Cullen returns to boost hopes of Leinster win

LEO CULLEN may have missed out on the World Cup but Leinster coach Gary Ella is delighted to have him back as Leinster captain for the visit of Edinburgh to Donnybrook this evening.

"We all knew of Leo's disappointment and we gave him a rest period last week. But it's good to welcome him back and I am confident that he will do a very good job for us both as player and captain.

"He is young enough to put this disappointment behind him. There will be other World Cups and I'm sure he will play at that level sometime maybe even as a replacement in Australia."

Leinster desperately need a victory after losing their opening two matches in the league campaign. Whilst they are through to the quarter-finals of the Celtic Cup, their only joy in the league has been the bonus point picked up in each of their defeats.

"I suppose we need to get up and running but last week will be a big boost to us," said Ella.

Meanwhile, Connacht coach Michael Bradley has every reason to feel pleased after their Celtic Cup victory over Borders last week.

The men from the west head to play Glasgow in this evening's televised Celtic League clash at Hughenden.

There are a number of changes from the side which emerged victorious from Galashiels on Friday night with Mark McHugh, whose two late penalties sealed the win, starting at full-back.

Conor McPhillips and Wayne Munn return on the wings with Mike Walls making his first start of the season at scrum-half.

Injury has ruled out Dan McFarland and Warren O'Kelly with Ray Hogan and Fabian Boiroux selected as props.

The game will be televised live by TG4 and the programme will include a feature on Connacht's visit to schools in Portumna this week.

Tomorrow, Munster take on Neath/Swansea Ospreys at St Helens and Munster boss Alan Gaffney is under no illusions about the task, despite watching the Welsh side go down to Leinster last weekend.

"I don't think there is anything much to draw from that game even though I got a couple of pointers," he said.

"We struggled in the line out against Llanelli recently and Neath/Swansea struggled against Leinster. But there is a lot of talent out wide in that side and, given a good supply of possession, we will have to be at our best to match those backs."

GLASGOW: S Moffat, G Maclure, G Morrison, A Bulloch, L Lamont, C. Howarth, M McMillan, A Kelly, S Gunn, L Harrison, A Hall, J Beardshaw, C Mather (captain), R Reid, D Macfadyen.

Replacements: S Lawson, E Murray, N Ross, P Dearlove, K Sinclair, D Parks, J Steel.

CONNACHT: M McHugh; C McPhillips, D Yapp, T Allnutt (capt), W Munn; AN Other, M Walls; R Hogan, B Jackman, F Boiroux; D Browne, A Farley; M Swift, P Neville, J O'Sullivan.

Replacements: J Fogarty, AN Other, M McCarthy, T Carter, C Keane, S Moore, M Mostyn.

LEINSTER: G D'Arcy, J McWeeney, C Warner, D. Quinlan, B Burke, M Leek, B O'Riordan, J Lyne, G Hickie, E Byrne, L Cullen, B Gissing, A McCullen, D Dillon, S Jennings.

ULSTER: B Cunningham, S Young, R Constable, S Stewart, T Howe, A Larkin, K Campbell, R McCormack, M Sexton, B Young, M Mustchin, R Frost, T McWhirter, R Wilson, A Ward.

Replacements: P Shields, S Shaw, M McCullough, N Best, R Spee, S Mallon, J Topping.