Celtic League Previews

Pool A

Leinster v Pontypridd - Donnybrook (7.0)

Showing no inclination to take their foot off the pedal, Leinster have in effect named a full-strength side by recalling three of the original picks for last Saturday's win in Bridgend - Brian O'Driscoll, Gordon D'Arcy and Nathan Spooner - as they seek to maintain their unbeaten record and nail down first place in their group. Nonetheless, the competition's only unbeaten side are already assured of a home quarter-final, and are being praised for an approach which has yielded 25 tries in five games - 14 of them by outside backs.

Though Matt Williams maintained it was Leinster's worst defensive display in his tenure at Bridgend (he kept them on the pitch for defensive drills at the break), they earned rave reviews from their hosts. One of their number, outhalf Cerith Rees, described it as the fastest game he's played in.

LEINSTER: G Dempsey; D Hickie, B O'Driscoll, S Horgan, G D'Arcy; N Spooner, B O'Meara; R Corrigan (capt), S Byrne, E Byrne, T Brennan, M O'Kelly, E Miller, V Costello, K Gleeson. Replacements: P Coyle, G Hickie, A McCullen, A Dunne, A Magro, B Willis.

PONTYPRIDD: Not selected.

Previous meetings: (1995-96 European Cup) Leinster 23 Pontypridd 22.

Formguide: Leinster: 39-11 v Glasgow (h), 19-17 v Llanelli (a), 55-13 v Ebbw Vale (h), 31-9 v Ulster (h), 51-32 Bridgend (a). Pontypridd: 27-19 v Bridgend (a), 13-18 v Ebbw Vale (a), 6-11 v Swansea (h), 14-59 v Glasgow (a), 17-19 v Llanelli (h).

Leading try scorers: Leinster: Girvan Dempsey 5, Denis Hickie, Gordon D'Arcy 3 each. Pontypridd: G Wyatt 2.

Leading points scorers: Leinster: Brian O'Meara 40. Pontypridd: B Davey 28.

Referee: Rob Dickson (Scotland).

Forecast: Leinster to win.

Also playing tonight: Llanelli v Swansea, Stradey Park (7.05); Glasgow Rugby v Ebbw Vale, Hughendon (7.30).

Pool B

Newport v Connacht - Rodney Parade (7.30)

Newport have made 10 changes to the team which lost in Musgrave Park, but still keep Andy Marinos, Rod Snow and Matt Mostyn out of the 22. Adrian Garvey, Peter Buxton and Shane Howarth are on the bench as Connacht keep one eye on the weekend's meeting with Neath.

In light of their stunning win over Neath, which he described as the best performance in his stint as Connacht coach, Steph Nel travelled with the same 22 who did duty last Friday. Hence Connacht must have a chance of repeating their win of three seasons ago, though that was in Newport's pre-nouveau riche days, and Connacht's double whammy over Cardiff and Neath will assuredly have warned them.

Victory is a greater need for Newport, too, as Connacht could still sneak into the quarter-finals after a defeat here, given they have Caerphilly at home on Sunday and will know exactly what they'll need to advance come kick-off.

NEWPORT: M Pini; M Watkins, J Jones-Hughes, N Brew, B Breeze; J Strange, D Burn; C Jones, P Young, C Anthony, G Taylor, S Raiwalui (capt), A Powell, A Pophim, J Forster. Replacements: A Garvey, J Richards, M Voyle, P Buxton, S Howarth, AN Other.

CONNACHT (possible): G Duffy; P Duignan, D Yapp, T Allnutt, W Munn; E Elwood, E Reddan; D McFarland, M Uijs, P Bracken, R Frost, M McConnell (capt), P Neville, D Dillon, J O'Connor. Replacements: R McCormack, T Kearns, A Maher, J Carlie, M McHugh, C Keane, M McPhail.

Previous meetings: (1998-99 European Shield) Newport 12 Connacht 31.

Formguide: Newport: 50-22 v Caerphilly (h), 14-20 v Cardiff (a), 29-11 v Edinburgh (h), 21-29 v Munster (a). Connacht: 6-3 v Cardiff (a), 21-30 v Edinburgh (h), 19-40 v Munster (a), 28-10 v Neath (h).

Leading try scorers: Newport: Ben Breeze, Andy Marinos 2 each. Connacht: Duignan, Dillon, Reddan, Munn, McConnell, O'Connor 1 each.

Leading points scorers: Newport: Shane Howarth 41. Connacht: Eric Elwood 44.

Referee: John Barnard (England).

Forecast: Newport to win.

Caerphilly v Munster - Virginia Park (7.15)

In contrast to Leinster, Munster have adroitly dipped into their squad system with a cute selection by retaining only three of the starting XV which accounted for Newport last Friday (including both wingers in the absence of John O'Neill, who is sidelined for at least six weeks with a shoulder injury). It makes sense, as Friday's visit of Cardiff looks the tougher assignment. Another Munster win, and by 20 points or more, would put them at the top of their group above Neath, assuring them of a quarter-final place, though it wouldn't necessarily guarantee a home quarter-final.

With John Langford straight in for what may be a rare enough start to add some leadership, along with fellow Aussie Jim Williams, the direction of captain for the night, Killian Keane, and the cutting edge of Mike Mullins, Anthony Horgan, Jeremy Staunton and company, Munster should still have enough savvy and hunger from the fringe contenders to overcome the spirit of essentially part-time opposition.

CAERPHILLY: Not selected.

MUNSTER: J Staunton; J Kelly, M Mullins, C Mahony, A Horgan; K Keane (capt), M Prendergast; M Horan, J Blaney, M Cahill, D O'Callaghan, J Langford, D Bowles, J Williams, A Quinlan. Replacements: P Clohessy, J Fogarty, M O'Driscoll, A Foley, D Hegarty, M Lawlor, D Crotty.

Previous meetings: None.

Formguide: Caerphilly: 13-43 v Neath (h), 22-50 v Newport (a), 15-49 v Cardiff (h), 20-27 v Edinburgh (a). Munster: 25-22 v Edinburgh (a), 40-19 v Connacht (h), 22-30 v Neath (a), 29-21 v Newport (h).

Leading try scorers: Caerphilly: G Evans, G Lewis 2 each. Munster: Anthony Foley 2.

Leading points scorers: Caerphilly: S Lawrence 18. Munster: Jeremy Staunton 47.

Referee: Robin Goodliffe.

Forecast: Munster to win.

Also playing tonight: Cardiff v Edinburgh Rugby, Cardiff Arms Park (7.15).