Leinster backs to shade it

Celtic Warriors v Leinster, Sardis Road, 2.30: Given the quality of players at Leinster's disposal there are few matches in the Celtic League where bets would load up against the Irish province winning. But this may be one of them.

Skippered by Leo Cullen, Leinster have made five changes to the side that lost to Munster last week in the opening game of the tournament. Niall Breslin comes into the back row for his first outing of the season, where he joins Shane Jennings, who will play on the open side.

David Blaney and Niall Treston line out in the front row, with just one enforced change to the back division, where John McWeeney comes on to the right wing to replace Gordon D'Arcy, who is in Bilbao with the Irish World Cup squad.

That said, there will be few tougher challenges to the Celtic Warriors on home ground at Sardis Road in Pontypridd, although the side, an amalgam of Bridgend and Pontypridd, had an impressive start last week, a 49-12 away win against Borders.

That's not surprising given Pontypridd were Parker Pen Cup semi-finalists last season and Bridgend were Welsh champions. You'd hardly expect them to be anything less than a tough combination and they have easily enough quality to trouble a Leinster team that is less experienced than usual.

Kevin Morgan, the quick but injury-prone full back, will be out to prove his fitness for the World Cup, while Warriors also possess quality and experience in the backs with Gareth Wyatt, Jon Bryant and Paul John.

They also have the bonus of Aisea Havili, still available on the wing after he pulled out of the Tongan World Cup squad, while Chris Horsman, Phil Booth, Deniol Jones and Nathan Budgett provide experience in the pack.

However, the trump card could be the familiar face of Neil Jenkins. There is a doubt over his participation but if he is available, Leinster will have to avoid conceding penalties in their own half.

Last week, the former Wales kicker scored 24 points from the boot and while age has caught up with him, his place-kicking is still a lethal weapon.

Jenkins's sureness with the boot contrasts sharply with Leinster's difficulties against Munster last weekend. Between Matthew Leek and Gordon D'Arcy the side landed one from five shots on goal. Leek was a late withdrawal from today's team and is replaced by Christian Warner, who moves from full back to outhalf.

Leinster have obviously looked at their scrum, which seemed to struggle, especially after Emmett Byrne departed, while lineout communications also seemed garbled.

Coach Gary Ella will also hope the knock-on count will drop.There were too many of them, even for a first time out. But the defence looked strong and Munster never really got close to scoring a try. In attack, Leinster always looked the more likely to break through.

There were also some encouraging individual performances, particularly from Brendan Burke, whose debut came complete with a well-taken try. Kieran Lewis and Christian Warner looked dangerous with ball in hand and in the pack Leo Cullen, Ben Gissing and Des Dillon all did well.

It is a tough second match for Ella and Cullen. Keeping ball in hand and using the running ability of the backs along with more steady place-kicking could be Leinster's strongest suit. They are easily up to it.

CELTIC WARRIORS: K Morgan; G Wyatt, D Bishop, J Bryant, A Havili; N Jenkins or L Thomas, P John; P Booth, A Joy, C Horsman, N Budgett, D Jones, N Kelly, R Bryan (capt), R Parks.

LEINSTER: A N Other; J McWeeney, K Lewis, D Quinlan, B Burke; C Warner, B O'Meara; J Lyne, D Blaney, N Treston, L Cullen (capt), B Gissing, N Breslin, S Jennings, D Dillon.

Referee: Iain Ramage (Scotland).

Verdict: Leinster.