Ton-up O’Meara ready for Gunners

BRIAN O’MEARA will make his 100th appearance for Leinster when he lines up at out-half for tomorrow’s Celtic League clash against the Edinburgh Gunners at Donnybrook (3pm).

In making his landmark appearance, O'Meara follows in the footsteps of stalwarts Shane Byrne, Victor Costello and, most recently, Reggie Corrigan.

"It's nice to be in such distinguished company," O'Meara says. "Sunday will be a proud day for me and my family because I've really enjoyed my time with Leinster and reaching 100 caps means a lot to me."

As for the fact he is playing in the number ten shirt rather than playing in his more familiar number nine berth, O'Meara is unfazed.

"Playing out-half is a position I enjoy and on the occasions I've played there, I think that we only lost once away to the Dragons.

"Out-half is a completely different role, whereas playing at number nine is more of a workaholic job, but I'm happy doing a job for the team wherever I play."

He says that despite the fact he is an import into Leinster, there has never been any divided loyalties.

"As a Corkman, I'll never feel like a Dubliner, but my affection for both Leinster and Munster are intertwined."

O'Meara says he has enjoyed lots of highlights since joining Leinster. "Any away win in Europe be it against Northampton, Sale, or last year against Bath is an obvious highlight, but the home and away ties against Montferrand really stick in my mind.

"Being from Munster, the Celtic League final in Lansdowne Road was special because it's not often that you get 30,000 people at an interprovincial match."

His experience as a professional, he says, has been hugely educational, but the bottom line is that nothing can be taken for granted.

"With rugby I find that you can neither look back nor look too far ahead," O'Meara reckons.

In terms of Leinster team news, Robert Kearney will line up at full back, while recent signing Jonny Hepworth will make his first start, partnering Kieran Lewis at centre.

In the pack, Cameron Jowitt comes in for his first start in the backrow, alongside Simon Crawford (number eight) and Keith Gleeson who captains the side.

LEINSTER R Kearney; G Brown, K Lewis, J Hepworth, B Burke; B O'Meara, B O'Riordan; R Corrigan, B Blaney, W Green; B Gissing, B Williams; C Jowitt, K Gleeson (C), S Crawford.

Replacements: R McCormack, J Wickham, D Dillon, N Ronan/J Heaslip, G Easterby/M D'Arcy, E Hickey, S Grissing.