New-look Leinster make Galway trip

Tom Denton has never been to the Sportsground before but the second row’s teammates have apparently been filling him in on what to expect tonight at a venue which Leinster have, regardless of the event, rarely found to their liking.

York-born, Irish-qualified Denton will be one of seven among Leinster’s 23-man squad experiencing Galway’s surroundings for the first time this evening, five of them starters, as Joe Schmidt has once again made a host of changes to his XV.

Perhaps forced would be a more suitable word as, with a raft ofinternationals away for a two-day camp with Ireland earlier in the week, and a hefty three-week schedule to follow, it may be that the Leinster coach felt he had little choice.