Ruddock: Time for fringe players to stake claim for place

LUKE FITZGERALD will seek to put his World Cup disappointment behind him tonight when he takes his place in an unfamiliar and inexperienced Leinster side which begins its RaboDirect Pro12 campaign away to the Ospreys (7.05pm).

The Ireland international, left out of Declan Kidney’s 30-man panel for the Rugby World Cup last week, will start at inside-centre in a backline where Isa Nacewa is the only other household name. Out-half Matt Berquist and number nine John Cooney make their debuts.

So too will former Connacht lock Damian Browne while Fionn Carr and Jamie Hagan are set to make only their second Leinster appearances four and two years respectively after their first having resigned from the western province over the summer.