European rugby: O’Driscoll back in Leinster line-up

Ireland and Lions centre Brian O’Driscoll is back in the Leinster side

for Friday night’s Heineken Cup match against Newport at Rodney Parade.

O’Driscoll has recovered from the hand injury sustained in Ireland’s

victory over England 10 days ago which forced him to sit out the first

meeting with Newport in Dublin last Friday.

The Irish side beat their Welsh rivals 21-6 at Donnybrook and O’Driscoll

is one of two changes from the team which started that match.

Adam Magro drops to the bench after deputising at centre while Peter

McKenna, who scored Leinster’s second try against Newport last Friday,

will start instead of Girvan Dempsey.

The Irish international full-back is suffering wear and tear to an

Achilles tendon.

Leinster: McKenna, D Hickie, S Horgan, B O’Driscoll, G D’Arcy, N

Spooner, B O’Meara; R Corrigan, S Byrne, E Byrne, L Cullen, M O’Kelly, E

Miller, K Gleeson, V Costello.

Replacements: P Coyle, G Hickie, R Casey, T Brennan, B Willis, A Dunne, A

Magro