Leinster assume it's game on

RUGBY MAGNERS LEAGUE:SEEMINGLY LOCATED like an oasis in the desert, or more pertinently an igloo in a snowstorm, somehow Leinster's game against Magners League leaders Glasgow at the RDS tonight is set to go ahead as scheduled. Admittedly, this is dependent upon no worsening of the adverse weather conditions, while both the pitch and supporters' areas will continue to be monitored.

In any event, Glasgow were given the go-ahead to travel to Dublin yesterday and the RDS’ health and safety officer Eamonn O’Boyle (from Eamonn O’Boyle Associates) has drawn up a plan regarding proposed new access routes into the ground for supporters, with close to 14,000 tickets now having been sold for a game between third and first in the league.

Underlining the importance of the game from Leinster’s perspective, Shane Jennings will captain the side on his return from suspension for his first game since the fateful 12-9 defeat to London Irish in early October while Jonathan Sexton also returns for his first outing since fracturing his hand in Ireland’s win over South Africa at the end of November.

Compared to the team which beat Ulster in its last outing, Leinster also bring in Girvan Dempsey, Fergus McFadden and Nathan Hines in a fairly strong selection. Shane Horgan, Gordon D’Arcy and Leo Cullen are rested as part of the IRFU’s 2011 Rugby World Cup game management programme, while Leinster have rested Seán O’Brien.

It is hoped that CJ van der Linde, back running after straining his calf in the home European win over the Scarlets, will be back for the Brive game next weekend.

For their part, Glasgow have named long-term absentees James Eddie and Rob Dewey on the bench as they seek a club record seventh league game without defeat, and after four successive wins over Irish opposition they’ve been talking up their chances for this game.

However, this fixture has thrown up 15 home wins out of 19, including their four European meetings, and in 10 previous competitive visits to Dublin, Glasgow have lost the lot.

Leinster have also won their last 10 league matches at the RDS.

Even so, Leinster are hosting an in-form side who will be a severe test for the European champions. “And I’d say their focus is all about the league now because I’d say they feel they’re out of the (Heineken) Cup,” Michael Chieka points out.

“They fancy their chances coming here. They’ve been quoted in the papers as not being really worried about us. They don’t fear Leinster coming here, so we have to do our best to show that this is a difficult place to play and that we want to be at the top of the league as well.”

To this end, the Leinster coach says he wants “to see real physicality. Not having played last weekend we want to take the game right to the opposition, make them tackle us and make sure we tackle them, get a real physical nature about it before anything else and then let’s really deal with the threats because they have plenty of them.

“They have lots of pace, an excellent kicking game, a big, big forward pack and a very good backrow on the ground. They play off their feet a lot and they do it well so we’re going to have to be really physical to repel that.”

Leinster V Glasgow, Venue RDS Kick-Off 8m, On TV: Setanta Sports 1

LEINSTER:G Dempsey; I Nacewa, B O'Driscoll, F McFadden, R Kearney; J Sexton, E Reddan; C Healy, J Fogarty, S Wright, D Toner, N Hines, K McLaughlin, S Jennings (capt), J Heaslip. Replacements: B Jackman, M Ross, M O'Kelly, S Keogh, P O'Donohoe, S Berne, S Keogh.

GLASGOW WARRIORS:B Stortoni; D van der Merwe, M Evans, Graeme Morrison, T Evans; D Parks, C Cusiter; J Welsh, D Hall, M Low, A Kellock (capt), R Gray, K Brown, J Barclay, Je Beattie. Replacements: F Thomson, Kevin Tkachuk, D Turner, J Eddie, C Gregor, R Jackson, R Dewey.

Referee:James Jones (WRU).

Forecast:Leinster to win.