Leinster gamble on Aironi outing
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.