Jennings banned from key Euro clashes

LEINSTER have been dealt a severe Heineken Cup blow with the news that international flanker Shane Jennings has been suspended until January 27.

Jennings was cited for punching during Leinster’s Magners League victory over Connacht last week and suspended for three weeks from last night’s meeting up to and including midnight on January 27.

That means he will, unless successful in an appeal, miss Leinster’s crucial Heineken Cup clashes with Wasps at Twickenham and Edinburgh at the RDS, whilst also losing out on selection for this weekend’s Magners League tie against Cardiff Blues.

Hooker John Fogarty was more fortunate. He was also accused of punching but his ban was restricted to a week. That ban began last night and will end on Tuesday next.

Meanwhile, Federico Pucciariello, the Munster prop accused of an apparent kicking offence, has escaped without a ban when the IRFU disciplinary committee decided that he didn’t make contact with any opposing player and that it couldn’t have been construed as a red card offence.

Elsewhere Leo Cullen will be back to play at least some part in Leinster’s Magners League clash with Cardiff Blues at the RDS (7.30pm) on Saturday. The Leinster captain makes his return from a collar bone injury and joins up with another of their recently recovered stars, Girvan Dempsey, in a squad of 28.

Leinster’s forwards coach Jonno Gibbs is delighted, noting that an injection of such experience was perfectly timed, just a week before the renewal of Heineken Cup battle.

“His availability will give us a real lift. Against Cardiff, we will need all the big experienced ball carriers we can field,” he said.

Jamie Heaslip, Devin Toner and CJ van der Linde are included after being rested for last weekend’s clash with Connacht, and coach Michael Cheika is likely to name his best side for this vital Magners clash.

It’s likely giant second row Toner (2.10 metres/6ft 11 ins), whom Gibbs yesterday described as hugely improved, will be named alongside Cullen.

Gibbs, who arrived in Ireland at the start of this season, admitted he hadn’t realised that Toner’s experience was so limited up to recently.

“The way he is playing now, one wouldn’t have known he didn’t play that much top-class rugby last season. He’s come through as a real quality player and he has been up for every challenge to date,” added Gibbs.

Also included for Saturday’s game are Leinster’s two leading Magners League scorers, Felipe Contepomi, who has 93 points from eight appearances (25 penalties, and 9 conversions), and Luke Fitzgerald, who tops the try-scoring list with five.

It’s a huge opportunity for the champions, who have fought their way back up to the table into third position, two behind Munster and just three adrift of leaders, the Ospreys. After six games, Munster were runaway leaders and hot favourites to take this year’s title. All that has changed in just a few weeks, as Munster lost twice, to Ulster and to Connacht, with Ospreys and Leinster both taking full advantage of the slips.

Setting new records for home matches, Leinster have sold over 13,000 advance purchase tickets and expect a sell-out again.

Meanwhile, several hundred tickets have gone on sale in the Leinster Rugby Store for Leinster’s next Heineken Cup clash with London Wasps in Donnybrook.

LEINSTER SQUAD: C Healy, R McCormack, B Blaney, J Fogarty, CJ van der Linde, S Wright, L Cullen, T Hogan, M O’Kelly, D Toner, R Elsom, C Jowitt, S Keogh, S Jennings, S O’Brien, J Heaslip C Keane, C Whitaker, I Nacewa, J Sexton, R Kearney, S Keogh, F Contepomi, L Fitzgerald, B O’Driscoll, G D’Arcy, S Horgan, G Dempsey.

Referee: Peter Allan (SRU).