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O'Driscoll boards the bus on the first leg of Leinster's journey to Cardiff for tomorrow's Heineken Cup final via Aircoach - Official Coach Transport Providers to the Leinster Rugby Team.
All aboard!

Brian O'Driscoll to start the Heineken Cup final

The Leinster side is unchanged from that which beat Toulouse in the semi-final with Northampton also at full-strength for the big showdown in Cardiff tomorrow afternoon.

Updated 12.10pm

BRIAN O’DRISCOLL HAS been named in the Leinster starting XV to face Northampton in tomorrow’s Heineken Cup final in Cardiff after proving his fitness for the game.

The side is unchanged from that which beat Toulouse in the semi-final with O’Driscoll managing to recover from a knee injury sustained in the Magners League semi-final with Ulster last weekend.

Leo Cullen will captain the side and is one of six Ireland internationals in the pack.

O’Driscoll will partner Gorden D’Arcy at centre in a back line which also includes six Irish internationals.

The only change to the 23-man panel is the inclusion of Shane Jennings.

Isaac Boss – who had hamstring trouble – and Richardt Strauss (hip) have overcome their problems and make the squad which is in full:

Leinster: I Nacewa; S Horgan, B O’Driscoll, G D’Arcy, L Fitzgerald; J Sexton, E Reddan; C Healy, R Strauss, M Ross, L Cullen (C), N Hines, K McLaughlin, S O’Brien, J Heaslip.

Replacements: J Harris-Wright, H Van Der Merwe, S Wright, D Toner, S Jennings, I Boss, I Madigan, F McFadden

Meanwhile Northampton are at full-strength and include two Irishmen in James Downey at first centre and Roger Wilson at number eight. Their squad in full is:

Northampton Saints: B Foden; C Ashton, J Clarke, J Downey, P Diggin; S Myler, L Dickson; S Tonga’uiha, D Hartley (C), B Mujati, C Lawes, C Day, C Clark, P Dowson, R Wilson.

Replacements: B Sharman, A Waller, T Mercey, M Sorenson, M Easter, S Commins, S Geraghty, J Ansbro

Leinster began the first leg of their Cardiff journey this morning throwing their bags in the hold and jumping on board the Aircoach to head to Dublin airport for the short flight to Cardiff (All pictures via Aircoach):

Brian O'Driscoll to start the Heineken Cup final
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  • Leinster Rugby Squad depart for Heineken Cup Final

    Watch the knee there Drico!
  • Leinster Rugby Squad depart for Heineken Cup Final

    Leinster will be hoping to be 'first' in Europe by tomorrow evening.
  • Leinster Rugby Squad depart for Heineken Cup Final

    Water. They'll need a bit of that alright.
  • Leinster Rugby Squad depart for Heineken Cup Final

    Excellent sports bag passing technique there....