Contepomi misses out for Leinster

FELIPE CONTEPOMI is again a notable absentee from the Leinster squad to face Connacht in Friday night’s Magners League clash at the RDS (7.30pm).

The Argentine star was not in the squad for last Friday’s draw with Ulster despite being included in the selection announced earlier in the week by coach Michael Cheika.

But the Leinster coach insisted there was nothing sinister in the omission: “The plan was for Felipe to play a game with us coming back from the World Cup and to give him this weekend off because he’s going back to his brother’s wedding in Argentina. He then had a virus which ruled him out of the Ulster game.

“He has only just come back after six or seven games at that (World Cup) level, so we’re sticking with the decision to give him some time off. He’s a professional, right up there with the best of them, and he’ll train with us this week.”

Leinster’s other World Cup players — Brian O’Driscoll, Shane Horgan, Gordon D’Arcy, Girvan Dempsey and Malcolm O’Kelly — are all named in the provisional side.

Ollie le Roux, who impressed on his debut in Belfast, is also included in the provisional squad alongside former Connacht stars Bernard Jackman and Stephen Knoop.

Meanwhile Connacht No.8 Ray Ofisa faces a fitness battle to be available for Friday night’s Magners League clash away to Leinster.

The 27-year-old, who was voted player of the season last year in his first term with Connacht, suffered an arm injury against Edinburgh. He had to come off in the opening half of a game which finished level for the second year in-a-row.

“We will monitor Ray’s situation and make a call later in the week,” said Connacht coach Michael Bradley.

LEINSTER Squad: Forwards: S Wright, B Jackman, B Blaney, O le Roux, J Francisco Gomez, S Knoop, L Cullen, M O’Kelly, D Toner, S Keogh, K Gleeson, S Jennings, J Heaslip, K McLaughlin.

Backs: C Whitaker, C Willis, J Sexton, C Warner, M Berne, G D’Arcy, B O’Driscoll, L Fitzgerald, R Kearney, G Brown, S Horgan, G Dempsey.