Leinster strengthened by return of internationals

Scarlets v Leinster
Parc y Scarlets, 5.15, Sky Sports 1

Leinster present a more formidable selection from the one that eked out a fine 9-9 draw against the Ospreys following the release of half a dozen players from the Ireland squad.

In a recent interview Luke Fitzgerald explained that Ireland coach Joe Schmidt saw him more as a wing and that is where he returns to play this afternoon, despite some excellent displays at outside centre for his province.

Ben Te'o retains the number 13 jersey after he was let off with a warning at a midweek disciplinary tribunal for use of the forearm, an action that was adjudicated not to warrant a red card. Matt O'Connor has facilitated Fitzgerald with the result that Dave Kearney starts on the bench.

Eoin Reddan returns at scrumhalf, while fellow replacements at the Aviva stadium last weekend, Cian Healy, Seán Cronin and Marty Moore, are repatriated en bloc. Mike McCarthy returns to partner Kane Douglas in the secondrow.

Late withdrawal

Jack Conan had been nursing knee and ankle problems and was a late withdrawal in the warm-up prior to the Ospreys match but he has recovered to take his place.

The Scarlets, unbeaten in eight league games at this venue this season, have been able to call upon international centre Scott Williams. Hadleigh Parkes moves to the wing in place of Michael Tagicakibau (concussion), while lock Johan Snyman is named at secondrow and Lewis Rawlins moves to the openside flanker with Aaron Shingler ruled out with a shoulder injury.

Connacht would be sizeable beneficiaries of an away victory as the Scarlets chase the Pat Lam's western Irish province for sixth place in the table but Leinster will have less altruistic concerns. They need to win to stay remain in the play-off scramble, something they should accomplish here.

SCARLETS: J Williams; H Robinson, R King, S Williams, H Parkes; S Shingler, A Davies; P John, K Owens (capt), P Edwards; G Earle, J Snyman; L Rawlins, J Davies, J Barclay. Replacements: R Elias, W Jones, J Adriaanse, J Payne, R Pitman, G Davies, R Priestland, A Warren.
LEINSTER: Z Kirchner; F McFadden, B Te'o, G D'Arcy, L Fitzgerald; J Gopperth, E Reddan; C Healy, S Cronin, M Moore; M McCarthy; K Douglas; R Ruddock (capt), D Ryan, J Conan. Replacements: R Strauss, M Bent, T Furlong, T Denton, J van der Flier, I Boss, N Reid, D Kearney.
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland).