Leinster forced to alter plans

Rugby News: The IRFU have controversially overruled Leinster's decision to switch their Celtic League match against the Neath-Swansea Ospreys on Sunday, March 6th, to Lansdowne Road.

A seven-day rule prohibiting any activity on the Lansdowne pitch ahead of the March 12th international against France forces the game back to Donnybrook.

The playing surface of Donnybrook is way off the requirements expected for the professional game and another four games are scheduled to be played there before the Welsh side arrive.

Already, the weather has forced two of this week's Leinster Schools Junior Cup quarter-finals to be postponed until Monday (Clongowes v St Mary's) and Tuesday (CBC Monkstown v Terenure) at 3.30.

A doubt still surrounds the pitch ahead of tomorrow's under-21 international (kick-off 4pm) and Saturday's Leinster senior club final between St Mary's and DLSP.

The Ospreys faced a similar proposition last April, at the time they were struggling for a Heineken European Cup place, when they drew 16-all on a heavily sanded Donnybrook.

Meanwhile, Irish under-21 coach Mark McDermott has made six changes to the side defeated by Scotland a fortnight ago. A new half-back pairing has been forced upon McDermott as outhalf Gareth Steenson is injured and UCD's Cillian Willis is suspended.

Cork men Barry Keeshan and David O'Leary are promoted, while Northampton flanker Brett McNamee takes over the captaincy from Steenson.

Senior international Tommy Bowe starts on the right wing with just one Leinster player starting as centre Greg Stafford comes in for Kieran Geraghty.

In the pack, Dungannon pairing Oisín Hennessy and Ryan Caldwell both return from injury in place of Chris Henry and Mark Melbourne at openside and lock.

In other news, Denis Leamy has been ruled out for three weeks with a hamstring strain, sustained in Munster's 29-15 victory over Glasgow last Sunday. It's unlikely he would have usurped Johnny O'Connor from the number seven slot this weekend but he may have come into contention for the French game.

It dampens the massive impact Leamy has had this season when he went from the Munster treatment table to Irish international.

Leicester and Saracens have held talks with Britain rugby league captain Andy Farrell after the English RFU paved the way for the 29-year-old's code switch. Farrell would play either at number eight or blindside flanker.