, Matt Lacey, Mark McHugh, Conor McPhillips, Brendan O'Connor, Ray Ofisa, Conor O'Loughlin, Colm Rigney, Daniel Riordan, David Slemen, Michael Swift, Paul Warwick, Brett Wilkinson, Gavin Williams.