Cullen backs Dev to stand tall for Blues

Leinster captain Leo Cullen is backing fellow lock Devin Toner to make more giant strides in his game over the coming season as the European champions open their RaboDirect Pro12 campaign at Scarlets today (6.30pm).

Cullen will be watching Toner, 26, from the stands at Parc Y Scarlets as Leinster coach Joe Schmidt manages his squad through the early stages of the season with the other second row spot going to Damian Browne and new signing Tom Denton on the bench.

Cullen has been impressed by Toner’s development through the Leinster ranks and believes last season he finally conquered the physical demands his 6ft 11ins, 19st 7lbs frame impose during a game.

“Guys like Dev, there are very few physiques like that around,” Cullen said. “And I think it can take a bit of time to find your way in terms of your body a little bit, how you mature physically.

“But I think Dev had more minutes than anybody in the team last year and he was one of our most consistent performers. I thought he came on massively from the year before so it’s again another massive year.”

Leinster’s hopes of a first opening day victory in the league since 2007 have not been helped by Scarlets’ new head coach Simon Easterby being able to name many of his Welsh internationals while the Irish province has to do without their homegrown Test players until the middle of September. Liam Williams, George North and Scott Williams all start in the backline with Wales hooker Matthew Rees, fly-half Rhys Priestland and centre Jon Davies being kept in reserve as they try and overturn a run of seven straight defeats to Leinster, the only side to win at Parc Y Scarlets last season.

SCARLETS: L Williams; G North, G Maule, S Williams, A Fenby; A Thomas, T Knoyle; R Jones, K Owens, D Manu; G Earle, R Kelly; A Shingler, J Turnbull, R McCusker – captain.

Replacements: M Rees, P John, S Lee, S Timani, K Murphy, G Davies, R Priestland, J Davies.

LEINSTER: I Nacewa; A Conway, B Macken, N Reid, F Carr; I Madigan, I Boss; H van der Merwe, R Strauss, J Hagan; D Browne, D Toner; D Ryan, S Jennings – captain, L Auva’a.

Replacements: A Dundon, J McGrath, M Moore, T Denton, J Murphy, J Cooney, C O’Shea, D Hudson.

Referee: Neil Paterson (Scotland)