Easterby starts on Leinster return

NEW signing Guy Easterby is named at out-half for Leinster’s Heineken Cup clash with Edinburgh in Murrayfield this afternoon (3.30pm).

Easterby, who signed a short-term contract with the province earlier this week, replaces Cillian Willis alongside Felipe Contepomi.

Easterby, who retired at the end of last season, makes his 60th Leinster appearance (and 15th in the Heineken Cup).

Bernard Jackman is named in an unchanged front row alongside Ollie le Roux and Stan Wright, while the only change to the pack that defeated Edinburgh sees Shane Jennings start in the back-row alongside Stephen Keogh and Jamie Heaslip.

Girvan Dempsey starts at full-back with Rob Kearney switching to the left wing. Dempsey is one of 13 full Ireland internationals in the squad, with another four having been capped at Ireland ‘A’ level.

Luke Fitzgerald has been named on a strong-looking replacements bench which includes the likes of Keith Gleeson and Jonathan Sexton.

Meanwhile, Edinburgh have been hit with late injury problems.

Prop Craig Smith is out with a calf injury and No 8 David Callam with a neck problem.

The injuries have been described as “a serious blow” by head coach Andy Robinson, the former England boss.

Robinson said yesterday: “Injuries at any stage can be disruptive, but they cause more problems when they happen closer to the game.”

In accepting defeat gracefully last week, Robinson was not, however, in any mood to be generous to Leinster.

He remarked: “We just have to be a little more patient than last time out, but I am confident that we can turn them over if we play to our potential.

“I don’t think we were badly outplayed; in fact I thought we had scoring opportunities that might well have swung the game our way. I’m sure we actually set them thinking, and they won’t be so keen to take us on for the second week in succession.”