Leinster ring the changes for Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade

With more than 30 players missing through international duty and injury, Leinster have made 12 changes to their starting line-up for tonight’s Guinness Pro12 encounter with Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade (7.05pm).

Replacements Jeremy Loughman, Oisin Heffernan, and Peadar Timmins are set to make their first-team debuts, while scrum-half Luke McGrath will captain the side on his 39th provincial appearance.

James Tracy also gets another chance to impress in the Leinster front-row, and he revealed in UCD on Monday that former Leinster coach Joe Schmidt played a major role in his transition from loosehead prop to hooker.