Newcomer Williams in Leinster shake-up

News: Leinster coach Michael Cheika has announced a 28-man squad that includes Lions Gordon D'Arcy and Eric Miller and the province's recent New Zealand signing, secondrow Bryce Williams, for Saturday's Celtic League match against Ulster at Donnybrook.

Cheika confirmed he has been impressed with D'Arcy's attitude and work ethic in training and insists the centre is ready to go if required.

Williams, who arrived from Auckland on Monday, is expected to make the match 22 later in the week.

Ulster lead the Celtic League and Cheika has been impressed with their efforts to date.

He explained: "One thing that has impressed me is that they have been consistent. They haven't played badly. They are very well coached, well organised and look composed. They know their game and they play it. They have a good lineout.

"I like some of their young players - (Andrew) Trimble and (Tommy) Bowe. Their back row is very good: (Neil) Best is a pretty honest bloke and likes to have a go. Wilson is good too. They work hard and you have to work hard to beat them."

One player likely to have a central role for Leinster is the New Zealand-born, Irish-naturalised Ben Gissing. He has been charged with calling the lineouts.

It is a facet of Leinster's play that has got better after what might charitably be described as a ropy beginning against the Ospreys, but there remains scope for further improvement.

Gissing admitted: "It's starting to gel. There have been a few disruptions with people leaving for camps and stuff like that. It's to be expected. All it is is time, to be honest - playing together and playing as units.

"It's not about too many changes, more (about) making sure that on the lead-up to the Heineken Cup we are settled as a team and we get to know each other more."

So he doesn't mind copping the blame if the lineouts go wrong?

"I'm calling the lineouts but it's not necessarily always the calls. You have to get your throw right, your lifters and jumpers in position, and there are other factors.

"Generally you're looking to see a space in the lineout where it's open. There are certain areas on the pitch where you're trying to do specific things.

"It's not simply a case of trying to win the ball. There are three or four things that you're thinking of as you go to the lineout. You have to factor in a call for a ball off the top or whether it's drive and go.

"These things have to be relayed to the pack as you're trotting down the line to the lineout. If the defence is at the back you're not going to call it there. That can change right up to the last few seconds sometimes.

"Everything is new (in terms of lineout calls). There are new players, and people are just getting used to each other. We've only played three games together."

Gissing has no doubt about what makes a successful lineout. "There's no substitute for being quick - in and gone."

Meanwhile, Leinster have announced that as of Tuesday evening over half of the 13,500 capacity for their three European Cup pool ties in the RDS, against Bath (October 22nd), Bourgoin (December 10th) and Glasgow (January 13th-15th), have been snapped up after going on sale last week.

Leinster chief executive Mick Dawson enthused: "We've been inundated with requests for tickets . . . Our three-match packages are proving to be very attractive to the public so it's important to book your tickets today.

"Tickets may be purchased in advance on www.leinsterrugby.ie and at www.ticketmaster.ie."

There will be a barbecue at the Old Wesley end of Donnybrook starting at 4.30pm prior to the game against Ulster.

Munster's Olan Trevor will referee the match.

LEINSTER SQUAD: G Easterby, B O'Meara, E Hickey, C Warner, F Contepomi, K Lewis, S Horgan, R Kearney, D Hickie, B Burke, G Brown, G D'Arcy, G Dempsey, R Corrigan, R McCormack, W Green, E Byrne, B Jackman, D Blaney, B Williams, B Gissing, D Dillon, S Crawford, C Potts, K Gleeson, N Ronan, E Miller, J Heaslip.

'A' interprovincial

The match between Leinster and Ulster at Navan RFC tomorrow night will kick off at 7pm and not 7.30pm as stated yesterday.