Cullen to lead Leinster in warm-up game

Leo Cullen will lead Leinster into action against Padova in UCD tomorrow (KO: 1pm) in the final warm-up game before the start of the Magners League.

Argentina tight-head prop Juan Francisco Gomez and Ireland Under-20 Grand Slam loose-head Cian Healy will sandwich Bernard Jackman in the front-row.

Australia international Chris Whitaker partners Jonathan Sexton at half-back with Luke Fitzgerald, Gary Brown and Rob Kearney forming a pacy-looking back three.

Kearney said: "Obviously the World Cup has captured the attention of rugby followers, but the Leinster squad has been hard at work preparing for the new season. The players who were not on international duty have been training since the end of June.

"We've now played two friendlies away to Biarritz and Bath and had a hugely successful training camp in Barcelona.

"There have been fantastic gains in terms of our strength, skills, speed, power and fitness, so we're shaping up well. The new signings have settled in and we're all just looking forward to the opening game of the season in the RDS on Saturday next, September 22."

LEINSTER (v Padova):

1

15: Rob Kearney

14: Gary Brown

13: Michael Berne

12: Christian Warner

11: Luke Fitzgerald

10: Jonathan Sexton

9: Chris Whitaker (V Capt)

1: Cian Healy

2: Bernard Jackman

3: Juan Francisco Gomez

4: Trevor Hogan

5: Leo Cullen (Capt)

6: Stephen Keogh

7: Keith Gleeson

8: Jamie Heaslip.

REPLACEMENTS: Brian Blaney, Richie Sweeney, Stan Wright, Devin Toner, Cameron Jowitt, Sean Ob