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back in harness

Pro12: Leinster bolstered by star quartet

Leinster have named their team to face the Ospreys at the RDS tomorrow and it includes some big, big names.

LEINSTER WILL WELCOME back a quartet of international stars when they face the Ospreys at the RDS tomorrow evening.

Brian O’Driscoll will start the game in his familiar outside centre position alongside Fergus McFadden.

Brad Thorn will make his debut in the second row and he too will be partnered by a returning talisman, Leo Cullen.

The Leinster skipper missed Ireland’s Six Nations campaign after undergoing surgery on his Achilles tendons.

The man he replaced as captain, had initially expected to face an extra month on the sideline, but O’Driscoll’s powers of recovery are legendary at this stage.

“He seems to be in, physically, very good condition.” said skills coach Richie Murphy, “Whereas some guys might have taken a bit of time to get over what has happened, he seemed to realise: ‘Right I’m injured, lets get into the rehab, get into everything.’”

“He’s hit it really hard and because of that he’s come back quite quickly.”

“He’s definitely a good few weeks ahead of schedule but there’s no risk to him, they’re very happy with where he’s at. The specialists have passed him fit and he seems to be in a good frame of mind.”

The decision to hand the experienced centre a starting jersey was a difficult one, yet with a trip to Munster and a Heineken Cup quarter final on the horizon, it was necessary to get the record try-scorer some game time under his belt.

Before the final decision was made, Murphy hinted at some risk attached to entering a such high tempo game from the bench, cold.

“It might actually be the best thing for him to start, because he’ll have done his warm-up and he’s ready for the game.”

Interruptions

While none of Ireland’s starting line-up from Twickenham will be involved, the end of the Six Nations means reduced interruption for provincial preparation.

Dave Kearney and Eoin O’Malley were consistently close to Declan Kidney’s match-day squad, but are now back in harness. Kearney will take his place on the wing while O’Malley will surely spring from the bench before O’Driscoll reaches the 60 minute mark.

With plenty of returning strength, it is the inexperienced back row which the Ospreys may look to target. Leo Auva’a anchors a scrum flanked by two 21-year-olds, Dominic Ryan and Rhys Ruddock.

Speaking yesterday Ruddock, who has recently signed a new two-year contract with the province, targeted this game as the first of a trio of fixtures which could define the season for himself and the reigning Heineken Cup champions.

“It’s a chance to build momentum both individually and as also as a collective.” said Ruddock

“A bit of confidence coming out of a good performance and hopefully a win could have a knock on effect in the next couple of games coming up to the end of the season.”

Leinster team (v Ospreys): I Nacewa; D Kearney, B O’Driscoll, F McFadden, L Fitzgerald; I Madigan, I Boss: H Van Der Merwe, R Strauss, N White; L Cullen (capt.) B Thorn; R Ruddock, D Ryan, L Auva’a.

Replacements: S Cronin, J McGrath, J Hagan, D Browne, K McLaughlin, J Cooney, E O’Malley, F Carr.

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