Ireland players will look to impress for Leinster against Dragons

A non-televised Pro 12 game in Dublin sneaks under the radar but there’s plenty of external interest in those involved.

There are rumours that Wallaby coach Michael Cheika is seeking to bring Kane Douglas home.

The 25-year-old lock was an instrumental presence when Cheika guided the Waratahs to a Super Rugby title in 2014. Such form has yet to be consistently transferred to Leinster and should Douglas still dream of playing at the World Cup he will need to be back in Sydney by June.

Behind Mike McCarthy as the preferred option to partner Devin Toner, he is joined by Tom Denton in tomorrow's secondrow. McCarthy, belatedly cut loose from Ireland due to Iain Henderson's continued rise, sits on the bench.

As does Luke Fitzgerald. That may yet change as Fitzgerald is the 11th back on Ireland duty today against France. If someone cries off, he will tog out at the Aviva Stadium.

That cautionary measure allows Ben Te’o a long overdue fourth appearance, having only banked 87 minutes in rugby union.

In an Ireland context, the availability of Fergus McFadden and Dave Kearney is timely.

Repetitive injury has seen Munster's Felix Jones take McFadden's number 23 jersey while Simon Zebo nailed down the leftwing slot in November.

It's also a chance for Tadhg Furlong, Dominic Ryan and Jack Conan to continue their breakthrough campaigns although their candidacy for Irish selection looks dependent on injuries.

Concussion debate

Shane Jennings

captains the side in his first game of 2015 after a hamstring problem reduced him to spectator role this season.

Jennings, in typically blunt fashion, provided some interesting words to Second Captains this week about the never ending concussion debate: “In the past when I had a knock, I’d be the first to tell the physio or the doc to get out of my face, that I’ll be grand. Those days are gone. There has been a player mindset shift and from the medical side of things.

“I’ve had friends who’ve shipped knocks over the years and played the warrior. And they’ve had bad times with it. It’s not nice to see.”

Noting the strength of character within Leinster’s medical team, Jennings reinforced the need for player honesty.

“It’s too serious to fob off any more,” he said.

Leinster, fourth in the table, should have too much for tenth-placed Dragons.