Leinster pair banned for punching

Leinster will be without Shane Jennings for three games and John Fogarty will miss Saturday's home Magners League clash against Cardiff Blues, after both were suspended for punching following disciplinary hearings this afternoon.

Jennings has been banned for three weeks until January 28th and will miss the game against the Blues and the Heineken Cup meetings with London Wasps and Edinburgh.

Fogarty received a one-week suspension from today that ends at midnight on the 13th. Both were cited under under law 10.4 (a) by the independent commissioner who was present at last weekend's win over Connacht at the RDS.

Munster's Federico Pucciarello will be available to Tony McGahan despite being found guilty of kicking in the defeat to Ulster at Thomond Park. The prop's offence was found not to have warranted a red card and he is free to play.

Cheika named Jennings and Fogarty in his squad to face Cardiff earlier today but it hasn't been all bad for the Australian, who welcomes captain Leo Cullen and full-back Girvan Dempsey back from injury.
 
Jamie Heaslip, Devin Toner and CJ van der Linde, who missed last weekend's win, also come back into the squad for the game at the RDS.

Cullen hasn't featured since injuring his shoulder during the Heineken Cup clash with Wasps last October. He is expected to be fit for selection this weekend, which is a big bonus according to forwards' coach Jonno Gibbes.

"Leo Cullen, with his experience, his personality and the way he conducts himself within the team environment will give the guys a real lift," said Gibbes.

"I believe he will be available for this week's selection. That's a positive. Bernard Jackman is not that far away (from fitness): two guys (returning) like that will have a real positive effect."

In the absence of Jackman and Fogarty, Brian Blaney is likely to start at hooker against the Blues.

LEINSTER (Squad v Cardiff Blues) - Backs: C Keane, C Whitaker, I Nacewa, J Sexton, R Kearney, Simon Keogh, F Contepomi, L Fitzgerald, B O'Driscoll, G D'Arcy, S Horgan, G Dempsey.

Forwards: C Healy, R McCormack, B Blaney, CJ van der Linde, S Wright, L Cullen, T Hogan, M O'Kelly, D Toner, R Elsom, C Jowitt, Stephen Keogh, S O'Brien, J Heaslip.