Leinster make seven changes

RUGBY/Celtic League: Aidan McCullen will captain Leinster for the first time in his career when the province host the Neath/Swansea Ospreys in a Celtic Cup first round clash at Donnybrook on Friday evening.

The back-row player is one of seven changes to the Leinster line-up which was defeated last weekend against the Celtic Warriors.

Gordon D'Arcy returns from stand-in duty with the World Cup squad in Bilbao, while Matt Leek, Emmet Byrne and Gavin Hickie return at outhalf, tighthead and hooker from injury. Brian O'Riordan is given is first start of the season at scrumhalf, while Leo Cullen is rested to accommodate Aidan Kearney in the second row.

Leek's return sees Christian Warner, picked last week at full back before lining up at outhalf, switch to centre, with David Quinlan dropping to the bench.

Reggie Corrigan, Shane Byrne, Malcolm O'Kelly, Keith Gleeson, Eric Miller, Victor Costello, Felipe Contepomi, Brian O'Driscoll, Denis Hickie, Girvan Dempsey are all ruled out due to international duty while Darren Molloy and Derek Hegarty were not considered due to injury.

Connacht's team to play The Borders in the opening round of the Celtic Cup at Galashiels on Friday night, which is live on TG4, shows nine changes from that which went down to Cardiff at the Arms Park on Saturday.

Coach Michael Bradley says Connacht have a well-balanced squad this season and that having started with the same 15 for the opening two games of the Celtic League, he wanted to try a different formation this time round.

"We have a strong squad with strong competition for every place in the side. That is the way it should be with every good side and on Friday night some players will be getting their first chance to impress," he said.

Four of the changes are in the back line with David Hewitt starting at full back. Matt Mostyn will play his first game since returning to Connacht, on the right wing, while Ted Robinson is selected on the other wing. Conor O'Loughlin comes into the side at scrumhalf.

Up front John Fogarty takes over as hooker with Fabian Boiroux chosen at tighthead. Mike McCarthy makes his first start for Connacht in the second row where he will partner Andrew Farley. Paul Neville comes into the back row at openside with Mick Carroll selected at number eight.

Munster, who like Ulster have received a bye into the quarter-finals of the Celtic Cup, have been boosted by the timely arrival of Australian David Pusey in Ireland yesterday.

The 23-year-old former Australian Schools and under-21 international, who has signed a two-year deal, spent the last two seasons with the ACT Brumbies.

Pusey, who is qualified to play for Ireland, has been playing rugby, since agreeing terms with Munster, with the Sydney-based Southern Districts in the Toohey's New Cup. His most recent outing was on September 6th against Paramatta and so the 6ft 5ins lock is ready to begin work straight away.

"The cup competition has been running since June, I've been playing regularly, so I'm in pretty good shape, " he said.

LEINSTER (v Neath/Swansea Ospreys): G D'Arcy; J McWeeney, K Lewis, C Warner, B Burke; M Leek, B O'Riordan; J Lyne, G Hickie, E Byrne, A Kearney, B Gissing, A McCullen (Capt), S Jennings, D Dillon. Replacements: P Coyle, D Blaney, N Breslin, N Ronan, B O'Meara, D Quinlan, G Brown.

CONNACHT (v The Borders): D Hewitt; M Mostyn, D Yapp, T Allnutt (capt.), T Robinson; E Elwood, C O'Loughlin; W O'Kelly, J Fogarty, F Boiroux; M McCarthy, A Farley; P Neville, J O'Sullivan, M Carroll. Replacements: M Uijs, R Hogan, M Swift, T Carter, M Walls, S Moore, M McHugh.