Dave Kearney returns to Leinster team to face Glasgow

The Ireland international is among eight changes to the side that beat Ospreys

This was one of the matches coach Leo Cullen saw coming down the line since its postponement in March due to weather conditions. Glasgow have lost just once since February, a narrow 10-13 defeat to Ulster in Belfast.

More impressively Gregor Townsend’s side have only lost once at home since September, when Northampton beat them 15-26 in the European Champions Cup.

Leinster’s last win in Scotstoun was 6-0 back in 2012 when Cullen was part of the secondrow partnership with Quinn Roux. Two penalties from Ian Madigan was enough that day in sodden conditions.

Glasgow, at seventh on the table, are in more desperate need of points and like Leinster have a large chunk of players in national camp before the final Six Nations match between Ireland and Scotland tomorrow.

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Cullen has made eight changes to the team that beat Ospreys with Dave Kearney making a return for the first time since sustaining a shoulder injury against France in the Six Nations. Joe Carbery is in line to make his debut from the bench.

Gary Ringrose partners Ben Te’o in the centre and in the front row there is a new combination of Tadhg Furlong, Peter Dooley and James Tracy

Outhalf Rory Clegg has re-joined Glasgow on a deal until May 2017 following five months with French Top 14 side Oyonnax. Clegg goes straight into the starting line-up to make his first appearance for the club since facing Leinster at the RDS last October.

“We’re delighted to welcome Rory (Clegg) back to the club and he goes straight into the side with Finn (Russell), Duncan (Weir) and Peter (Horne) away with Scotland and Gregor (Hunter) out injured,” said Glasgow coach Gregor Townsend.

Leinster also announced that 35,000 tickets have been sold for the April 2nd game against Munster in the Aviva Stadium.

Glasgow Warriors: P Murchie (C); L Jones, M Bennett, S Johnson, R Hughes,; R Clegg, G Hart; G Reid, F Brown, S Puafisi, G Peterson, L Nakarawa, J Eddie, S Favaro, A Ashe. Replacements: J Malcolm, J Yanuyanutawa, Z Fagerson, S Cummings, T Holmes, A Price, N Grigg, G Bryce.

Leinster: Z Kirchner; I Nacewa, G Ringrose, B Te'o, D Kearney. C Marsh, L McGrath, P Dooley, J Tracy, T Furlong, M Kearney, H Triggs, D Ryan, D Leavy, J Murphy. Replacements: B Byrne, J Loughman, M Bent, R Moloney, P Timmins, I Boss, J Carbery.

Referee: G Clancy (IRFU).

Johnny Watterson

Johnny Watterson

Johnny Watterson is a sports writer with The Irish Times