Weakened Leinster travel west

A FULL-STRENGTH Leinster are expected to take the field against Glasgow on January 8th ahead of the defining European Cup matches. But for Saturday’s – always difficult – visit to the Sportsground in Galway, they must make do without their marquee names.

This is due to the IRFU player management programme ahead of the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand; that can’t please the sponsors and organisers of the Magners League.

So, from the top, no Brian O’Driscoll, Rob Kearney, Jamie Heaslip, Cian Healy or, surprisingly, John Fogarty. The Tipperary native has become the first-choice hooker at Leinster this season, and with Jerry Flannery still recovering from Achilles’ surgery he may be in line for international recognition come the Six Nations.

Resting Fogarty might also give the late-arriving South African Richardt Strauss with an opportunity to make an impression.

Eoin Reddin and Leo Cullen provided cover at scrumhalf and lock for Ireland in November, but they have been made available for selection. Shane Horgan also gets a chance to continue his renaissance.

Shane Jennings will have the cut of a determined man when he returns from his 12-week hiatus against Glasgow next week. Jonny Sexton should also be back conducting the orchestra by then, but CJ van der Linde’s recovery from a recurring calf injury is less easy to predict.

Coach Michael Cheika told the media after the 15-3 defeat of Ulster last Saturday that he wants to give Fergus McFadden more game time.

That looks like a straight swap for O’Driscoll, and the former Clongowes Wood schoolboy may take over the place-kicking duties as well from Shaun Berne, which might prove a welcome relief for the Australian whose impressive control with ball-in-hand has compensated for the loss of Sexton (who is back in full training).

Ian Madigan showed well in the recent Leinster Development versus Irish Under-20s match in UCD, especially when switched from fullback to outhalf, and should provide cover for Berne. Prop Jack McGrath crossed for a try in that fixture, and not backrower Paul Ryan as stated in last week’s report. Regardless, both have been promoted to the senior panel.

McGrath can play either side of the scrum, but Leinster are turning him into a full-time tighthead, although Stanley Wright has recovered from illness and is set to resume that role in Galway. Mike Ross and Ronan McCormack are others at present ahead of the St Mary’s club man in the propping queue.

Connacht have problems of their own, with prop Brett Wilkinson (hand) and fullback Gavin Duffy (jaw) ruled out. Both have featured in Irish training camps this season.

There is some good news, as former Leinster Academy prop Jamie Hagen has recovered from a finger injury, while former Irish openside wing forward Johnny O’Connor is back after a long injury break.

Both teams will be announced on Friday.

“They have shown how capable they are at home,” said assistant Leinster coach Alan Gaffney of the upcoming challenge. “Look at their recent run in Europe, when they earned two outstanding victories over Worcester in the Amlin Challenge Cup. To beat them over in England was no mean feat, so that indicates to us that Connacht are a side that is improving and who are gaining greater consistency both at home and away.

“It will be a real battle this week. They have a very competitive forward pack; Seán Cronin was involved with the Ireland squad over the November series, not to mention the likes of Jamie Hagan – who we know – and Johnny Muldoon who is an excellent performer. They’re a hard-grafting pack, and that’s not to mention their backline who don’t get the credit that they deserve.

“From our perspective, we weren’t happy with how we played against Ulster. We know that we have to maintain higher standards, and that starts again for us this weekend because we want to keep a high placing in the Magners League. It is important that we go out this weekend and play some attacking rugby like we know that we can, because we didn’t manage that against Ulster.

“I know that the boys have got their heads screwed on for the challenge ahead and we will look to approach the game in a positive manner.”

A similarly weakened Leinster lost this fixture, 19-18, last season.

LEINSTER:L Cullen, N Hines, T Hogan, B Jackman, S Keogh, R McCormack, J McGrath, K McLaughlin, S O'Brien, M O'Kelly, M Ross, P Ryan, R Strauss, D Toner, S Wright, S Berne, G D'Arcy, G Dempsey, S Horgan, D Kearney, S Keogh, I Madigan, F McFadden, I Nacewa, P O'Donohoe, E Reddan.

CONNACHT:L Bibo, A Browne, F Carr, S Cronin, A Flavin, J Hagan, I Keatley, R Loughney, K Matthews, M McCarthy, M McComish, R Morris, F Murphy, J Muldoon, T Nathan, G Naoupu, M Nikora, R Ofisa, J O'Connor, C O'Loughlin, M Swift, N Ta'auso, B Tuohy, B Upton, A Wynne.