Leinster opt to keep star men under wraps

With their European Rugby Champions Cup semi-final against Toulon just eight days away, Leinster coach Matt O’Connor has opted to wrap his star players in cotton wool for the province’s Guinness Pro12 encounter with Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade tomorrow.

There are 12 changes to the starting line-up from their win over Bath at the Aviva Stadium last Saturday, with Ben Te’o, Jimmy Gopperth and Mike McCarthy the only players to retain their places.

Jordi Murphy and Luke Fitzgerald will take their seat amongst the replacements but the remaining starters from the Bath game will not feature against the ninth-placed Welsh outfit.