RUGBY:The Leinster team to face the Ospreys in Sunday afternoon's RaboDirect PRO12 clash in the Liberty Stadium (KO: 4pm, LIVE RTE1) has been named.
Andrew Goodman will make his debut for Leinster against Ospreys this weekend (Liberty Stadium 4.00pm). The inside centre fills the hole left by Gordon D’Arcy’s involvement with the Irish team.
Coach Joe Schmidt has made wholesale changes from the team which defeated the Cardiff Blues last weekend with David Kearney one of only two players who remain in the backline. Kearney, who played on the wing against Cardiff in his first match back after injury, moves to full-back with Andrew Conway and Fionn Carr named on the wings.
Ireland scrum-half Isaac Boss partners Ian Madigan, who returns to his more regular outhalf position at half back, while flanker Shane Jennings leads the team. Jennings is named alongside number eight Leo Auva'a and Rhys Ruddock, who made his first senior appearance this season in last weekend's fixture.
Damian Browne partners Devin Toner in the secondrow with the replacements bench comprised completely of Leinster Academy products.
Ospreys have similar problems to Leinster with nine players missing through their involvement in international duty and five players are injured.
Matthew Dwyer makes his first Ospreys start, while Lloyd Peers makes his first RaboDirect PRO12 start and Arthur Ellis, Marc Thomas and Daniel Suter will all make their Ospreys debuts if they come off the bench
“November is going to be a big month for us, as is always the case," said Ospreys back's coach Gruff Rees. "With international players away, it’s always a challenge, and a great opportunity for some of our younger players to stand up and show what they are capable of.”
“As someone who has done a lot of work with the younger players in my previous time with the Ospreys, I’m looking forward to the games this month. With two LV= Cup games to follow then two more PRO12 matches, it’s a crucial time of the season and it’s important that the work we’ve done in preparing for this period bears fruit.
“We know that Leinster may have an unfamiliar look to their team this weekend but we also know that as European champions they have real strength in depth and whatever players wear their shirt we will be in for a real test. As with any match, our preparation is all about focusing on our own game and ensuring that we are ready, are precise and accurate in what we do, and we know that if we get that right, we should get the kind of performance we want.”
Ospreys:R Fussell; H Driksen, T Isaacs, A Bishop, E Walker; M Morgan, R Webb; D Jones, M Dwyer, J Rees, L Peers, J Thomas ©, G Stowers, S Lewis, J Bearman. Replacements– A Ellis, M Thomas, D Suter, J King, M Allen, K Fotauli'I, J Spratt, R Jones
Leinster:D Kearney; A Conway, B Macken, A Goodman, F Carr; I Madigan, I Boss; H van der Merwe, T Sexton, J Hagan, D Browne, D Toner, R Ruddock, S Jennings ©, L Auva'a. Replacements– J Tracy, J McGrath, M Moore, B Marshall, J Murphy, J Cooney, N Reid, S Coghlan-Murray
Referee:John Lacey (IRFU),
