Schmidt reverts to tried and tested

Rugby: Leinster coach Joe Schmidt has kept faith with the side that beat Leicester in the Heineken Cup quarter-final ahead of…

Rugby:Leinster coach Joe Schmidt has kept faith with the side that beat Leicester in the Heineken Cup quarter-final ahead of the last four showdown with Toulouse at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday (3.30pm). Gordon D'Arcy returns to partner Brian O'Driscoll in the centre, having been rested for the Magners League clash against Aironi, while outhalf and tournament top-scorer Jonathan Sexton also returns to start alongside scrumhalf Eoin Reddan.

Schmidt has kept faith with winger Luke Fitzgerald on the left, despite calls from some quarters for the inclusion of Fergus McFadden. The Ireland wing, therefore, continues in the back three with peerless fullback Isa Nacewa and veteran wing Shane Horgan.

Their counter-attacking was crucial to pinning Leicester back in the quarters and the coach will be hoping from more of the same along with more reliable handling from Fitzgerald at key moments.

Six of the front eight are Ireland internationals, with only Nathan Hines and the irrepressible Richardt Strauss making up the international contingent.

READ MORE

Among the replacements, the experience of Shane Jennings has been preferred to Dominic Ryan as backrow cover.

Toulouse coach Guy Novès has opted for Jean-Marc Doussain at scrumhalf ahead of the injured Nicolas Bezy, while Clément Poitrenaud is retained at inside centre along with Florian Fritz, leaving veteran France international Yannick Jauzion on the bench.

Regular captain Thierry Dusautoir has been struggling with injury and is among the replacements, leaving flanker Jean Bouilhou to take the armband.

Yannick Nyanga will also start on the openside ahead of Sylvain Nicolas and lock Yoann Maestri replaces Romain Millo-Chluski in the secondrow with Daan Human making way for Jean-Baptiste Poux in the frontrow.

Leinster: I Nacewa; S Horgan, B O'Driscoll, G D'Arcy, L Fitzgerald; J Sexton, E Reddan; C Healy, R Strauss, M Ross; L Cullen (capt), N Hines; K McLaughlin, S O'Brien, J Heaslip. Replacements: J Harris-Wright, H van der Merwe, S Wright, D Toner, S Jennings, I Boss, I Madigan, F McFadden

Toulouse: C Heymans, V Clerc, F Fritz, C Poitrenaud, M Medard, D Skrela, JM Doussain; JB Poux, W Servat, C Johnston; Y Maestri, P Albacete; J Bouilhou, Y Nyanga, L Picamoles. Replacements: V Lacombe, D Human, J Falefa, T Dusautoir, N Bezy, Y Jauzion, S Sowerby, G Lamboley.