Kidney brings in internationals for Dragons game

Declan Kidney has brought many of his big-hitters on board for Leinster's treacherous visit to the Newport-Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade on Friday.

Ireland internationals Brian O'Driscoll, Shane Horgan, Girvan Dempsey, Reggie Corrigan, Shane Byrne and Malcolm O’Kelly will make their first starts of the season in a side that shows eight changes from last Friday night.

There are also places for openside Shane Jennings and second row Ben Gissing as James Norton, Aidan McCullen, Emmett Byrne, Leo Cullen, and David Quinlan are rested, while Gordon D’Arcy misses out with a slight groin strain.

A vacancy has been left on the bench which will be filled closer to kick off.

Leinster (v Dragons): G Dempsey; S Horgan, B O’Driscoll, C Warner, G Brown; F Contepomi, G Easterby; R Corrigan (Capt), S Byrne, R Nebbett, M O’Kelly, B Gissing, E Miller, S Jennings, V Costello.

Replacements: P Coyle, A.N. Other, C Potts, D Dillon, K Lewis, B O’Meara, D Hickie.