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INPHO/Dan Sheridan
Heineken Cup

D’Arcy a Racing certainty as Leinster name side for French trip

Ireland man Gordon D’Arcy will partner Brian O’Driscoll as the Irish province gear up for tomorrow’s final Heineken Cup pool clash.

LEINSTER HAVE NAMED their side to face Racing Metro 92 in the Heineken Cup at Stade Yves du Manoir tomorrow night (ko 8pm Irish).

Gordon D’Arcy has been included, returning after missing last weekend’s 43-20 victory over Saracens with a calf-strain suffered during the buildup to the game.

The Ireland man starts at inside centre alongside Brian O’Driscoll. Isaac Boss, meanwhile, partners Jonathan Sexton at half-back.

In a blow however, Jamie Heaslip has not won his fight for fitness. The number eight’s ankle injury was monitored but he is not considered fit enough to make the trip.

New call-up to Declan Kidney’s international squad, Rhys Ruddock, is drafted into the back-row alongside Sean O’Brien and Shane Jennings.

A decision will be made closer to kick-off on the involvement of Eoin O’Malley who is ill.

Leinster (v Racing-Métro, tomorrow 8pm) Isa Nacewa, Shane Horgan, Brian O’Driscoll, Gordon D’Arcy, Luke Fitzgerald, Jonathan Sexton, Isaac Boss, Cian Healy, Richardt Strauss, Mike Ross, Leo Cullen, Nathan Hines, Rhys Ruddock, Shane Jennings, Sean O’Brien

Replacements: Jason Harris-Wright, Heinke van der Merwe, Clint Newland, Devin Toner, Dominic Ryan, Eoin Reddan, Eoin O’Malley / Ian Madigan, Fergus McFadden.