Big guns back as Leinster aim to take Scarlets scalp
Kevin McLaughlin and Sean O’Brien will link up with Jennings in the back row, with Malcolm O’Kelly – making his 177th Leinster appearance – partnering Devin Toner in the second row.
Bernard Jackman is named at hooker, where he will be flanked by props Stan Wright and CJ van der Linde.
Eoin Reddan partners Jonathan Sexton at half-back, with both given a chance to stake their claim for inclusion for Ireland’s next Six Nations assignment in Twickenham, having come on as replacements in the 33-10 defeat to France.
Wing Shane Horgan is another looking to lay down a marker to the Irish management, making his 175th appearance in blue. He’s joined in the back three by full-back Girvan Dempsey, and Bank of Ireland Leinster player of the month, Isa Nacewa. Shaun Berne partners Fergus McFadden at centre.
Leinster are unbeaten in their last five matches in all competitions and have won their last 10 games at the RDS.
While the Scarlets are the league’s worst-performing Welsh region this term, Leinster coach Michael Cheika says the 52-23 hiding they inflicted on the Irish province in the RDS in 2007 will assuage any fears of complacency.
“The one thing about the Scarlets is we remember that they came here and gave us quite a bashing a few years back, and that puts the fear into us every time we play them, that they could do it to us again,” he said.
The Scarlets include Wales trio Martin Roberts, Jonathan Davies and Ken Owens in their side.
Davies will partner Regan King at centre for the first time in a year, while Llanelli full-back Dan Newton makes his regional debut.
Scarlets captain David Lyons said his side are desperate to turn promising performances into wins.
“Our form hasn’t been bad in the league but our results have been terrible,” he said.
“We’ve started to turn that around in the Heineken Cup and the LV= Cup, now we need to do that in the Magners.”
LEINSTER: G Dempsey; S Horgan, F McFadden, S Berne, I Necewa; J Sexton, E Reddan; S Wright, B Jackman, CJ van der Linde; D Toner, M O’Kelly; K McLaughlin, S Jennings (capt), S O’Brien.
Replacements: R Strauss, M Ross, T Hogan, S Keogh, P O’Donohoe, E O’Malley, A Conway.
SCARLETS: D Newton; D Evans, R King, J Davies, A Fenby; R Priestland, M Roberts; I Thomas, K Owens, D Manu; D Day, D Welch; R McCusker, J Edwards, D Lyons (capt).
Replacements: P John, E Phillips, R Thomas, V Cooper, J Turnbull, T Knoyle, G Maule.
Referee: Andy Macpherson (SRU).
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