Leinster coach Mike Ruddock has named an unchanged team from that which started last Friday night's Interprovincial victory over Ulster at Ravenhill for Saturday's opening European Cup clash with Llanelli at Stradey Park.
Clontarf prop Henry Hurley and Terenure scrum-half Derek Hegarty retain their places. Hurley made an unexpected appearance in the Ulster game when Lansdowne's Angus McKeen damaged a calf muscle in the warm-up prior to the match. McKeen is still unfit and was therefore not in contention.
Emmet Byrne, singled out by team manager Jim Glennon as arguably the province's outstanding performer in the pack to date, switched to tighthead against Ulster and will be asked to perform a similar duty on Saturday. Byrne's ability as much as versatility is now being recognised.
Ironically his enforced journey across the front row could have long-term benefits as, earlier this week, Ireland loose-head prop Reggie Corrigan returned to fullcontact training for the first time since injury cut short his South African tour.
Corrigan will play for Lansdowne in a Leinster Senior Championship match this weekend and may then challenge for a place on the bench for Leinster's second European tie, next week's clash with Stade Francais at Donnybrook.
In the absence of McKeen and because of Hurley's promotion, Ruddock has turned to Blackrock's under-21 international Ian McLaughlin to act as cover in the front row. Hegarty was another late inclusion for the Ulster match when Lansdowne's David O'Mahony was sidelined through injury but the Terenure player retains his place for the trip to Stradey Park on merit.
Meanwhile former Clongowes schoolboy star Gordon D'Arcy faces a busy 48 hours over the weekend. Selected among the Leinster replacements for the Llanelli game on Saturday, he must then return to Dublin early the following morning so that he can line out on the left wing for an IRFU Academy team against Canada Under-20.
The contest at Donnybrook represents a historic occasion for Irish rugby as it marks the first time that the IRFU Academy will come together as a side. Given the age criteria, the team is a particularly strong one. Ciaran Fitzgerald will coach the team, assisted by Stephen Aboud, while another former international and Lion Trevor Ringland will act as manager.
The team is backboned by a number of players who helped Ireland win the World Under-19 championship in France and there are several more on the bench including excellent London Irish scrum-half Kieran Campbell, Andy O'Brien, Chris McCarey and Ben Urquhart. The match certainly deserves the support of the public and will be of especial interest to those who want to view internationals of the future.
The Academy team is not a national side per se, so they will war special white jerseys to mark this auspicious occasion.
Ulster's opponents in their opening European Cup match, Edinburgh Reivers, have included eight internationals in their team for the match at Ravenhill tomorrow night but have omitted two Lions, Alan Tait and Craig Chalmers.
Tait and Chalmers have been relegated to the bench as the Scottish district side desperately seek a remedy to disastrous early-season form. Duncan Hodge is preferred to Chalmers at out-half while Jamie Mayer and Graeme Shiel form the midfield partnership.
Tait had played a couple of matches on the wing but internationals Tony Stanger and Cameron Murray are chosen ahead of the former Newcastle Falcon. Ulster will announce their team later today.
