Leinster players in test of character

Leinster v Gwent Dragons Lansdowne Road, 7.35It's been a pretty ignominious season for Leinster but the last 10 days have possibly been the worst. The recent players' meeting that papered over the comments of a few who had previously expressed their unhappiness, anonymously, with coach Gary Ella, will seem worthless in the face of another insipid display.

A statement released by the players saw them rally behind Ella but lip service won't suffice. Tonight at Lansdowne Road they have been afforded an opportunity to provide evidence there is a future for this squad and the management team. It's time the team stood up and were counted where it matters, on the pitch.

Injuries and national-team commitments have laid waste Leinster's season but with the exception of a couple of players, they're pretty much at full strength tonight. It's a meaningful contest because the visitors, Gwent Dragons, under the baton of former Leinster and incoming Welsh coach Mike Ruddock, still nurse ambitions of slipping past Llanelli and Ulster and claiming the Celtic League title.

The Welsh side will be up for the match. Will Leinster? The last time the "internationals" swapped the green jersey for a blue one en masse coincided with one of the most embarrassing nights in Leinster's history, a 50-point drubbing by Llanelli. There was a shocking lack of professionalism that night and tonight they could go some way in erasing that memory.

The players are reported to have addressed many issues at the aforementioned meeting, including commitment values. Some concerns articulated are genuine with regard to planning, preparation and defensive issues but all involved in the playing set-up must have been destabilised by committee-room bungling.

Tonight represents a test of character for the players. Brian O'Driscoll resumes his centre partnership with Shane Horgan, winning his 50th cap in the process.

Up front Emmet Byrne's will be hoping his injury nightmare is consigned to the past. Leo Cullen's rehabilitation continues while promising openside Niall Ronan gets a chance to further his education.

The Dragons have made two changes, with Ben Breeze coming in on the wing for the injured Nathan Brew and Steve Jones named at hooker instead of Kieran Crawford.

Ruddock would love to sign off his tenure with a trophy. There's more than a touch of irony that his former team bars his path. It promises to be a fascinating evening with a genuine bite to the encounter.

LEINSTER: G Dempsey; J Norton, B O'Driscoll, S Horgan, B Burke; F Contepomi, B O'Meara; R Corrigan (capt), S Byrne, E Byrne; L Cullen, M O'Kelly; E Miller, V Costello, N Ronan.

GWENT DRAGONS: S Tuipulotu; H Luscombe, P Montgomery, A Marinos, B Breeze; C Warlow, G Baber; A Black, S Jones, C Anthony; I Gough, P Sidoli; J Ringer, M Owen, J Forrester.

Referee: G Davies (Scotland).