Kidney springs a few surprises for Leinster clash with Cardiff

DECLAN KIDNEY has selected a solid-looking side for his first competitive match in charge of Leinster.

The former Munster coach and Irish assistant has been able to spring a few surprises in his opening selection against Cardiff, despite being without 10 players who are on international conditioning duty.

In the back-line, Australian Christian Warner is selected to play at 13 instead of his preferred position of out-half, with Clontarf youngster Dave McAllister instead getting the nod at number 10.

Brian O’Riordan is selected ahead of Brian O’Meara at scrum-half, with McAllister expected to take over the kicking duties for the Sunday evening game. Up-front, Emmet Byrne returns after a horrendous year of injuries, with Leo Cullen captaining the side from the second-row.

Indeed, the Leinster back-five look extremely strong, with Ben Gissing partnering the captain in the second-row and Shane Jennings, Aidan McCullen and Des Dillon completing a highly competitive combination.

Kidney has yet to fully confirm his seven substitutes, but Irish international Victor Costello is definitely among them, as is former Irish U21 international Kieran Lewis.

The province’s Argentinean international, Felipe Contepomi, could be back in action in less than a month following a shoulder injury picked up during the summer, while Irish winger Denis Hickie is hoping to be back in the Leinster starting line-up in the next two weeks. Andy Ward is back to lead Ulster in their opening Celtic League clash with Edinburgh at Murrayfield on Saturday.

Ward again takes over from Neil McMillan, still struggling with a knee injury. Ulster coach Mark McCall is forced to select a side that is missing seven first-team choices and five others who could have been in the running. However, Kiwi Paul Steinmetz returns to make his first start since breaking his leg last March, while Andrew Maxwell comes on to the left wing to make his competitive debut for the province.

Steinmetz replaces the injured Shane Stewart while Maxwell comes in for James Topping who is also sidelined.

Connacht coach Michael Bradley has a number of injury worries ahead of Saturday’s Celtic League opener against Glasgow at the Sportsground (2.30pm).Up-front prop Dan McFarland (thigh) and flanker Michael Swift (back strain) are doubtful, while experienced centre Darren Yapp (knee) and newcomer Niall O’Brien (back) are also concerns.

Definitely out is Mark McHugh, who is not expected back until October after surgery to his shoulder, while promising young prop Ray Hogan is still recovering from a cruciate ligament injury which cut short his impressive first campaign last season. Meanwhile, Munster have accepted that the Celtic League will eventually be used as a vehicle for entry to the Heineken Cup.

However, the province, twice finalists in the prestigious competition, have expressed their concern with a decision taken by the IRFU to appease their Welsh counterparts.

Munster believe that the incentive of using the Celtic League to rank Irish sides for the Heineken Cup is a positive step to enhance the Celtic League competition, notwithstanding the fact that 10 Munster internationals will only be available to play in nine of the 20 Celtic League matches.

Munster will, however, be seeking clarification on the issue of the IRFU reserving the right to nominate the teams to qualify for the Heineken Cup.

ULSTER (v Edinburgh): B Cunningham; T Bowe; J Bell; P Steinmetz (VC); A Maxwell; P Wallace; N Doak; R McCormack; P Shields; R Moore; M Mustchin; R Frost; A Ward (Capt); N Best; C Feather ReplacementsB Young; N Brady; G Longwell; G Brown; K Campbell; S Mallon; S Young

LEINSTER (v Cardiff): J Norton, J McWeeney, C Warner, D Quinlan, G Brown, D McAllister, B O’Riordan, E Byrne, G Hickie, P Coyle, L Cullen (Captain), B Gissing, A McCullen, S Jennings, D Dillon

Replacements from: S Barretto, AN Other, D Blaney, C Potts, N Ronan, V Costello, B O’Meara, K Lewis, AN Other