Leinster field young side against Dax
Leinster will field a young side and give debuts to a number of their summer recruits in their friendly against Dax today.
…Luke Fitzgerald will make his Leinster debut against Dax today. He will also receive his Leaving Cert results…
Leinster coach Michael Chieka has said that “the biggest improvers in the squad will be the coaches” in naming his side for the pre season game against Dax.
Leinster’s Ireland and Ireland A frontliners have joined the squad on the week long team building camp in Dax but will not play in the warm up game. Instead Chieka will give debuts to a number of summer recruits including Luke Fitzgerald. Fitgerald, who won a Leinster Schools Cup Medal with Blackrock College in March, and is signed to the Leinster Academy has proven his dedication according to Chieka:
“He has integrated himself fairly well with his enthuiasm and motivation, but he has also got a very dedicated personality”
Chieka intends to use a full complement of 25 players with the objective of game fitness and defence uppermost in his mind.
Up front Leinster will start Harry Vermass with Bernard Jackmand and Will Green. Vermass, a South African U21 can play all three places in the front row.
…Stephen Keogh will make his Leinster debut today having signed from Munster in the off season…
Adam Byrnes and Des Dillon will partner in the second row. Summer signing from Munster, Stephen Keogh will make his debut in the back row alongside former World Cup Winner Owen Finnegan and the new club Captain Niall Ronan.
Chris Whitaker will start at 9 and his experience will be useful to the young back line outside him made up of Warner, Michael Byrne, Stephen Grissing, Gary Browne, Fitzgerald and Ross McCarron at fullback.