Sport

Cheika looks to Holwell as injuries mount for Leinster

Leinster v Newport Gwent Dragons: DAVID HOLWELL is back in the Leinster fold, albeit from rather contrasting green fields

Sat Nov 29 2008 - 00:00

Leinster v Newport Gwent Dragons:DAVID HOLWELL is back in the Leinster fold, albeit from rather contrasting green fields. The Kiwi outhalf goes straight from sheep-farming in New Zealand onto the bench this evening at the RDS after the former Leinster outhalf's surprise summons to arms this week, writes Gerry Thornley

With Felipe Contepomi joining Isa Nacewa amongst an extensive list of about 10 first-team squad members deemed hors de combat - and neither are certain to be fit for the first of the back-to-back Heineken Cup matches against Castres next Friday - Michael Cheika was moved to re-sign the 33-year-old Holwell on a short-term contract as cover for Jonathan Sexton.

"He been playing for Northland in the New Zealand Provincial Championship up until about six weeks ago," Cheika pointed out yesterday. "Because of the situation with Phil (Contepomi) and Isa, we just don't know how long it will be before they come back so we needed someone who is versatile and could hang around for a few weeks. He's been a Leinster player before and he likes the club, which is important to us, and the blokes respect him."

Indeed the feeling among players and supporters would be reciprocal given the lasting impression he left from his previous sojourn in the 2004-05 season, when the polished and professional outhalf amassed a staggering 282 points in just 22 appearances.

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He'll have noted some changes, and Leinster's RDS switch and ensuing popularity is such that over 16,000 tickets have already been sold, and this despite them being in the midst of their worst run in the Magners League since March 2004, after three successive defeats to Munster, Connacht and Glasgow. Admittedly, Leinster being Leinster, sandwiched in amongst these three setbacks have been successive bonus point wins in the Heineken Cup over Edinburgh and Wasps.

Necessity being the mother of invention, however, once again this will be a revealing test of Leinster's strength in depth. Followng on from Tony McGahan's lead after what was a particularly arduous November Test series, Cheika has felt obliged to rest Luke Fitzgerald, Rob Kearney and Jamie Heaslip, while Shane Jennings (knee), Contepomi (hand infection) and CJ van der Linde (virus), have joined Nacewa (broken forearm), Leo Cullen (shoulder), Gordon D'Arcy (broken arm), Ronnie McCormack (neck) and Stephen Knoop in their casualty ward.

The net result is a start for Fergus McFadden in midfield, and recalls for others who have shone in their three recent A games, Stephen and Simon Keogh, Sean O'Brien and Cian Healy, while Academy product Jamie Hagan (who propped along with Healy on the Irish Under-20 Grand Slam winning team) is on the bench.

While only managing one win, by a point, in five previous treks to Rodney Parade, Leinster have run up 220 points in five handsome home league wins over the Dragons to date, but the Welsh region are a much improved side under the astute Paul Turner this season.

That 50-pointer away to Munster was their third game in a week, since when they've lost once in four outings.

"They've improved significantly. They've recruited well, and made some good signings who've given them structure, and in particular their defence," commented Cheika.

They come to the RDS on the back of successive league wins and a 32-22 win over Glasgow in the Heineken Cup before a huge defensive effort limited free-scoring Bath to a 13-9 win at the Rec.

Turner retains their backline from that game while making four changes up front, and in the circumstances this looks like a far more competitive match-up than the odds would indicate. But as Cheika also accepts, the defending champions cannot afford to slip away any further.

LEINSTER:G Dempsey; S Horgan, B O'Driscoll, F McFadden, S Keogh; J Sexton, C Whitaker (capt); C Healy, B Jackman, S Wright, D Toner, M O'Kelly, R Elsom, S O'Brien, S Keogh. Replacements: B Blaney, J Hagan, T Hogan, C Jowitt, C Keane, D Holwell, G Brown.

DRAGONS:P Dollman; G Wyatt, R Sidey, M Stcherbina, R Fussell; J Arlidge, W Evans; A Black, T Willis (capt), G Robinson, H Macdonald, A Hall, J Bearman, L Evans, G Webb. Replacements: S Jones, J Corsi, J Ringer, D Lydiate, A Smith, S Connor, R Lewis.

Referee:Andy Macpherson (SRU).

Betting(Paddy Powers): 1/20 Leinster, 40/1 Draw, 15/2 Dragons. Handicap odds (= Dragons + 18pts) 10/11 Leinster, 33/1 Draw, 10/11 Dragons.

Verdict:Leinster to win.

Over 16,000 tickets have now been sold for today's game. Tickets are still available in Donnybrook from Spar and the Leinster Rugby Store and will be available from Ticketmaster vans on Anglesea Road and Simmonscourt Road from 3pm today.