PREVIEW: Leinster v ScarletsFergus McFadden and Ian Madigan will start on the bench against Llanelli tonight as Leo Cullen leads the side in their fourth meeting this season with the Welsh team. Cullen, Shane Jennings and Isaac Boss make up the experienced spine of a young Leinster side, with Cullen, a second-half replacement last weekend, partnering Ben Marshall at lock.
Flanker Jennings is back in the starting line-up after missing last week’s win and features in the backrow alongside Jordi Murphy and Dominic Ryan, who scored a hat-trick of tries against the Italian side last time out.
Scrumhalf Boss links up at half back with Noel Reid, with Andrew Goodman continuing at centre alongside Eoin O’Malley. Fionn Carr joins Andrew Conway and fullback Dave Kearney in the back three.
With just seven rounds left the race is on for a top-four place and qualification for the play-off semi-finals. Llanelli, with 46 points, are just three points short of Leinster, who are third on the table. But Leinster’s impressive form makes them the only unbeaten home side in the PRO12 this season.
“We have to go back to October 2007 to find the last time we won at the RDS, so we know we have plenty to do out there,” said Llanelli coach Simon Easterby. “Leinster have a very proud home record and we know from our encounters in Europe what intensity they can bring.”
But Easterby also feels his side had turned a corner in recent weeks.“We are pleased with the form we have coming into this game. Winning against Munster last weekend, we showed there was less error in our game, we’re not feeding the opposition and starting to reward ourselves more with good territory and field possession,” he said.
Welsh international Aaron Shingler returns to the back row. Outhalf Aled Thomas moves to fullback for the injured Gareth Owen and Easterby keeps faith in his young nine and 10 combination with Aled Davies winning the starting scrum-half contest to line up alongside Owen Williams.
