Leinster have named a strong starting XV for their Magners League clash against Ulster at the RDS on St Stephen’s Day (5.30pm). There are just two changes, both in the pack, to the side that started last weekend’s 39-7 victory over the Scarlets.
Stan Wright comes into the frontrow in place of the injured CJ van der Linde, while Malcolm O'Kelly, a second-half replacement for Nathan Hines, starts alongside skipper Leo Cullen.
Kevin McLaughlin continues his backrow partnership with Sean O'Brien and Jamie Heaslip.
The backline remains unchanged with the replacements bench to be confirmed closer to kick-off with either Hines or Devin Toner taking the secondrow vacancy.
In contrast Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin rests seven of the side that started last Sunday’s loss to Stade Francais.
Academy player Jamie Smith starts at fullback in place of Clinton Schifcofske, with Darren Cave and Ian Whitten paired in the centre replacing Paddy Wallace and Andrew Trimble. The international duo are being rested under the IRFU Player Management Programme.
Niall O'Connor starts at outhalf in place of Ian Humphreys, who moves to the bench.
Bryan Young replaces a rested Tom Court as loosehead prop. Also being rested is flanker Stephen Ferris, who is replaced at blindside by David Pollock, with TJ Anderson at openside. Willie Faloon starts as a replacement, with Chris Henry captaining the side.
No 8 Chris Henry will captain the Ulster side.
Commenting on the back-to-back interpros, McLaughlin said: “We are in a very tough run of games right through this whole phase.
“Right from now we have Leinster this week, Munster the following week, then Ospreys, then we are back to Europe.
“So it is a very important phase for us, especially with the Magners League being so tight, you just have to look at Glasgow, we lost and went from second to seventh in the table. It is very, very tight and we have to be in a situation that we have to get something from every game.
“We are looking for a performance. We were very disappointed at the weekend in Paris. We thought that we had fought hard, but to fight hard just wasn’t good enough. Our discipline at times let us down, and we made too many errors, which cost us dear on the day. These are things that we have got to iron out for this weekend. We will go to Dublin positive, and hopefully come away with something.
“The IRFU Player Management Programme is taking place during this phase of the league. The Irish squad players' are only allowed to play a certain number of games, and we reckoned that the Christmas break was a good time to give them their rest.
“No disrespect to Leinster obviously, but we thought that this was a good opportunity to go down to Dublin and give some other guys in the squad a chance to play. We will have the boys back for Munster and Ospreys.
“When we play these top teams, we seem to be able to lift our game, and play a lot better. We always put the same effort into every game; we will look for opportunities and play accordingly, we are confident that we can go down there and get a performance."
Leinster:R Kearney; S Horgan, B O'Driscoll, G D'Arcy, I Nacewa; S Berne, E Reddan; C Healy, J Fogarty, S Wright, L Cullen (capt), M O'Kelly, K McLaughlin, S O'Brien, Jamie Heaslip. Reps:B Jackman, M Ross, N Hines or D Toner, Stephen Keogh, P O'Donohoe, F McFadden, G Dempsey
Ulster:J Smith; T Nagusa, D Cave, I Whitten, S Danelli; N O'Connor, I Boss; B Young, N Brady, BJ Botha, E O'Donoghue, D Tuohy, D Pollock, TJ Anderson, C Henry (capt). Reps:A Kyriacou, D Fitzpatrick, R Caldwell, W Faloon, C Willis, I Humphreys, J Shiells.
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