O'Brien to captain Leinster against Wasps

Fit-again Sean O'Brien will captain Leinster against London Wasps in Friday's pre-season friendly in Donnybrook (KO: 7pm).

Number eight O’Brien makes his first appearance in six months and will lead the largely experimental side which also includes returning duo Luke Fitzgerald and Devin Toner and summer signing Heinke van der Merwe.

The recently recruited Mariano Galarza is named on an extended bench which also includes Fergus McFadden, scrum-half Isaac Boss and Stan Wright.

Meanwhile French legend Serge Betsen will start at flanker for London Wasps.

Wasps Director of Rugby Tony Hanks said, “We are really looking forward to this fixture - putting a lot of hard work seen throughout the summer into practice. Leinster will be highly competitive opponents and I think that is a great way for the squad to test themselves.

“We are fortunate to have depth in our squad which enables us to field some of our more experienced players whilst also rewarding our younger Academy players like Jack Wallace, Sam Jones and Elliot Daly after impressing throughout the pre-season.

“We are delighted to see Phil Vickery, Richard Birkett and Riki Flutey back to full fitness and for those players that have not been named, there will be an opportunity for game time in our second fixture against Glasgow at Adams Park next Saturday 28th August.”

LEINSTER (v London Wasps):

15: Luke Fitzgerald

14: David Kearney

13: Eoin O’Malley

12: Eamonn Sheridan

11: Isa Nacewa

10: Ian Madigan

9: Paul O’Donohoe

1: Heinke van der Merwe

2: Richardt Strauss

3: Mike Ross

4: Trevor Hogan

5: Devin Toner

6: Eoin Sheriff

7: Paul Ryan

8: Sean O’Brien CAPTAIN

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Jason Harris-Wright

17: Jack McGrath

18: Stan Wright

19: Mariano Galarza

20: Dominic Ryan

21: Isaac Boss

22: Ian McKinley

23: Fergus McFadden

24: Ben Marshall

25: Michael Keating

26: Niall Morris

LONDON WASPS (v Leinster)

J Wallace; R Haughton, B Jacobs, D Waldouck, T Varndell; D Walder, N Berry; Z Taulafo, T Lindsay, P Vickery, M Veale, R Birkett, W Matthews, S Betsen, J Hart.