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Leinster boosted by return of four Ireland internationals for Edinburgh

Jamie Heaslip, Devin Toner, Jack McGrath and Sean Cronin are available.

LEINSTER WILL BE boosted by the availability of Ireland internationals Jamie Heaslip, Devin Toner, Jack McGrath and Sean Cronin for this weekend’s Pro12 clash with Edinburgh.

Jamie Heaslip Heaslip is back in the mix for Leinster. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

All four have missed the opening rounds of the league campaign due to the IRFU player management programme, and Leinster will welcome their return as they look to bounce back from last weekend’s defeat to Glasgow.

“The timing of it is good,” said assistant coach John Fogarty at Leinster’s UCD base yesterday, “a lot of forwards there.

“Edinburgh are a very physical team and we went over there last year and got bashed a little bit, so their returns are important. It also creates a headache.

Guys in the last two games have gone quite well. They have shown really good attitudes and performed alright.”

Certainly, the likes of Dan Leavy, James Tracy and Ross Molony will have benefited from further exposure in the first two fixtures of the Pro12 season, but the experience Heaslip and co. bring will be a major boost.

Leinster found themselves 22-12 ahead against Glasgow last weekend with 52 minutes of the game played, only to come out on the wrong end of a final scoreline of 33-25.

The eastern province cursed their game management after giving up two soft scores in a sloppy period from the 52nd minute to the 55th.

“There certainly is experience on the sideline at the moment that will count for a lot,” said Fogarty. “There was a bit of a dip. I’m on the [sideline] and you can feel a bit of a dip in the players a bit, which is understandable for the group that’s out there.

Jack McGrath McGrath will feature in Edinburgh this weekend. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

“There’s huge learnings in it – little inaccuracies at the weekend and how do we address them.

“They’re really relevant points from the coaching staff and understanding how we didn’t manage the game properly in those parts, trying to get those things right so we can represent ourselves as well as possible on Friday.

“We need to have clear heads and understand the Edinburgh threats and what we are about and just express ourselves.”

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