Depleted Leinster prepared for another Connacht onslaught

IN a side captained by Shane Jennings, the return of Kevin McLaughlin is one of the main talking points of Joe Schmidt’s selection for Leinster’s Magners League clash with Connacht at the RDS today (5.30pm).

McLaughlin’s availability, after a knee injury, to make his first start of the season will be viewed as timely and gives Schmidt more back- row options in the build-up to the last two rounds of the Heineken Cup over the coming weeks.

Jennings leads the team alongside McLaughlin and the in-form Sean O’Brien, who will again operate from the number eight position. Nathan Hines lines up alongside Devin Toner in the second row and Schmidt has named an overseas front row, with Heinke van der Merwe starting alongside Richardt Strauss and Clint Newland.