Youngsters are given opportunity to impress

MAGNERS LEAGUE:LEINSTER COACH Michael Cheika has omitted seven players who started last Sunday's 18-0 defeat by Munster at the RDS for this weekend's Magners League clash with Connacht at the Sportsground.

The Australian has offered several younger players the opportunity to push for selection ahead of Saturday week's opening round of the Heineken Cup when Leinster travel to Edinburgh.

Girvan Dempsey, Brian O'Driscoll, Ronan McCormack, Bernard Jackman, Malcolm O'Kelly, Shane Jennings and Jamie Heaslip won't make the journey to the west of Ireland for Sunday's match.

Cheika explained: "It's a very important game for us in terms of how we are going to manage these next four weeks. We're going to look to use our whole squad over the next four weeks and we'll have to make sure that everyone makes a contribution to the team. Some guys are going to get an opportunity to get selected for Europe. So it's a big game, in all respects for us, because we know how tough it is to win down there.

"They'll be looking to bounce back from getting beaten away from home last weekend (against Cardiff), so we've got to be ready to fight for everything, but we've also got to play smart football. Some guys from the A squad have put their hand up for selection so we'll see what happens there."

Cheika also confirmed that prop Cian Healy had picked up a knock in the A match against Munster, but that a decision on his fitness wouldn't be taken until later in the week. The coach's decision to opt for a rotation policy in personnel terms offers a massive incentive to some young players.

Former Ireland Under-20 Grand Slam winner Felix Jones, centre Fergus McFadden, Gary Brown and Simon Keogh are named among 11 backs, one of which is likely to drop out. Keogh can cover wing and scrumhalf, thereby allowing Cheika greater flexibility if required in terms of the bench.

Up front Wallaby international Rocky Elsom and Springbok prop CJ van der Linde, both of whom made their respective Leinster debuts against Munster, are retained. Injury permitting, Healy should start, while Devin Toner, Cameron Jowitt, Stephen Keogh and Seán O'Brien would appreciate the chance to start.

Cheika hopes he is taking a calculated gamble as Leinster have traditionally had to work hard for their successes at the Sportsground. He pointed out: "The conditions were difficult last year and I think over the last three years we have gotten better against them down there. The Sportsground is a tough place to play no matter what the weather is like. We will take nothing for granted. We will tackle each game on its own merits and make sure that we play a good, structured, smart game against Connacht."

Meanwhile, Matt Williams has recalled David Pollock, Thomas Anderson, Darren Cave, Ian Whitten and scrumhalf Cillian Willis to an extended 25-man Ulster squad ahead of tomorrow night's game against Edinburgh at Ravenhill, hoping that it will pre-empt a first victory of the season. Rob Dewey and Paul Marshall drop out of the 22 that lost to the Ospreys.

Munster coach Tony McGahan has made six changes from the squad that beat Leinster at the RDS for Saturday night's clash with Glasgow in what will be the first senior match to be played at the newly revamped Thomond Park. Freddie Pucciariello, John O'Sullivan, Jerry Flannery, Donnacha Ryan, Lifeimi Mafi and Ian Dowling drop out to be replaced by Tony Buckley, Denis Fogarty, Mick O'Driscoll, Niall Ronan, Kieran Lewis and Anthony Horgan.

LEINSTER (squad):Cian Healy, Stan Wright, Brian Blaney, John Fogarty, CJ Van Der Linde, Leo Cullen, Trevor Hogan, Cameron Jowitt, Devin Toner, Rocky Elsom, Sean O'Brien, Stephen Keogh, Chris Keane, Chris Whitaker, Felipe Contepomi, Jonathan Sexton, Simon Keogh, Fergus McFadden, Luke Fitzgerald, Gary Brown, Shane Horgan, Felix Jones, Rob Kearney.

ULSTER (squad):Justin Fitzpatrick, Nigel Brady, Tom Court, Rory Best, Brendon Botha, Carlo Del Fava, Ed O'Donoghue, Ryan Caldwell, Matt McCullough, Kieron Dawson, Robbie Diack, Stephen Ferris, David Pollock, Thomas Anderson, Niall O'Connor, Bryn Cunningham, Timoci Nagusa, Darren Cave, Andrew Trimble, Clinton Schifcofske, Cillian Willis, Isaac Boss, Paul Steinmetz, Ian Humphreys, Ian Whitten.

MUNSTER (squad):M Horan, J Hayes, T Buckley, F Sheahan, D Fogarty, P O'Connell, D O'Callaghan, M O'Driscoll, N Ronan, J Melck, D Wallace, A Quinlan, P Stringer, T O'Leary, R O'Gara, P Warwick, A Horgan, K Lewis, R Tipoki, B Murphy, K Earls, D Howlett.