O’Brien Back In Leinster Line-Up
The Leinster team to face the Ospreys in Friday night’s RaboDirect PRO12 encounter at the RDS (kick-off 7.45pm) has been named.
Isaac Boss will form the half-back partnership with Jonathan Sexton – now just 28 points shy of the 1,000 point career mark for the province – in a side which sees several changes to the one which started last weekend’s Amlin Challenge Cup semi-final win.
Andrew Conway comes into the backs division, meaning that Fergus McFadden will partner Ian Madigan in the centre. Brian O’Driscoll is given a ‘breather’ being named on the bench after his exertions in recent weeks.
Meanwhile, Jamie Heaslip, Kevin McLaughlin and Mike Ross are rested after picking up knocks last weekend.
Gordon D’Arcy has made good progress after his calf strain and should come back into the reckoning for next weekend’s league semi-final.
In all there are 13 home-grown players in the starting side which will be led once more by second row Leo Cullen.
Fresh from his British & Irish Lions selection, Sean O’Brien has recovered from injury. The Tullow man starts at number 8 in a back row which also includes Shane Jennings and Rhys Ruddock.
Jack McGrath will make his 35th senior appearance, linking up with Ireland hooker Sean Cronin and Jamie Hagan in the front row.
Ticket sales for Friday’s game have passed the 17,500 mark. Tickets are still on sale online here, and are also available from Leinster Rugby Store (Donnybrook), Spar (Donnybrook) as well as Ticketmaster outlets nationwide.
LEINSTER (v Ospreys): Rob Kearney; Andrew Conway, Fergus McFadden, Ian Madigan, Isa Nacewa; Jonathan Sexton, Isaac Boss; Jack McGrath, Sean Cronin, Jamie Hagan, Leo Cullen (capt), Quinn Roux, Rhys Ruddock, Shane Jennings, Sean O’Brien.
Replacements: Richardt Strauss, Cian Healy, Michael Bent, Devin Toner, Dominic Ryan, John Cooney, Andrew Goodman, Brian O’Driscoll.