Contepomi boost before Last Stand

LEINSTER have been boosted with yesterday’s announcement that Felipe Contepomi has signed a two-year extension to his contract.

The 29-year-old Argentinian international has arguably been the most impressive of Leinster’s overseas signings in his 65 appearances for the province, contributing handsomely to the scoring charts.

He has scored 664 points and was last year named as the Bank of Scotland Leinster Player of the Year. He scored an impressive 131 points in last year’s Heineken Cup campaign.

Meanwhile, the Leinster squad to face Ulster in “The Last Stand” — the last game ever to be held in the old Lansdowne Road — tomorrow (kick-off 2pm) has been named.

Full-back Ross McCarron is included in a 25-man squad for the Magners League clash as Leinster have to do without Girvan Dempsey. The good news for both player and province is that despite the ankle injury sustained in the defeat by Munster, Dempsey should be fit for the Heineken Cup game against Edinburgh as he has no breaks or ligament damage.

In an enlarged Leinster squad, there are places for props Will Green and Reggie Corrigan.

Leinster coach Michael Cheika expressed delight with the news of Contepomi and Dempsey. He described Contepomi as a first-class player and said there weren’t many better in his position worldwide.

“He is a great guy but very intense. “He finishes his medical studies in May so I’m worried about the fact that I’m going to see more of him around. I might have to get another office,” joked Cheika.

“I hadn’t seen much of him before coming here except him playing with the Pumas in what was a forward-orientated game.

“He gets into the category of great players and he’s very passionate about how we want to play the game.”

Meanwhile, Cheika is happy to give young McCarron an opportunity.

“We’ve given a number of development contract players a run this season and it has worked out pretty well for us. It’s also good to have Felipe available for selection again.

“The question now is whether we go for John Sexton or Andy Dunne and then whether either starts or finishes the game.”

Cheika relishes the rivalry between the two teams, who drew recently in Belfast.

He said: “I like the idea of getting up every day and looking forward to big games. The biggest obstacle is to try to overcome the disappointment of the defeat to Munster this week. We now need to make sure that we rectify our mistakes.

“Because it’s the last match at Lansdowne Road, Sunday will be a special occasion, but it’s important that we focus only on the match.

“It is sure to be a passionate occasion. We’re so lucky to be involved in a game to be played in front of a sellout crowd,” he added.

The Artane Band will play in Lansdowne Road before the game while there will be a Family Day (including the Canterbury roadshow, player autograph signings and appearances, and tag rugby) from 12.30pm behind the East Stand. The old Lansdowne Pavilion will be open for past players after the match.

Lansdowne and Wanderers under-12 mini-rugby teams will play at half-time while a mosaic to commemorate the final game will also be displayed before kick-off. There will be live music and entertainment.

LEINSTER SQUAD: FORWARDS: Ronan McCormack, Stanley Wright, Will Green, Reggie Corrigan, Harry Vermaas, Bernard Jackman, Trevor Hogan, Malcolm O’Kelly, Owen Finegan, Cameron Jowitt, Stephen Keogh, Keith Gleeson, Jamie Heaslip.

BACKS: Chris Whitaker, Guy Easterby, Felipe Contepomi, Jonathan Sexton,

Andrew Dunne, Gordon D’Arcy, Brian O’Driscoll (capt), Kieran Lewis, Denis Hickie, Shane Horgan, Rob Kearney, Ross McCarron.