Brennan loses out to O'Brien

Following his barnstorming, two-cap tour with Ireland in South Africa, Trevor Brennan has returned to domestic fare with a bump. Surprisingly, Leinster coach Mike Ruddock has preferred Clontarf's off-season recruit from DLSP Declan O'Brien for the holders' opening defence of their Interprovincial crown against Ulster in Donnybrook tomorrow.

Explaining this decision, Ruddock said: "Trevor had not focused on the role we want him to play. He did well in South Africa but we want him to refocus on his responsibilities for Leinster."

With Denis Hickie, Ciaran Clarke and Reggie Corrigan all sidelined until September, and last year's captain Kurt McQuilkin assuming an advisory coaching role, there is a somewhat inexperienced if refreshingly youthful look to the side.

A quartet will make their Leinster debuts, namely the exciting midfield partnership of Brian Carey (at last, touch wood, injury free) and 20-year-old Shane Horgan. The Terenure lock Pat Holden partners new captain Gabriel Fulcher in the second row while the immensely promising 20-year-old Barry Gibney attempts to fill one of the problem positions, open-side flanker.

Aside from Fulcher there are only three other full internationals in the team, the St Mary's trio of Kevin Nowlan, John McWeeney and Victor Costello, in turn among only seven players who finished last season's campaign in the European Cup defeat by Toulouse.

Ulster, too, retain only seven of the players who completed last year's campaign in the defeat by Glasgow but, by contrast, they have a hardier look to them with six internationals in their line-up.