Leinster bid to maintain momentum

LEINSTER coach Michael Cheika has resisted the urge to wrap his key players in cotton wool ahead of the Heineken Cup final. For now anyway.

Avoiding injuries and suspensions will be priority number one for the Australian between now and May 23 but he has nevertheless named an impressive starting XV for the Magners League tie against the Scarlets at the RDS tonight (7.45).

Felipe Contepomi’s cruciate knee injury sees Jonathan Sexton continue at out-half, where he performed so admirably as a replacement at Croke Park, while Sean O’Brien replaces Rocky Elsom, who picked up a less serious injury last Saturday.