Three changes for Leinster as they set sights on double

Leinster coach Joe Schmidt has named his side to face Munster in Saturday’s Magners League Grand Final at Thomond Park as the newly crowned Heineken Cup champions go for an unprecedented double.

Kick-off is at 5.05pm.

There are three changes to the starting line-up from last weekend’s Heineken Cup final with Ireland international Fergus McFadden coming in to partner Brian O’Driscoll at centre after Gordon D’Arcy pulled out during the week with an ankle injury.

Jonathan Sexton, who has now scored 228 points in 18 Leinster appearances so far this season, links up with former Munster player Eoin Reddan at half-back with Luke Fitzgerald, Shane Horgan and Isa Nacewa again named in the back three.

In the pack, South African loosehead Heinke van der Merwe will make his 31s t appearance of the season and is one of two forward changes as Shane Jennings comes in to link up with Sean O’Brien and Jamie Heaslip in the back-row.

Leo Cullen skippers the team and starts alongside Scotland’s Nathan Hines, while the province can call upon three Ireland internationals off the bench in the shape of Cian Healy, Kevin McLaughlin and Devin Toner.

Leinster: Isa Nacewa; Shane Horgan, Brian O’Driscoll, Fergus McFadden, Luke Fitzgerald, Jonathan Sexton, Eoin Reddan; Heinke van der Merwe, Richardt Strauss, Mike Ross; Leo Cullen (C), Nathan Hines; Sean O’Brien, Shane Jennings, Jamie Heaslip

Replacements: Aaron Dundon, Cian Healy, Stan Wright, Devin Toner, Kevin McLaughlin, Paul O’Donohoe, Ian Madigan, Eoin O’Malley