Leinster gamble on Aironi outing

LEINSTER coach Joe Schmidt admitted that, with the Heineken Cup semi-final 10 days away, he is prepared to gamble with his team selection for Saturday’s Magners League trip away to Aironi.

The Kiwi made seven changes from the side that defeated Leicester in the European quarter-final for last weekend’s RDS date with Ulster, and was vindicated with an eight-point win that was much more comfortable than the scoreline suggested. That victory left the province in the driving seat in the race to claim the all-important second spot in the Magners League and a home semi-final berth with two games against the rock-bottom Italians and third-from-bottom Glasgow left.

Six frontline players — Brian O’Driscoll, Gordon D’Arcy, Leo Cullen, Jamie Heaslip, Sean O’Brien and Kevin McLaughlin — did not train yesterday although there are no major injury concerns and decisions will be made on who will travel and who will rest later in the week.